Why 3 rounds down south?

[JMemonic]

If you look at the realities, the greater (by some considerable margin) part of the population and therefore market for bikes and virtually everything else is in the North Island, as are i would guess, most of the race licence holders.

Your logic make good practical sense in some respects but population base does not always mean the support is there, I will offer up another example of the odd discrepancies between the two islands, motor cycle rallies, there are a bucket load more in the South than the North why is that?

Perhaps because the folks down here say stuff and get on with doing rather than acting like those who base themselves in that waste of taxpayers money called the Beehive and say it then form a committee to discuss the idea then survey interested parties, then try to obtain sponsorship etc.

[Tony.OK]

I'm guessing that if we didn't have that stupidly expensive creek to cross no one would care, if ya could drive across that is.
How many hours do racers and spectators in Aus and US go? More than the entire length of our wee country I'm picking.

Until we get a promotions team running the Nats I think the pressure and costs to our little clubs will keep on limiting where races are held. But this has been covered before.

And it'd be interesting to see what ratio per capita of racers for each Island, am picking the Sth might have the edge.

[slowpoke]

I'm guessing that if we didn't have that stupidly expensive creek to cross no one would care, if ya could drive across that is.

Yep, it's gotta be the most expensive strip of water in the world. What other country charges damn near a weeks wages to go 20 sumthin' km's and back again?

If I head down I gotta get from Teretonga Sunday evening to the Wairarapa and back to Wellington in time to fly out Tuesday and it all revolves 'round that blardy boat.

[SWERVE]

Hers my 2 cents worth.
I too am from UK and thought nothing of doing practice/ track days at Croft - Oulten park - Donington during the week and on consecetive days then Mallory park or Cadwell at the weekend.............. and for those of you who know Uk i lived in Norwich which apart from having Snetterton down the road is bloody miles from anywhere............ team BWR you will appreciate the travelling involved there eh.
I would do the same here if it wasn,t for that boat ride that costs a second mortgage to take. Dont mind the driving.roads aren,t as good as UK motorways but lot less traffic.
I think Ruapuna & Levels are obvious choices because of ther close proximity to each other and of coarse ChCh which is cheap to fly into if thats the way you do it as opposed to flying into Palmy or tuapo which again costs a fortune. do sometimes wonder about the validity of teretonga (it is a long way even from here) but as earlier stated a national series should be run at ALL tracks and if the facility is not used we will lose it (then you would have something to whinge about).

I would like to see Hampton downs - taupo - Manfield - ruapuna - levels - teretonga as the series.............. but would need run as 3 weekends together for both islands and would need to have a decant gap inbetween nth & sth is rounds to accomodate finances - interisland travellers -etc.
also believe streetstock should be a national class NOW (but thats another rant)............................................. ... may the debate continue

[scracha]

From what i know of you you've been in the sport of racing in NZ for a relatively short space of time but seem to want to change an awful lot of things...

[lostinflyz]

how many events and the like have been shifted to auckland in the past 3-4years and have been a miserable failure because people expect volume makes interest,.even when you put on shitty events and overcharge to all hell.

Just cause theres people there dont mean shit. if you apply this logic to the world we are virtually the last place on earth literally, that anyone would go to hold any event. or do anything.but we still have plenty of concerts and international events.

[scrivy]

Would you still agree with Teambwr47 if you lived in the south?, sounds more like a pair of whinging Northern bitches wanting the nationals reorganized to suit themselves

Er Kick...... you know I'd never take the piss out of you.....
But seriously, you got PMT??

LOL!

[oyster]

I've been going to NZ Nationals for about 10 years now, about half I lived in Invercargill, the other half in Christchurch. It varies from year to year, but generally both the hosting clubs see running the Nationals as a honour, and the highlight of their year. It's a vehicle to present and promote the sport at the highest level, and mostly makes good money, which can be re invested during the club year. Yes, the Nationals are are a fundraiser! And it's not because the costs are low, it's because hard work is done to get sponsors to
carry a lot of the cost, then promote it well to get the gate take up.
I understand the two hosting NI clubs are reluctant to run the Nationals, quite a different viewpoint to the SI clubs. We have population centres near our venues, and that certainly helps too, big time.
And Brian, I don't know how much riding you've done down here, but if you've been here you can't help but notice how strong Road Racing is. Here in Christchurch alone are 4 clubs dedicated solely to road racing. Our new calendar out shows 46 Road Racing events from July'09 to May '10. Really, the NI has the population base, but does it have this depth of following?
And finally, I'm one eyed of course, but we think our circuits are the best.
The three are all different, relative to the 3 NI ones are certainly safer, and
offer technical challenges to develop a new generation of top riders.

[wharfy]

The only SI track I've raced on (or even been too) is Ruapuna and it is my favourite circuit.
I personally think that 3 rounds on each Island with a bit of a gap would be the go.
How about a separate points tally for North & South and an "Island" championship so you could be part of the fun and have something to brag about. I would quite like to be able to go to work and say I was 22nd in the North Island championship. Nobody outside of the race scene would need to know there were only 22 entries. (Notice that I think my idea is so good the number of entries has doubled from the Nationals 10 )

If they were on consecutive weekends then the folk from the "Other" Island could take a couple of weeks leave for the "overseas" rounds and travel each weekend for the rounds on their island.

I don't think the Ferry trip is such I big issue I've sprung $430 for a return crossing to do Greymouth (Van and two people) and will almost certainly do the SOT next year.


I do think that there needs to be some "lesser" series combined with the nationals (like an island series or maybe the "privateers cup" will do the trick) as there are only about a dozen National level racers in the country. Check out the times on My Laps at events where Nats racers attend club events - big differences in times and not all down to the bike.

[scrivy]

I cant fathom that us mad bike racing lovers can't organise to billet/accommodate fellow racers from either the same or different islands so that the costs of doing the Nats are reduced! Hell, we might even have a great time socialising while we're at it!!

As most of you will know, my TRRS on the 27th/28th of December does just that. Free camping (with security guard in attendance), free showers for campers, free awesome dinner with free beers and free live band on the 27th night, and free BBQ on the night of the 28th!

All you have to pay for is the entry - oh, its only $120 for 2 days too!!

You also get to watch a dramatic 3 hour race too!! Let's turn this event into a great social occasion where us mad bastards can socialise, talk bikes, party, drink and be merry ! (I was going to say be gay - but some people might get too excited and invite Kick)......

[slowpoke]

I don't think the Ferry trip is such I big issue I've sprung $430 for a return crossing to do Greymouth (Van and two people) and will almost certainly do the SOT next year.


I do think that there needs to be some "lesser" series combined with the nationals (like an island series or maybe the "privateers cup" will do the trick) as there are only about a dozen National level racers in the country. Check out the times on My Laps at events where Nats racers attend club events - big differences in times and not all down to the bike.

Some pretty good ideas there Wharfy. For those of us with trailers rather than vans though the cheapest fare is $700-ish for that fuggin' boat.

For what it's worth isn't the qualifying cut-off 115%? (or is it 109%?) for the Nationals? Anybody who can qualify could be a Nationals level racer....but fear of looking slow or coming towards the back of the field stops a lot of folks entering. The funny/sad thing is if just half a dozen extra people in each class said bugger it and had a go the series would be transformed.

I cant fathom that us mad bike racing lovers can't organise to billet/accommodate fellow racers from either the same or different islands so that the costs of doing the Nats are reduced! Hell, we might even have a great time socialising while we're at it!!

As most of you will know, my TRRS on the 27th/28th of December does just that. Free camping (with security guard in attendance), free showers for campers, free awesome dinner with free beers and free live band on the 27th night, and free BBQ on the night of the 28th!

All you have to pay for is the entry - oh, its only $120 for 2 days too!!

You also get to watch a dramatic 3 hour race too!! Let's turn this event into a great social occasion where us mad bastards can socialise, talk bikes, party, drink and be merry ! (I was going to say be gay - but some people might get too excited and invite Kick)......

It's not the same Scrivy: billetting and socialising was all very well on our under 17 footy trips, but now that drinking is legal, and chasing skirt is too expense (half ya house if you're caught) the fun has gone out of it.

Nah, you're absolutely right, it should be as much fun off track as it is on.

[White trash]

In recent years we've accomodated Septimus and Farquar, along with Pig and Goober.

More recently the Team Feral boys stop by for a couple of nights and van parking.

Best fun of the whole meeting is getting on the piss around the BBQ talking shit. Love it.

[neil_cb125t]

Nationals should be as the heading states..... the top competition of the country, Using the top tracks of the country and hopefully managed by the best orginisers/clubs.

I will be going to nationals in 2011, it will take me a year to save to make it down there. The only way I can do it is because the RNZAF has a hire pool facility using NON public funds. We can hire a massive camper for a 1/4 the price of any civy company. a 2 berth van from a civy company for 23 days was over 4k!!

Thats the biggest problem - its right in peak holiday season - meaning the ferry crossings and accomodation or campervans or tent sites are at a premium!! if you compete seriously at club level in the top 3, you will spend close to Nationals budget anyway its just a far more concerntrated hit. ( maybe not in superbike )

Street stock is a great entry level class - but should remain out of nationals, to try and get people to move up - which is what i have done.

I cant wait!

my 2cents... may i have some change??

[scrivy]

Thats the biggest problem - its right in peak holiday season - meaning the ferry crossings and accomodation or campervans or tent sites are at a premium!!

You're spot on Neil. This has been talked about numerously, but still nothing is done about it. Imagine how much money would be saved by all racers if it was at a decent timing to give cheaper prices.

[wharfy]

Some pretty good ideas there Wharfy. For those of us with trailers rather than vans though the cheapest fare is $700-ish for that fuggin' boat.

Thats why I got a van it is a good investment, not only cheaper to ferry but you can sleep in it to save a few $ Also handy when your kids want to shift flats on a wet Wellington Saturday

For what it's worth isn't the qualifying cut-off 115%? (or is it 109%?) for the Nationals? Anybody who can qualify could be a Nationals level racer....but fear of looking slow or coming towards the back of the field stops a lot of folks entering. The funny/sad thing is if just half a dozen extra people in each class said bugger it and had a go the series would be transformed.

Yeah as long as the leader don't catch the tail enders on the last lap or two, either make it shorter so they don't catch then at all or long enough to give the top 3 or 4 the chance to get clear after they catch them - not sure how you could manage that ?

Just image how embarrassing it would be if someone's title chances were spoiled by having to wait for me to wobble round Dunlop on the last lap

It's not the same Scrivy: billetting and socialising was all very well on our under 17 footy trips, but now that drinking is legal, and chasing skirt is too expense (half ya house if you're caught) the fun has gone out of it.

Of course I am so dedicated, like any top athlete I would not be out leering up, just a nice quiet place to meditate prior to competition

Nah, you're absolutely right, it should be as much fun off track as it is on.

It is I love being in the paddock with all the witty and charming people that make up the bike racing fraternity