Replying to Scracha's Wanganui Whine

[ttelp15]

I am one of the organisers of the Boxing Day races in Wanganui. After being directed to Scracha's Whine by a friend, may I just put my view across. Yes, some area's we were/are lacking. Signage etc. But then you go on to whine about no water (and not for drinking?). Plenty of the business premises where the pits are located had taps on the side of their buildings. No electricity! We're using public and private land for pits. Some people had access to power by friendly private business owners, some didn't. No rubbish bins - a fair comment! We've had loads of feedback on this already. There definatley weren't enough of them. BP not open for fuel - this may come as a surprise to you but we (the organisers) do not own or run the service station! What the owner decides to do on Boxing Day is entirely his/her choice. Srutineers to come to you! Think about it - what sort of chaos would it have caused if scrutineers had to go round and round the pits looking for bikes that hadn't yet been done. And as for having to push up a slope to get done. Sorry - I'll get that kind business owner who let us use his property for srutineering to redevelop his site so it's level with the road for next year! No race program - yes there was. Massive gaps between classes - depending on what you rode I guess. Some riders had to go back to back, others didn't. Practice of two sessions a waste of time - If we gave everyone one longer practice, and then someone took you out on the first lap of that practice session so you missed it, would you be saying that 2 sessions are still a waste of time? I think not. F1 guys out in 600 practice - Yes there was, but when they were spotted, we black flagged them out of that session.
And your comment of "crashes weren't the reason for the majority of the delays". I'm sorry, but they were. We, as organisers, cannot control who crashes, and when. Crashes are part of racing, and yes, they do delay the programe. It's unfortunate but it happens. Some take a long time to clear up. Are you aware that one of the crashes resulted in the paramedics insisting on a tarpoline being held up around the scene, as what had happened was pretty messy. Would you prefer it if we just scraped up the downed riders and threw them over the bales? Just so the time table could be kept??!!
I agree with one of your other points - too many classes. The trimming of classes is already underway, some of them obvious, but 1 might come as a bit of a surprise to people.
Another point that some people have brought up - Superpole. Some liked it, others hated it. It was a new idea we tried. Will we do it again? Maybe - maybe not, but if we do it will be different.
We do appreciate the feedback from riders and spectators alike, and obviously some of you thought it was the worst race meeting of any kind you had ever attended. A big call, but everyone sees things differently I guess. If anyone wants to make more comments/feedback, good or bad, please do so. Without feedback, everything will stagnate - and in the long run, everyone will suffer. Please log on to the Cemetery Circuit website (cemeterycircuit.co.nz) and use the "contact" button to do so.

[White trash]

Good on ya for taking the points on board and also taking the time to respond. It's better than I ever got.

I like the idea of Super Pole, pity it didn't work quite as well as envisaged and that's the risk of trying new things. Some will work, others wont.

Looking forward to seing what is introduced/scrapped for this years meeting. You guys do a brilliant job and I'm sure by and large everyone is appreciative.

[Quasievil]

I agree with one of your other points - too many classes. The trimming of classes is already underway, some of them obvious, but 1 might come as a bit of a surprise to people..

Yeah get rid of a few pesky Sportsbike classes, like F1 F2 F3 and throw in some more Motards, hey they won the day for the spectators


where is me popcorn maker ???

[ajturbo]

it is interesting what you say about too many races, we at the VIC are in the same boat....

but do i like Quasi's idea???......somehow i think he is pushing his own cause... hahahahah good one matey!!!

but i think a whole program of just buckets and motards would do the trick...!!!

[FROSTY]

ttelp. Thank you for being openminded enough to respond in such a positive manner.
Personally I'd like to see ALL motards and buckets removed from road racing (heheehe kiddding AJ/quazi)
I must say there are two things stopping me from attending whangas. 1 being when it is. strictly being selfish cos i want to spend christmas with my family.
The other is its a lobng way to travel for 20 minutes of track time.

[quickbuck]

Yeah get rid of a few pesky Sportsbike classes, like F1 F2 F3 and throw in some more Motards, hey they won the day for the spectators


where is me popcorn maker ???

Quasi... You realise it is part of the ROAD Racing Calendar eh?

I must admit, the Motards have been a good spectacle of late... wonder why that was?
Mr A brought something special to Wanganui last year too... shame he wasn't challenged... This year though, different story.
Good on the boys for stepping up to the Italians (Where they could).

[quickbuck]

i

but i think a whole program of just buckets and motards would do the trick...!!!

Hey, NOW you are talking..... I would love to show the peps how i can do a sub minute lap on a 50! ;)
Well, I reckon I would go freking close.... just the hill up through the cemetry I would have a few problems... unless I lost 20kg or so.

[quickbuck]

ttelp. Thank you for being openminded enough to respond in such a positive manner.
Personally I'd like to see ALL motards and buckets removed from road racing (heheehe kiddding AJ/quazi)
I must say there are two things stopping me from attending whangas. 1 being when it is. strictly being selfish cos i want to spend christmas with my family.
The other is its a lobng way to travel for 20 minutes of track time.

Frosty, I think the answers are:
1) Spend Christmas down here, and bring the Family.... Great Holiday.
2) Enter more than one class..... One of our riders was in 3... Freak I was a busy lad!

As an idea... actually CAN F1.
Mr Shirrifs has demonstrated that a 600 is as fast as a 1000, and even a 750 around there in the past.

As Mr Robert Taylor said to me on Boxing Day though, it was because of the suspenders.... not the make or size of bike...
Nice Robert. Great talking to you there....

[BMWST?]

i would love to get the whiners to bloody run a meeting....

[quickbuck]

i would love to get the whiners to bloody run a meeting....

Ummm, I would if there wasn't a race team to run....
(yes, I know you wern't directing it at me specifically).

Oh, and to clarify, i have actually run race meetings closed to the Public.
Yes, got some "feedback on things we could have done better"
Found that very rewarding and look forward to improving the meeting.

[Quasievil]

you realise that Motards run in the road racing calendar eh ..............

[quickbuck]

you realise that Motards run in the road racing calendar eh ..............

That is the bit that has always puzzled me ;)

[Biggles08]

Motards....schmotards I say! eeh heheh:bleh:<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

[Rob Taylor]

We had a great time....Ok a big hold up happened but thats racing...Up hill for scrutineering ,never noticed,,,no rubbish bins,yea well we took our rubbish with us,,,maybe another food/drink outlet for the riders/crew but otherwise well done guys a well organised event as usual....

[Kickaha]

But then you go on to whine about no water (and not for drinking?). Plenty of the business premises where the pits are located had taps on the side of their buildings

Wasn't there a truck refilling water bottles in the pits last year?


- I'll get that kind business owner who let us use his property for srutineering to redevelop his site so it's level with the road for next year!

Shout him enough piss and he probably would


No race program - yes there was.

Yes there was but they weren't available until after practice had started and at that point we didn't even know where we were in the practice/race order



And your comment of "crashes weren't the reason for the majority of the delays". I'm sorry, but they were. We, as organisers, cannot control who crashes, and when. Crashes are part of racing, and yes, they do delay the programe.

It would have been nice to have been kept informed as we heard nothing over the pa system, something along the lines of another twat on a 600 has trowelled himself and there will be a delay of xxx while we scrape him up would be fine


Would you prefer it if we just scraped up the downed riders and threw them over the bales? Just so the time table could be kept??!!

Yes thanks


I agree with one of your other points - too many classes. The trimming of classes is already underway, some of them obvious, but 1 might come as a bit of a surprise to people.

Without the crashes and delays I don't think the number of classes would cause to much of a problem


Another point that some people have brought up - Superpole. Some liked it, others hated it. It was a new idea we tried. Will we do it again? Maybe - maybe not, but if we do it will be different.

Hated it myself as to me it was just another delay in what turned out to be a very long day I also talked to a few spectators I knew who thought it added nothing to the event


If anyone wants to make more comments/feedback, good or bad, please do so.

Yes, don't drop the flag so fast, it us caught out in race 2:bleh:

Thought you'd sold the LCR you've got listed in your profile? or is it still available?

[Grumpy Gnomb]

good on you for running it and if people only like to complain why dont they do one and see what fun organising events for other peoples enjoyment is like

[gixerracer]

i guess he want be back then

[old fartz]

we had a great day the toilets were clean by us there was no water truck this year but we carry 40ltrs in the truck so no problem,the only thing we found hard was no shade or very on the dummy grid a open tent would have been great.

[Kickaha]

the only thing we found hard was no shade or very on the dummy grid a open tent would have been great.

Sidecarbob suggested a couple of the tents like they use for prizegiving on the dummy grid would be the go

[jellywrestler]

ttlep15 Great to see your response your team put a great event on. I appreciate all the hard work done and glad you're not taking this whining to heart. And by the way if your check out with terralink maps there's around 27 service stations between where scracha lives and the pits, all will give you bag for your rubbish if you buy something.....

spyda

[Kickaha]

I'm not sure about the sidecar commentator either,he was being very unkind to my rider, something about pies?:whistle:

[White trash]

i guess he want be back then

"Wont" is spelt W O N T you idiot.

[MIXONE]

From a spectators point of view it was the usual great day.Superpole was a bit pointless but the crash delays could be avoided if you guys just stopped crashing!

[ajturbo]

"Wont" is spelt W O N T you idiot.

have you counted his fingers??? lol

[scracha]

I am one of the organisers of the Boxing Day races in Wanganui. After being directed to Scracha's Whine by a friend, may I just put my view across. Yes,

Thanks for the response, not spitting the dummy and taking my comments as they were intended.



some area's we were/are lacking. Signage etc. But then you go on to whine about no water (and not for drinking?). Plenty of the business premises where the pits are located had taps on the side of their buildings.

But I did a "man" look and couldn't find any taps.




No electricity! We're using public and private land for pits. Some people had access to power by friendly private business owners, some didn't. No rubbish bins - a fair comment! We've

Hey, if I whine about 20 things and just one of them is improved then its a result no?



BP not open for fuel - this may come as a surprise to you but we (the organisers) do not own or run the service station!

This wasn't actually a whine directed at the organisers. Perhaps the owner could be informed that if they opened for an hour on Christmas day during scrutineering they'd make a shit load of pesos.



Srutineers to come to you! Think about it - what sort of chaos would it have caused if scrutineers had to go round and round the pits looking for bikes that hadn't yet been done. And as

Scruts circulate pits once with their nice stickers, also checking gear and fire extinguishers. If bike is missed/fails then they go to scrutineering as normal.



two sessions a waste of time - If we gave everyone one longer practice, and then someone took you out on the first lap of that practice session so you missed it, would you be saying that 2 sessions are still a waste of time? I think not.

It's happened to me and that's just the way the cookie crumbles. Organisers have let me go and practise with another class when it's happened. I honestly think 1 practice of 6 or 8 laps would save a hell of a lot of time but its your meeting.



F1 guys out in 600 practice - Yes there was, but when they were spotted, we black flagged them out of that session.

Fair call. Didn't know that.



Another point that some people have brought up - Superpole. Some liked it, others hated it. It was a new idea we tried. Will we do it again? Maybe - maybe not, but if we do it will be different.

That's a tricky one. Track is to short to do 20s between riders. What about next rider goes out for warmup lap 20s after previous rider passes pit lane entrance on their race lap or would that be too dangerous?

Lack of pit passes seemed to be the other main gripe.



Guess I'll be getting rotten tomatoes thrown at me next year.

[ttelp15]

Thanks for your input Scracha. We've (myself and a few of the other organisers) have already started going through some of the feed back like yours. We'll do our best to take everything that everyone has mentioned too us on board, and make changes as a result of those. Obviously we'll never keep everyone happy, as what some people like/want is at complete odds to what others want/like.
And rest assured we are working on another form of pit pass format for competitors and their crew.

[quickbuck]

And rest assured we are working on another form of pit pass format for competitors and their crew.

I like the sound of this bit!

To add to it, there may well be an opportunity to have a sort of semi closed pits.
Like an area where the public can view the bikes and action in there, but by and large don't get to wander right through the tented areas, or indeed the path of the bikes exiting the pits.
May well be a little difficult in the (donated) space available, but worth a thought?

[wharfy]

"Wont" is spelt W O N T you idiot.

"won't" - apostrophe I believe :)

[Trudes]

I like the sound of this bit!

To add to it, there may well be an opportunity to have a sort of semi closed pits.
Like an area where the public can view the bikes and action in there, but by and large don't get to wander right through the tented areas, or indeed the path of the bikes exiting the pits.
May well be a little difficult in the (donated) space available, but worth a thought?

That's such a good point! It's nice that the public can feel 'involved' however it is a pain in the arse to have to watch all your tools and gear etc like a hawk just incase some unknown picks something up and wanders off with it.... temptation is too much for some people. It would be nice to think we can trust people, but the reality is you just can't, and there isn't always someone about to keep an eye on your gear. JMO.

[gixerracer]

yea Jimmy [won't] who fuckn stuped now

[White trash]

yeah Jimmy [won't] who's fucking stupid now

Fixed

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[roadracingoldfart]

Thanks for your input Scracha. We've (myself and a few of the other organisers) have already started going through some of the feed back like yours. We'll do our best to take everything that everyone has mentioned too us on board, and make changes as a result of those. Obviously we'll never keep everyone happy, as what some people like/want is at complete odds to what others want/like.
And rest assured we are working on another form of pit pass format for competitors and their crew.


As a previous rider at Wanganui (stuff the bloody" H" ) i would prefer the pits in the rail siding area as it was many years ago.( Taupo Quay adjacent to the present dummy grid. ) There was alot more room and its flat as well. Security was eased by the single gate entry / exit and the dummy grid / race calls were not clashing with the spectators commentary audio system. A bonus was the sun didnt burn your ass off in the arvo as the building shades us. The road used now was also utilised and the fenced pit area next to Suzuki was mainly occupied by sidecars if memory serves me.
One thing i will point out is pits are for bikes , get the car / ute , truck / trailer and move it out of the way ( unless its a enclosed trailer and used as such for a bike. That way more room is created and the muddle of bikes is generally more in a formation condusive to move between .
Public in the pits ? definately, - stop that and the closeness of the street race will be lost, many spectators come because of the closeness of the racing and the access to the pit area to re-live the past or to dream of one day doing the same themselves. I would hate to see the public sealed out of the pits.
As for pit passes the simplist remedy is to post the passes to the rider on entry confirmation and then the rider can dish them to the crew. that way the crew can have Xmas day with the family and then come later on Boxing Day( before ractime ) and be ready to crew , assist , run around for the racer.
I was a spectator this year and got fed up with carrying an empty coke can around from Rob's corner to the pits so i just dumped it in the same corner all the other rubish was already gathering in. Even the caravans had no bins of any kind by the pit gates which was quite slack really.

Ive been going to Wanganui out of habit and have only missed 2 meetings in 23 years , i love it and i truly believe its a challenging track and as such the amount of crashes are remarkably low .

My 2 cents worth anyhow ,
Paul.

[roadracingoldfart]

yea Jimmy [won't] who fuckn stuped now

Bloody Plumbers ........

[JayRacer37]

Yeah get rid of a few pesky Sportsbike classes, like F1 F2 F3 and throw in some more Motards, hey they won the day for the spectators


where is me popcorn maker ???

We can get heaps of motard classes, maybe we can have a floating compitetion with them in the river

[scrivy]

yeah, Jimmy's fucken stupid now


???? Is that it?

[sidecar bob]

I have absolutely no complaints about said event.
My favourite part was that fantastic bloke that was starting the races in the figure hugging lycra!!
Unfortunately the all girl sidecar team had major problems getting off the line because they were distracted by his awesome six pack.

[Drew]

Frosty, I think the answers are:
1) Spend Christmas down here, and bring the Family.... Great Holiday.
2) Enter more than one class..... One of our riders was in 3... Freak I was a busy lad!

As an idea... actually CAN F1.
Mr Shirrifs has demonstrated that a 600 is as fast as a 1000, and even a 750 around there in the past.

As Mr Robert Taylor said to me on Boxing Day though, it was because of the suspenders.... not the make or size of bike...
Nice Robert. Great talking to you there....

Umm, Craig is faster round there on a thou than he was on a 600. Superbike is meant to be the premier class too, scrapping it starts down a slippery slope methinks.