What would bring YOU to watch a race meeting?

**jellywrestler** · 7th March 2013, 07:05

Originally Posted by CHOPPA

little things to keep the crowd involved, maybe a roaming commentator rocking up to spectators asking them what they ride and who their here to watch etc

we can do that.
last Nationals at HD just one competitor bothered to cross the track and come and have a word with the commentators over the entire weekend, maybe we get the competitors to actually participate in this area this year eh?

**scrivy** · 7th March 2013, 08:07

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

we can do that.
last Nationals at HD just one competitor bothered to cross the track and come and have a word with the commentators over the entire weekend, maybe we get the competitors to actually participate in this area this year eh?

What about me and Bob at Timaru and Chch this year Spyda..... we went up and talked......

(Might have been shit talk, but it made a few laugh...)

What about team mechanics, wives or sponsors having a rave too?
Why did you get behind this rider, what can you see in their future? Might encourage others to sponsor....??? If they can see a return.......

**slowpoke** · 7th March 2013, 09:38

It's a tricky one, whatever is done to try and make a difference really isn't felt until the next year. So if something is given a crack it needs to be over a longer term. Trying something and then turfing it just puts us back to year one again. 100 extra people turn up due to ____, they go home and tell a few mates, and hopefully a few extra turn up the following year, they go home and tell a few mates and the year after we have a noticeable difference.

Short of spending huge sums we don't have, nothing is going to turn 1000 spectators into 10,000 overnight. But a small increase year on year is something we can aim for, and is achievable.

It's like the trade stands: businesses put in the effort and no-one rocks up, so they can't be bothered (who can blame them) the next year. 'Course the few people who make a return due to the trade stands come back and see nothing so go home disappointed. And the cycle just continues. Somewhere, sometime the decision has to be made to suck it up in the short term for some long term gain.

**jellywrestler** · 7th March 2013, 09:50

Originally Posted by scrivy

What about me and Bob at Timaru and Chch this year Spyda..... we went up and talked......

(Might have been shit talk, but it made a few laugh...)

What about team mechanics, wives or sponsors having a rave too?
Why did you get behind this rider, what can you see in their future? Might encourage others to sponsor....??? If they can see a return.......

yep and it was a pleasure to have you guys up there and anyone else whose got an inside look into a class is what we encourage. Don't be scared of us, we can taylor the questions to suit the person and their persona and make sure they have an enjoyable time of it.

At HD it's a little harder to get across the track to the box, so people don't bother and In my opinion lose an opportunity to promote themselves and their product/sponsors.
It's wider spread of publicity now as the middleman sponsoring a bike/rider who never really went to a meeting before often now listens at home so they get a kick out of their rider/product being promoted.

**Road kill** · 7th March 2013, 10:12

Take up a sport that doesn't require other peoples money.

**nodrog:Me** · 7th March 2013, 10:25

Originally Posted by Road kill

Take up a sport that doesn't require other peoples money.

Fapping off?

I'm thinking of challenging you for the title, but without spectators it will just be 2 naked dudes by themselves in a room, and thats abit weird.

**scrivy** · 7th March 2013, 10:30

What about getting some more top riders out here. Not just from Aussie either. Oceania riders, UK, America etc...
Yes it costs money, but then you have something better to promote, and get more bums on seats.

I was gunna fork out some good coin to get Schwantz here back in '09 for the TRRS and endurance race. Would have been great for spectators, and I could have chucked the money back at the competitors at the next event.

**scrivy** · 7th March 2013, 10:33

Originally Posted by nodrog

Fapping off?

I'm thinking of challenging you for the title, but without spectators it will just be 2 naked dudes by themselves in a room, and thats abit weird.

What's the entry fee???
I know Bob will wanna be a starter too - so it's up to 4 now.....

**nodrog:Me** · 7th March 2013, 11:31

Originally Posted by scrivy

What's the entry fee???
I know Bob will wanna be a starter too - so it's up to 4 now.....

Its $69 plus $16 for a transgender. But you can just use your drag racing one.

**Billy** · 7th March 2013, 11:58

Originally Posted by scrivy

What about getting some more top riders out here. Not just from Aussie either. Oceania riders, UK, America etc...
Yes it costs money, but then you have something better to promote, and get more bums on seats.

I was gunna fork out some good coin to get Schwantz here back in '09 for the TRRS and endurance race. Would have been great for spectators, and I could have chucked the money back at the competitors at the next event.

Yip,

Did that myself this year and enticed Luke Burgess over from Aussie,The benefits are huge in so many ways and the attitude of both Luke and his dad Dale is so different to the Kiwi riders,Theyve turned up for what was basically a free ride and when ever theres been an issue,They don't hesitate to get the cheque book out and fix it,If thats what it takes,Has been a invaluable carrot for young Baillie Perriton and he has risen to the ocassion,Hopefully by raising the bar as Luke has done it will drag some of the kiwi riders up as well and its raised the profile of the class,Also it gives the kiwis an idea of how fast they need to be before considering using up their valuable cash reserves chasing the impossible dream without a clue,Youve got no idea how mant peeps have emailed or rung me to say how much they enjoyed his "Back it in" Style,Especially at Ruapuna,Wouldnt bother with another Kiwi to be honest.

**sidecar bob** · 7th March 2013, 13:50

I guess the "how to get spectators to meetings" question was answered when the Classic Register got Schwantz out.
I know it cost them a packet, but the place was absolutely chocka with spectators.
Big name guys from his era that can still ride hard with the best of them are huge drawcards, as opposed to some shuffling old fossil that once rode a big wheel sidecar in 1954.

**wharfy** · 7th March 2013, 15:32

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Somewhere, sometime the decision has to be made to suck it up in the short term for some long term gain.

Sadly NZ is geared to the attention span of a 6 year old - almost everything from TV content to Government policy is done for a quick return.
Ask anyone what there 5 year plan is and their eyes will glaze over "what ?" (mine is limited to "still be above ground")
Never mind a 10, 15 or 25 year plan.
- There are notable exceptions of course -
TAIT in Christchurch for one http://www.taitradio.com/our-company/our-history
(add your favourite

)

I do know some individuals who have there shit together, have plan and are following it - but not many -
It's a bit like weight loss everyone knows that it is simple -eat right and exercise - but the weight loss business is worth $Billions $Billions because people want to lose weight NOW ( and a bizarre idea that an ideal woman looks like a 14 year old boy ??? )

Sigh...
I wish I DID have a quick fix...
Good job I'm not King of the world

**CHOPPA** · 7th March 2013, 15:56

Even if we could get a bunch of NZ legends out on the track plenty of people would come to watch! Get Stroud, Rees, Slight, Crafar, Clee, Harris, Shirriffs, Merkell and a maybe a few of there mate on superbikes now that would be something to draw out the crowds

**scrivy** · 7th March 2013, 16:07

What was the meeting years back when they got the past 500GP riders together?
I wish we could emulate that here. A couple of hundy K and supplied bikes.... would be a great spectacle for all riders/racers/spectators....

I'll supply one, who else is up for it?

Imagine the overseas media too. A great sponsorship op.

I guess I'm old school. but I liked the 500GP's without all their electric wizardry. Gotta love guys like Mamola, Schwantz, etc.

Click image for larger version.

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Nice pic - 1 great rider.... the other two guys are short....... (

) Oh, in my dreams.....

**CHOPPA** · 7th March 2013, 19:55

Originally Posted by scrivy

What was the meeting years back when they got the past 500GP riders together?
I wish we could emulate that here. A couple of hundy K and supplied bikes.... would be a great spectacle for all riders/racers/spectators....

I'll supply one, who else is up for it?

Imagine the overseas media too. A great sponsorship op.

I guess I'm old school. but I liked the 500GP's without all their electric wizardry. Gotta love guys like Mamola, Schwantz, etc.

Nice pic - 1 great rider.... the other two guys are short....... (

) Oh, in my dreams.....

Id like to see them ride a moto gp bike with no electronic aids