What would bring YOU to watch a race meeting?

[Drew]

Ah yes, but we need a balance... (and not all of us have sponsors )
Dunno, but the racing here is generally pretty booring, don't really know how to fix that....

The racing isn't boring if you can see it.With the extra stands going up at Manfield, and Taupo it will be better. More entrants too, and for that we need more sponsors. You yourself are fantastic to watch throwing a bike around cos it wont go of its own accord, someone paying to get you there and enter would be well recieved by everyone that has met you.

My bike is, "one of the KTL motorcycles 749r Ducatis", and should be reffered to as such in any comentary. Is one thing but continued talk about this shop and that shop is annoying.

If as a rider you don't give a shit then you are not the type of racer I would want to watch anyway!

Oh I care, I considder my lady and I on our way up, and want the whole friggin world to see it happen and who got us there. That may sound selfish, but they enjoy seeing us do the bizzo, and people on the whole like to be gratified.

Where in my post did you get that I dont give a shit? If you refer to your opinion, then it is as welcome as any other, I just think it is rediculous to moan about hearing the sponsors and what they do for a rider.

[Drew]

yeah sorry mate bit pissed up , so sorry about the format thing.
why would it cost 3 to 4 k?
this young fella paid for a ticket here and back.
he was picked up from auckland.
fed for free, stayed for free.
bike for free, fuel for free,
not sure about race entry or medical cover ( if he had any)
and he was here for i think only 4 days

Time off work, flights, frieght, international race licence, it all adds up. I was thinking of a longer stay though on ones own machine to seriously contest an event with at least a days set up on each track to be raced, so there is distance to cover between.

I must have mis read your post sorry.

[soundbeltfarm]

Time off work, flights, frieght, international race licence, .

good point on the time off work i never thought of that.

[FROSTY:Me]

Drew --Dude I think you're missing the point.
Its not the people that ARE coming to the track that we need to be asking (not that their opinion isn't important) Those that do come already have the bug.
Its those that are staying away in their thousands that we need to ask -"hey why DON'T you come?"
All those that don't come have valid reasons in their lives. YET 30000 odd people went to a ractrack to watch what was mostly a procession this weekend.
45000 A DAY turned up each day to watch V8 cars go around the most boring track in New Zealand.
Yet at the nationals we get 5000 at most --summat is wrong

[Bikernereid]

I think the more people that race the better and I repsect you and your lady for doing it. But I have spent 34 years going to the races and just prefer to hear what is going on round the other parts of the track that I can't see as opposed to who is sponsoring. We all know what sponsors are doing for riders but at the end of the day if spectators don't come and watch then what the sponsors do will be immaterial anyhoo.

Oh I care, I considder my lady and I on our way up, and want the whole friggin world to see it happen and who got us there. That may sound selfish, but they enjoy seeing us do the bizzo, and people on the whole like to be gratified.

Where in my post did you get that I dont give a shit? If you refer to your opinion, then it is as welcome as any other, I just think it is rediculous to moan about hearing the sponsors and what they do for a rider.[/QUOTE]

[ArcherWC]

one word ADVERTISING, people wont come if its not in there faces for the weeks leading up to the event

[Bikernereid]

I am racing nuts but to be honest I got a bit put off going to other racing in NZ at Wanganui cos of all the sponsor talk. Maybe I am just used to racing in the UK.

Drew --Dude I think you're missing the point.
Its not the people that ARE coming to the track that we need to be asking (not that their opinion isn't important) Those that do come already have the bug.
Its those that are staying away in their thousands that we need to ask -"hey why DON'T you come?"
All those that don't come have valid reasons in their lives. YET 30000 odd people went to a ractrack to watch what was mostly a procession this weekend.
45000 A DAY turned up each day to watch V8 cars go around the most boring track in New Zealand.
Yet at the nationals we get 5000 at most --summat is wrong

[FROSTY:Me]

I am racing nuts but to be honest I got a bit put off going to other racing in NZ at Wanganui cos of all the sponsor talk. Maybe I am just used to racing in the UK.

The sponsor talk is sposed to fill the GAPS between races. Mind you its typical of kiwi racers. We get asked over the tannoy for our profiles to give us a talk up by the commentator --most of us just give a sponsor blurb instead of OUR acheivements. Its the whole not wanting to seem boastful

[Ixion]

Folks The nationals are attracting smaller and smaller crowds.
15000 of you lot come along to Battle of the streets and similar numbers to Whanganui
So what attracts you there??
What can be done to attract you to a track meeting?
I really would like feedback from non racers please.

FEEDBACK SO FAR IS FANTASTIC--THANKYOU ALL THOSE THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED

1)plentyof clean loos
2)plenty of shade.
3)exclusive seating areas at a premeum price.
4)viewing areas to watch the inpit action up close (viewingthe tight leathers)
5)big screens for the action you missed
6)quality food not just chips and hotdogs
7)other forms of entertainment-possibly a rally
8)entertainment for kids -thinking over EVERY north island track I can picture an area sutable for that
9)bigger range of bike types -not clones
10)local community involvement-
11) good comentary
12)Lots of trade stalls

If you could turn that lot on you might even get me there. You left out a decent program book. If you don't avidly follow racing, the programs are usually total crap, just a list of meaningless names. No 22 Bill Bloggs. So what. Who the fuck IS Bill Bloggs. give me some potted resumes. Tell me why Bill Bloggs is expected to win - or, doesn't have a hope. Like the form books at horse races. And put in some human interest stuff. Let us know about Mrs Bloggs. And how about the mechanics - the unsung heros. Someone keeps the Bloggmocycle running. And tell me about the BIKES, That's what I really go for, the bikes, not the riders. They're just there to make the things go round and round.

And arrange it so I can come and go, a pass out.

And, FFS, I want to be able to get a decent glass of wine. Or a beer. I don't give a fuckers tink about the pious protestations of the blue light brigade. Decent food, and decent grog, please.

And someone else mentioned a gear lockup. They do that at Paeroa it';s really good.

Now, you you expect to get 5000 spectators, you'd need to think broadly. Like organising meeting points along the way. So the whole thing becomes a bit of a social thing.

And sidecars. Y gotta have chairs. And I like the idea of motard type stuff (the European version with gravel and mud)

Don't be afraid to charge. the Puke classics is $25 I'm cool with that, and I'm just a poor old man. FFS where can you get a days entertainment now for less ?

[FROSTY:Me]

first post edited

[Tony.OK]

Would anyone be really interested in going to the V8's or A1 if they had hardly ever seen them on TV?
I'm sure if there was a SBK or GP here it would sell out,all we've had here in the last few years is a 1/2-1hr slot for Wanga's and Paeroa,Tv gets people interested in a sport that they may not be a fan of.
Hopefully the Nats coverage this year will do something to spark an interest.

[Bikernereid]

The whole world has gone mad. Not sure if it is part of the whole pc issue but at the end of the day why not be proud of what you have achieved and done. If you do well why should be be ashamed or embarrassed to tell people about it?

I for one am not really interested in the sponsors (yes they have thier part to play I know) but I am interested in the racers. Love Leon Haslam don't know didly squit about his sponsor history!! Go to watch him do well and support him. As I did with his father before him.

The sponsor talk is sposed to fill the GAPS between races. Mind you its typical of kiwi racers. We get asked over the tannoy for our profiles to give us a talk up by the commentator --most of us just give a sponsor blurb instead of OUR acheivements. Its the whole not wanting to seem boastful

[gav]

OK, its always going to be hard to try and get crowds matching what you get at a street circuit. Both Wanganui and Paeroa have a history, and its something about a once a year race circuit that appeals. Maybe because Joe Bloggs can relate to the circuit more than a "distant" racetrack?
Nothing beats word of mouth, don't be disillusioned if the first event failsto meet expectations, give it three or four events and learn from the experience. Be prepared to back the event for the long run, you will also get the confidence of your sponsers with this approach as well.
Shorter races will appeal more to the crowd than longer events where it can be hard to keep track of who is winning and coming where.
See if you can draw a "name" rider that may appeal to the crowd. How about Aaron Slight or Simon Crafer? Maybe Kevin Magee, Rob Phillis, Malcolm Campbell, Wayne Gardner ..... Think outside the square, it may be easier to entice someone over than you think. Remember, you don't to pay out the $$, sell the experience of living the Taupo or NZ lifestyle. Arrange bungy jumping, jetboating, flyfishing etc, I'm sure a sponser could help provide these items?
This approach worked in golf when the likes of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklas played in NZ, a chance for them to have a holiday like no other. You never no, who might say yeah! Doesnt Fred Merkel live in Taupo?

[325rocket]

one word ADVERTISING, people wont come if its not in there faces for the weeks leading up to the event

I think that’s a good point. Ive never been to any bike racing as I figured it would be pretty boring. Id go now after watching the fast / race guys at the last manfeild track day.
If you don’t know how good it is you wont go.

[rwh]

See if you can draw a "name" rider that may appeal to the crowd. How about Aaron Slight or Simon Crafer? Maybe Kevin Magee, Rob Phillis, Malcolm Campbell, Wayne Gardner ..... Think outside the square, it may be easier to entice someone over than you think.

A name bike could be good too - I'd be more keen to go if I knew I'd see a Britten on the track, even if it's only some demo laps.

Richard