Road racing meeting in Europe? Guess again

[jellywrestler]

Just found this piccie of Pukekohe 77/78 Malboro Series.
Not a bad crowd I reckon

[gixerracer]

Just found this piccie of Pukekohe 77/78 Malboro Series.
Not a bad crowd I reckon

Man it would be soo good if bikes still had this level of public interest in NZ WTF are we doing so wrong???

[Robert Taylor]

Man it would be soo good if bikes still had this level of public interest in NZ WTF are we doing so wrong???

Sky television and lots of other things to do.........These were also full blown purpose built racebikes but I dont know how much that has got to do with it.
Maybe its as simple as sport can be in your living room.

[jellywrestler]

Man it would be soo good if bikes still had this level of public interest in NZ WTF are we doing so wrong???
Grow ya hair, dye it, put a surfboard on ya Kombi, smoke Marlboro cigarettes and race bikes. The Chicks will follow, and so will the blokes...

[jellywrestler]

Maybe its as simple as sport can be in your living room.
Hey you're from New Plymouth, there's a quote that can make you shudder!

[Tony.OK]

Man it would be soo good if bikes still had this level of public interest in NZ WTF are we doing so wrong???

Ya ain't huddling around a rugby ball is my guess.

Been covered before but just take a look at the recent Tri Series rnd at Manners, great racing (did see someone throw a helmet too) but not even a coffee vendor on site :angry: let alone any product stalls or entertaiment.

Gotta stop only targeting bike riders as an audience...........that and ya should get Dr Bob to stop admiring your hair and get the bike sorted:innocent:

[Kiwi Graham]

Its not unique to NZ the piss poor attendance at race meetings sadly (apart from the big international events).
The Dr is right, turn on your TV and there is something better and a whole lot easier to see!!

Tony.OK has it about right we need to cater for the whole family and the mildly interested, not just petrol heads! My Mrs gets bored to death at race meetings but if she had something else to look at..........

[gixerracer]

Ya ain't huddling around a rugby ball is my guess.

Been covered before but just take a look at the recent Tri Series rnd at Manners, great racing (did see someone throw a helmet too) but not even a coffee vendor on site :angry: let alone any product stalls or entertaiment.

Gotta stop only targeting bike riders as an audience...........that and ya should get Dr Bob to stop admiring your hair and get the bike sorted:innocent:

I went 2 Taupo super cross the other night and the racing was fantastic but again you could by booze chips and hot dogs thought that was a bit piss poor but the meeting was pretty wicked NZ has sooooo much to do in terms of entertainment and hospitality IMO

[wharfy]

Great crowd, the pit wall looks a bit dodgey though !

Nothing on TV, summer live sport = watch NZ get hammered at test cricket, maybe horse racing (but that is mainly about gambling not many people go to just watch some fine horses run) *
Petrol was cheap (though the first of the "oil shocks" had happened ) relatively easy drive from Auckland or Hamilton to Puke (a traffic jam was considered a bit of an adventure anyway)

NZ motor racing (car and bike) was shown on TV quite a bit, we didn't get overseas sport ('cept rugby) on TV. A day drinking watery beer in the sun (nobodies mum gave you a woody then!!) watching motorbikes was considered a pretty cool thing to do.
There were a few Kiwi's on the international race scene as well to get the interest up. A few overseas stars would come here (there off season) prize money from tobacco companies.

It was just like the real thing :)


Simpler times :)


* I'm NOT advocating getting the TAB involved, NZ doesn't need any more opportunities for people to gamble !

[Pussy]

Gotta stop only targeting bike riders as an audience...........that and ya should get Dr Bob to stop admiring your hair and get the bike sorted:innocent:

Robert is only admiring Craig's hair because he has got sod all of his own left.
I did notice, the other day, that RT's hair is growing back.... further back

[Tony.OK]

I went 2 Taupo super cross the other night and the racing was fantastic but again you could by booze chips and hot dogs thought that was a bit piss poor but the meeting was pretty wicked NZ has sooooo much to do in terms of entertainment and hospitality IMO

Ya need to get MNZ or something similar to get someone like Ed to get things organised properly, the amount of interest he gained in a short time was quite cool to see.
Hell even having some of the riders to get their sponsors to set up some stalls, I liked your shed. Giving away free gold watches was a stroke of brilliance :innocent:

[gixerracer]

Ya need to get MNZ or something similar to get someone like Ed to get things organised properly, the amount of interest he gained in a short time was quite cool to see.
Hell even having some of the riders to get their sponsors to set up some stalls, I liked your shed. Giving away free gold watches was a stroke of brilliance :innocent:

Get MNZ involved u must b f--kn joking:facepalm::innocent:

[CHOPPA]

Having us run with the v8s or even some other car racing would be the ticket I think.....

Yeah Id be the first to complain about the oil lol but it seems to be good for the sport across the ditch.

Anyone keen for the hamilton circuit of the v8s?????

[Tony.OK]

Get MNZ involved u must b f--kn joking:facepalm::innocent:

Ok I've just had an idea that someone in a club could use.

Lets use the Manfeild Nats and the Vic club as examples.

I know the costs of running these events is costly so how about the club/organisers get in touch with some vendors and "invite" them to use the event to make some money. Charge them nothing but give them room to set up their "whatever".

Eg. The grassed area just inside the pay gates instead of being used for parking can have a bouncy castle vendor or perhaps shop stalls etc.

Cost is only a few ph calls but return is people may start to bring the kids or such. The space is wasted anyway so how can it hurt.
That and letting the local provenders know the event is on and they are welcome to set up...........hell even the club rounds have the coffee trailer turn up.

But this has been done to death in other posts........:blink:

[fossil]

Get MNZ involved u must b f--kn joking:facepalm::innocent:

I can't wait to see your set up for the nationals.
Posters, autograph session for the public, merchandise(autographed sandpit toys), tee shirts,hot babes in lycra,wet tee shirt competition and heaps of give aways. Oh shit that was 70's!

[jellywrestler]

all you could by was booze, chips and hot dogs
Sounds like Feilding on a saturday night!

[Smifffy]

1. They had a large, interested sponsor, who is no longer welcome.

2. Video games, instead of sitting in the stand dreaming about winning a race and making throttle noises, now folk sit in front of their Xbox, getting their knee down on the lay-z-boy.

3. Political correctness gone mad

4. Too many demands on people's time & money - probably the effect is greater on the number of competitors than spectators, but they depend on each other.

I think it's mostly sponsors - how many of the people in that pic do you reckon were non-smokers?

[roadracingoldfart]

One thing i have seen is when a totaly useless unwanted shop opens a new branch the local radio station comes along with a BBQ a bouncy castle and shit loads of adverts to the masses.
Whats it cost , maybee thousands but im sure its the best days trade the usless shop ever does.
Maybe the need to suck on a radio stations cock is all it takes.
Pussy can do the sucking.

[rwh]

1. They had a large, interested sponsor, who is no longer welcome

....

I think it's mostly sponsors - how many of the people in that pic do you reckon were non-smokers?

Thinking about who else might be of interest to the majority of spectators ...

How about Frucor (V)? Red Bull seem keen enough to sponsor motorsport; why not the local competitor as well?

All their many beverages should sell well at the circuit, too.

Unfortunately their site says "Unfortunately, given our current commitments we are unable to support any new sponsorship opportunities at this stage." but you never know.

Or maybe somebody new, like 2degrees?

Richard

[roogazza]

Just found this piccie of Pukekohe 77/78 Malboro Series.
Not a bad crowd I reckon

Thanks Jelly, all the old farts that were around then were so lucky. Little did we know it would all die in the bum.

[discodan]

Thinking about who else might be of interest to the majority of spectators ...

How about Frucor (V)? Red Bull seem keen enough to sponsor motorsport; why not the local competitor as well?

All their many beverages should sell well at the circuit, too.

Unfortunately their site says "Unfortunately, given our current commitments we are unable to support any new sponsorship opportunities at this stage." but you never know.

Or maybe somebody new, like 2degrees?

Richard

That's what I thought. I have contacted every one of those companies and none of them wanted to touch me with a barge pole.

I think the true problem is that there is not ENOUGH bike racing (or motorsport in general) on TV in NZ. Why would anyone want to go and watch bike racing if they don't even know what the fuck it is?! How often have you tried to explain to someone what you do and they don't even have a clue what you are on about? :facepalm:

I don't actually understand why the national series / Tri-Series are not on TV. OK, some times they are on Sky if you are lucky, but the average viewer would not feverishly check the listings every day trying to find out when.

Bike racing is entertaining. Surely, once it has been filmed it could be given to the broadcasters for free and they could kill some time in their awful TV line ups?

[Robert Taylor]

Hey you're from New Plymouth, there's a quote that can make you shudder!

I just knew that sentence structure was going to bite me!

[codgyoleracer]

Having us run with the v8s or even some other car racing would be the ticket I think.....

Yeah Id be the first to complain about the oil lol but it seems to be good for the sport across the ditch.

Anyone keen for the hamilton circuit of the v8s?????

Dont even go their Chop, - its far to sensible & obviouse.....

[codgyoleracer]

Sky television and lots of other things to do.........These were also full blown purpose built racebikes but I dont know how much that has got to do with it.
Maybe its as simple as sport can be in your living room.

Personally i think it was the sideburns & flares.......

[Shaun]

Dont even go their Chop, - its far to sensible & obviouse.....


True that Glen.

kinda like the letter I sent to ALL registered Race license holders a few years back, but I guess THEY DID NOT CARE ENOUGH

[gixerracer]

Sounds like Feilding on a saturday night!

Get fukd we have hells pizza now:shit:

[jellywrestler]

Get fukd we have hells pizza now:shit:
hey don't forget the KFC in Feilding, they've even got a new Downs Syndrome menu, it's window lickin good!

[Kickaha]

Having us run with the v8s or even some other car racing would be the ticket I think.....

Already been done before for National rounds, you think sidecars are bad for oil you've got a big surprise coming

Sidecars also ran at a truck meeting a 3 years ago at Levels which was extremely well received by both the crowd and organisers, although the current MNZ president did use it as an excuse to shaft us later on

[gixerracer]

hey don't forget the KFC in Feilding, they've even got a new Downs Syndrome menu, it's window lickin good!

I would eat my own arm before I ate that shit

[Kickaha]

1. They had a large, interested sponsor, who is no longer welcome.
2. etc
3. etc
4. etc
I think it's mostly sponsors - how many of the people in that pic do you reckon were non-smokers?

How many big name riders from overseas competed in this series?

Also local riders were probably a lot more well know as more local motorsport was televised and on live


I would eat my own arm before I ate that shit

How would you prepare it and what would you use for seasoning on that?

[slowpoke]

Here's a revolutionary idea: why don't we actually tell people an event is on?

The Tri-Series was a classic case of putting on a fantastic series of events, with world class talent........and keeping the whole thing a blardy secret. I was in Auckland for 4 days preceding the Hampton Downs round and didn't see or hear a thing about the Tri-Series. The biggest population centre in NZ on HD's doorstep and it's ignored, just like the 1000's of folks driving past the track are oblivious to upcoming events. It's a captive market, they MUST travel past the facility, and yet they are ignored. How hard is it to wack up a sign outside HD? How hard to set up a static display at the Viaduct? Etc etc etc

Seeing Stauffer, Nelson, Bugden and Joel Reed's crew competing with Stroudie, Craig, Choppa, Nick and co was brilliant, best superbike field we've seen for decades. They deserved better, the sponsors deserved better, everyone behind the scenes deserved better and an opportunity goes wasted.

[SWERVE]

The way i see it is race meetings in NZ are just that race MEETINGS........ should be race EVENTS.
That means camping facilities for spectators and competitors to stay for 2/3 days in which they are entertained not only by racing but sideshows/ demos / a live band on sat nite etc etc.
Back in the days of the "Transatlantic Series" thru to BSB/BSS in the UK going to a race weekend was a pilgramige consisting of much partying and great entertainment both on the track and in the campsite......!
The Waimate streetrace and March hare rally are combining this year........ nearest thing yet.

[Wingnut]

The way i see it is race meetings in NZ are just that race MEETINGS........ should be race EVENTS.
That means camping facilities for spectators and competitors to stay for 2/3 days in which they are entertained not only by racing but sideshows/ demos / a live band on sat nite etc etc.
Back in the days of the "Transatlantic Series" thru to BSB/BSS in the UK going to a race weekend was a pilgramige consisting of much partying and great entertainment both on the track and in the campsite......!
The Waimate streetrace and March hare rally are combining this year........ nearest thing yet.

I agree Merve. I have always wondered why there is no camping at Levels for instance.There is the perfect area for it down the northern end. It would make for a great weekend. I think Andrew Stoud camped there at last years nats perhaps? Anyway - you would have to go the full hog if it was to be sucessfull. Cool idea though.

[SWERVE]

You can camp at Levels in the area you mentioned. There were a few last year and hopefully more in a few weeks.
Its Ruapuna and Teretonga that wont allow camping (never got an answer why) maybe its because they dont have showers (why not!!!!)
Lets hope the sat nite stopover at this years Nats is a bit more of a social getogether than previous.
Anyone tell me the overnite rules for Manfield & HD.

[sidecar bob]

You can camp at Levels in the area you mentioned. There were a few last year and hopefully more in a few weeks.
Its Ruapuna and Teretonga that wont allow camping (never got an answer why) maybe its because they dont have showers (why not!!!!)
Lets hope the sat nite stopover at this years Nats is a bit more of a social getogether than previous.
Anyone tell me the overnite rules for Manfield & HD.

Dosent Teretonga back on to a camping ground?
It did 24 years ago when I last raced there.

[Kickaha]

Dosent Teretonga back on to a camping ground?
It did 24 years ago when I last raced there.

Yeah about a 1 minute walk, who did Scrivy have on that 1450cc post classic Hayabusa last time he was there then?

[sidecar bob]

Yeah about a 1 minute walk, who did Scrivy have on that 1450cc post classic Hayabusa last time he was there then?

Probably big crank Meads if it was on the 'busa. Or Matt Deverall if it was the ZX10 Porteous outfit.
Is that the same 1450 Hayabusa that nearly gets blown off the track in a straight line by hot GSXR1000 & "Blade powered long bikes?

[Kickaha]

Probably big crank Meads if it was on the 'busa. Or Matt Deverall if it was the ZX10 Porteous outfit.
Is that the same 1450 Hayabusa that nearly gets blown off the track in a straight line by hot GSXR1000 & "Blade powered long bikes?

Nah it was the housebus so it must have been Meads, that was the last time we went there, must have been 7-8 years ago

The long bikes faster corner speed means they carry more speed onto and down the straight :whistle:

I don't think the campground had been updated since you were there

[sidecar bob]

I don't think the campground had been updated since you were there

I remember this munter we met at the camp ground in '87, he thought he was god & refered to himself as the "Perm" meaning "permanent resident"
We caught the bastard stealing all the sidecar guys groceries & beer out of the communal camp fridge.

[gixerracer]

I remember this munter we met at the camp ground in '87, he thought he was god & refered to himself as the "Perm" meaning "permanent resident"
We caught the bastard stealing all the sidecar guys groceries & beer out of the communal camp fridge.

And what happend to em:facepalm:

[Kickaha]

I remember this munter we met at the camp ground in '87, he thought he was god & refered to himself as the "Perm" meaning "permanent resident"

He's probably still there, I'll say hello to him for you when we're down there next month

[Grumph]

The Waimate streetrace and March hare rally are combining this year........ nearest thing yet.[/QUOTE]

Not so...The Burt Munro with a rally at the campground alongside Teretonga combined with nearly a week of events - and interntional publicity too, is the best IMO. But the Classic Festival at puke has established itself too...and I see Wanganui are trying to extend their event - and have done work on a website.
It's easier to publicise stand-alone events than say the National series - a single event advertising budget can be targeted but for a series it has to be split to reach several separate potential audiences...Some years back at a Nat round at Puke there was a move to go into the stand and thank the crowd for coming...wouldn't have taken long, there were more riders than crowd...

Teretonga camping - Southland Sports car club owns all the land from the road to the sea along there - incl the camp ground - so free camping is taking money from their own pocket.

[cs363]

Got sent a bunch of pics from the Marlboro era that a mate found on an autoracing forum, cool enough to share:

[cs363]

And some more...

[cs363]

Last ones...

[nadroj]

Got sent a bunch of pics from the Marlboro era that a mate found on an autoracing forum, cool enough to share:

Love the little girl's hat in pic 3!

[sidecar bob]

Love the little girl's hat in pic 3!

Strangely, i find all the old vans appealing.
An RH11 Hi ace was the one to have. Sadly, i could only stretch to a Morris J4 named Briss. (Short for Bristol Tauraus, a 1936 14 cylnder, 1000hp aircraft engine) that I spied in an ancient AC Delco spark plug catalouge when I worked at the local GM dealer as a youth.
The J4 had rather an alarming big end knock, so when we got a bit paranoid about it, say on a late night trip home from Manfield on the desert road, we would lift the engine cover between the seats & drive a few kays with it up. When we closed it again, it would seem so quiet it would set our minds at ease for at least another an hour or so.

[jasonu]

Strangely, i find all the old vans appealing.

The Belmont station wagon caught my eye.

[wharfy]

Last ones...

Jesus ... Randy Mamola looks about 12 !!!

[Smifffy]

Love the little girl's hat in pic 3!

Yes it was classic, but I had to go back and look a few times at that Yamaha in the same pic. AWESOME

[Smifffy]

Strangely, i find all the old vans appealing.
An RH11 Hi ace was the one to have. Sadly, i could only stretch to a Morris J4 named Briss. (Short for Bristol Tauraus) a brand name of some kind of industrial machinery that I spied in an ancient AC Delco spark plug catalouge when I worked at the local GM dealer as a youth.


I keep looking for the other model in that same catalogue - The Cly Tauraus. The Moll says she'd be quite happy if I eventually find it too.

:soon:

[Billy]

Already been done before for National rounds, you think sidecars are bad for oil you've got a big surprise coming

Sidecars also ran at a truck meeting a 3 years ago at Levels which was extremely well received by both the crowd and organisers, although the current MNZ president did use it as an excuse to shaft us later on


Not too mention hidden away at the back of the pits and treated like farm animals,The whole series was nothing more than a disaster and did little to improve the profile of motorcycle racing in NZ,

Its been done to death,Tryed by the Lesters at Manfeild in the eighties as well,The car racing spectators loved the bike racing but how many turned up to the next motorcycle only meeting???Zero/zilch/nada.

Current MNZ president,Jim Tuckerman you mean,The same Jim Tuckerman that was involved in organising and running the Marlboro series,Countrywide International series and Brut33 international series not to mention a huge amount of the streetraces in the North Island,A man that has dedicated 40 plus years of his life to motorcycling in NZ for no other reason than to try and improve it,What the fuck would he know???

Riders recognisable too me in an instant in Spydas pic are from NZ Trevor Discombe,Paul McLachlan,Roger Freeth,John Woodley,Paul Goodyear,Internationals Greg Hansford,Murray Sayle both Team Kawasaki factory riders,Pat Hennen and on the list goes all top line international riders.

[Kickaha]

Current MNZ president,Jim Tuckerman you mean,The same Jim Tuckerman that was involved in organising and running the Marlboro series,Countrywide International series and Brut33 international series not to mention a huge amount of the streetraces in the North Island,A man that has dedicated 40 plus years of his life to motorcycling in NZ for no other reason than to try and improve it,What the fuck would he know???

Well if thats the same Jim Tuckerman who I once heard describe himself as Motorsports biggest arsehole (a lot of people would completely agree with his own self assessment)and choose to completely ignore the real facts about the Truck meeting we attended to shaft the class

Then yeah that Jim Tuckerman

[Billy]

Well if thats the same Jim Tuckerman who I once heard describe himself as Motorsports biggest arsehole (a lot of people would completely agree with his own self assessment)and choose to completely ignore the real facts about the Truck meeting we attended to shaft the class

Then yeah that Jim Tuckerman
Yip,That sounds like him!

Not afraid too speak his mind,Takes no prisoners,But hes done a shitload more good for the sport than most,Marlboro series involvement included.

Those were definitely the best times motorcycling in NZ will ever see

[roadracingoldfart]

Jesus ... Randy Mamola looks about 12 !!!

From memory he was 16 when he was here that time.

[Billy]

From memory he was 16 when he was here that time.

Nope,Pretty sure he was 14,Definitely under 15 as he had to get a dispensation to ride at Wanganui as in those days you needed a civil licence to compete there

[roogazza]

From memory he was 16 when he was here that time.
Again from memory, I think Mollers Yamaha offered 400 bucks to Randy to beat Dave Hissy at Ruapuna.In spite of his flyweight advantage he was beat fair and square.
Dave had about 33 starts and wins in 410 in 76.
Mamola was just a kid, 15 or 16 and I remember seeing he had a huge tyre on the front like a Yank flattracker, had never seen that before ! G.

[roadracingoldfart]

Nope,Pretty sure he was 14,Definitely under 15 as he had to get a dispensation to ride at Wanganui as in those days you needed a civil licence to compete there


Again from memory, I think Mollers Yamaha offered 400 bucks to Randy to beat Dave Hissy at Ruapuna.In spite of his flyweight advantage he was beat fair and square.
Dave had about 33 starts and wins in 410 in 76.
Mamola was just a kid, 15 or 16 and I remember seeing he had a huge tyre on the front like a Yank flattracker, had never seen that before ! G.


I should have known the 2 guys that built the ark would correct me here lol. I hate you guys.:bleh::bleh::bleh:

[Grumph]

Mike Sinclair took Randy under his wing at Ruapuna - and was pretty scathing about how Randy's bike had been maintained....

[cs363]

Nope,Pretty sure he was 14,Definitely under 15 as he had to get a dispensation to ride at Wanganui as in those days you needed a civil licence to compete there

And the prize goes to....

His hero was fellow Northern Californian Kenny Roberts. At 14, Mamola was sponsored by Yamaha and he wore the yellow-and-black Yamaha racing leathers of his idol. He was even known by the semi-derisive name of "Baby Kenny" in the early stages of his career. Mamola raced flat track and began road racing with coaching from Ron Grant. His first international exposure came with Grant's help. Mamola traveled to race the New Zealand road racing series during the winter and won that country's 125cc championship. In America, he began winning AFM road races and suddenly Mamola had new opportunities open to him.

From the AMA hall of fame website, full bio here:http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=221

[roadracingoldfart]

Nope,Pretty sure he was 14,Definitely under 15 as he had to get a dispensation to ride at Wanganui as in those days you needed a civil licence to compete there


And the prize goes to....

His hero was fellow Northern Californian Kenny Roberts. At 14, Mamola was sponsored by Yamaha and he wore the yellow-and-black Yamaha racing leathers of his idol. He was even known by the semi-derisive name of "Baby Kenny" in the early stages of his career. Mamola raced flat track and began road racing with coaching from Ron Grant. His first international exposure came with Grant's help. Mamola traveled to race the New Zealand road racing series during the winter and won that country's 125cc championship. In America, he began winning AFM road races and suddenly Mamola had new opportunities open to him.

From the AMA hall of fame website, full bio here:http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=221


I told you Billy was old , i just didnt know he had a memory !!!:facepalm::shutup:

[GD66]

Yes it was classic, but I had to go back and look a few times at that Yamaha in the same pic. AWESOME



That bike still lives in NZ : it was ridden in that series by Jim Allen, later the boss of Dunlop race squad in the USA for years (hence the letter A) ...then it became the Dale Wylie Coppertone bike. Eventually after years of being stored in a garage in Tokoroa, Terry Taylor bought it, and has galloped it from time to time since. The bike in its original form has been combined with bits from the Rodger Freeth Viko Special (which he's aboard in the pic on page 1) to make one smooth-looking Rottweiler...:bleh:

[budda]

Nope,Pretty sure he was 14,Definitely under 15 as he had to get a dispensation to ride at Wanganui as in those days you needed a civil licence to compete there

Yep, that'd be about right Billy. When the wee shit came up to me at the Officials meeting at Levels that year, he was only zip-high .... and I aint no Brad Selfe !

I remember helping lift Pete Campbell on and off his sidecar too - doubt it would happen today, the hand-wringers would try and put a stop to it, "for his own good" no doubt. And who remembers Croz fanging round the pits at Levels on CFCA's RV90?sidecar doing wheelies and flattening all the rubbishbins ?

Or all the young fellas in lust with the chick painted on the fairing ofsome Aussie? Remember the young lady like it was yesterday, cant recall the riders name though !

[GD66]

Vaughan Coburn. Artwork by Sydney artist Alan Puckett.:msn-wink:

[BMWST?]

it wasnt just the international events...10,000 people used to turn up to the castrol 6 hour.The old embankments at Manfeild were packed from end to end.

[budda]

Vaughan Coburn. Artwork by Sydney artist Alan Puckett.:msn-wink:

Thats the man ! shame I was too bloody busy helping to run the meeting to get a real good look at it, believe it was brush painted, not airbrushed - no bloody computer-generated sticker shit back then ! Dear God- just realised I've now dated myself in the same era as the Billy !!!!!!!!!!!

[Billy]

Thats the man ! shame I was too bloody busy helping to run the meeting to get a real good look at it, believe it was brush painted, not airbrushed - no bloody computer-generated sticker shit back then ! Dear God- just realised I've now dated myself in the same era as the Billy !!!!!!!!!!!

So its my fault your old now!!!!

[Bender]

That photograph gives you plenty of clues why people no longer support racing in the way they used to.

Packed grandstand. People cheek to jowl. But next door there is a five-star three-level grandstand empty. Out back of that grandstand are decent food and bar facilities and toilets. Punters not allowed to use them.

The punters had to buy horrible, greasy chips and hot dogs at grossly inflated prices. They had to use the filthy, disgusting toilets, and there were bugger all of them. The hill stand had one tiny block way over the other side of the carpark and by the end of the day, it was rancid and the floor was completely soaked in piss because it couldn't cope. Pity anyone who had to take a dump!

And you wonder why people stopped going.

When spectators are given decent facilities, they will return - and by decent, I include easy access to and from the event, not a 10km traffic jam. Full portaloos, poor sight-lines, bad food, poor access to grandstands, etc etc - honestly, people just can't be arsed with it and why should they?

[Skunk]

Ok I've just had an idea that someone in a club could use.
Lets use the Manfeild Nats and the Vic club as examples.
I know the costs of running these events is costly so how about the club/organisers get in touch with some vendors and "invite" them to use the event to make some money. Charge them nothing but give them room to set up their "whatever".Good idea that we have tried. Apathy was what we got.


One thing i have seen is when a totaly useless unwanted shop opens a new branch the local radio station comes along with a BBQ a bouncy castle and shit loads of adverts to the masses.
Whats it cost , maybee thousands but im sure its the best days trade the usless shop ever does.
Maybe the need to suck on a radio stations cock is all it takes.
Pussy can do the sucking.$1000 is a starter radio package.


Here's a revolutionary idea: why don't we actually tell people an event is on?Advertising costs and the money must come from somewhere. Tri Series saved the advertising for Cemetery Circuit as that was the best bang for buck.


That photograph gives you plenty of clues why people no longer support racing in the way they used to.
Packed grandstand. People cheek to jowl. But next door there is a five-star three-level grandstand empty. Out back of that grandstand are decent food and bar facilities and toilets. Punters not allowed to use them.Manfeild has a contract with Gala Caterers so we can't improve the food there.

The Winter Series isn't a major series by any means... but we have tried to improve things - especially at Nationals.

[GD66]

Riders recognisable too me in an instant in Spydas pic are from NZ Trevor Discombe,Paul McLachlan,Roger Freeth,John Woodley,Paul Goodyear,Internationals Greg Hansford,Murray Sayle both Team Kawasaki factory riders,Pat Hennen and on the list goes all top line international riders.



Also there in the 33 leathers is Wes Cooley (USA), and to Sayle's left is the other TKA teamster Rick Perry (ex-Hamilton). Just past Cooley's attendant, the yellow sleeve belongs to Ray Quincey : the front row from the outside consisted of Jeff Sayle, Quincey, Lucchinelli, Hansford and Hideo Kanaya. Missing from the pic is Warren Willing, who jumped into turn 1 contesting the lead. But Pat Hennen wasn't there : he'd signed for Heron Suzuki, and didn't race in the 77/78 series. :msn-wink:

[roadracingoldfart]

$1000 is a starter radio package.

The Winter Series isn't a major series by any means... but we have tried to improve things - especially at Nationals.


Lets look at the reality of that, $1000.00 wont buy a good set of slicks for some F1 bikes so on a ratio of return theres a good basis for further investigation.

Also , i dissagree with you . The VMCC winter Series IS a major series and that cant be argued.
It has the largest entry field, the most rounds, the second longest duration of existance, and its run well.

Paul.

[Skunk]

Lets look at the reality of that, $1000.00 wont buy a good set of slicks for some F1 bikes so on a ratio of return theres a good basis for further investigation.

Also , i dissagree with you . The VMCC winter Series IS a major series and that cant be argued.
It has the largest entry field, the most rounds, the second longest duration of existance, and its run well.

Paul.The reality is VMCC aren't buying slicks for an F1 bike. We budget to make as little money as safely possible to provide the best entry price possible. We would need to spend closer to $5000 PER ROUND on radio to get the message out there to non motorcyclists. What's needed is a PR person to handle it as we are all converted. Do WE really know what Joe Public wants?

The Winter Series is only big because it's the only winter series in the NI. When I said 'major' I'm talking about it being a Club series, not a National or North Island title series.