What would get you to watch local or national Superbike racing?

[st00ji]

what are the entry costs we are talking about, out of interest? i have never been to a bike day - could be keen to get along to hampton downs.

[cmoore]

A good PA that is clear so you know what is going on
Some form of Winner cermony at the end of day/race
Finish "box" for the top three bikes each race
Good communication when there are delays
Bike Rally / vintage / classic / whatever to coincide with the racing
NOT running it when other bike events are on in the area
A good Program of the event
Bike dealers / retailers showing bikes and gear

[slowpoke]

For all those who haven't been to Ruapuna you're missing out big time. It's a great track, best in NZ in my humble opinion, and also very spectator friendly. You can drive your car straight up on to banking that surrounds large parts of the circuit and have a primo view of the whole thing in comfort. Forget the thought of crispy maggot packs: take your own food/drink supplies and enjoy the best riders in NZ, on the best bikes, at the best track, in the comfort of your own car.....or just use the car as a supply base as you lounge on the grass banking or get up close and personal with some of the legends and/or up and comers.

The pits aren't your average tarmac area either, with plenty of tree'd/grassed areas where kids can kick a footy, ride bikes and generally run amok....or where parents/wives can retreat to relax.

Suggestions for the organisers? How about a speed gun/display at the end of the front straight? Or at various parts of the track as the races progress?

Onboard footage from one or two of the bikes displayed trackside...even if it's not actually live it would be cool to see onboard footage of a race you've just seen from trackside.

Live timing trackside.

Given that you can park your car trackside, instead of a P/A broadcast the commentary over AM or FM radio.

[Grant`]

Now sorry if I have missed this being covered off by someone else.

But you never hear about these events - Especially if your not a member of the forums. Maybe I am looking in the wrong places but there is hardly any communication if any that I have seen for any of the events other than the likes of Paeroa/Wanganui Street races.

There needs to be a lot more publicity to these events, people will come for a great day out if they actually know about them, I know I would! Get in with the bike shops/bike mags (more)/some cheap tv advertisement/email lists and reminders to people so they do get kept in the loop for it, Put some signs on the road even if they are hand painted 'Motorcycle Racing come on in'. etc

[otter]

In all honesty, I'd rather ride on a track than watch others do it. I'm entertained by others riding for all of 5mins before I just wana jump on my bike and go do it too.

[Ender EnZed]

What would get you to watch Local/National Superbike racing?

Lots of crashing.

[jellywrestler]

Lower gate prices, decent food, something for the kids to do (besides watch racing...), clean toilets

Lower gate prices than what? Seriously there's usually about seven hours of tracktime at a national championship, what price would you expect to pay for that?

[Katman]

Sunshine.

[onearmedbandit]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Move the friggin bike numbers from the non-existent tail sections and put it on the lower section of the main fairing. Then, maybe just then, spectators will know what bike/rider is going past. Back that up with a quality PA system and 98% of the paying spectators will have a clue as to what is actually going on.

Do this and I don't care about paying $10-20 for a days entertainment whilst eating chips and hotdogs.

[Oakie]

To be honest I'm happy with the gate price ($15 last time?)
I'm happy with the facilities although a closer toilet blocks or a few portaloos spread around would be good
PA and commentators are good
Access to the pits to gawk is good.

What would really improve things for me though is more shade to watch the racing from ... be it covered seating, shade sails or somthing like that. Ultimately the odd tree spread along the top of the viewing banks would be good although I guess trees and raceways don't really mix.

[huff3r]

Some publicity so I know it's on would be helpful. Call me ignorant, but the only events I know of are Paeroa and Cemetery Circuit, the latter being the only I know the date of...

[onearmedbandit]

PA and commentators are good

You can't tell me you were at last years round of the nationals at Ruapuna. People who didn't even know each other were laughing together about the garbled screachy feedback riddled crap coming out of the PA. I've never heard our national anthem murdered like that either. Well at least the general consensus was that it was our anthem, it sounded a bit like, well, the jury is still out.

[boman]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Move the friggin bike numbers from the non-existent tail sections and put it on the lower section of the main fairing. Then, maybe just then, spectators will know what bike/rider is going past. Back that up with a quality PA system and 98% of the paying spectators will have a clue as to what is actually going on.

Do this and I don't care about paying $10-20 for a days entertainment whilst eating chips and hotdogs.

Yup. Damn fine idea

[tigertim20]

The promoter of the New Zealand Superbike series round 1 at Ruapuna on the first weekend of Jan is looking to make there round the biggest and best that we have seen in NZ.

His main goal is to improve more of the experience for the crowd rather then make the racing better.

What would get you and your family to the track?

for one, better advertising. I often dont hear about these events until the week before them, and by then its too late to plan a trip. and I trawl this and several other NZ forums on a daily basis, so, forward notice.

Also, its about bikes, why not, I dunno, chick in a show n shine in the carpark or something? section for cruisers, classic and sports or something? - make it a day where theres more than just racing, I could personally watch racing all day but not everyone can, and if people can bring the family out and look at some shiny bikes with their kids etc, maybe a few more will come out?

Oh, and Im a fat cunt. i love food, Plenty of food vans/ ice cream trucks on site will keep me there till they run outta chips and ice cream.

[onearmedbandit]

A lot of these things we are asking for can't happen without a decent sponsor tipping in considerable support. And without decent TV coverage that won't happen. So we need decent TV coverage, how do we get that? By having more people interested in the sport. Which requires more money. Which would require a decent sponsor. Which would require decent TV coverage...