MNZ board nominations

[budda]

this would be a question for the road race commission,

Sorry Watchman, THIS Commissioner will NOT be commenting on commercially confidential matters between MNZ and a valued Sponsor, albeit not a current one. Kawasaki has long been a supporter of the Sport of Motorcycle Racing in New Zealand, as have the other Big Players Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda and latterly BMW ....... these are the guys who somehow owe us all something because we chose to ride a MotorCycle. Reality is, their support is multi-levelled and often hidden from the general riding public ...... they need thanked, not a "please explain".

[Paul Searancke]

first of all Kevin, thanks for coming on here and answering some questions, and thanks and congrats for standing again as a Board Member

i find it hard to believe that trail rides are considered more dangerous than street racing or supercross? as the injury count per rider or per event for these would be much higher, is it due to the fact that their are more trail rides, the fee for trail rides have always been double what a normal clubday event was. which i can understand as you do not need a competition liceince.

As a reference, i run 5 trail rides a year, last year the fees for the permits for these rides were $510, with this new regime the series fees from MNZ will be around $4500, do you not think that this will push more trail rides away from MNZ sanction?

I know the Permit fees had not increased for a long time, and a increase was more than overdue, but a 9 fold increase, for only one side of the sport seems over the top.

Hi Scott,
There is a Board and Commissioner meeting tomorrow(Sunday 10th). As you know I agree with your sentiments.The South Island Road Board member has chosen to respond before this meeting. Our(MNZ) accidents figures for trail rides are extremely low in fact. The only discipline lower per rider numbers is Moto-Trials. The highest accident figures (requiring further treatment) are for road racing and SX. Tomorrow I will also be requesting a copy of the Board minutes where this was voted in.
Paul Searancke

[Shaun]

Hi Shaun,

Chris doesn't frequent these pages here regularly. But I can tell you, yes he did have an involvement.
The NSW club invited classic/post classic bikes and modern sidecars to attend the event. This was an all expenses paid deal - kindly paid by the organising NSW club and their awesome sponsors. Thankyou again guys!!

Chris was at pains to ensure no sidecar teams would be invited to go that were doing the Nats. This was the determining factor that limited the chairs going to Aussie.
For your information, Adam was the first to put his name forward (as at that stage he wasn't doing the Nats), but when he got help to go down south, he then pulled out. His position was quickly filled by another non-nationals competing member.

So, even though 8 sidecar teams went to Aussie, none of those teams were going to do the Nats anyway.
When someone pays the expenses (quite significant too) of teams that put their hands up, it was a no brainer for those that wanted to go.

Hope this clears up how this trip was handled.

Scrivy

P.S. We've already been invited back again next year. But Chris is trying to ensure the dates do not clash with the Nats again. This year the track was already booked, so no compromise could be made. Next year the track has not been booked - so the organisers will have to take all factors into account.

Thanks for your reply to this question.

Whilst I respect Chris as a man, his actions as you have stated above does not do him a lot of favours in terms of what he can do for MOTORCYCLING IN NEW ZEALAND!

Again, respect to him for trying not to take any potentuall racers off the grid for the NEW ZEALAND Champs, but WHAT did he actually do to TRY AND GET CHAIRS on the grid for the NEW ZEALAND champs?

If A FUN/FREE trip to Australia is more important than helping tp keep alive or grow the sport here in NEW ZEALAND in it;s darkest hour for CHAIRS, I for one am not sure he is divorced enough from certain parties to be in the position he his running for.

PS, it would be fantastic if this thread can be treated as "SERIOUS" and WE all try to keep our personell shit and insults of other posters to our selves, some are NO NAMES to many of us, but some of US are well known, so lets tey and lead by example eh, happy days.

PS CHOW, Bloody good work man

[scrivy]

Hi Shaun,

Read Chris's post # 106.
He did not initiate or instigate the trip. He was merely the go between person for all the chairs that went and the Classic guys.
If I had been approached, I would have organised it. If Bert had been approached, he would have done it, or even Tracey for that matter.

To answer the rest of your question, Chris, me, Bert, Bob, Des, Jim, Tracey etc. etc. can not make anybody do the Nats. It is their decision to do so if they wish, not Chris's, so why make out he can change that?? People chose not to do the Nats. Chris could have paid people to do them also, but would they still have done them?? I doubt it.

You say Sidecars are in it's darkest hours, how do you comment on that Shaun without any communication from NZSRA members???. I find that statement a tad wrong. We have growing numbers, and plenty of events to race at, also 'Have-a-go days', and a growing NZSRA members list. Who keeps saying we're in the doldrums?? We are far from it. Alot of people on here say that too, but not a single NZSRA member has. Funny that.

Don't worry about our class Shaun, maybe it's the other classes that need bolstering. Tell me why many of the VMCC, AMCC and PMCC riders don't do the Nats. There is the real problem. All class numbers are down, so why just pick on us?


Scrivy

[Shaun]

Hi Shaun,

Read Chris's post # 106.
He did not initiate or instigate the trip. He was merely the go between person for all the chairs that went and the Classic guys.
If I had been approached, I would have organised it. If Bert had been approached, he would have done it, or even Tracey for that matter.

To answer the rest of your question, Chris, me, Bert, Bob, Des, Jim, Tracey etc. etc. can not make anybody do the Nats. It is their decision to do so if they wish, not Chris's, so why make out he can change that?? People chose not to do the Nats. Chris could have paid people to do them also, but would they still have done them?? I doubt it.

You say Sidecars are in it's darkest hours, how do you comment on that Shaun without any communication from NZSRA members???. I find that statement a tad wrong. We have growing numbers, and plenty of events to race at, also 'Have-a-go days', and a growing NZSRA members list. Who keeps saying we're in the doldrums?? We are far from it. Alot of people on here say that too, but not a single NZSRA member has. Funny that.

Don't worry about our class Shaun, maybe it's the other classes that need bolstering. Tell me why many of the VMCC, AMCC and PMCC riders don't do the Nats. There is the real problem. All class numbers are down, so why just pick on us?...

According to one of CHOWS POSTS, All other classes had more entries than last year in the NEW ZEALAND CHAMPS Mate EXEPT for Chairs that only did a couple of rounds, PLEASE explain how this makes the Chairs scene ok and the bikes NOT ok?

I know the chairs have CLASSICS, so do 2 wheel bikes, but the grids are still there for a full NZ Championship to be held!!! and as you have posted, the VMCC and the amcc and Canterbury have great entries for there club scene rounds bringing on more new riders and teams, and this has no negative efffect on the NZ Champs in terms of entries to the Nationals, so I do not really see your point.

CORRECT, I do not have direct info from your NZSRA group, so perhaps as you clearly do, you can tell us all what the plans are to make the class a FULL NZ Championship scene again, or is this the end of the road for chairs in the NZ Championship scene? You know I have direct passion interest in the chairs as that was there where I started my racing and loved it

[The Chow]

Hi Shaun,

Read Chris's post # 106.
He did not initiate or instigate the trip. He was merely the go between person for all the chairs that went and the Classic guys.
If I had been approached, I would have organised it. If Bert had been approached, he would have done it, or even Tracey for that matter.

To answer the rest of your question, Chris, me, Bert, Bob, Des, Jim, Tracey etc. etc. can not make anybody do the Nats. It is their decision to do so if they wish, not Chris's, so why make out he can change that?? People chose not to do the Nats. Chris could have paid people to do them also, but would they still have done them?? I doubt it.

You say Sidecars are in it's darkest hours, how do you comment on that Shaun without any communication from NZSRA members???. I find that statement a tad wrong. We have growing numbers, and plenty of events to race at, also 'Have-a-go days', and a growing NZSRA members list. Who keeps saying we're in the doldrums?? We are far from it. Alot of people on here say that too, but not a single NZSRA member has. Funny that.

Don't worry about our class Shaun, maybe it's the other classes that need bolstering. Tell me why many of the VMCC, AMCC and PMCC riders don't do the Nats. There is the real problem. All class numbers are down, so why just pick on us?


Scrivy

Sorry mate , you are wrong about class sizes. Nationals count this year. Superlite formerly F3 2010 (8) this year 16. Superbikes (2010 10-12) , This year around 15 and the quality of rider was tops top 9-10 all within a second of one another , again some of the best racing . 600s 2010(15-17) 18 Bikes (split this year due to new rules) about 50% Superstock 50% Supersport. The racing again from the whole feild was impressive. The prolite 250 was up thanks in no small way to Graeme Billington. The Protwin didn't grow from 2010 , as there are no new bikes , but still a good affordable class. 125GP just doing its normal up and down numbers like has been doing for years. Sidecars 6 , 5 , 4...... ?????

Off course numbers varied across the meetings but as stated earlier all rounds go an increase in numbers , with the exception of Round 4.

Cheers

[CHOPPA]

Id be interested to know if we can get rules and regs for 2012 and some national dates now so we can do some planning?

[Kickaha]

You say Sidecars are in it's darkest hours, how do you comment on that Shaun without any communication from NZSRA members???. I find that statement a tad wrong. We have growing numbers

Care to put those growing numbers up Scrivy, 6 outfits at Vic club rounds and people having to ring around to even get them and not on the program this year due to the poor turn out , 9 I think it was at Tri Series and some suggestion they won't be on the program this year due to poor numbers (waiting to hear about that)

Only enough Outfits to do two rounds of the National champs this year which may mean we don't have a National Championship next year, fuck yeah things are really looking up

Id be interested to know if we can get rules and regs for 2012 and some national dates now so we can do some planning?

Don't like your chances, I don't think we've ever had race dates earlier than September due to the tracks not allowing MNZ to hire them this far out

[The Chow]

According to one of CHOWS POSTS, All other classes had more entries than last year in the NEW ZEALAND CHAMPS Mate EXEPT for Chairs that only did a couple of rounds, PLEASE explain how this makes the Chairs scene ok and the bikes NOT ok?

I know the chairs have CLASSICS, so do 2 wheel bikes, but the grids are still there for a full NZ Championship to be held!!! and as you have posted, the VMCC and the amcc and Canterbury have great entries for there club scene rounds bringing on more new riders and teams, and this has no negative efffect on the NZ Champs in terms of entries to the Nationals, so I do not really see your point.

CORRECT, I do not have direct info from your NZSRA group, so perhaps as you clearly do, you can tell us all what the plans are to make the class a FULL NZ Championship scene again, or is this the end of the road for chairs in the NZ Championship scene? You know I have direct passion interest in the chairs as that was there where I started my racing and loved it

Club Racing is just that , club racing. You have to have something to aspire to don't you? Oh thats right we live in a every body is equal world now. The clubs do a great job getting people into the sport , some people want to take it further but others don't as always been the case. Please don't compare the nationals with the Tri Series (not that anyone has here), the relationship between the two main series in this country is strong , so strong in fact that they helped run the last round , and a big thanks to Leighton and Perry for doing this and helping Debbi and the Manawatu Orion Club. In fact we are planning to do the same "LIVE" style coverage for the Tri Series as it was so popular and to give the series sponsor more coverage.

While we are on the subject of numbers. Take a look across the ditch , the numbers are way down in Aussie , so much so there had to be a special rule bought in for the Tassie round to allow such a small number (13 I think) superbikes to race. Cripes we had that number in little New Zealand!!!!

[Biggles08]

What ever the reason all the series sponsors have been and are respected and valued , and always have been and that includes Kawasaki.

A brief explanation I would imagine goes along the lines of, the other manufacturers did not win the 600cc championship in 2009/2010 season and did not have to deal with a ridiculous demonstration of a 'prize giving' and be asked to sit down and shut up when wanting to thank those that helped in gaining that championship. Everyone agreed that the results of who won at this time was not in debate.

Anyway, this is all presumptuous on my part and based merely on observations I made at this time. Had I been the sponsor and was treated like this I too would not sponsor the next season due to feeling unappreciated. I'm not trying to make a big deal of it I just had to say something as watchman said inaccurately that the Industry was back on side with MNZ and all was flowers and cupcakes.

[Shaun]

A brief explanation I would imagine goes along the lines of, the other manufacturers did not win the 600cc championship in 2009/2010 season and did not have to deal with a ridiculous demonstration of a 'prize giving' and be asked to sit down and shut up when wanting to thank those that helped in gaining that championship. Everyone agreed that the results of who won at this time was not in debate.

Anyway, this is all presumptuous on my part and based merely on observations I made at this time. Had I been the sponsor and was treated like this I too would not sponsor the next season due to feeling unappreciated. I'm not trying to make a big deal of it I just had to say something as watchman said inaccurately that the Industry was back on side with MNZ and all was flowers and cupcakes.

Hey Marcus, it is a shame that MIke fealt this way, but it also is rather pathetic and NOT very proffesional of him to pull out if what you say is correct.

He has money in his pocket as CUSTOMERS purchase his product, perhaps a little bit of support to the sport be it road or dirt, might actually earn him some more dollars

[The Chow]

A brief explanation I would imagine goes along the lines of, the other manufacturers did not win the 600cc championship in 2009/2010 season and did not have to deal with a ridiculous demonstration of a 'prize giving' and be asked to sit down and shut up when wanting to thank those that helped in gaining that championship. Everyone agreed that the results of who won at this time was not in debate.

Anyway, this is all presumptuous on my part and based merely on observations I made at this time. Had I been the sponsor and was treated like this I too would not sponsor the next season due to feeling unappreciated. I'm not trying to make a big deal of it I just had to say something as watchman said inaccurately that the Industry was back on side with MNZ and all was flowers and cupcakes.

Fair call there mate , that prizegiving was an abortion as I understand it,as I was not present that year at that round.

Please be assured that yes I would have been pissed off too , but then there are always two sides to the story. As in my case I have known Mike Wilkins for over 25 years and have had dealings with him and worked with him for many years, however Mike has a manner that can sometimes rub people up the wrong way , Just like Jim Tuckerman. Both are passionate people and there will always be clashes. But both are very clever people and been successful in many activities, for that I have up most respect for them. Kawasaki has been a large contributor to the sport for many years , and with any luck will again , be it in rider support or what ever.

However everything aside we are all in the motorcycle world together and will get no where pushing and pulling against one another , but motorcyclists have never been normal , they never like being told what to do.

[jellywrestler]

cupcakes.

MMMMMMMMMMM cupcakes...

[sidecar bob]

Care to put those growing numbers up Scrivy, 6 outfits at Vic club rounds and people having to ring around to even get them and not on the program this year due to the poor turn out , 9 I think it was at Tri Series and some suggestion they won't be on the program this year due to poor numbers (waiting to hear about that)

Only enough Outfits to do two rounds of the National champs this year which may mean we don't have a National Championship next year, fuck yeah things are really looking up


Don't like your chances, I don't think we've ever had race dates earlier than September due to the tracks not allowing MNZ to hire them this far out

There seems to be a serious lapse in peoples memorys as to why its all turned to crap in the last couple of years for chairs & people seem to be pointing the finger at Chris Lawrence, which has got me stumped.
My memory of it is great because I lost over a grand in the process, let me give my recollections of the situation.
An overwhelming majority vote from the NZSRA (then an affiliated club of MNZ) voted in favour of doing two national rounds in the south Isl as had been the norm for many years.
Consequently tickets were purchased for air travel to & from, then for some reason, a senior member of MNZ stood up & said, three rounds down south for sidecars, or you dont qualify for a national championship, completely ignoring the wishes of the majority vote.
Being unable to comit to three rounds down south, along with a number of other teams, we pulled out, (losing our airfares & all) which made doing any other rounds a bit of a mute point because missing rounds, well, i hardly need to explain that one.
The same situation arose again this year & everybody couldnt be arsed with the politics & rubbish, prefering to take advantage of a meeting we were offered to attend in Australia, which was a blast.
Instead of pointing the finger at Chris for ruining the nationals for chairs, look instead to the member from MNZ that wouldnt take any notice of the wishes of the majority of members of the NZSRA, & forced his own agenda on the members, with predictable results.
So Shaun, if you want to know why chair numbers were non existant, go & ask Jim, in sure he can can give you a detailed explination as to why he went against the majority vote.

[scrivy]

According to one of CHOWS POSTS, All other classes had more entries than last year in the NEW ZEALAND CHAMPS Mate EXEPT for Chairs that only did a couple of rounds, PLEASE explain how this makes the Chairs scene ok and the bikes NOT ok?
Shaun, you know as well as I do, that the Nats (in general - except chairs) had an increase over last year. But that was fairly easy to do since the previous year was damn near the worst on record!

I know the chairs have CLASSICS, so do 2 wheel bikes, but the grids are still there for a full NZ Championship to be held!!! and as you have posted, the VMCC and the amcc and Canterbury have great entries for there club scene rounds bringing on more new riders and teams, and this has no negative efffect on the NZ Champs in terms of entries to the Nationals, so I do not really see your point.
I never said it had a negative impact. Re-read my post. I imply that there are no where near the amount of 'club' riders stepping up to do the Nats as there are club day riders competing in winter series.

CORRECT, I do not have direct info from your NZSRA group, so perhaps as you clearly do, you can tell us all what the plans are to make the class a FULL NZ Championship scene again, or is this the end of the road for chairs in the NZ Championship scene? You know I have direct passion interest in the chairs as that was there where I started my racing and loved it

End of the road? Don't know. If members choose not to race, I can't stop them, nor can I make them race. Can you increase the numbers in other classes - a tall order even with your mana - but I doubt you can.
You know the real reason why the chairs haven't partaken in the Nats this year. Do you care to elaborate what you know about that?

Scrivy