What a ripoff victory sports has become.

mx317
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TN US
4/8/2024 9:40am
ProKawi24 wrote:
I couldn't imagine racing or even riding these days with all the expenses between bikes, upkeep, equipment, track fees, etc.   20-25 years ago when I was...

I couldn't imagine racing or even riding these days with all the expenses between bikes, upkeep, equipment, track fees, etc.   20-25 years ago when I was racing my home track was Hangtown so I was out there 2-3 times a week. A guy named Dave Matson took control of the track and every morning it was freshly groomed, jumps all perfectly trimmed up, watered and beautiful. Practice was $10 for my 85, if my dad wanted to ride his 250 it was $20. I believe spectators were either free or just $5 for adults, under 18 free for sure. Around noon he would shut the track down for watering for like 30 min. We rebuilt the clutch and top end on my 85 and supermini every month, fresh tires, race fuel, new boots & gear every 6 months or so, etc. Everything was comfortably affordable for my parents on 1 salary while my mom was in nursing school. Raced every other weekend. 

Seems like nowadays you need to be upper middle class just to even afford the basics of riding and still struggle if wanting to race. The cost of bikes and upkeep absolutely blows my mind. It's virtually a car payment now to get a new bike and some dudes are getting new bikes every damn year or 2. You never had to finance a bike before just straight cash and now it really is like buying a vehicle. Then max out the cards just to get gear, some standard parts, bars, suspension, etc. I hate to be one of those people but things really did seem much better before 4 strokes. Bikes were cheaper to buy and rebuild, able to do everything yourself with even just a basic set of tools. 4 strokes might be much easier to ride but you're paying for it. To me it's kind of insane how even the pros on 450's aren't trying to make more power, they're all about controlling that power and even slowing them down. My personal and possibly very unpopular opinion is no amateur or weekend warrior needs a 450, that's just unused power and way too expensive. It's like spending a fortune on a race car only to never drive it outside of a downtown area.  

I agree ban 450,s from am racing.  Most vets buy them because there ovr wt. in the 90,s I rarely saw a ovr wt rider...

I agree ban 450,s from am racing.  Most vets buy them because there ovr wt. in the 90,s I rarely saw a ovr wt rider . And when there was 1 people laughed look at that fat guy. Different sport now check an Ariel pic of a track it’s all big motorhomes.  

They didn't laugh at JoJo Keller when he was kicking ass and he was a tad on the large side.

4
GrapeApe
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8761
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Location
Mc Kinney, TX US
4/8/2024 10:26am
ProKawi24 wrote:
I couldn't imagine racing or even riding these days with all the expenses between bikes, upkeep, equipment, track fees, etc.   20-25 years ago when I was...

I couldn't imagine racing or even riding these days with all the expenses between bikes, upkeep, equipment, track fees, etc.   20-25 years ago when I was racing my home track was Hangtown so I was out there 2-3 times a week. A guy named Dave Matson took control of the track and every morning it was freshly groomed, jumps all perfectly trimmed up, watered and beautiful. Practice was $10 for my 85, if my dad wanted to ride his 250 it was $20. I believe spectators were either free or just $5 for adults, under 18 free for sure. Around noon he would shut the track down for watering for like 30 min. We rebuilt the clutch and top end on my 85 and supermini every month, fresh tires, race fuel, new boots & gear every 6 months or so, etc. Everything was comfortably affordable for my parents on 1 salary while my mom was in nursing school. Raced every other weekend. 

Seems like nowadays you need to be upper middle class just to even afford the basics of riding and still struggle if wanting to race. The cost of bikes and upkeep absolutely blows my mind. It's virtually a car payment now to get a new bike and some dudes are getting new bikes every damn year or 2. You never had to finance a bike before just straight cash and now it really is like buying a vehicle. Then max out the cards just to get gear, some standard parts, bars, suspension, etc. I hate to be one of those people but things really did seem much better before 4 strokes. Bikes were cheaper to buy and rebuild, able to do everything yourself with even just a basic set of tools. 4 strokes might be much easier to ride but you're paying for it. To me it's kind of insane how even the pros on 450's aren't trying to make more power, they're all about controlling that power and even slowing them down. My personal and possibly very unpopular opinion is no amateur or weekend warrior needs a 450, that's just unused power and way too expensive. It's like spending a fortune on a race car only to never drive it outside of a downtown area.  

I agree ban 450,s from am racing.  Most vets buy them because there ovr wt. in the 90,s I rarely saw a ovr wt rider...

I agree ban 450,s from am racing.  Most vets buy them because there ovr wt. in the 90,s I rarely saw a ovr wt rider . And when there was 1 people laughed look at that fat guy. Different sport now check an Ariel pic of a track it’s all big motorhomes.  

Remote image

 

3
2
4/10/2024 8:45pm

   MX317,  Even if they were laughing at JoJo, he wouldn’t know, because they all were behind him !

2
Richy
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4/10/2024 10:58pm Edited Date/Time 4/10/2024 11:01pm

Totally on board with a track owner or promoter charging riders what they need to, to make it worthwhile. It's a business and you can't just do it for the love, sadly.

That said, as far as practice days go it seems a bit cheeky charging spectators. For races, if it's a local race it's gotta be a pretty small token payment to just stand by your track.

A buddy or girlfriend at the track with a paying rider just feels like it should be included.

The Shop

jmo443
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4/11/2024 12:12am

Imagine wanting to hit a practice day and being the wife and three kids. $100 just to go through the gate. That makes things a lot less fun. $5 a head to just be there is reasonable. But $20 pp to bring family is crazy. 

10
jmo443
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4/11/2024 12:13am
Richy wrote:
Totally on board with a track owner or promoter charging riders what they need to, to make it worthwhile. It's a business and you can't just...

Totally on board with a track owner or promoter charging riders what they need to, to make it worthwhile. It's a business and you can't just do it for the love, sadly.

That said, as far as practice days go it seems a bit cheeky charging spectators. For races, if it's a local race it's gotta be a pretty small token payment to just stand by your track.

A buddy or girlfriend at the track with a paying rider just feels like it should be included.

I get for a race weekend. But for a 4-6 hour practice that’s insane. 

1
cwtoyota
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Tacoma, WA US
4/11/2024 1:13am Edited Date/Time 4/11/2024 1:13am

$50 each for a practice day is just fine with today's inflated dollar and fuel prices.


Spectator entry fees on a practice day are bad for the sport.

Mom has to pay an extra $20 to go to the local track to bring little Johnny and his PW50 to the track to rip around on Wednesday night...    I don't need to have kids to know this is a short-sighted idea.

8
4/11/2024 2:02am
sandman768 wrote:
50$ for a day at a prepped awesome track is the going rate ….I don’t get the per class charge, should be enough rotation to get...

50$ for a day at a prepped awesome track is the going rate ….I don’t get the per class charge, should be enough rotation to get good riding in one class? Having a good pit or trespassing spot like we did years ago was priceless…. No equipment, no watering unless it rained. Track looks mint, it could have been a rut o cross track like many have become… 

Gator724 wrote:

One class would have yielded 24 min of riding 

Fuck that!

4/11/2024 3:36am

I think it’s funny when the local promoters get the idea that “we’ll just start charging the people who already support us more money, that’ll solve everything!” without giving anything in return(like more riding time, or a better track, better facilities, etc.) So over the years I’ve learned little tricks to combat this. Here’s 2 pro tips.

Hide your “spectators” under clothes and blankets. No one is gonna check wristbands once you get through that gate. 
 

Just go out for op if it’s the day before the race. If you get questioned at any point getting on the track, just say “I thought practice was included with racing” and then ride back to your pit and be satisfied with whatever free laps you did get!Tongue

12
JustMX
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TN US
4/11/2024 5:00am
I think it’s funny when the local promoters get the idea that “we’ll just start charging the people who already support us more money, that’ll solve...

I think it’s funny when the local promoters get the idea that “we’ll just start charging the people who already support us more money, that’ll solve everything!” without giving anything in return(like more riding time, or a better track, better facilities, etc.) So over the years I’ve learned little tricks to combat this. Here’s 2 pro tips.

Hide your “spectators” under clothes and blankets. No one is gonna check wristbands once you get through that gate. 
 

Just go out for op if it’s the day before the race. If you get questioned at any point getting on the track, just say “I thought practice was included with racing” and then ride back to your pit and be satisfied with whatever free laps you did get!Tongue

so you are no different than the pieces of shit who shoplift, dine and dash, or steal bikes?

you think you are above paying for something, so you just take it.

while those like you think it is all about money you are bringing people into a facility that everyone else signs a release to enter and ride at, and then scum like you are exactly the type that will blame everybody else when you miss a gear on a jump and sue the track.

please choke on a chicken bone.

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1
kage173
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4/11/2024 5:08am Edited Date/Time 4/11/2024 5:27am

If the track owner is being greedy and charging too much, why dont yall open up a track down the road thats just as nice, but charge less. Everyone will come ride your place. You'll drive him out of business and youll make a bunch of $.

Whats that?

You dont have the money to make the down payment on the land?

You wouldnt make enough from the track to pay the monthly loan payment?

You dont have enough to buy hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment and would never get a return on your investment?

Diesel prices would cut into your profit?

Youd make more at the end of the day having a salaried job with a corporation than what you would take home running a track?

You would get tired of putting your heart into the track only to have guys that show up once every other month blast you on the internet for the opposite of what another guy complained about the week before?

Ok, nevermind.

8
1
MxAddic
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4/11/2024 5:46am
JustMX wrote:
so you are no different than the pieces of shit who shoplift, dine and dash, or steal bikes? you think you are above paying for something...

so you are no different than the pieces of shit who shoplift, dine and dash, or steal bikes?

you think you are above paying for something, so you just take it.

while those like you think it is all about money you are bringing people into a facility that everyone else signs a release to enter and ride at, and then scum like you are exactly the type that will blame everybody else when you miss a gear on a jump and sue the track.

please choke on a chicken bone.

Seems oblivious to increased labor, fuel, taxes and equipment costs. If you are dealing with legal fees pound salt I guess. Damn if you don't let me ride your track for what I say.

1
BoxcarWilly
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Thunder Bay, ON CA
4/11/2024 6:48am

I love when people complain about track time, like they don't ride 3 laps and then head back to the truck each session anyway Tongue

5
lumpy790
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York, SC US
4/11/2024 6:55am

I have watched people come in as spectators get dressed and going out and riding while their buddy watched.

they are the problem.

2
1
JustMX
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4/11/2024 8:20am
jmo443 wrote:
Imagine wanting to hit a practice day and being the wife and three kids. $100 just to go through the gate. That makes things a lot...

Imagine wanting to hit a practice day and being the wife and three kids. $100 just to go through the gate. That makes things a lot less fun. $5 a head to just be there is reasonable. But $20 pp to bring family is crazy. 

I will say it again.....

The practice the op is talking about was the first day of a 2 day weekend.

Unless you clear the pits and send everybody home after the first day it only makes sense to sell them a weekend ticket.

Normally if the person is not staying for the second day and the leave shortly after the Saturday practice is over they get a partial refund.

So it is not $20 for a day per person.

As far as charging spectators. The track owner needs to make X amount to cover Portalets/restrooms, trash, clean up, facility up keep, gravel for access, and improvements, as well as make a reasonable profit for their time, effort, and risk.

Whether they get it from a combination or rider fees only, the total is going to be about the same.

If you are going to bring a bunch of people with you who are going to use the facilities, even if they are not riding, shouldn't they pay something?

 

6
lumpy790
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4/11/2024 9:13am
jmo443 wrote:
Imagine wanting to hit a practice day and being the wife and three kids. $100 just to go through the gate. That makes things a lot...

Imagine wanting to hit a practice day and being the wife and three kids. $100 just to go through the gate. That makes things a lot less fun. $5 a head to just be there is reasonable. But $20 pp to bring family is crazy. 

JustMX wrote:
I will say it again..... The practice the op is talking about was the first day of a 2 day weekend. Unless you clear the pits...

I will say it again.....

The practice the op is talking about was the first day of a 2 day weekend.

Unless you clear the pits and send everybody home after the first day it only makes sense to sell them a weekend ticket.

Normally if the person is not staying for the second day and the leave shortly after the Saturday practice is over they get a partial refund.

So it is not $20 for a day per person.

As far as charging spectators. The track owner needs to make X amount to cover Portalets/restrooms, trash, clean up, facility up keep, gravel for access, and improvements, as well as make a reasonable profit for their time, effort, and risk.

Whether they get it from a combination or rider fees only, the total is going to be about the same.

If you are going to bring a bunch of people with you who are going to use the facilities, even if they are not riding, shouldn't they pay something?

 

You can Add in your list insurance to cover the spectators too

4/11/2024 9:25am
jmo443 wrote:
Imagine wanting to hit a practice day and being the wife and three kids. $100 just to go through the gate. That makes things a lot...

Imagine wanting to hit a practice day and being the wife and three kids. $100 just to go through the gate. That makes things a lot less fun. $5 a head to just be there is reasonable. But $20 pp to bring family is crazy. 

JustMX wrote:
I will say it again..... The practice the op is talking about was the first day of a 2 day weekend. Unless you clear the pits...

I will say it again.....

The practice the op is talking about was the first day of a 2 day weekend.

Unless you clear the pits and send everybody home after the first day it only makes sense to sell them a weekend ticket.

Normally if the person is not staying for the second day and the leave shortly after the Saturday practice is over they get a partial refund.

So it is not $20 for a day per person.

As far as charging spectators. The track owner needs to make X amount to cover Portalets/restrooms, trash, clean up, facility up keep, gravel for access, and improvements, as well as make a reasonable profit for their time, effort, and risk.

Whether they get it from a combination or rider fees only, the total is going to be about the same.

If you are going to bring a bunch of people with you who are going to use the facilities, even if they are not riding, shouldn't they pay something?

 

Details like this are important. Big difference between paying $20 for 1 day , and $20 for the weekend. 

 

Who would think that a gate fee was per vehicle? Unless maybe the track has charged that way before, that is an odd assumption by the OP. 

 

It sounds more reasonable after knowing the details. Opening days are never going to provide a lot of track time. 

 

The first time Southwick had one that I went to, people waited 4 hours to do 2 laps. There was an insane amount of riders there. And I was just watching since I figured it would be like that.

For a track to stay open, they need to charge whatever they need to, for it to be worth doing. It is hard work, and no matter what, You will always have people complaining. It can be a very thankless job. 

1
4/11/2024 9:31am

...I'm in the arsehole of Africa and the challenges of living..covering rent and eating properly is first prize. I'd love to ride a bike once a month on any track but I can't afford it....I can't afford to buy and maintain a bike for starters...

If you own a bike then wonderful...pay the fee to enter a track to spin a few laps. The track owners are doing their best to keep it affordable...

Riding a mx bike has become luxury.......

5
dmm698
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NY US
4/11/2024 9:48am

Used to be 30 bucks for an OP, and if you were leaving saturday after OP by say 5PM, you would be refunded your gate fee, for both you and anybody who came with you.

Now, its 15$ to get in to cover the gate fee for me, 15$ to cover the gate fee for my wife to come sit there for the day with me, 30$ to ride, and There is no refund for the gate fee if i'm leaving and not coming back on sunday to race. So what was once 30 is now 60 bucks. To ride generally 3 maybe 4 15 minute motos.

I totally get it there is a cost associated with having spectators at the track - They use the porta johns ect ect. So I get not letting spectators on practice days for free. BUT if you're going to charge 15 bucks, give 5 or 10 of it back if you are not returning the next day.

1
Gator724
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Greenville, SC US
4/11/2024 10:31am
jmo443 wrote:
Imagine wanting to hit a practice day and being the wife and three kids. $100 just to go through the gate. That makes things a lot...

Imagine wanting to hit a practice day and being the wife and three kids. $100 just to go through the gate. That makes things a lot less fun. $5 a head to just be there is reasonable. But $20 pp to bring family is crazy. 

JustMX wrote:
I will say it again..... The practice the op is talking about was the first day of a 2 day weekend. Unless you clear the pits...

I will say it again.....

The practice the op is talking about was the first day of a 2 day weekend.

Unless you clear the pits and send everybody home after the first day it only makes sense to sell them a weekend ticket.

Normally if the person is not staying for the second day and the leave shortly after the Saturday practice is over they get a partial refund.

So it is not $20 for a day per person.

As far as charging spectators. The track owner needs to make X amount to cover Portalets/restrooms, trash, clean up, facility up keep, gravel for access, and improvements, as well as make a reasonable profit for their time, effort, and risk.

Whether they get it from a combination or rider fees only, the total is going to be about the same.

If you are going to bring a bunch of people with you who are going to use the facilities, even if they are not riding, shouldn't they pay something?

 

You could get back $5 per person if you didn’t come back 

1
Johnny Ringo
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Tombstone, AZ US
4/11/2024 11:38am

If I bring my chick golfing with me they don’t charge her $20 to sit in the cart

1
1
Kawboy14!
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Location
Georgetown, TX US
4/11/2024 12:13pm

If they don’t make money they will sell it to a developer for construction…….

1
2
JustMX
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TN US
4/11/2024 12:57pm

If I bring my chick golfing with me they don’t charge her $20 to sit in the cart

You could always tell her they do to get a little more "you" time....

Johnny Ringo
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4/11/2024 12:59pm

If I bring my chick golfing with me they don’t charge her $20 to sit in the cart

JustMX wrote:

You could always tell her they do to get a little more "you" time....

No way bro, gotta show off my 65 yard drives

1
JustMX
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4/11/2024 1:00pm
Kawboy14! wrote:

If they don’t make money they will sell it to a developer for construction…….

By the looks of all the build up around there, that day is coming.......

First it will be the mcmansions bitching.....

 

jameslowry
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Location
pearl, MS US
4/11/2024 1:19pm

I just purchased my own 50 acres 9 years ago & built my own place to ride & the crazy thing is i have since purchased 2-tractors-dozer-mini excavator & i keep it maintained by myself & still ride and operate my 37 yr old non-franchised cycle store & i don't charge my friends & customers anything to ride/practice i set it up like Pastrana's place with the trees to keep the moisture & help the dirt. Heck that's what i do in time out

2
Coach529
Posts
397
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Location
Coeur d'Alene, ID US
4/11/2024 1:58pm

Running a track is expensive. 

Local track charges $35 a person to ride, no spectator charge. I get more riding than I can handle, even if they split up classes.

Next closest tack is $40 a person and $10 for spectators.

 

DA498
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10/11/2008
Location
Milliken, CO US
4/11/2024 7:49pm

If I had a track within an hour of my house that was open today, I’d be happy to pay $50 to ride my dirt bike.

For 24 minutes?

ripper69
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163
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YoureTheOnly, TN US
4/11/2024 7:50pm

9/10 tracks I go to charge $20 a head at the gate for practice. 
 

you have 10k in the back of the truck but bitch about $20. Go buy 10 acres, a dozer, water truck, and insurance and tell me $20 is expensive 

2
1
Sandusky26
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Eastern, NC US
4/12/2024 3:02am

I would pay more money for a better product. Give me a better organized race day slightly catered to people with jobs, and I will pay more.

1

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