Tri Series 2011 - Hampton Downs pit garage hire

[Deano]

I'm looking at hiring a garage for the 10 December - 1st round of the Tri Series.

Garages are $350.

I would like to get at least 6 bikes in there, maybe 8 depending on space. (I've had 8 in a pit garage at Manfeild before - it's cosy but...)

I have two people already interested in chipping in.

Who else is keen to share ? I will need $$ up front, price dependent on how many are interested.

1st in 1st served, although bribes will be considered.

[Mort]

If Hampton downs actually reduced the price of garages they'd probably make more money - $350 is ridiculous

[Burrt Badger]

Yup yup yup. and if it hadn't cost about $70 million to get the circuit to where it is at the moment, they wouldn't have to charge that much either. Do some sums and work out how much they have to make a week just to service the construction debt, let alone pay wages and maintenance. At a guess the debt is around $60 million. Even if it is less, it will still give an insight into the track hire/garage hire etc fees.

[Mort]

I don't begrudge them making money at all... but its pretty simple... if you charge too much fewer people will use them and they make less money. How many garages are left unused because of this ? I think they have their sums wrong.

[Kickaha]

I don't begrudge them making money at all... but its pretty simple... if you charge too much fewer people will use them and they make less money. How many garages are left unused because of this ? I think they have their sums wrong.

Maybe they have done their sums and came up with a different answer than you did

If you can fit 6 bikes in as Deano says then it isn't that expensive, if you want one to yourself then it's a bit different

[Mort]

well I should know better than to raise a mildy contentious issue on here but it is a valid discussion point....

If the track made the garage facilities more affordable and were more flexible, more people would use them and they'd probably make more money as a result. It would improve the customer experience....

The issue also affects track day riders. The good people of HDRD charge a very reasonable $25 per bike but the track policy forces 12 bikes per garage which aside from being a bit of a squeeze means:

• Concentrates a lot of activity in one area of the pits
• Increases the risk of accident/fire (note absence of fire extinguishers)
• Means users may not be able to park near the garage and have to hump gear in and out from a distance.

If the track policy changed for track days HDRD could open more garages up and address all these issues without affecting anyones profit (except in a positive sense).

[Mental Trousers]

well I should know better than to raise a mildy contentious issue on here but it is a valid discussion point....

How about, just for a change, you don't then

If you can fit 6 bikes in as Deano says then it isn't that expensive, if you want one to yourself then it's a bit different

During the last Nationals round that was held there a couple of the sheds had 8 bikes in them. They're huge. Bigger than any others in the North Island.

[Shaun]

well I should know better than to raise a mildy contentious issue on here but it is a valid discussion point....

If the track made the garage facilities more affordable and were more flexible, more people would use them and they'd probably make more money as a result. It would improve the customer experience....

The issue also affects track day riders. The good people of HDRD charge a very reasonable $25 per bike but the track policy forces 12 bikes per garage which aside from being a bit of a squeeze means:

• Concentrates a lot of activity in one area of the pits
• Increases the risk of accident/fire (note absence of fire extinguishers)
• Means users may not be able to park near the garage and have to hump gear in and out from a distance.

If the track policy changed for track days HDRD could open more garages up and address all these issues without affecting anyones profit (except in a positive sense).

Once you come down in price, how do you go back up? Guess they have set there own standards/prices that dicatate managements options?

[Kickaha]

If the track made the garage facilities more affordable and were more flexible, more people would use them and they'd probably make more money as a result. It would improve the customer experience....

What do you consider affordable?

[Mental Trousers]

If the track made the garage facilities more affordable and were more flexible, more people would use them and they'd probably make more money as a result. It would improve the customer experience....

What do you consider affordable?

.... keeping in mind you've got an estimated $60 million loan to pay off.

[Ronin]

I would have thought that $350 is fuck all in the grans scheme of things considering how much you have spent to get there.

[Mort]

How about, just for a change, you don't then



During the last Nationals round that was held there a couple of the sheds had 8 bikes in them. They're huge. Bigger than any others in the North Island.

If you can't understand the point - dont bother replying.

[Mental Trousers]

If you can't understand the point - dont bother replying.

I know what your point is.

Thing is that lower the cost doesn't necessarily mean more sheds. Bikers are notoriously tight arses (sorry but you're a case in point) who will fit 6 bikes in a shed whether the shed costs $350 or $250.

Besides, you're forgetting the many car racers that use the track. They can only get 2 cars in any garage anyway. So the track company will definitely lose a lot of money if they drop the price cos they're going to be renting out the same number of sheds to the same number of users.

[Mort]

I know what your point is.

Thing is that lower the cost doesn't necessarily mean more sheds. Bikers are notoriously tight arses (sorry but you're a case in point) who will fit 6 bikes in a shed whether the shed costs $350 or $250.

Besides, you're forgetting the many car racers that use the track. They can only get 2 cars in any garage anyway. So the track company will definitely lose a lot of money if they drop the price cos they're going to be renting out the same number of sheds to the same number of users.

Its a fair point.... but it does seem disproportionately high price to pay for a garage given the individual cost of riding at the track. (Taupo charges $50 per garage and the rest of the world doesn't charge at all). Why not (and I'm thinking of trackdays here, which is a bit off topic I admit) charge per bike and open up the garages to reduce crowding, increase safety and have better customer experience....? Charging $25 or $50 per bike will probably benefit the track more than present as it makes it more accessible to all without having to club together etc...

[Mental Trousers]

That is what HDRD do. But it's up to them, not the track company.

I suggest you take it up with the track company cos arguing on the internet achieves sweet fuck all.