What would bring YOU to watch a race meeting?

[Paul in NZ]

Water is DEFINITELY well and truely under the bridge on this one but I started this thread NOT in racing but in GBR
The reason being we (i still think of my self as one) the racers need to be asking the general biker what will attract them to a race meeting.

Sorry but I think you are wasting your time Tony..

No one is coming to watch just motorcycle racing, its confusing, irrelevant and there are no decent tracks near the cities that matter. If you put your mind to it I expect you could arrange to have 450 different classes of bike in 12 different races spread amoungst 57 riders resulting in lotsa first places for all...

Fact is, more people turn up to a boy racers night out in chch or a teenagers text party so ya may as well just organise the races to suit yourselves and don't expect joe public to subsidise it unless you offer them something they want to see. They are spoilt for choice and are not going to waste a day and a tank full of gas unless it's special.

[Kickaha]

They are spoilt for choice and are not going to waste a day and a tank full of gas unless it's special.

Which is why the street races are so popular

[naphazoline]

YEAH.............Street races have something special about them,and could be wider spread through the country,without having to construct additional,purpose built race tracks.

[FROSTY:Me]

Paul --Im hearing you loud n clear mate. But I can;t give up hope that you are wrong.


Actually about 20 years ago an aquaintence of me and MVrider came up with a fantastic plan.
It was when the Albany industrial area was just lines on paper and for those too young to remember the Motorway ended at albany.
The idea was to work with the town planners to build an industrial area specifically able to be made into a racetrack.
4 weekends a year it would be closed off for either car or bike racing.

[naphazoline]

The idea was to work with the town planners to build an industrial area specifically able to be made into a racetrack.
4 weekends a year it would be closed off for either car or bike racing.

That sounds cool.

What happened?

[R1madness]

lack of support form user groups. Lack of support from the industry. Lack of interest from the councillors. Usual story Kiwis are just too lasy to do things that will benafit anyone other than themselves directly.......

[svr]

Most of the spectators are friends and family of the racers - they are there to watch people they know race (and hopefully they bring lunch...)

[Kwaka14]

ADVERTISING

The street races always get some free advertising, partly because of road closures, partly because it´s an unusual thing.... If I knew when there was something happening early enough then I´d be there more often (I know I can look it up here or other places, but the G.P. doesn´t).

[Brian d marge]

Having seen a fair bit of racing around the world I still think NZ roadracing offers spectators pretty good value.
Wanganui for e.g. is a great spectacle because you are close to the action, not 100m away. Clean out the drunken, fighting bogans so the families can come back.
Last year I saw a motoGP, a world SBK race and the Isle of Man races, and watching Shirriffs through the esses still ranks as a memorable highlight.
Also, over the years spectator numbers in NZ have been related to rider numbers. The general public will go to watch if people they know are racing. With full grids at the nationals there have been full stands.
My 2 cents.

+1 on this , Im off to Motogp next week shall be looking at the customer experience .... we have talked about this at length , The races I have been to in NZ are an exercise in endurance , , ( Except Paeroa /wanganui ... because I can do other things) , My wife isnt interested in racing , but the kids enjoy it , so what is she going to do at Ruapuna , on a grey sunday afternoon ,,,,,,, I know she can buy a hotdog ,,, with was I have been told is tomato sauce on it ......... whoopie ....

At least at P Island ther are clothing/ trade stalls , a market ( she LOVES markets ) and restraunts , ( I know ) ...but
When I go to the new season bike launches , there is an outlet mall nearby ,,,,with the chance of a bargain , she is off like a flash , leaving me to enjoy ,,,bikes ( and the brolly dollys )

its the enterainment for the whole family , not just blokes going around in circles on noisy bikes .

Stephen

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

+1 on this , Im off to Motogp next week shall be looking at the customer experience .... we have talked about this at length , The races I have been to in NZ are an exercise in endurance , , ( Except Paeroa /wanganui ... because I can do other things) , My wife isnt interested in racing , but the kids enjoy it , so what is she going to do at Ruapuna , on a grey sunday afternoon ,,,,,,, I know she can buy a hotdog ,,, with was I have been told is tomato sauce on it ......... whoopie ....

At least at P Island ther are clothing/ trade stalls , a market ( she LOVES markets ) and restraunts , ( I know ) ...but
When I go to the new season bike launches , there is an outlet mall nearby ,,,,with the chance of a bargain , she is off like a flash , leaving me to enjoy ,,,bikes ( and the brolly dollys )

its the enterainment for the whole family , not just blokes going around in circles on noisy bikes .

Stephen

+2
Trade/manufacturer stands
Tin pan ally
Decent food outlets that sell something other than 'orange fried food'
Bike clubs providing secure parking, gear drop off etc.
Organised entertainment for kiddies.

All this isnt going to happen without the profile being raised, sponsorship and buy in from the trades etc
TV coverage would help but we need a product that sells, look at the success Poreroa has for instance.
We need to invest in our sport to make it appealing, who knows with the profile Hampton Downs will have we could make a start there.

Just some thoughts.

[R1madness]

Its a funny old world. I have asked about having a trade display at the racing for years but have been consistantly told by the orginisers that " noone is interested, they only want to watch the racing". And then they want a commission on my sales or a fee for having the display...... odd.
I could probibly orginise the Major shops and importers in CHCH to support with trade displays as well ( at least here in the south island) but after 20 years of being knocked back i have lost interest in asking the orginising bodys.

[Clivoris]

Its a funny old world. I have asked about having a trade display at the racing for years but have been consistantly told by the orginisers that " noone is interested, they only want to watch the racing". And then they want a commission on my sales or a fee for having the display...... odd.
I could probibly orginise the Major shops and importers in CHCH to support with trade displays as well ( at least here in the south island) but after 20 years of being knocked back i have lost interest in asking the orginising bodys.

The VMCC are happy to have any trade displays at the Actrix Winter Series and always have been. No charge at all. Interest has been light, but it probably makes sense given the effort required against the return.

[wharfy]

The VMCC are happy to have any trade displays at the Actrix Winter Series and always have been. No charge at all. Interest has been light, but it probably makes sense given the effort required against the return.

The Sound Of Thunder at Ruapuna had vendor stalls, one of the biggest was Street and Sport, I guess anyone interested could ask them if it was worth their while. At the Street races there are always a few vendors.

[Big Dog]

Atmosphere. There is none at the AMCC events.
Promotion. In three years of attending AMCC events I have yet to see or hear one advertisement, or meet anyone who does not race or marshall who knows whene the events are.

I attended the classic festival this year, attendance was bigger than at the nationals. I wonder why. It ws promoted and is a fun event for the whole family. The atmosphere was amazing.

[FROSTY:Me]

somewhere in here theres a solution or two.

Myself Ive been thinking that one big boost to summer racing here would be to alighn our premier classes with the Auzzies. So same bike rules ,same race rules. Jumping the ditch then would be a lot easier in both directions.
Good practice for the auzzies before their season kicks off for real