Hampton Down$

[malcy25]

What about increasing the attendee numbers and the value of the day rather than decreasing the cost?

Review classes. What about the introduction of a pre-95 class to bolster numbers in the post classic field? When I started racing 6 years ago it was still pre-89. 6 years on basic logic dictates this should change to reflect time passed.

Cross entry. Why is this so cheap? Make it $80 to cross enter. Still great value relative to the entry fees. Or

Review the structure of the day. AMCC start their days sooo late. Why does practice not start at 8.30 or 9am on the dot? Too much time lost that leads to the perception that riders only get half a day of riding. If there were three 12 lap races the laps per dollar would increase. Better value. Surely there are ways to reduce times throughout the day to increase track time? Streamline briefings with minimal unneeded talking (main points only), plus start them earlier. Seriously, how many people need to have their say at the briefing?

I personally accept that prices go up and I am willing to pay, I just struggle with the cost per lap and the fact that everyone gets there early but waits so long for the day to get going.

Don't forget, for an early briefing and earlier start, the riders etc need to be on their game as well. That means there early, signed on gear / bike in the queue. No dawdling, no arriving late and wandering down. So many times Riders briefing etc can't start as the riders are still doing the formalities.

[Bass]

Well bugger me with a great big long buggering stick!!!!
A constructive and well behaved discussion on KB - a balanced one even.
Amazing!
Congratulations gentlemen.

[jellywrestler]

No Spectators means the downward spiral will continue.Maybe the death of Street Circuits was the beginning ?

how many street circuits were running when you started Gary?
from memory this current year there are five in nz, plus three other one way street events, ie hill climbs rather than laps.

[jellywrestler]

I know we have a few oldies on here still, I started in 1970. But most of my years we had prize money at these meetings and it was a good amount too for the day. From memory it was $120 for a win,compare that to what a tyre cost then,about 50 bucks for TT100 ! (cos that's what everyone used haha.)
Someone somewhere is making money here ?

some of the old timers wouldn't have got out of bed for that, Percy Coleman brought a plane with his winnings in the 1920's, that's before he had a motorcycle shop and the tracks were getting 20000 spectators in some areas of nz, 'your' heyday was only a shadow of those days too in comparison.

[roogazza]

how many street circuits were running when you started Gary?
from memory this current year there are five in nz, plus three other one way street events, ie hill climbs rather than laps.

The main ones,Gracefeild,Lyall Bay,Porirua,Wanganui,Onekawa,Hamilton and in the south Hawksbury.
Odd one popped up in masterton and Paraparam airfeild.
Don't know about Paeroa,never bothered with that.
Don't know about hillclimbs, But Palmerhead was one.
I believe there are a couple of meets in the south now but they're hardly in the class of the big ones which were every bit as big as Wanganui.
Wanganui is still hanging in there .

[MrMarko]

some of the old timers wouldn't have got out of bed for that, Percy Coleman brought a plane with his winnings in the 1920's, that's before he had a motorcycle shop and the tracks were getting 20000 spectators in some areas of nz, 'your' heyday was only a shadow of those days too in comparison.

Frankly its to be expected on a weekend in the 20s.... no tv no internet... oh there a bike race on, go make a day of it with the family...

the world has changed

[roogazza]

some of the old timers wouldn't have got out of bed for that, Percy Coleman brought a plane with his winnings in the 1920's, that's before he had a motorcycle shop and the tracks were getting 20000 spectators in some areas of nz, 'your' heyday was only a shadow of those days too in comparison.

I didn't have a heyday, I was just lucky enough to be there in the boom years.(including Marlboro times)
I didn't follow what happened in the pre japanese bike years.

[Dreama]

The main ones,Gracefeild,Lyall Bay,Porirua,Wanganui,Onekawa,Hamilton and in the south Hawksbury.
Odd one popped up in masterton and Paraparam airfeild.
Don't know about Paeroa,never bothered with that.
Don't know about hillclimbs, But Palmerhead was one.
I believe there are a couple of meets in the south now but they're hardly in the class of the big ones which were every bit as big as Wanganui.
Wanganui is still hanging in there .

So is it just the way it's been worded but why so dismissive of Paeroa ?
It's been going about 20yrs now and seems healthy. The numbers aren't as high as earlier but still attracts a good field and spectators.

[jellywrestler]

Frankly its to be expected on a weekend in the 20s.... no tv no internet... oh there a bike race on, go make a day of it with the family...

the world has changed

I didn't have a heyday, I was just lucky enough to be there in the boom years.(including Marlboro times)
I didn't follow what happened in the pre japanese bike years.

just putting things into perspective over time everything has evolved, track days evolved as road rego went up, some spill over to road racing, if rego never went up that big hunk would track days be so popular??

[sharp2183]

Don't forget, for an early briefing and earlier start, the riders etc need to be on their game as well. That means there early, signed on gear / bike in the queue. No dawdling, no arriving late and wandering down. So many times Riders briefing etc can't start as the riders are still doing the formalities.

So so true. I think this is totally possible. Consider the California Superbike School who start their days very early. Despite this people turn up on time.

I think if the expectation was very clear then there would be no excuse. However, there needs to be fewer special treatments where people can turn up late and still participate. No name naming but we all know some rider(s) who can turn up when they please and the rules are bent.

Be there at early enough to complete sign on and make it to the briefing or you miss out. Most people will understand this real world requirement I think? Maybe the first time a few unhappy people but if you turn up to your club rugby game half an hour late the game doesn't get delayed does it?

[Grumph]

I didn't have a heyday, I was just lucky enough to be there in the boom years.(including Marlboro times)
I didn't follow what happened in the pre japanese bike years.

That was the second boom period. Grasstrack and speedway prewar was the first. The old man was earning five times the std weekly wage as a pro speedway rider in the 30's. Try earning the equivalent of that in NZ now...
Immediately prior to the explosion of jap bikes the sport was in serious decline. At that time i knew every regular roadracer in the SI personally - all 20 odd of them....

[roogazza]

So is it just the way it's been worded but why so dismissive of Paeroa ?
It's been going about 20yrs now and seems healthy. The numbers aren't as high as earlier but still attracts a good field and spectators.

No bud just wording,I said I never bothered,as in it didn't interest me.

[malcy25]

So so true. I think this is totally possible. Consider the California Superbike School who start their days very early. Despite this people turn up on time.

I think if the expectation was very clear then there would be no excuse. However, there needs to be fewer special treatments where people can turn up late and still participate. No name naming but we all know some rider(s) who can turn up when they please and the rules are bent.

Be there at early enough to complete sign on and make it to the briefing or you miss out. Most people will understand this real world requirement I think? Maybe the first time a few unhappy people but if you turn up to your club rugby game half an hour late the game doesn't get delayed does it?

CSS are explicit on their "need to be there time" which is good for setting that expectation.

Since the move to HD from Puke (which worked around the horses timelines and then some...) which had a 9.30am no engine start time limit or something, AMCC have had staff on very early at HD for sign on etc, especially of late.

Rugby, what's that?

[Kickaha]

I believe there are a couple of meets in the south now but they're hardly in the class of the big ones which were every bit as big as Wanganui.
Wanganui is still hanging in there .

More than a couple

Greymouth, Nelson, Methven and Invercargill, I've only done Nelson and Greymouth and while not as big as the likes of Wanganui Greymouth in particular was way better to compete at

[sharp2183]

CSS are explicit on their "need to be there time" which is good for setting that expectation.

Since the move to HD from Puke (which worked around the horses timelines and then some...) which had a 9.30am no engine start time limit or something, AMCC have had staff on very early at HD for sign on etc, especially of late.

Rugby, what's that?

That's good to hear. Now just need to get the expectation across to the riders.

Rugby, it's a sport I used to play. Teaches you to put the needs of the team before your own, the importance of knowing the rules, and also that missing training or turning up late meant you got dropped from the team and didn't play that Saturday. Compare that to riders who rock up late, don't know the rules, slow things down for everyone else, etc, then maybe we shouldn't write off what we can learn from other sports...