Gate fees on race day. ?

Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 4/27/2018 9:08am
4/27/2018 9:08am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2018 9:18am
Bry145 wrote:
Why invest in a dying and mismanaged sport? With the generational turnover that is coming, there won't be much local moto in the near future. Charging...
Why invest in a dying and mismanaged sport? With the generational turnover that is coming, there won't be much local moto in the near future.

Charging $100 for a day of racing and running 30+ classes (with 8 minute motos) only pounded nails in the coffin.

Disagree if you like, but local moto is in trouble.






Hammer 663s wrote:
I'll disagree. At PIR Thursday Night Motocross last night there were over 320 rider entries. 16 on the gate in 65 beginner, and over 20 for...
I'll disagree. At PIR Thursday Night Motocross last night there were over 320 rider entries. 16 on the gate in 65 beginner, and over 20 for 50cc classes. Heck, there were 22 on my 40+ gate. Last week there were 350+ riders. $8 gate fee, $22 a class, pretty short practices and motos but a great facility and well managed.

Local moto is not dead in the PNW. Maybe it's because 6 months of the year all we can do is dream of moto due to weather.

Hammer 663s
Wow, that is the cheapest I have heard of. If he pulled half the riders I can't imagine he'd break even.

So what is fair pricing for what we do, and does it matter how the fees add up?

If you want to pay once for a days racing what's fair? $25, $50, $75, $100?

Why do SXS's typically pay way more, like $200 to ride on the same dirt, and mini's pay less than big bikes?
Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 4/27/2018 9:16am
4/27/2018 9:16am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2018 9:18am
Johnny Depp wrote:
Wow, that is the cheapest I have heard of. If he pulled half the riders I can't imagine he'd break even. So what is fair pricing...
Wow, that is the cheapest I have heard of. If he pulled half the riders I can't imagine he'd break even.

So what is fair pricing for what we do, and does it matter how the fees add up?

If you want to pay once for a days racing what's fair? $25, $50, $75, $100?

Why do SXS's typically pay way more, like $200 to ride on the same dirt, and mini's pay less than big bikes?
They've been running this series since 1966 so I guess they know what they are doing. It's part of a large motorsports complex (road course and drag strip) that I believe is actually city-owned so maybe they have an umbrella insurance policy for the whole place? Might save some $$$ that way. It's also a pretty small track on a limited footprint, so not as much work to maintain/prep compared to a Hangtown or Glen Helen.

$30 for a night of moto is really inexpensive. I probably only get 20-25 minutes of actual track time, but I'm ok with that since they have good food, great beer, and lots of pretty girls. Smile

Mike
Evoracer
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Evoracer 4/27/2018 9:30am
4/27/2018 9:30am
I like racing REM on occasion, bit the bullet and became a member. Discounted to $15 at the gate, $40 race fee.
Zesiger 112
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Zesiger 112 4/27/2018 9:39am
4/27/2018 9:39am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2018 9:53am
I don't race my local series because of the fees they charge. That and they start at 7am.
$10 per person at the gate
$20 membership fee for each "season" they break up the year into 2-3 season and charge a membership for each one.
$25 entry fee.

2 5 minute practices
2 5-6 lap races.
So it's $55 if you don't bring anyone with you just so you can sit next to your bike all day and ride the track for maybe 15 minutes with "racers" who think making contact is necessary to pass.
I'll stick to the $15 unlimited weekend riding.

The Shop

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jsmi33966
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jsmi33966 4/27/2018 10:14am
4/27/2018 10:14am
Where I live tracks do not make money. Just pay it to support the people who keep the sport alive. The most unappreciated people in motocross are the track owners.
Indy mxer
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Indy mxer 4/27/2018 10:24am
4/27/2018 10:24am
jsmi33966 wrote:
Where I live tracks do not make money. Just pay it to support the people who keep the sport alive. The most unappreciated people in motocross...
Where I live tracks do not make money. Just pay it to support the people who keep the sport alive. The most unappreciated people in motocross are the track owners.
I would have to disagree with you just a bit. I'm sure they make some money.
But as I said, not many are getting rich doing it Unless you host an outdoor national.
Broughton859
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Broughton859 4/27/2018 2:52pm
4/27/2018 2:52pm
I've been told that the gate fees were to cover the insurance cost for everyone that is on property which is why they charge people that aren't riding as well. Then the entry fees cover the cost associated to racing and the track. The owners I've talked to definitely aren't getting rich but I'm glad they do it.
KMC440
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KMC440 4/27/2018 3:01pm
4/27/2018 3:01pm
Well how do all of you riders measure yourselves against other riders ?

HMMMmmmmmmm ?
Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 4/27/2018 3:31pm
4/27/2018 3:31pm
KMC440 wrote:
Well how do all of you riders measure yourselves against other riders ?

HMMMmmmmmmm ?
Easy. I just watch them and think to myself "I could kick his @ss". Then I avoid them on the track.

Mike
Bry145
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Bry145 4/28/2018 1:34pm
4/28/2018 1:34pm
Hammer 663s wrote:
I'll disagree. At PIR Thursday Night Motocross last night there were over 320 rider entries. 16 on the gate in 65 beginner, and over 20 for...
I'll disagree. At PIR Thursday Night Motocross last night there were over 320 rider entries. 16 on the gate in 65 beginner, and over 20 for 50cc classes. Heck, there were 22 on my 40+ gate. Last week there were 350+ riders. $8 gate fee, $22 a class, pretty short practices and motos but a great facility and well managed.

Local moto is not dead in the PNW. Maybe it's because 6 months of the year all we can do is dream of moto due to weather.

Hammer 663s
I'm glad your local series is doing well, but I suspect other areas are losing participants.

Do we have any data for nationwide moto participation in 1995/2000/2005/2010/2015/2020(projected)?

I'd pay $100 to race if there is one Vet class that runs 2 30+2 motos with a 15 minute practice.

Or if $100 allows you to run as many class as you are eligible for.

If short motos and 30 classes are the norm, I'll go ride as much as I please at a practice track. That passes the cost/benefit analysis in spades. Sitting around all day for 8 minute motos and spending $100? Not so much...

Bry145
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Bry145 4/28/2018 2:02pm
4/28/2018 2:02pm
KMC440 wrote:
Well how do all of you riders measure yourselves against other riders ?

HMMMmmmmmmm ?
Drop the leathers and have the cute scoring girl bust out a ruler!

And of course post the results for the local pit tootsies and single moto moms.

Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 4/28/2018 3:56pm
4/28/2018 3:56pm
Hammer 663s wrote:
I'll disagree. At PIR Thursday Night Motocross last night there were over 320 rider entries. 16 on the gate in 65 beginner, and over 20 for...
I'll disagree. At PIR Thursday Night Motocross last night there were over 320 rider entries. 16 on the gate in 65 beginner, and over 20 for 50cc classes. Heck, there were 22 on my 40+ gate. Last week there were 350+ riders. $8 gate fee, $22 a class, pretty short practices and motos but a great facility and well managed.

Local moto is not dead in the PNW. Maybe it's because 6 months of the year all we can do is dream of moto due to weather.

Hammer 663s
Bry145 wrote:
I'm glad your local series is doing well, but I suspect other areas are losing participants. Do we have any data for nationwide moto participation in...
I'm glad your local series is doing well, but I suspect other areas are losing participants.

Do we have any data for nationwide moto participation in 1995/2000/2005/2010/2015/2020(projected)?

I'd pay $100 to race if there is one Vet class that runs 2 30+2 motos with a 15 minute practice.

Or if $100 allows you to run as many class as you are eligible for.

If short motos and 30 classes are the norm, I'll go ride as much as I please at a practice track. That passes the cost/benefit analysis in spades. Sitting around all day for 8 minute motos and spending $100? Not so much...

Are you up for 2-30's or would 3-20's be a better solution? What if you weren't racing just Vet's, but riders that run the same speed with a full gate?
SoCalMX70
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SoCalMX70 4/28/2018 4:08pm
4/28/2018 4:08pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2018 4:09pm
I've been having a grand time racing with a vet club (OTHG). 20 min open practice, 10 min class practice, 2x 16 min motos. I'm just a novice, experts get 18 or 20 min motos.

Gate fees + race fees? Yup, but I'm glad to pay it.
ob
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ob 4/28/2018 9:50pm
4/28/2018 9:50pm
I really don't like the multiple day races. Especially when you can't pay a gate fee for the days you race, only one big gate fee for all the days. Then they think it's cool to give you three motos but that leaves one day with only one moto to race and you still payed gate fees for every day of the event. With $75-100 entry fee. Takes to much of my beer money.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 4/28/2018 10:47pm
4/28/2018 10:47pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2018 10:48pm
I had 3500 members from all over the NW at the track I ran ( indoor ) we only came out ahead 4 months out of the year. Broke even for about 3 months. And couldn't make enough to keep the lights on the other 5 months.

Year to year......we really didn't make anything. In fact we lost money some years. Thankfully a very successful construction company owned it , owner's liked to ride.....and they covered the debt.

1 year after I left , it got shut down when the economy tanked. 2007 I think.
Bry145
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Bry145 4/29/2018 2:40pm
4/29/2018 2:40pm
Hammer 663s wrote:
I'll disagree. At PIR Thursday Night Motocross last night there were over 320 rider entries. 16 on the gate in 65 beginner, and over 20 for...
I'll disagree. At PIR Thursday Night Motocross last night there were over 320 rider entries. 16 on the gate in 65 beginner, and over 20 for 50cc classes. Heck, there were 22 on my 40+ gate. Last week there were 350+ riders. $8 gate fee, $22 a class, pretty short practices and motos but a great facility and well managed.

Local moto is not dead in the PNW. Maybe it's because 6 months of the year all we can do is dream of moto due to weather.

Hammer 663s
Bry145 wrote:
I'm glad your local series is doing well, but I suspect other areas are losing participants. Do we have any data for nationwide moto participation in...
I'm glad your local series is doing well, but I suspect other areas are losing participants.

Do we have any data for nationwide moto participation in 1995/2000/2005/2010/2015/2020(projected)?

I'd pay $100 to race if there is one Vet class that runs 2 30+2 motos with a 15 minute practice.

Or if $100 allows you to run as many class as you are eligible for.

If short motos and 30 classes are the norm, I'll go ride as much as I please at a practice track. That passes the cost/benefit analysis in spades. Sitting around all day for 8 minute motos and spending $100? Not so much...

Johnny Depp wrote:
Are you up for 2-30's or would 3-20's be a better solution? What if you weren't racing just Vet's, but riders that run the same speed...
Are you up for 2-30's or would 3-20's be a better solution? What if you weren't racing just Vet's, but riders that run the same speed with a full gate?
I think 2 30s would suffice and 3 20s would burn too much time staging and such.

I'd be happy with a full gate of all the Vet classes from 25 to 50. This will never happen, but would provide a lot of track time and value. It would make the sport more about endurance and race-craft rather than raw speed and risk-taking.

But of course everyone wants a chance to win, hence the 30+ number of classes. This dilutes/waters down value for the participants.

There is no quick fix. People need to compromise and work together to devise solutions.



Bry145
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Bry145 4/29/2018 2:43pm
4/29/2018 2:43pm
SoCalMX70 wrote:
I've been having a grand time racing with a vet club (OTHG). 20 min open practice, 10 min class practice, 2x 16 min motos. I'm just...
I've been having a grand time racing with a vet club (OTHG). 20 min open practice, 10 min class practice, 2x 16 min motos. I'm just a novice, experts get 18 or 20 min motos.

Gate fees + race fees? Yup, but I'm glad to pay it.
This is economics at work. Provide adequate value and people will pay.

I was at such an event at Sunrise in 2013, but just rode the Vet track for practice as the LL Area was the next day at Comp Edge. If I move back to CA I'd surely hit one of these races.

jtetchila1
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jtetchila1 4/30/2018 6:11pm
4/30/2018 6:11pm
I loved the Bakersfield track that the Linton guys ran.

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Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 5/1/2018 11:02am
5/1/2018 11:02am
Bry145 wrote:
I'm glad your local series is doing well, but I suspect other areas are losing participants. Do we have any data for nationwide moto participation in...
I'm glad your local series is doing well, but I suspect other areas are losing participants.

Do we have any data for nationwide moto participation in 1995/2000/2005/2010/2015/2020(projected)?

I'd pay $100 to race if there is one Vet class that runs 2 30+2 motos with a 15 minute practice.

Or if $100 allows you to run as many class as you are eligible for.

If short motos and 30 classes are the norm, I'll go ride as much as I please at a practice track. That passes the cost/benefit analysis in spades. Sitting around all day for 8 minute motos and spending $100? Not so much...

Johnny Depp wrote:
Are you up for 2-30's or would 3-20's be a better solution? What if you weren't racing just Vet's, but riders that run the same speed...
Are you up for 2-30's or would 3-20's be a better solution? What if you weren't racing just Vet's, but riders that run the same speed with a full gate?
Bry145 wrote:
I think 2 30s would suffice and 3 20s would burn too much time staging and such. I'd be happy with a full gate of all...
I think 2 30s would suffice and 3 20s would burn too much time staging and such.

I'd be happy with a full gate of all the Vet classes from 25 to 50. This will never happen, but would provide a lot of track time and value. It would make the sport more about endurance and race-craft rather than raw speed and risk-taking.

But of course everyone wants a chance to win, hence the 30+ number of classes. This dilutes/waters down value for the participants.

There is no quick fix. People need to compromise and work together to devise solutions.



What about a Triple Crown? 1-10 min., 1-20 min., 1-30 minute?

Don't let the Staging time concern your decision in my case, since There will be very few ride groups (not "classes") .

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