So, why don't you race in the Nationals?

[sidecar bob]

I rekon the accomodation argument is a lame one. Its the middle of summer & sleeping in an enclosed trailer, tent or van is hardly a hardship at that time of year. A few pots & pans & some cheap groceries & you can probably live cheaper than at home.
Scrivy & i are probably in a great position to have a flash hotel wherever we go, but the old van is fine & quite an adventure, theres nothing wrong with a grass verge on a quiet country road to call home for the night.
I think there is a degree of softness or possibly stuck up ness about the whole "gotta have a motel" thing.

[Robert Taylor]

I rekon the accomodation argument is a lame one. Its the middle of summer & sleeping in an enclosed trailer, tent or van is hardly a hardship at that time of year. A few pots & pans & some cheap groceries & you can probably live cheaper than at home.
Scrivy & i are probably in a great position to have a flash hotel wherever we go, but the old van is fine & quite an adventure, theres nothing wrong with a grass verge on a quiet country road to call home for the night.
I think there is a degree of softness or possibly stuck up ness about the whole "gotta have a motel" thing.

Fair points, its notable also that many cite time away from work as one of the issues.
You sidecar guys are in any event a lot tougher!

[jellywrestler]

Accomodation is free for me, and likely any of my mates. What with my family being spread all over the south island.

But three weeks away from work, (self employed), cost of running my bike, and travel make it impossible.

interesting comment, flying is as cheap as these days so if you book early enough and organise soemwhere to leave a wagon its much easier than it used to be...

[jellywrestler]

Scrivy & i are probably in a great position to have a flash hotel wherever we go, but the old van is fine & quite an adventure, theres nothing wrong with a grass verge on a quiet country road to call home for the night.
.

the reality is for you two is its hard to find a motel with hooks above all four corners of the beds, like in the roof of your vans, and that will tolerate the noises that you make at night without calling
A/ the police
B/ the armed offenders squad
C/ the SPCA
D/ a troupe of choirboys

[Drew]

interesting comment, flying is as cheap as these days so if you book early enough and organise soemwhere to leave a wagon its much easier than it used to be...

For sure, I could likely find someone down there to drive the van to my next destination too.

But I want to do very well, get myself noticed like, so would do the test days prior, making each work week a maximum of four days. And that's only provided the bike didn't need work between rounds.

To put it another way, I live month to month when it comes to racing. Robbing Peter to pay Paul like. Triple the entry costs, and then trying to do it three weeks in a row, I just do not have the money right now.

I am selling my RF once I order the gear box bits it needs, (which I just dont have the three hundred bones for either), and chuck them in, that will pay for a set of tyres, and the head service my bike is due for. Then I'm right back where I started.

[Kickaha]

I think there is a degree of softness or possibly stuck up ness about the whole "gotta have a motel" thing.

While I quite like staying in the Motels while away racing, the last couple of National meetings at Levels I've used the tent, there's showers at the track and you can buy a cooked breakfast there in the morning

You sidecar guys are in any event a lot tougher!

Obviously

interesting comment, flying is as cheap as these days so if you book early enough and organise soemwhere to leave a wagon its much easier than it used to be...

Thats how we've done it, we do Minefield, leave the gear with someone and fly home, if we're lucky they drive it to Auckland and we fly back up two weeks later for less than what it would cost to either stay up for the two weeks in between or drive back home and then back up

But I start booking stuff as soon as we have the race dates so we can get the cheap flights

[Kickaha]

For sure, I could likely find someone down there to drive the van to my next destination too.

But I want to do very well, get myself noticed like, so would do the test days prior, making each work week a maximum of four days. And that's only provided the bike didn't need work between rounds.

You'd probably be better off coming down and doing some of the club days, it might mean a little bit more travel but it'd mean taking less days off come Nationals and if you can find someone else to travel with you wouldn't be to expensive

I think we got a kennel you could sleep in

[Drew]

You'd probably be better off coming down and doing some of the club days, it might mean a little bit more travel but it'd mean taking less days off come Nationals and if you can find someone else to travel with you wouldn't be to expensive

I think we got a kennel you could sleep in

Sweet, accom' sorted for Christchurch!

[scrivy]

My priorites (at the moment!) are:

VMCC Winter Series,
Wellington Buckets,
The Cliffhanger Hillclimb,
The Taupo Roadrace Spectacular,
An away trip for Bucket Racing...

I'd rather spend my money watching wanganui and then heading to taupo for some SPECTACULAR ACTION!

Are you after a free entry Koba?? You're going about it the right way!!!

the reality is for you two is its hard to find a motel with hooks above all four corners of the beds, like in the roof of your vans, and that will tolerate the noises that you make at night without calling
A/ the police
B/ the armed offenders squad
C/ the SPCA
D/ a troupe of choirboys

You free again this time round Spyda?? You have such warm hands.........

You sidecar guys are in any event a lot tougher!

Or more stupid!!


I like the info coming back from everyone on this poll. This is great!

[Drew]

Are you after a free entry Koba?? You're going about it the right way!!!

Gonna be a busy christmas this year, I'll be racing Wanga's, then coming up to the spectacular. Me and Deano wanna have a crack at the three hour on my thou.

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

I got over the accomodation issues by buying an old desiel horse truck. It had a bed, sink, stove and a little gas fridge up front and the room that two horse took up in the back, had it all set out sweet as. It wasn't alot dearer to run than a car towing loaded trailer and I had all the comforts of home right there with me.
Got a flash motorhome now, just eyeing up a towbar for it!

[slowpoke]

Got a flash motorhome now

MotoGP comes to Invercargill!

[Whitebait]

..Got a flash motorhome now...

MotoGP comes to Invercargill!

...I reckon!!!!

Kiwi Graham did I mention I'm now looking for new sponsors...

[scracha]

MNZ have a site but ( frankly ) trolling through it is a nightmare, its not user friendly.

Yes. And their silly Javascript dropdown menu's dont work on netbooks either.

So the biggest costs and gripe with the Nationals is accomodation, travel and meals? Plus downtime away from work?

Yes. Max of 2 full weeks off work would be more realistic. Perhaps mid-week event (cheaper track hire too) should be looked at. Block booking for rider (and support peeps), bike transport, storage and accomodation needs looked at. Also seems a bit stupid that riders are carting tyres up and down the country.

Would having a lower spec bike ( stock suspension and motors ) really help that much? Would you be happy to race with the stock shock and have more tyres on hand?

Pro-twins and the 'lower' classes it's a no brainer to be honest. Practice (and declared wet meeting) aside, marking a set of tyres for the whole meeting would decrease costs. Bonkers that pro-twins riders are going through 3 sets of tyres for one event. F3...maybe some limits on motors and suspenders. Don't think there's enough money/support in NZ for 3 'unlimited' formula classes. F2...not so sure....maybe 2 sets would be a compromise. F1, leave alone I guess.

From many 'average' club racers like moi, there really are no plus points in doing the nationals in their current state. The time of work is higher, costs are far higher, the chance of a podium is far lower, there's no prize-money nor even assistance with costs (ozzie formula 400 riders get travel assistance). There's no crowd roar and It's not like we're going to have a chance to wave at our mates and say 'look at me (getting lapped)' on the telly either. Different story for the uber-talented riders who're trying to make a name for themselves I guess.

Burt Monroe rally, sound of thunder and some of the south island's street races seem far more appealing (atmosphere, crowds, tv coverage) to be honest.

Me and Deano wanna have a crack at the three hour on my thou.

Just bring one set of tyres.....you'll crash well before it's worn.

[Kickaha]

Yes. Max of 2 full weeks off work would be more realistic. Perhaps mid-week event (cheaper track hire too) should be looked at.

This was suggested By Chris Lawrence to MNZ either last year or the year before for the SI rounds,so the three meetings would be run Teretonga first weekend, Levels (midweek) Ruapuna following weekend