I've sussed it! (The racing problem)

[White trash]

Right.

Everyone has winged about the piss poor showing and interest in NZ road racing.

Here's the solution. And it's simple.

Everyone needs to attend as many bike races as possible this year.

And.

Take a mate that's never seen a bike race. You'll have 'em hooked in no time and more spectators makes it more appealing for sponsors which means more racing.

Do it.

Eit: Incidentaly, this wasn't my idea. I icked it from Motorcycle Racer Magazine.

[R6_kid:Me]

fuken oath mate. This is determined

i've talked to my mate about getting in to racing. Essentially we are just saving etc but it's gonna be a few years before we get into it seriously.

Personally im looking at streetstocks for next season assuming im still on the ZXR

[White trash]

Yeah but I mean spectating.

[Sniper]

Im with WT on this one

[bugjuice]

thought that's what everyone did anyway.. oh well, I'll stay as I do then..
tis a good day out, and something different you don't get to do every day

[Riff Raff]

I always find it sad that there are so few spectators at race meetings. At the last Manfield meeting there was some bloody brilliant and exciting racing going on through all the classes. Most of the spectators tho were either pit bitches, other racers, etc. The fact that there was occassional rain probably kept more people away - but thats when it gets even more exciting and you appreciate the level of skill out on the track. I'd go to them all if I could. For me it's a great day out.

[White trash]

thought that's what everyone did anyway.. oh well, I'll stay as I do then..
tis a good day out, and something different you don't get to do every day

Do you take someone who's never seen bike racing before though?

[TonyB]

thought that's what everyone did anyway.. oh well, I'll stay as I do then..
tis a good day out, and something different you don't get to do every day

Nope, they don't. NZ GP in chch a couple of years back was heavily advertised on the radio. The weather was perfect, it was something like $20 for the whole weekend. Hardly anybody went.

[Brian d marge]

To be honest as a spectator , its horrible Pretty much ALL road races I have been to ,,,,Except the IOM and Phillip Island ,,,,,,were cold windy and if it wasnt for the fact I like bikes so much I wouldnt have stayed

IOM u can sit outsde on deck chairs ( bottom of bray hill ) with a pint in your hand , a plowmans lunch ,,and watch the silly beggars throw it away on that bump in the middle of the braking line

Phillip Island was a little windy but warm the grand stands were sheltered and there was a lot of other entertainment, Also At both event the security were VERY helpful and polite (at Phillip Island .. they even left the gate and phone for a taxi for ..how kind was that )

Ruapuna can be nice with the ability to park the car and see most if not all the track ..but every time I went there the weather was ,,,terrible ..not a nice way to spend me holiday cooped up in a car,,, ( also there is nothing else to do so if the missus or kid gets bored lets go and get some food ...the hot dog stand and errr the hotdog stand )

The missus like mc racing for a different reason she likes the person and wants the best for that person just sometimes they go round and round on mc ...
She understands F1 the stratagy behind it and so will ask question such as how long was shuuii in the pits ...but yes it can be quite boring for other people
The level of creature comfort people expect no ...has gone up ,,,people tend to want more for there dollar ,,not just a program and a damp patch of earth to sit on ( wanganui was ok for food , but there wasnt much else to see ..townlys mx bike...still the triumph kept the ole man happy ,,,,he loved that !!
Me ..it can be a force ten gale and ten feet of water ..u have bikes and ill be there !!!

Stephen

[Ixion]

To be honest, I find track racing boring. Road racing is OK, and classic bike racing is interesting because there are so many different types of machine.

But track racing, you can't see much of the bike because of the fairings, the bikes are all pretty much the same , I don't like seeing crashs and I don't know the riders personally. And the races aren't anything like long enough for any interest of the "can he make back the time he lost refueling" type.

So it all becomes a bit of a procession "oh look someone on some bike has overtaken someone else on some other bike".

Motocross has lots of visible action - you can see the bikes and see what they're doing. Trials has obvious challenge "Hold breath - is he going to make it up that bank without a dab ?". Road racing one can at least relate to, it's the same roads I ride on. And classic racing is interesting because of the differences in machines and relative performance "Well, the Bonny is much faster in the straights - but the Manx cleans it up in the corners. etc"

And as Mr d'Marge has pointed out, the facilities are generally crude at best. Compare what you have at a motorcycle race meeting with a day at the horse races at Ellerslie. Even if bikers are prepared to put up with crudity, partners/wives etc usually won't be. And will be even more bored watching SomeBike overtake OtherBike

Want interesting racing ? Ban fairings; make the races a LOT longer -hours not minutes, it's no accident that all the famous events, TT, Le Mans, Targa etc are long ; improve facilities a LOT.

[Mr Skid]

Motocross has lots of visible action - you can see the bikes and see what they're doing.

Don't forget Speedway - solo's and sidecars.

I've been catching a few meetings at Rosebank Domain, and it's a good laugh seeing how out of shape the riders and swingers can get their bikes while still staying upright.

[Fluffy Cat]

Bahh!
Motors are sooo so you know.They should be banned.Bring back fairings i say.
I do think the races could be longer though,at the mo they are more like sprints with the race mostly decided by who gets off the line the best.
I try to get people along but it seems there just aint enough interest at the mo.
Alice France Moto GP 75,000 turned up wow!.

[Lou Girardin]

Why do street races get big crowds and circuits don't? Could it be that the safety obsession has made circuit racing too remote. Puke is the obvious example.

[TonyB]

Why do street races get big crowds and circuits don't? Could it be that the safety obsession has made circuit racing too remote. Puke is the obvious example.

Was wondering that myself. Danger factor? Noise factor?
Here's my brilliant idea for the day. People like street races right? Circuits need more money right? 'Seasy innit? Sell off the land around the circuits as industrial estates. Circuit owners get more money, people turn up in droves to watch 'street' racing!!



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[vifferman]

Ruapuna can be nice with the ability to park the car and see most if not all the track ..

Yeah, I liked that about it.

The missus like mc racing for a different reason she likes the person and wants the best for that person just sometimes they go round and round on mc

To be honest, I haven't really enjoyed any M/C racing I've been to, with the exception of the NZ GP in Christchurch in 1995 (?) when the Brittens were racing and finished 1, 2 and 4. And motocross when I was at school and a classmate was racing (NZ 250 champ).
The only other times I've been, I've felt disconnected from it, because I didn't really know anyone racing. The main attraction became just going there to see other bikes (at Classic meets) and ride/hang out with other bikers (Paeroa). If it costs too much, then I feel ripped off on a Cost vs. Entertainment basis, as the entertainment isn't huge. I'd rather ride than watch someone else ride.