Posts
815
Joined
1/25/2015
Location
Milton, WV
US
Edited Date/Time
3/3/2016 9:37pm
So what do you all think about the state of the amateur racing today? It has evolved into 30 to 40 classes or more sometimes. Mostly because of money but I would guess partly because people want to say they won a race.
What do you all think is best? More race classes or less classes per race day?
My opinion is less is better, much more fun, and provides for a shorter race day.
What do you all think is best? More race classes or less classes per race day?
My opinion is less is better, much more fun, and provides for a shorter race day.
Fast and slow big bikes for small turnout. Long motos, or a lot of motos. Would seperate the men from the boys.
Id rather get 5th out of 30 than 2nd out of 4.
I guess everyone wants their trophy though so there has to be 60 classes per race day.
The Shop
I mostly ran two classes, which really makes the day go by faster. Occasionally I ran 3, which was ok....but I could end up with back to back motos.
Expert and Am classes only..... The C class was invented only because Joe Beginner wanted a trophy.
Now you have lifetime C riders because the AMA is afraid to move anybody up. All because Joe Beginner's Mom spent their life savings on bikes, homeschooling and sending them to Mudflaps training facility, just to get them a LL's title.
Most of the superstar kids have two bikes so they can run the 250 and 450, 30 plus guys are still young enough now to race with the A/B/C guys, I'm 58 and every now and then race in the younger vet classes, I still race two classes I think someone should try this, we can get more track time this way
I think C riders should get 10 plus 2, B riders 15 plus 2, A riders 20 plus 2, vets 15 plus 2 as should the 125 and 85 classes 50cc and 65cc 4 laps it would be worth it to race
Then:
3 classes max per bike size 125/250/500 beginner/intermediate/pro then you had vet amateur and vet pro. You win a couple races in beginner, and boom, just like that you are an intermediate, win a couple those and boom, you're a pro now.
*When I was below the pro class my entire existence was to get to the pro class as fast as humanly possible, it was a goal shared by the majority of the area at that time, some made it but many didn't, that's life for ya. However, and this was in the 80's mind you, things were simpler. We even had an initiation for the guys that turned pro got thrown in the pond by the track, it was your right of passage that you earned being a pro.
Now:
everyone needs their own class so that they can "win" and feel good about themselves. every peewee, 60, and 80 rider got a trophy(wtf?) I still don't understand the thinking behind doing this and I am still to this day not entirely certain what we are trying to instill in kids that get something for doing nothing more than sucking oxygen..
I even seen just this week where my old track actually had the class "vet expert B" when someone figures out what the F*** that is then you are smarter than me.
I am cynical, I am old, I am ornery, and I resist change on this subject terribly. The beginning of the end is when it became lucrative to be an amateur and get factory rides. And I do understand that to a certain extent that you wouldn't want to jeopardize that by turning pro at a local level.
I don't claim to have answers, I just bitch I guess. I do know shit was simpler, and more fun back then. I did my part , I had a successful local pro stretch and then I ran races for the club for quite a few years, It got to where it wasn't fun anymore and was all about winning without effort because of a lack of competition due to watered down class structure. It drove me away and I haven't been back in 15 years, literally.
My first and deepest love is motocross, have the medical history to prove it. You can never go back they say, but I can tell you it was way easier then.
I just can't justify paying an entry fee and $40-50 per class for 4 practice laps and two 5 lap motos. I can spend $25 and go to the same track on practice days and get 20-30 laps in and the lines are not all blown to shit. If it was more like 7-8 laps or 15min+1 or something I could justify it more.
Fun is racing your dad in the over 40 class.. plus having my kids racing too.
Cool, in 75 did you even need insurence? Gas 40 cent, bikes 500, rubber band for starting gate free
edit what im saying is combine to many and you hurt attendence. I.E vet c is one of the popular classes but if you combine it with vet A it doesn't work. A lot of guys don't start til late 20s and early 30s And shouldnt be on track with experts or pros so they stay home or go somewhere else
And then you get people complaining about people in other classes messing up their race. In my opinion everyone is dealing with the same scenario of racing with other classes. Kids need more experience going off the line in full gates except for a handful of amatuer races a year during qualifying, regional, and loretta season.
Pit Row
Its a real shame and a lot of tracks are gone and some just do a limited practice schedule. Imo more could be done to bring new riders in but thats another topic
Plus to sit there and watch 4 50cc kids take 20 minutes to do 3 laps on an abbreviated track borders on ridiculous
And I agree with you maybe the vets should be divided into A/B/C but what I was trying to say was let them all start together all the 30 plus together then 40 together, scoring shouldn't be to much of a problem most tracks are using (at least around here) transponders
1) less classes and shorter race weekends
2) allow all local motorcycle shops to setup for FREE and sell parts or make repairs
3) run a $20 two stroke class (split it up by novice or intermediate if you have enough riders)
4) offer bike washing for a fee
5) sell better food
6) advertise your races on all available free sites and shops
7) communicate better with your customers by internet and on race day by having a schedule posted early
All of these things are basic in nature. Nothing difficult to do. The riders would thank you by paying you to race!
Tracks do suck at advertising. I'll give you that. Just dump it on facebook and it'll advertise itself...NOT.
The less class model has been tried. Nobody shows up. Millenial mentality. We all need a special class to feel fair and win. (I'm a millenial) of course lots of millenials my age don't have money to race. They're busy serving beers as a waiter and trying to keep there head above water after they make the student loan payment each month. Point being there were quite a few classes in the 90s early 00s and attendance wasn't suffering. I don't think its a number of class issue with racing.
I remember all those 50 classes, they would run them up the hills and it took forever lol. Some good ideas in here
Food doesn't matter? I have seen a track that made a bundle on food! If you do the food correctly any big event can make money off of food.
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