Why 3 rounds down south?

[TonyB]

It seems to me reading this that the common issue is 'that fuggen ferry'. Has anyone tried to get Transrail (or whoever they are this week- I loose track) to be a major sponsor for the Nationals? Maybe its possible to cut a deal where competitors get to cross the ditch at a greatly reduced cost? It would just be a matter of MNZ confirming who the competitors are. Just a thought....I guess its been tried before?

[scrivy]

Of course I am so dedicated, like any top athlete I would not be out leering up, just a nice quiet place to meditate prior to competition

I reckon there should be no practice.
You should have to kick tyres to figure out their pressures.
The race order should be random - so you dont have time for tyre warmers, race preparations etc. just a 3 minute call up prior to racing!! (Full bladder or not...)

There should be compulsory socials/leer ups at days end (obviously not before racing).

Oh, and meditation should be outlawed......
(Ask Sidecar Bob - many years ago I used to go into what was known as a 'Veg mode' prior to racing. Nowadays I'm race ready faster than you can say 'Look at that skank over there'!)

[slowpoke]

Yeah as long as the leader don't catch the tail enders on the last lap or two, either make it shorter so they don't catch then at all or long enough to give the top 3 or 4 the chance to get clear after they catch them - not sure how you could manage that ?

Lapping is all part of racing mate, and much less of a hassle than you'd think. If they didn't expect people to be lapped they wouldn't have 15 lap races and a 115% cut-off time. If someone is gonna catch us in 15 laps they won't have too many probs getting past

Of course I am so dedicated, like any top athlete I would not be out leering up, just a nice quiet place to meditate prior to competition

C'mon, a la Casey Stoner you too could be throwing up into your helmet during a race.....

It is I love being in the paddock with all the witty and charming people that make up the bike racing fraternity

We aren't talkin' 'bout the Vic Club here are we? Nah, just kiddin', you're right there are some top folks in the paddock, and it would be great to see more of 'em in the Nationals paddock.

[codgyoleracer]

I reckon there should be no practice.
You should have to kick tyres to figure out their pressures.
The race order should be random - so you dont have time for tyre warmers, race preparations etc. just a 3 minute call up prior to racing!! (Full bladder or not...)

There should be compulsory socials/leer ups at days end (obviously not before racing).

Oh, and meditation should be outlawed......
(Ask Sidecar Bob - many years ago I used to go into what was known as a 'Veg mode' prior to racing. Nowadays I'm race ready faster than you can say 'Look at that skank over there'!)

You forgot the compulsory stop in each race to eat 7 dry weetbix whilst reciting a dirty joke over the tanoy, aslo that no one should be allowed to ride their own bike/sidecar, reverse grid orders become compulsory, + the organiser should be allowd to black flag any competitor randomly & for no good reason (minimum 3 per race). That should even things up & get a bit of heart warmning chit-chat in the pits going ?

[scrivy]

You forgot the compulsory stop in each race to eat 7 dry weetbix whilst reciting a dirty joke over the tanoy, aslo that no one should be allowed to ride their own bike/sidecar, reverse grid orders become compulsory, + the organiser should be allowd to black flag any competitor randomly & for no good reason (minimum 3 per race). That should even things up & get a bit of heart warmning chit-chat in the pits going ?

I knew I'd get a commonsensical reply from you Glen!! Typical!!!

Nah - you're on the money!! Imagine the hilarity at meetings!!
Er..... when you say organiser - am I allowed to ride around with a black flag and wave it to whoever......????? That should see me get further up the results.....

[scrivy]

I still reckon sacrificial crashings from people would make it worthwhile for spectators!!! We could put names in a hat - whoever got pulled out would have to perform a crash......... of course, you'd have to get up and bow afterwards..........

OR......

You could also pretend to be out cold - spectators just love to see blood sports.......

Ratings for our series would go sky high!!

So, who's gunna be the first volunteer for this new initiative???

[codgyoleracer]

I still reckon sacrificial crashings from people would make it worthwhile for spectators!!! We could put names in a hat - whoever got pulled out would have to perform a crash......... of course, you'd have to get up and bow afterwards..........

OR......

You could also pretend to be out cold - spectators just love to see blood sports.......

Ratings for our series would go sky high!!

So, who's gunna be the first volunteer for this new initiative???

Sacrificial crashings (nice) - , bonus points for extra height (if the highside choice is chosen). Loss of any non essential body parts also gains brownie points.

Black flags would be at organisers discretion Scivy - however it is likely to be directly related to the quantity of beers, pies & porn supplied to said organiser by said competitors.

[k14]

The only SI track I've raced on (or even been too) is Ruapuna and it is my favourite circuit.
I personally think that 3 rounds on each Island with a bit of a gap would be the go.
How about a separate points tally for North & South and an "Island" championship so you could be part of the fun and have something to brag about. I would quite like to be able to go to work and say I was 22nd in the North Island championship. Nobody outside of the race scene would need to know there were only 22 entries. (Notice that I think my idea is so good the number of entries has doubled from the Nationals 10 )

If they were on consecutive weekends then the folk from the "Other" Island could take a couple of weeks leave for the "overseas" rounds and travel each weekend for the rounds on their island.

I don't think the Ferry trip is such I big issue I've sprung $430 for a return crossing to do Greymouth (Van and two people) and will almost certainly do the SOT next year.


I do think that there needs to be some "lesser" series combined with the nationals (like an island series or maybe the "privateers cup" will do the trick) as there are only about a dozen National level racers in the country. Check out the times on My Laps at events where Nats racers attend club events - big differences in times and not all down to the bike.

Six rounds is too much. Like I have said before, have two rounds in each island and each competitor can drop their worst round. That way a south islander can race at the two rounds down here and one in north (have ruapuna and altenate levels with teretonga), a north island competitor can come down to ruapuna and do manfeild and hampton downs for the north island rounds. A south island competitor can do hampton. That way someone from the other island only has to do one ferry crossing and only be away for one weekend. Maybe 3-4 days off work (assuming they don't work weekends). Same thing for a south islander. I'm only doing south island rounds next year because it takes too much time off work to come up two times in two months. If I could make scrivy's event that would quite possibly take the place of 1 or even 2 south island rounds. Bang for buck it beaths nationals and it has prizes.

The way to get more people along is to shorten it and make it easier for people to go across.

P.S. Do people know that MNZ does get a group discount on the ferry? I'm crossing over next weekend and it cost me $316 return for van and me. I think it was about $60 less than the lowest advertised on website. Good way to save money, plus the added benefit of being able to make changes up to 24 hours before sailing for free.

[KS34]

Sacrificial crashings (nice) - , bonus points for extra height (if the highside choice is chosen). Loss of any non essential body parts also gains brownie points.

Black flags would be at organisers discretion Scivy - however it is likely to be directly related to the quantity of beers, pies & porn supplied to said organiser by said competitors.

Thats the one I think they should introduce a pull your bike number out of the hat! Everyone turns up with their bike then the number is put into a hat, what ya pull out you run! I'd love to have a go on Stroudy's machine

[KS34]

P.S. Do people know that MNZ does get a group discount on the ferry? I'm crossing over next weekend and it cost me $316 return for van and me. I think it was about $60 less than the lowest advertised on website. Good way to save money, plus the added benefit of being able to make changes up to 24 hours before sailing for free.

If you are a MNZ member you get quite a few discounts and I'm pretty sure the ferry is one of them although I looked on the MNZ site recently and couldnt find it but first time I got my licence pack it had vouchers/offers with it.

[k14]

If you are a MNZ member you get quite a few discounts and I'm pretty sure the ferry is one of them although I looked on the MNZ site recently and couldnt find it but first time I got my licence pack it had vouchers/offers with it.

Look on the main page and on the right side there is a little "click here" for deals and you can look at them there. You need to quote some number when you use the ferry booking.

[lostinflyz]

hmm $316 you say for a van.

that would make hampton downs a possibiltiy

[Kickaha]

I don't think the Ferry trip is such I big issue I've sprung $430 for a return crossing to do Greymouth (Van and two people) and will almost certainly do the SOT next year.

I reckon the ferry is one of the smaller costs associated with doing the Nationals

I cant fathom that us mad bike racing lovers can't organise to billet/accommodate fellow racers from either the same or different islands so that the costs of doing the Nats are reduced! Hell, we might even have a great time socialising while we're at it!!

I have a tent, you can sleep on my lawn next time you're down

(I was going to say be gay - but some people might get too excited and invite Kick)......

The only gay man I get excited about is you Scurvy

In recent years we've accomodated Septimus and Farquar, along with Pig and Goober.

And you and Sue were top hosts as well, Pig and Goober should be back up for the next one, better get that Snow White cd hidden

Thats the biggest problem - its right in peak holiday season - meaning the ferry crossings and accomodation or campervans or tent sites are at a premium!!

South Island rounds in November and NI rounds Feb/March either before or after Paeroa

It seems to me reading this that the common issue is 'that fuggen ferry'. Has anyone tried to get Transrail (or whoever they are this week- I loose track) to be a major sponsor for the Nationals?

Why would they do anyone a deal when you're pretty much fucked getting across the ditch any other way

P.S. Do people know that MNZ does get a group discount on the ferry? I'm crossing over next weekend and it cost me $316 return for van and me. I think it was about $60 less than the lowest advertised on website. Good way to save money, plus the added benefit of being able to make changes up to 24 hours before sailing for free.

Although Bluebridge are sometimes cheaper than the so called discounted fares, $60 cheaper last trip back from Puke on Bluebridge than the "discounted" MNZ fare

[slowpoke]

I reckon the ferry is one of the smaller costs associated with doing the Nationals

It is, but it's one cost that doesn't seem value for money. Spend money on tyres, fuel etc and you get to do skids, spend money on duct tape and you get to do all sorts of things to Scrivy without anyone calling the cops.......but paying $100/hr to get from A to B when they are virtually within sight of each other seems excessive.

[wharfy]

I reckon the ferry is one of the smaller costs associated with doing the Nationals



Although Bluebridge are sometimes cheaper than the so called discounted fares, $60 cheaper last trip back from Puke on Bluebridge than the "discounted" MNZ fare

I prefer the Bluebridge, usually cheapest and sailing times suit me.