Has Amateur MX become a rich family sport?

dadofagun
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dadofagun 7/12/2023 5:33pm
7/12/2023 5:33pm

To add to my prior statement, to put it this way, I would have had to work 2 full days to cover my fuel cost just to drive there, and back.  And, I'm not that far away.......

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hanzhonglboy1
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hanzhonglboy1 7/12/2023 8:21pm
7/12/2023 8:21pm
dadofagun wrote:
I can tell you as far as what the workers are paid at the event, they don't offer shit.  They made me an offer per day...

I can tell you as far as what the workers are paid at the event, they don't offer shit.  They made me an offer per day, and it was laughable....  The reason I was told was, "Its a labor of love".  No room, meals, etc....  this is it.  I stayed home.  I'm no rich man at all, but my services were to be utilized during the event, plus wherever else would be needed.  I can make more in a 1 hour service call than I was offered for an entire day.  Take that for what you will, they are making serious money at that place, or they wouldn't have gone back for decades.  This is FACT.

This tracks. I remember in the mid-2010s when I was still interested in journalism I applied for a Racer X editing role. It paid 28k per year and you had to live in Morgantown where rent prices are elevated because of WVU. 

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Richy
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Richy 7/12/2023 11:37pm
7/12/2023 11:37pm
kage173 wrote:

All motorsports are for the rich or those in crippling debt

And the first often turns into the second 😂

For the average homie out racing at the weekend, it's about as good as it gets in motorsport budget wise.

For folks chasing the dream and Loretta's and all that, like many have said, when your aspirations grow so does the cost.

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BBA
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BBA 7/13/2023 3:28am
7/13/2023 3:28am
kage173 wrote:

All motorsports are for the rich or those in crippling debt

This should be a script on a T-shirt lol. 

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dadofagun
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dadofagun 7/13/2023 5:33am
7/13/2023 5:33am
dadofagun wrote:
I can tell you as far as what the workers are paid at the event, they don't offer shit.  They made me an offer per day...

I can tell you as far as what the workers are paid at the event, they don't offer shit.  They made me an offer per day, and it was laughable....  The reason I was told was, "Its a labor of love".  No room, meals, etc....  this is it.  I stayed home.  I'm no rich man at all, but my services were to be utilized during the event, plus wherever else would be needed.  I can make more in a 1 hour service call than I was offered for an entire day.  Take that for what you will, they are making serious money at that place, or they wouldn't have gone back for decades.  This is FACT.

hanzhonglboy1 wrote:
This tracks. I remember in the mid-2010s when I was still interested in journalism I applied for a Racer X editing role. It paid 28k per...

This tracks. I remember in the mid-2010s when I was still interested in journalism I applied for a Racer X editing role. It paid 28k per year and you had to live in Morgantown where rent prices are elevated because of WVU. 

Damn.  I guess it could work out if all you lived on was Top Ramen.....  that's pathetic, and sad.

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oldnwise
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oldnwise 7/13/2023 5:20pm
7/13/2023 5:20pm

When 4 strokes took over (thanks California!), it really changed the game for “average” folks to compete. 

…and then the training facilities were invented and became an absolute rich man sport.

I always wondered how much talent is really out there that never got any recognition.

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mx4
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mx4 7/13/2023 9:22pm
7/13/2023 9:22pm

I love riding MX. It’s my favorite thing to do since I can remember. Recently sold my 2 stroke I rebuilt a bunch. Finally the cc was too much and I had a child and sold the bike. Everything is too much . I’m low class maybe middle and it’s financially impossible for me. One day I’ll be back I hope. BMX for now

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DrinkMoreWater 7/14/2023 2:30am
7/14/2023 2:30am

It's more so the economy and cost of living (you will own nothing and love it), the wages in Australia have barely doubled since the 90s yet the cost of housing has 4-6x, I'm sure it's similar in the USA too.

Yeah it is a more rich mans sport just like most things these days, if you truly want to make a career out of it it's pretty expensive as you need a trainer, a program etc just to keep up, that being said Motocross would be close to being the cheapest form of motorsport right?

We are lucky that Dirt Bikes have not gone up that much all things considered.

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Richy
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Richy 7/14/2023 2:35am
7/14/2023 2:35am Edited Date/Time 7/14/2023 2:36am
mx4 wrote:
I love riding MX. It’s my favorite thing to do since I can remember. Recently sold my 2 stroke I rebuilt a bunch. Finally the cc...

I love riding MX. It’s my favorite thing to do since I can remember. Recently sold my 2 stroke I rebuilt a bunch. Finally the cc was too much and I had a child and sold the bike. Everything is too much . I’m low class maybe middle and it’s financially impossible for me. One day I’ll be back I hope. BMX for now

Family first, props to you for putting your hobby aside and doing what's important, enjoy the BMX 👍

Been at the pump track or skate park a lot with my niece and nephew lately and there's a lot to be said for it, and way less time consuming with prep/cleaning/travelling.

Leaving the house is gonna be a rich man's sport before long 😂

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Chris_Buehler 7/14/2023 3:53am
7/14/2023 3:53am
ripper69 wrote:
rich families or families that are willing to sacrifice everything else to go racing. My family was the second lol  We didnt go on family vacations...

rich families or families that are willing to sacrifice everything else to go racing. My family was the second lol 

We didnt go on family vacations, not once. We never ate out, we didnt do a lot of things so we could go racing. Moto is the best and worst thing that happened to my family lol 

But now that I am older, I have some of the best memories of traveling to the races with my dad and brother. Driving through the night, my dad having me drive at 14 so my brother and him could get sleep for work monday. We had a stick shift, regular cab s10 with no AC because thats what we could afford with the price of moto. Rock River helped us with bikes or else we wouldnt have been able to do it. I remember at a regional they had 5 foot trophies, we had to give them back because we couldnt fit them in the s10 with 3 people and 3 bikes. 

Went to lorettas with that s10, we tent camped with a jerry rigged AC set up. We may have been the last of the week to week paycheckers chasing the dream. 

BUT i will say, nothing felt better than Sunday at regionals, seeing the 200K rv's packing up while I was putting my gear on to go racing in the back of the 1991 S10

Great post. Thanks for sharing. Make sure you always tell your parents how much you appreciated their sacrifice 

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olderandYZer
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olderandYZer 7/14/2023 5:24am
7/14/2023 5:24am
oldnwise wrote:
When 4 strokes took over (thanks California!), it really changed the game for “average” folks to compete.  …and then the training facilities were invented and became...

When 4 strokes took over (thanks California!), it really changed the game for “average” folks to compete. 

…and then the training facilities were invented and became an absolute rich man sport.

I always wondered how much talent is really out there that never got any recognition.

Lots of talent goes unnoticed.  But that's not new.  

 

Everyone that's been in this game for 30 years has witnessed a "can't miss" kid from your area.  

 

So many distractions to get to the top level ( am or pro) from girls to injuries to money  to family turmoil.   

 

The struggle is real.   It always has been.  

dboivin
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dboivin 7/14/2023 5:32am
7/14/2023 5:32am

1987, team green ride, ponca, lorettas, world mini's, motorhome to get to them all and all the fixins trailer etc.. c'mon this sport has been rich mans sport since early 80's. my dad cleared 100k a year self employed back then and would nearly go broke every season. lol

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MxAddict14
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MxAddict14 7/14/2023 6:03am
7/14/2023 6:03am

Moto is no different than other extreme sports I've participated in:  Windsurfing, kitesurfing, skiiing.

There are always lots of "trust funders" who are able to go to the best destinations, never have to worry about a real job, can devote 100% of time and effort to the sport.  They also have the latest and greatest gear, if something breaks they just buy a brand new replacement.

The "Working Stiffs" have no chance competing

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Jake86
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Jake86 7/14/2023 6:36am
7/14/2023 6:36am
TooTallJason wrote:
I'll say that if you're looking just at amateur motorsports, MX is one of the most accessible and affordable. Sure MX bikes are expensive, but karting...

I'll say that if you're looking just at amateur motorsports, MX is one of the most accessible and affordable. Sure MX bikes are expensive, but karting, drag racing, amateur drifting, or even just doing track-days on a regular basis can rival if not easily surpass what you need to participate in MX. Like if you have a truck and nothing else and wanted to go do an MX race you could do it relatively cheaply.

But of course with any of these sports to be competitive resources help, especially as you advance.

ripper69 wrote:
Yeah but those are also the other rich family sports lol  Buying a $300 glove and a $500 bat is something a family can do with...

Yeah but those are also the other rich family sports lol 

Buying a $300 glove and a $500 bat is something a family can do with a paycheck. Not many can afford a new bike with one paycheck

kxking wrote:

Wait, bats cost $500 ?  WTF

Yes, I play slowpitch softball in the spring and fall. Usually play in a few tournaments each year. My custom order glove to fit my 4XL hand was $450, I have a few different bats that are $300-400 each. It’s nowhere near golf, or MX. Good equipment no matter what the sport isn’t cheap. When I played ice hockey my skates were $500-$600 now a top end pair of skates are $1000+. My golf clubs (which I am pretty awful, but taking lessons) that have all been custom fit, were just under $3500 for everything. 

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lumpy790
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lumpy790 7/14/2023 2:20pm
7/14/2023 2:20pm
dboivin wrote:
1987, team green ride, ponca, lorettas, world mini's, motorhome to get to them all and all the fixins trailer etc.. c'mon this sport has been rich...

1987, team green ride, ponca, lorettas, world mini's, motorhome to get to them all and all the fixins trailer etc.. c'mon this sport has been rich mans sport since early 80's. my dad cleared 100k a year self employed back then and would nearly go broke every season. lol

I was told years ago that to get a Team Green ride you had to look the part by having a motorhome in the pits

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dboivin
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dboivin 7/14/2023 4:54pm
7/14/2023 4:54pm
dboivin wrote:
1987, team green ride, ponca, lorettas, world mini's, motorhome to get to them all and all the fixins trailer etc.. c'mon this sport has been rich...

1987, team green ride, ponca, lorettas, world mini's, motorhome to get to them all and all the fixins trailer etc.. c'mon this sport has been rich mans sport since early 80's. my dad cleared 100k a year self employed back then and would nearly go broke every season. lol

lumpy790 wrote:

I was told years ago that to get a Team Green ride you had to look the part by having a motorhome in the pits

sure....and a couple wins here and there didn't hurt Tongue

Motobeau179
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Motobeau179 7/14/2023 5:57pm
7/14/2023 5:57pm

All sports have gone crazy (baseball, dance, cheerleading, MX, hockey, etc.) because the powers that be have realized parents are willing to to go all in.  I’m 41 and grew up racing MX and playing other sports.  I feel like my parents (who were well off) and other parents from that generation would have said “absolutely not” on paying for training facilities/travel ball.  I’m doing well financially, but refuse to get caught up in the craziness (all daughters), dance class two days a week.  The studio constantly pressures my wife to get on the “competitive team”.  Which would mean all things previously discussed, travel and more and more expense.  A pickup and an EZ up is all that’s needed.

Pit Row

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WestoftheElwha 7/14/2023 7:15pm
7/14/2023 7:15pm
dboivin wrote:
1987, team green ride, ponca, lorettas, world mini's, motorhome to get to them all and all the fixins trailer etc.. c'mon this sport has been rich...

1987, team green ride, ponca, lorettas, world mini's, motorhome to get to them all and all the fixins trailer etc.. c'mon this sport has been rich mans sport since early 80's. my dad cleared 100k a year self employed back then and would nearly go broke every season. lol

lumpy790 wrote:

I was told years ago that to get a Team Green ride you had to look the part by having a motorhome in the pits

This here is a bit frightening. 

Humans are nothing if not tribalistic. 

Can  you imagine someone not getting an opportunity because of what mold they were cast from rather than there actual ability?

Phew.... 

 

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Larry450
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Larry450 7/14/2023 10:46pm
7/14/2023 10:46pm
Jake86 wrote:
Yes, I play slowpitch softball in the spring and fall. Usually play in a few tournaments each year. My custom order glove to fit my 4XL...

Yes, I play slowpitch softball in the spring and fall. Usually play in a few tournaments each year. My custom order glove to fit my 4XL hand was $450, I have a few different bats that are $300-400 each. It’s nowhere near golf, or MX. Good equipment no matter what the sport isn’t cheap. When I played ice hockey my skates were $500-$600 now a top end pair of skates are $1000+. My golf clubs (which I am pretty awful, but taking lessons) that have all been custom fit, were just under $3500 for everything. 

But do you really need that stuff? You can make any hobby expensive as shit if you just keep throwing money at it, instead of practicing.

 

Football was the cheapest sport that I ever played. Second hand helmet and shoulder pads were less than 100. All the travel and etc were paid by the team. The team got money from sponsors and selling tickets. With me being a lineman I didn't need a ball so did not buy one.

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