What would bring YOU to watch a race meeting?

[ellipsis]

... scratch, scratch...broken record...car crowds couldn't give a fuck about motorcycles at 'their' meetings...car clubs dont give a fuck about motorcycles or their welfare...it all sounds like plaintiff cries from those who dont really grasp how much a minority sport we are...sounds good on paper...reality is totally different...pulling our sport into line and building on what we have is all we have as an option...and what do we have...?...a bunch of disparate ideas...moaning, whingeing...people who put a lot of time and effort into what they love , to have their hard work dismantled, dismembered by the next bunch of know alls that reckon they know better...better to look up our own arseholes to see whats going on than to try peering up other unrelated arseholes seeking the truth...

[slowpoke]

... scratch, scratch...broken record...car crowds couldn't give a fuck about motorcycles at 'their' meetings...car clubs dont give a fuck about motorcycles or their welfare...it all sounds like plaintiff cries from those who dont really grasp how much a minority sport we are...sounds good on paper...reality is totally different...pulling our sport into line and building on what we have is all we have as an option...and what do we have...?...a bunch of disparate ideas...moaning, whingeing...people who put a lot of time and effort into what they love , to have their hard work dismantled, dismembered by the next bunch of know alls that reckon they know better...better to look up our own arseholes to see whats going on than to try peering up other unrelated arseholes seeking the truth...

Maybe...maybe not. Doing the Lady Wigram a coupla years ago there were plenty of Joe Public's wandering over for a look/chat, and everyone who stopped by was invariably impressed with the sheer speed of the bikes in comparison to the relatively slow cars. Talk about bikes making 200hp and they were just gobsmacked. Seeing the big bikes coming onto the front straight at Ruapuna wriggling and writhing, front wheel in the air, was a great demo for our sport. The crowd for the following weekend's Nat's was definitely very healthy, probably biggest I've seen for a bike meeting at a "proper' race track.

Times change. Who'd have thought 20 years ago that a few kids doing tricks on motocross bikes could fill some of the biggest and most famous stadiums in the world? 20 years ago who'd have thought you could make a living running track days? Extreme sports are only increasing in popularity, and for better or worse bike racing is seen is "extreme".

So I don't think it's fair to say we've tried it before and it doesn't work. We're a farkin' long way from old GSX1100's and CB900's running stock chrome exhausts and on skinny tyres wobbling around at Kingswood pace.

[DEATH_INC.]

We're a farkin' long way from old GSX1100's and CB900's running stock chrome exhausts and on skinny tyres wobbling around at Kingswood pace.

Yet, the crowds then were better than now........BUT there was no internet, multiple tv channels, playstation etc etc.
Lets just be honest, to a non motorcycle racing person, most bike racing is boring to watch.

[Billy]

Maybe...maybe not. Doing the Lady Wigram a coupla years ago there were plenty of Joe Public's wandering over for a look/chat, and everyone who stopped by was invariably impressed with the sheer speed of the bikes in comparison to the relatively slow cars. Talk about bikes making 200hp and they were just gobsmacked. Seeing the big bikes coming onto the front straight at Ruapuna wriggling and writhing, front wheel in the air, was a great demo for our sport. The crowd for the following weekend's Nat's was definitely very healthy, probably biggest I've seen for a bike meeting at a "proper' race track.

Times change. Who'd have thought 20 years ago that a few kids doing tricks on motocross bikes could fill some of the biggest and most famous stadiums in the world? 20 years ago who'd have thought you could make a living running track days? Extreme sports are only increasing in popularity, and for better or worse bike racing is seen is "extreme".

So I don't think it's fair to say we've tried it before and it doesn't work. We're a farkin' long way from old GSX1100's and CB900's running stock chrome exhausts and on skinny tyres wobbling around at Kingswood pace.

Correct,Last time we tried was 2004....Still didnt work,In fact if anything it was worse,McEwen,Bernard,Stroud,Charlett etc all on gixxer 1000s,Yip long way from CB900s

[yungatart]

First you have to know that there is a a race meeting on.
Full page colour advertising in the Sunday papers, some on the telly and radio...a bit too pricey for club events but surely a priority for NZSBK.
The man in the street can't pay money to watch racing if he doesn't know it is on.

[jellywrestler]

Full page colour advertising in the Sunday papers, some on the telly and radio...a bit too pricey for club events but surely a priority for NZSBK.

that's discriminating towards the colour blind, black and white would be fairer with braille for the visually spastic out there

[crazy man]

If they had KFC at the track l would go

always thinking of your stomach now you have given up racing

[tail_end_charlie]

that's discriminating towards the colour blind, black and white would be fairer with braille for the visually spastic out there

Don't forget about the 'Helen Keller's out there in the world. Newsprint, tv and radio advertising won't help them know that there is a race meeting to go and watch/listen to................................................ ........................................oh wait.

[CHOPPA]

Nothing to stop any of us that think its a good idea from getting out there and making it happen. Billy would know the ins and outs but do MNZ have any rules against it? Or would it have to be done privately?

[wharfy]

Yet, the crowds then were better than now........BUT there was no internet, multiple tv channels, playstation etc etc.
Lets just be honest, to a non motorcycle racing person, most bike racing is boring to watch.

Umm.. yeah, sad but true - I've had people compare it to watching paint dry when I told them it was on - But some people will go to watch someone else play golf, why ???

[jellywrestler]

Nothing to stop any of us that think its a good idea from getting out there and making it happen. Billy would know the ins and outs but do MNZ have any rules against it? Or would it have to be done privately?

as the Sidecar folk, they do it from time to time

[suzuki21]

I am going to be really radical and say the general public only go to street meets so they can watch bikes and drink lots of alchohol. Wanganui and Paeroa dont have "kid friendly playgrounds" and "nice trade displays". And when someone says "oh look at that nice trade display representative" they mean "Ive been drinking all day fuck shes hot". Get over it people as soon as you want more people at a meeting there is a cost. Social or economic it dosnt matter. We are to small a country to have motogp dreams

[Kornholio]

We are to small a country to have motogp dreams

Is it something in the water ya reckon? :/

[sidecar bob]

Political correctness is in part killing racing as a spectator sport.
I understand that Uber Chum, the German with the Kawasaki streetfighter & massive dreads in Pre '89 was stripped of his Pareoa winning points for doing a one handed wheelie.
That is the type of thing the crowds come to see, but the racing is being cleansed back to dead boring.
Would Uber Chum have done that if he didnt believe he was safe doing it?
Back in the days of the "GSX1100 & CB900 going around at the pace of a Kingswood", nobody had any traction & bugger all brakes, wheelstands & slides were the only way to get one around a track & showmanship (not showing off) was encouraged.
Just another small nail in racings' coffin.

[roogazza]

Political correctness is in part killing racing as a spectator sport.
I understand that Uber Chum, the German with the Kawasaki streetfighter & massive dreads in Pre '89 was stripped of his Pareoa winning points for doing a one handed wheelie.
That is the type of thing the crowds come to see, but the racing is being cleansed back to dead boring.
Would Uber Chum have done that if he didnt believe he was safe doing it?
Just another small nail in racings' coffin.

Agree with you SidecarB, As much as a few keep trying to pump it up I'm afraid the writing is on the wall. The two Street meetings left in the north are fading. It's a shame but time moves on. Luckily the Media didn't get hold of the death of poor old Lance L. I can see Paeroa being the next to go.

Also, I think someone put a post up to watch the NZGP for Superbikes at 3 pm yesterday. Well sorry but less than 10 bikes, no crowds and no atmosphere does nothing for bike racing.
I'm a big bike fan and have been for many years. That was just average and does nothing to keep bikes afloat.
Apart from the weather I struggle to see the difference to a Vic club day in winter.