Posts
111
Joined
11/7/2016
Location
MX
It was MXGP's KRT Kawasaki first, I assume influenced by Kimi Raikonnen. A year or two later HRC followed.
You make me pay to stare at a dark-glassed wall? C'mon. Is this Moto or F1? Because IMO it totally kills the spirit of this sport.
Didn't attend an ama mx in a couple of years now, but at least in '23 and before never saw this bs over there.
Teams and organisers: let's keep it real, please. For all the fans that get dirty over the weekend.
I’ve been to A1 since 23, Fox Raceway since last round of 22, 23, and this year, as well as LA SMX, we don’t have those trailers over here.
I have noticed them and they are nice. It would be intersting to see if any manufactuers in the states do something like this. Would be cool to see in AMA, even if just for hospitality purposes.
In addition to the OPs points...it makes absolutely no sense.... look at all the lost storage/workspace.
These don’t really exist in the US
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
WTF are you even complaining about?
I think the complaint is that part of the fan experience of going to a pro race is going to the pits, getting a look at exotic machinery up close, and watching teams operate. Sometimes mechanics, riders, and staff may step out/interact with fans. Now that is all enclosed in essentially a portable office building at which you get the privilege of peering through some sealed, tinted windows.
It is sterile and corporate, and reminiscent of some other sports where the athletes and the organizations are just too important to even be near the common folk.
The worst thing about “growing” the sport would be losing how accessible everything is to the average fan. Where else can you get within arms reach of your favorite athlete and all it costs is an aluminum can?
Can you imagine being in that thing in August if the AC goes out ? No wonder they painted flames on the cab 😄
GPs are different to the US in terms of logistics and work flow at the races.
1. GPs have wash areas, no need for pressure washers, water tanks, and other items like that on the semis like in the US.
2. GPs have backup bikes, they don't need as much parts storage to fix one bike, as they have a second assembled and ready to go.
3. GPs don't race as often and in closer proximity when in the European leg. The rig comes back to the shop more often to service stuff, restock, etc. In the USA, the semis are gone for months on end and need to be more self efficient.
4. In the GPs, the riders pretty much all have their own small motorhomes/caravans to hang out in. In the US, a lot of the teams have to support their riders inside their rigs. Locker areas, resting, watching tape, etc.
5. Teams are larger in the US, especially in some 250 teams with the amount of riders. Adding more gear, parts, etc.
6. GP teams are at their racers for a longer period of time/days, setup of their awnings / backdrops are different and more elaborate than in the US trucks. By going to the expanding trailers, the crew doesn't have to fly in as early and out as late as the driver can basically hit a button and do most of the setup.
There is Nothing new under the Sun - Ducati's' Glass Walled Transporter from the very early 70s :
And yes, I know it wasn't a Workshop as such.
Somewhere I've got pictures of it in Bologna (?) totally gridlocked by Fans after Paul Smart and Bruno Spaggiari went 1:2 at the 1972 Imola 200, in the 750 Desmo's first race.
A mate of mine currently has 3 real Green Frame 750SS's. Anyone who can start at around $350 / $400K ( for the 'lesser' one ), well, I can give you his contact details............ the Bastard won't give me one 😂. Though, he has given me a nice 900SS Belt engine to put into one of my frames - one day, though, hell may well freeze over before I get around to building it up.
NHRA drag racing lets you get just as close, and you don’t even need to give them a can.
So instead of a ropes off put you have a glass walled trailer that likely provides even more viewing opportunity? I just don't get the gripe here. If you say you want to look in on how teams operate and this would give you more ability to do so, what's the issue?
It's definitely less viewing ability and almost zero interactivity.
Expandable, the Dutch company who build these are setting up shop in the US.
Pit Row
You cannot see anything. the glass is tinted so you cannot see anything the mechanics are doing.
The only time the KRT glass bowl opens is when they need to start the bikes. They put the end of the bike out of the door, start the bike, rev it a bit, kill the engine and close the door again. No joke.
7. These teams don't have to drive through L.A.
Your local dirt track or high limit/world of outlaws.
Yup. I go to 20+ Lucas Oil/WOO events yearly, but the same ticket getting me into the general admission grandstands isn’t getting me within arms reach of the drivers, albeit pit passes are less $ than a SX ticket. I would argue the top athletes in SX/MX are a little more coveted than the average field in WOO so I don’t think the argument is apples to oranges.
Yeah, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs average racers.
Here’s the company making them.
https://www.expandable-trailers.com/products/pod
As a former race team mechanic, this would be a dream come true! No awning to put up and take down, climate control and no water/dust issues during the weekend.
Not F1 that's for sure. You can see them from 100 ft away if you're rich enough..
I saw those, or something very much like them , last week at a Build(ing) Expo in Sydney last week.
Pretty bloody schmick, but, for my properties in the Blue Mountains, and West of them, not 'fireproof' enough.
I'll be going up in the BMs when I sell up - I still can get a fast train to Sydney, while being in the Bush. But, the Fire regs in the BMs are Full On for 'new' builds or reno's - as they Need to be - so, a Container House company that has the Fire Regs sorted is the go for me. https://www.containerhomes.net.au/
I've already got a 60 x 60ft concrete platform done, plumbed, with (huge) Inground Water Tanks, so, their (or other like companies) stuff will do me. One 'wing' - a 40 + 20ft container size, will do for a workshop.
I think they are really neat.
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