I was watching the webb helmet cam of southwick and noticed they completely removed the switchback before buckley berm so now its just a straight away. I was wondering why tf they would take this iconic part out of the track so I looked around a bit and figured out they did it to put in a new vip seating area. Wtf! The tracks have all become way more straight than they used to be lots of pros complain about this how its making all the tracks super high speed cuz a lot of the switchbacks and slow sections have been straightened out.
Ironman went from probably top 2 coolest tracks on the entire circuit to removing the uphill triple, tighter back section, and adding the shitty woods section, and for mxon even removing the uphill skyshot table and now its a bottom of the pack track. They also said they made the changes for more spectator/vip areas.
Are we going to just remove all the cool shit in the entire series to squeeze in every single last vip we can get? Some tracks ppl already say theres so many ez ups around the track normal spectators cant even see the track. Normal people are getting priced out of everything and it seems like mx is going the same way. Then on top of that if we go and can find a spot to see the track now parts of the tracks are just being replaced with straight aways. Moto is one of the last things left that hasnt been completely enshitified yet, but is that the goal here too? Wtfffff.
Fucking hate it and one of the reasons I only go when its a special occasion anymore. Some tracks are better then others about it. Between that and the cost. Might hit a round or two now that AC222 is racing.
They don't care about us anymore....
Yeah it honestly bums me out, I wont have intentions of going to Ironman until its brought back to its former self.
Yeah I thought Ironman for MXoN completely sucked for viewing compared to Redbud. There was so much wasted space for VIPs. It wouldn't be bad if they hadn't jacked the prices of the VIP stuff up triple from what it was.
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Best deal on VIP was the Holeshot club at glen Helen! $300 got you parking all access special seating with live timing and scoring inside. Breakfast, In and out Burger for lunch and taco truck later in the day. It also got you into special areas around the track, pit passes, free shirt, special autograph signing and other door prizes.
Oh and did I mention all you can drink BEER!?!?
Going to play devil's advocate on this a little bit and prepare for the hate, but..... half of the VIP experience is what you get away from, not just what you get. I've been to plenty of nationals in my life with a general admission ticket but for the last several years I don't even consider it. There's always been drunks, debauchery, etc, but there also used to be some degree of common decency and respect for others that just isn't the case anymore. Chainsaw guy at high point is perfect example. The EZ ups everywhere are another. As long as the general admission crowd is this way the demand for VIP sections is only going to increase. I don't love it and I do feel for the vast majority of fans who are priced out and aren't the problem but I'm also not about to fight for a spot by the fence by chainsaw guy or deal with hammered drunk assholes who don't have any regard for anyone around them.
damn. Bud doesnt sound so bad after all.
Yeah but take an iconic part of a track away to make a few happy?
Naw, I don't think so.
Well, It looks like Buckley Blvd is not a VIP section. Regardless, I will gladly pay for a lunch buffet, bathroom access, drinks, shade and priority viewing to actually enjoy the event. I have been to numerous nationals and sitting in a lawn chair with a cooler in a dirt field surrounded by easy ups and being able to see a portion of the track is cool once or twice.....and twice I have been at Red Bud under the flag. Seems like plenty agree with me.
I get the appeal of a VIP section, you get space, shade, drinks, a seat, and the promoter gets more dollars. That said, I cannot imagine going to a national and sitting my ass under a tent all day. If I'm at a national I'm going to watch part of the race from every vantage point I can find. I want to see how these guys are tackling every section of the track. I'm there to see the riders, their technique, and their manipulation of the bike in small ways you will never see on tv. You can't do that from the VIP tents.
Completely agree with you on them changing tracks for VIP sections though.... Sounds like Southwick might actually be a highway this year...
You aren't handcuffed to the VIP Tent you are in. They include general admission so you can go wherever
If I'm not in the tent then why tf would I pay $500 for the privilege of sitting in it? I legit end up walking 20+ miles everytime I'm at a national because I'm constantly moving to see new parts of the track.
Because you have shade when you want it, a home base, lunch is covered, drinks etc. Lots of time between motos.....
Nope do not support that. Hate what's happened to ironman over the years.
I definitely don't hang out in the tent all day and usually walk as much of the track as you can during qualifying.
This is going away too. Insurance demands are moving us farther from the track. I was at Hangtown a few years back when a bike went thru/over the fence at Oak Tree Hill and damn near killed a guy. Now that fence is higher, and there is a 2nd layer farther back. Washougal is now covered in 6-8 foot chainlink and you can't get close or see shit. It's just no fun to deal with the hassle of access on entry/exit (especially at Washougal!) and then not be able to see anything. My couch is the best viewing spot there is, and I'm not happy about that.
But that's what is happening.
Remove cool stuff to make a few happy.
Theres different tiers of vip, the buckley blvd is under “preferred viewing” and its $220.52 (3x general admission) and sold out.
Whats honestly the most annoying part is that this is where the camel humps used to be after the switchbacks. They got rid of the camel humps for some reason like 10 years ago and now the switchbacks are gone this year. Add to that the frog pond going away and a looot of the interesting parts of the track are gone now. One year they added rollers there, but they havent come back. Can they not add something back here at least? If theyre going to get rid of the switchbacks AND the camel humps can they at least add the camel humps back? That would at least make up for it, but to just make it a flat short straight away is completely ridiculous. Watching it on webbs helmet cam it was honestly sad how uninteresting that section is now compared to even just last year.
I believe it was zacho on the pulp show a few weeks ago who was talking about how over the years all of the slower sections on the tracks have all been straightened out over time to where its all super high speed now and dangerous and theres hardly any sections left you have to tip toe through. This is how it happens.
I have not experienced that at Southwick or Unadilla. You can get really close to the track at Southwick. I remember being there a few years ago and I believe it was my wife's first time at a national, were standing to the right of the track right after the start before the left hander at the top of the hill and we had to jump out of the way because someone came flying off the track. He didn't actually hit the fence but he came damn close. Standing at the end of the start straight at Southwick is an amazing experience bc you are right up on the track and you have bikes thundering directly at you. That spot is a little sketchy if I'm being honest.
Pit Row
I am really hoping Redbud isn't a sea of EZ-UPS this year. Now the chain link fences are covered in sponsors, so you can't sit too low on the hills now. My wife and I use our fancy Redbud umbrellas as shade. lol
It was noticable at High Point that there were banks full of people and very few EZ-UPs on the fences, but the were all moved back higher up the hills.
That is way better, you want shade, no problem, but that shouldnt block anyone elses view, your ticket entitles you to the ground under you feet , not a 3mx3m square in everyones eyeline.
You forgot to mention that it also includes high-fiving Eli Tomac.
Yep, the best part about a national is you get to walk around and check out different sections of the track.
Our WPS rep told us they lost their dealer hospitality area due to VIP sections.
I miss the passes the Tucker Rocky reps would hand out to dealers. All day pit pass, you could go almost everywhere. We called them "God passes" lol
I miss the days when there were no such things as "pit passes". Everything was pretty much like a local race as far as access and there were seldom issues with people abusing/misbehaving the situation when I went.
I'm sure it will never go back to what it was, but I'm glad I got to enjoy it while it lasted. 👍
Oh when it was reasonable it was totally worth it. We did it at MXoN in 2018 then in 22 they jacked the price up more than triple. It was ridiculous. It was good but it wasn't that good.
this is what “ growing the sport “ means…..I get it, track owners/ promoters work hard and take on massive liability…This is trickle down or pay to play with MX sports….I heard 5$ to use porta potty and 1 dollar for every square of toilet paper…….water for sale..limited quantities for 25$ a bottle….I”ll be home watching on my Tv…maybe if weather is nice I ride out to watch Unadilla….
RIP Chuck sun jump
It's called "growing the sport"!
It is not about the experince, or local riders etc.... $$$ all that matters, same as everything else nowadays.
They take the best spots and half the time there is no one in these spots or very few.
The just in: some value things others don’t, debate over superiority of personal preferences ensues. More tonight at 9.
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