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Tulsa, OK
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I know this been talked about in the past. But, I wanted to see how it's been in different areas during this Summer and even in the Spring. With the exception of the big events, and State Series races. State races around here years ago would be 400-500 entries on average, now less than 200 mostly. The races at your local tracks, how's the number of race entries been this Summer? Spring? I know in OK, KS and MO they've all been down, and seem to be declining every year. These days it seems like 75 total entries for a local race is considered very good, and 50-60 can be the average many times. It was a lot of fun to race local events with good turnouts 2 or 3 weekends a month. Are your local track practice days getting good numbers, or is that going down too?
It just seems like our sport is in a big decline every year with no uptick in sight? The biggest classes are the little bikes, and Vet classes around here.
What's your thoughts guys with what you've seen this Summer, and the last couple years?
It just seems like our sport is in a big decline every year with no uptick in sight? The biggest classes are the little bikes, and Vet classes around here.
What's your thoughts guys with what you've seen this Summer, and the last couple years?
If you go to a track on a practice day around here, there's usually quite a bit of people there. Racing itself has just gotten too expensive. Plus, you're there from the ass crack of dawn till the sun is starting to go down. Who wants to do that on a Sunday when you have to drive an hour plus on the way home and go to work Monday? Tracks charge too much to race, charge membership fees to every series under the sun. You used to just grab your AMA card for the year and go to a track and race. Now there's so many classes with 5 people in each class and you're there all day. Why do that when you can pay 30 bucks, go to a track, and ride all day and go home when you want (practice days.)
There is one track that is thriving, its called East Bend Motorsports. They put on a hell of a series. I think they had 1700 members last year or something. They hold probably 30 races per year, prepped practice on Tuesday/Thursday nights and Saturday/Sundays when they aren't racing. Special awards/events at every race. They're doing it right.
The track is super safe, and they really cater to their target demographic - people who aren't professionals who want to bang bars and have a good time. My only complaint when I raced there was the track wasn't ripped very deep so by the end of the night it got super slick. But the owner doesn't beat around the bush, he preps the track so that 50s can have fun. If 50s can't have fun they don't open. Oh and the wait to sign up was out of control. Missed my practice. They could benefit from an online pre-registration...which is a good problem to have!
The Shop
Talked with the owner of South Fork MX and he was telling me how good East Bend is doing and was looking into doing night races and rides if he could get the lights sorted.
In eastern nc the small local race turn outs seem pretty good. D class is always the biggest because of sandbaggers in that class and all the classes above. D class winner can do all the jumps, c class qualifies for lorettas and can over jump the jumps and rail the corners. Really makes it un-enjoyable for people just starting out.
Here is why I don't go.
They charge $10 per person just to get through the gate riders included. Charging the entertainment to provide the entertainment. So if you bring your family or friends (you know to make it enjoyable day) you are already out $40
Sign up is $25 but wait they run 3 seasons a year each requiring a membership fee, another $20
So that's $85 not counting fuel costs for bike and truck and not counting eating breakfast and dinner on the drive.
They start sign up at 7:00 and practice at 9:00 so if you are like me and don't have an enclosed trailer that means getting up at about 6:00 to load and get there. And they are usually done by 1-2:00 so you can tell the promoters really don't care about being there longer than they have to be. They could easily move the start time back.
So very early morning, about $100 to ride 2 5min practices with the A class riders then 2 5 lap motos with the D class who's only hope to win is to sky the big jump and then slam into everyone in the corners.
The only benifit to racing is the track is awesome. Not that you get much time to enjoy it anyways.
I would much rather pay the $20-$25 to go practice from 10:00-5:00 ride all I want, relax all I want and not have to worry about some squid t-boning me and destroying by bike just so he can get a plastic trophy.
Pit Row
You are right though, when the sun sets and the moisture starts coming out it can get slick.
MHO
1. fewer local places to ride for most
2. Cost to enter the sport is high and so is cost of ownership.
Example
$11000 bikes
$500 boots
$500 helmets
Yes there are deals and closeouts, but a parent can get their kid into baseball or basketball for 1% of what it'd cost compared to dirt biking.
So, no feeder program....no future parents getting their kids into dirt biking.
The decline will continue and increase with time.
The big question is
What can be done?
Racing is a shitty ROI no matter how you look at it. Lots of money for 20 minutes of ride time.....I'll stick to being a professional practice hero.
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