MNZ and the internet

[Drew]

Na,Its gotta be beers and a barbie,Oh and as long as your shouting,Can we have strippers from hooters???????I REALLY like titties and everybody has too bring a sharp object with them so we can poke and prod the lucky person that replaces me for atleast 18 hours so he knows what every day is going to be like for from then on

I'll take the job. Should be a bit of fun. I'm approachable, friendly, and tolerant.

[scrivy]

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Miss America

You got the munchies again............

[Billy]

I'll take the job. Should be a bit of fun. I'm approachable, friendly, and tolerant.

Call the office first thing Monday and we'll get the ball rolling then

[Kevin G]

The laws of this country actually demand that you take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of the enviroment you create. This is defined not by whether something is said or known, but whether something should have been done. One can always introduce risk so long as you clearly have assessed the risk and mitagated this as practicable as possible. This is regardless or whether the discussion was open or private, or you knew or did not. The questions is always should you have known and did you take reasonable steps to mitigate.

Bike clubs have open committee meeting that all there members can attend, and they the right to speak openly at appropriate times regardless of the member involvement in the club. The MNZ communication tool at the moment seems to be to have all member contact individuals for information that often is not readily and easily available. Surely this is not right, and going to a more controlled enviroment is even worse. Its like going to work and not knowing what your supposed to do, getting told "oh but you should know!" then not being able to go to the managers meeting where they change what your supposed to be doing.

Well now here is the funny thing. MNZ's primary customer that it serves are the MNZ affliated Clubs all over NZ that all MNZ licence holders must be a member of to get said licence. All MNZ communications are sent directly to the clubs, stewards and officials as needed or required (immediately if its urgent). The only direct relationship riders have with MNZ is getting their licence yet it is becoming apparent that the licence holders all want a direct relationship. Go back a few years and the clubs also did the licences. MNZ licence holders are no longer linked in with their clubs and/or their clubs are not communicating with them. How many clubs are sending out the information or adding it to the monthly newsletters? How many licence holders attend their club meetings to hear what is happening and hear or read the correspondence that is sent?

I know this trend of riders not been actively involved with clubs has been happening for a while and its not getting better...in fact its getting worse.

The structure of the whole set up with MNZ serving clubs and the clubs serving the licence holders is how it was designed and how it still operates. Perhaps this is now past its use by date?

Do not get me wrong, I am sure MNZ can improve direct communication but doing this will only serve to increase the drift from the clubs from the licence holders as the need to be connected further reduces. Clubs without the support of active members taking part in running the club, organising events and helping out at events will spell the end of clubs as we know them. GUYS...its the clubs that run the events we all enjoy riding at...NO clubs = No events. So then private individuals will take over running events for profit, not for the love and passion of the sport and motorcycling as the clubs do now.

So how should it be? Does MNZ drive people back to the clubs so the sport and the clubs are better for it????

Very keen to get some constructive views and opinions.....The board sees the trend and is very mindful of what is occurring. The clubs are the sport right now, MNZ is only the administrator....think about it.


Kevin Goddard

[sidecar bob]

All the movers in the sport understand how to get things done and most,Either don't bother with KB anymore or have visited and can't believe the chestbeating and poppycock that gets spouted on here.

Chestbeating?? no, I dont think its the chest that most are beating.
A seperate website is probably a good idea, because to be perfectly honest, certanly I, & obviously many others treat this site as a place to spend five minutes every hour of the working day, winding up some poor unsuspecting fool, or talking absolute arse with our mates to create a bit of personal entertainment & break up an otherwise pretty ordanary days work.

[scrivy]

Clubs without the support of active members taking part in running the club, organising events and helping out at events will spell the end of clubs as we know them. GUYS...its the clubs that run the events we all enjoy riding at...NO clubs = No events. So then private individuals will take over running events for profit, not for the love and passion of the sport and motorcycling as the clubs do now.

Very keen to get some constructive views and opinions.....The board sees the trend and is very mindful of what is occurring. The clubs are the sport right now, MNZ is only the administrator....think about it.


Kevin Goddard

You're right about the clubs. They need all the support they can get. Most racers out there don't get involved with their clubs, and don't put effort into them, but expect them to be there for them when needed! Go figure!
As for private individuals running meetings for profit.... Chris and I ran our TRRS for a loss of up to 10K each year for the benefit of other racers as our way of giving back to the sport that has been so good to us. But even though there are alot of genuine racers out there that want to give back, I doubt many others would run at a loss for anyone. But I don't think too many would run at a substantial profit? Riders just wouldn't turn up if it was overpriced.

[scrivy]

winding up some poor unsuspecting fool, or talking absolute arse with our mates

I dont talk arse.......

[Kevin G]

You're right about the clubs. They need all the support they can get. Most racers out there don't get involved with their clubs, and don't put effort into them, but expect them to be there for them when needed! Go figure!
As for private individuals running meetings for profit.... Chris and I ran our TRRS for a loss of up to 10K each year for the benefit of other racers as our way of giving back to the sport that has been so good to us. But even though there are alot of genuine racers out there that want to give back, I doubt many others would run at a loss for anyone. But I don't think too many would run at a substantial profit? Riders just wouldn't turn up if it was overpriced.

Hi.
I applaud you and Chris for being prepared to run a great meeting at such a financial loss just to give a bit back. To me however that would indicate to me that not too many meetings would be run or at least not for long...either loosing money or no one turning up due to the cost both equal the same thing long term...no race meetings. All the more reason that we need our clubs

Kevin Goddard

[scrivy]

Hi.
I applaud you and Chris for being prepared to run a great meeting at such a financial loss just to give a bit back. To me however that would indicate to me that not too many meetings would be run or at least not for long...either loosing money or no one turning up due to the cost both equal the same thing long term...no race meetings. All the more reason that we need our clubs

Kevin Goddard

Absolutely we need our clubs. But more importantly, we need clubs to have motivated, dedicated and enthusiastic members and committies. Too many committee members are overworked because no one else wants to step up to the mark, and take over club duties. Many hands make light work, and only good can come out of more input from its members. Besides, members can learn how all its clubs functions work - which only helps them obtain more info..... and keep informed.
I see too many club committee members very worn out, and too many people are quick to complain about their club, without ever offering their help.
Remember the saying 'Ask not what your............ But what you can do for your club....'

[Skunk]

The laws of this country actually demand that you take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of the enviroment you create. This is defined not by whether something is said or known, but whether something should have been done. One can always introduce risk so long as you clearly have assessed the risk and mitagated this as practicable as possible. This is regardless or whether the discussion was open or private, or you knew or did not. The questions is always should you have known and did you take reasonable steps to mitigate.

I didn't make the point clear. There was no discussion as to whether the claim was valid or the steps demanded were reasonable or required. One statement and it was all over. While we can't stop that happening again I'd hope that discussion would take place and a reasoned outcome put in place rather than the clubs being blindsided by something that was not seen as an issue to them. In the example I gave no one had spoken to the club about it.
For clarity: after every meeting a few of us sit down and go over everything that happened and what needs fixing. Safety and procedure are covered. Notes taken.

You're right about the clubs. They need all the support they can get. Most racers out there don't get involved with their clubs, and don't put effort into them, but expect them to be there for them when needed! Go figure!
As for private individuals running meetings for profit....

Vic Club has 48 volunteers to safely run at Manfeild and more at Taupo. We have about 10 Members who volunteer. The rest aren't members. With a club membership of well over 200 that's a pretty poor percentage giving their non-racing time back to the club. This isn't a complaint - it's a statement of fact. We wouldn't be able to run a meeting without MASSIVE support from non members (non racers; in some cases - non riders!). It's a pretty sad picture really.

[scrivy]

Vic Club has 48 volunteers to safely run at Manfeild and more at Taupo. We have about 10 Members who volunteer. The rest aren't members. With a club membership of well over 200 that's a pretty poor percentage giving their non-racing time back to the club. This isn't a complaint - it's a statement of fact. We wouldn't be able to run a meeting without MASSIVE support from non members (non racers; in some cases - non riders!). It's a pretty sad picture really.

Whereas our TRRS had most of the sidecar class helping out for no monetary gain. Giving up their time scrutineering, marshalling, recoverying, organising, cooking, track entry etc etc etc...... Bloody fantastic!

I still reckon every class should have an association of their riders. So that info can be quickly distributed to its members, input speedily received, and any rules or regulations/remits can be thrown around its members for clarification and correct interpretation.

Even the late Robert Holden agreed with me back in '95.

Scrivy

[steveyb]

Chris and I ran our TRRS for a loss of up to 10K each year for the benefit of other racers as our way of giving back to the sport that has been so good to us. But even though there are alot of genuine racers out there that want to give back, I doubt many others would run at a loss for anyone. But I don't think too many would run at a substantial profit? Riders just wouldn't turn up if it was overpriced.

I feel your pain.

Try $70+k over 5 years doing my thing ...... maybe I should shoot myself now and let the pain be gone.....

[steveyb]

Whereas our TRRS had most of the sidecar class helping out for no monetary gain. Giving up their time scrutineering, marshalling, recoverying, organising, cooking, track entry etc etc etc...... Bloody fantastic!

I still reckon every class should have an association of their riders. So that info can be quickly distributed to its members, input speedily received, and any rules or regulations/remits can be thrown around its members for clarification and correct interpretation.


Scrivy

That is how car racing in NZ works. Each 'class' is basically a club of its own with members all over the shop and affiliated to Motorsport NZ. Each class/club petitions event organisers to enter, or are approached by event organisers to participate depending on the fit of that class with the rest of the event.
In that way each class/club knows its own rules pretty well and can deal with changes quickly and with event organisers effectively.

And I think that I am right in that each class needs to effectively scruitineer itself to make sure cars fit the rules. I am peripheral to the Honda Cup class/club and they check their own class, even weighing them themselves as there is a minimum weight allowed for each sub-class within the class.

I guess the pool for volunteers and event runners is much larger for car events than for bikes.

[jellywrestler]

I feel your pain.

Try $70+k over 5 years doing my thing ...... maybe I should shoot myself now and let the pain be gone.....

just get Oscar Pistoriuos as your next rider and then ya sorted

[Billy]

That is how car racing in NZ works. Each 'class' is basically a club of its own with members all over the shop and affiliated to Motorsport NZ. Each class/club petitions event organisers to enter, or are approached by event organisers to participate depending on the fit of that class with the rest of the event.
In that way each class/club knows its own rules pretty well and can deal with changes quickly and with event organisers effectively.

And I think that I am right in that each class needs to effectively scruitineer itself to make sure cars fit the rules. I am peripheral to the Honda Cup class/club and they check their own class, even weighing them themselves as there is a minimum weight allowed for each sub-class within the class.

I guess the pool for volunteers and event runners is much larger for car events than for bikes.

Yip,

An individual class sub commission with a spokesperson that reports back to me with their ideas and needs, Is exactly what I have been speaking to the National level competitors about and I already have people in place for Superbike,600s and 250s,When I finish running around cleaning up this weeks mess,I'll get back to organising people for other classes,That was one of the main reasons I came up with the members only website,So that those that put their money where their mouths are, could help organise their particular class,Of course it would have to be overseen by the commission and the board to ensure their ideas were workable and rules were written so they could be enforced properly,

Who would have thunk it was such a dumb idea????Everybody but me apparently,Go figure!