NZ road racing in serious trouble

[Marknz]

I'd be happy to pay a levy for this sort of position in 2010 if it means that my sponsors will get more support for their support, if you now what I mean.

It's a bloody good idea, Shaun.

But like Frosty, I'd like to see a complete breakdown of where the current MNZ fees go to.

[koba]

there is one way to make a start.. that is.. to set up our own club, like amcc or vmcc.. but its focus is on promotion etc...

Or put more effort into an overworked VMCC...

[sidecar bob]

well i was surprised 2 days ago,
there was an ad on tv about the puke round.
thats the first i remember ever of any nz bike racing.
i've been watchin tv since it was b and w

Horse!!!. . . Stable door!!!. . . . Na, too late.

[WarrenW]

Just remember the hungry track owners raise the cost of hirage by 500% as soon as you charge admission. Sort of wipes out charging spectators doesn't it!

[sinfull]

Just remember the hungry track owners raise the cost of hirage by 500% as soon as you charge admission. Sort of wipes out charging spectators doesn't it!

Merchandise .....

[trev]

And who is this promotions manager going to promote too Shaun ??
The highest populated area in NZ, representing 40 - 45% of the entire population of NZ is Taupo - north. That is 40+% of the potential riders (kids etc upwards), 40+% of the potential spectators AND MOST IMPORTANTLY 40+% of the potential targets for sponsorship promotion.
What happens north of Taupo - SFA - & don't say people from this area won't come to a well run bike racing event because Paeroa proves they will.

Imagine if Rugby ( or any other sport you wish to choose) could only have north of Taupo 1 x S14 game (nationals race), 1 x NPC game (Paeroa) & 2 club games at (say) the Onewhero rugby club (AMCC) & any other time anyone else wants to play, participate or watch they have to fuck off down to Palmerston North. How many sponsors would rugby have then ?

Until AMCC comes out of hibernation or VMCC moves into their patch & runs a series ( N.I. Championship ??) that includes races at Taupo & Hampton Downs I'm not going to embarass myself any more trying to get my business mates interested in serious sponsorship & quite frankly I don't know why anyone else would bother either.

And for the usual slaggers out there yes i have put my money where my mouth is and sponsored this sport (albeit in a small way)

[brads]

well i was surprised 2 days ago,
there was an ad on tv about the puke round.
thats the first i remember ever of any nz bike racing.
i've been watchin tv since it was b and w

Mate,there have been ads for every round.

[Mystic13]

Okay, so we all want something better. I'm not sure Shauns suggestion of the extra fee will work. I say this because I've just read the strategic plan and the changes suggested are not in the plan. The priority for road race seems to be junior development programmes, and attracting an international event. You can also read what the Road Race Commission has been reporting on and again this thread doesn't seem to be a priority.

So my thoughts are giving MNZ extra money will mean extra money for their specific plans.

It seems to me that there is a lack of communication and link between MNZ and the grass roots. It seems they also acknowledge that. So your options are change that, become actively involved at club level, and seek to vote in people that are prepared to support the changes you want. Or just make the changes at club level and forget MNZ all together. It seems some clubs have wandered off and are doing a great job.

Maybe a new club, or getting actively involved in an existing club may be the two best options.

So the question is ... do you aim to change the system which takes time or do you do your own thing?



MNZ Strategic Plan

http://www.motorcyclingnz.co.nz/down..._Plan_2008.pdf


MNZ Constitution

http://www.motorcyclingnz.co.nz/down...nuary_2008.pdf

[PeteJ]

Until AMCC comes out of hibernation or VMCC moves into their patch & runs a series ( N.I. Championship ??) that includes races at Taupo & Hampton Downs I'm not going to embarass myself any more trying to get my business mates interested in serious sponsorship & quite frankly I don't know why anyone else would bother either.

And for the usual slaggers out there yes i have put my money where my mouth is and sponsored this sport (albeit in a small way)

So why don't you just set up/take over a club and run meetings the way you want to see, then?

[mikeey01]

Can this problem be broken down into a simplistic form?

What is the real problem?
1.Lack of competitors
2.Lack on Sponsors
3.Lack of spectators

Am I on the right track here?

[Mystic13]

i remember when i first got LG on board, and tried to jazz it up a bit and make a bit of a song and dance.. all i got was ..why did he get it he's no good..and shit like that.! not from everyone but a few people,,


... yes its wanky having posters etc... but that is what the public wants..well little kids anyway.. i think people need to be more profesional in the sport as a whole,, it doesnt have to cost a fortune either.. the sport needs a big lift..from everyone

I'm guessing people that are negative about sponsorship are the same people that don't go looking for it... waiting for it to come from above and wondered what went wrong when they saw you get it. For me I'm glad you got it because it shows people it can be done and it makes it easier for the next person to do.


wanky having posters?... wash your mouth out! Kids love 'em and it leaves a lasting impression on them. That's worth a fortune to the motorcycle world. They start to develop or build their passion for bikes. And if they ask you to sign them then sign them... it's making a personal connection with them. Wanky... what the?

(Sorry to give you a hard time. I think you guys are doing a great job and getting it largely right... including the posters and i just wanted to let you know)

[Burrt Badger]

And who is this promotions manager going to promote too Shaun ??
The highest populated area in NZ, representing 40 - 45% of the entire population of NZ is Taupo - north. That is 40+% of the potential riders (kids etc upwards), 40+% of the potential spectators AND MOST IMPORTANTLY 40+% of the potential targets for sponsorship promotion.
What happens north of Taupo - SFA - & don't say people from this area won't come to a well run bike racing event because Paeroa proves they will.

Imagine if Rugby ( or any other sport you wish to choose) could only have north of Taupo 1 x S14 game (nationals race), 1 x NPC game (Paeroa) & 2 club games at (say) the Onewhero rugby club (AMCC) & any other time anyone else wants to play, participate or watch they have to fuck off down to Palmerston North. How many sponsors would rugby have then ?

Until AMCC comes out of hibernation or VMCC moves into their patch & runs a series ( N.I. Championship ??) that includes races at Taupo & Hampton Downs I'm not going to embarass myself any more trying to get my business mates interested in serious sponsorship & quite frankly I don't know why anyone else would bother either.

And for the usual slaggers out there yes i have put my money where my mouth is and sponsored this sport (albeit in a small way)

Trev. This isnt Rugby. Rugby has many more venues and a far greater support base. NZ circuits make far more money out of Car Race meetings than they do bike race meetings.
See if you can get any more Track Bookings out of Pukekohe!!!!!!
There are only 52 weekends a year and with the number of Car Clubs, Horse Race Dates (Yes it is Primarily a Horse Racing and Training venue), Motorcycle Clubs Drift meetings and Driver Training/Test Days, the venue is pretty much booked out year round. As in THERE ARE NO MORE DATES AVAILABLE! Besides no more dates being available, have you ever tried getting Volunteers to organise, run, marshall at a race meeting. This is a problem Nationwide, because lots of the would be volunteers work either part or all of the weekend now.
Taupo has also been used by AMCC, but the logistics of running a meeting there proved too expensive for an Auckland based club. Entry Fees would have to rise to make it feasible. That on its own rules the option out.
Hampton Downs will be available after June 1st, but it will not be cheap and as mentioned in other threads, Riders are already upset about the cost of entry fees.
So, before you start spouting off like a font of knowledge, do some research.

[Mystic13]

Until AMCC comes out of hibernation or VMCC moves into their patch & runs a series ( N.I. Championship ??) that includes races at Taupo & Hampton Downs I'm not going to embarass myself any more trying to get my business mates interested in serious sponsorship & quite frankly I don't know why anyone else would bother either.

And for the usual slaggers out there yes i have put my money where my mouth is and sponsored this sport (albeit in a small way)

[QUOTE=trev;1964053]



I notice on the list of motorcycle websites over at MNZ there is no AMCC. So what's going on between the two?

So a new club seems to be the go then? Or become active in an existing one.

I'm curious, what does everyone think is the way to get change.

MNZ have changed their structure from being run by committee to having a CEO specifically to run this thing as a business and to make it work.

So should these things be aimed at MNZ? Would MNZ support the Shaun type proposal and would MNZ allow communication and lobbying with their members to address this. It seems like it would be win-win. That's assuming MNZ operate as a business for the best interest of the sport.

In looking at current events it seems the greatest success is coming at club level, rider level and promotor level with small numbers in each group.

I was concerned that MNZ had listed a concern of theirs being a lack of control over the Nationals. A number of their goals seemed to be about what can MNZ do for MNZ. e.g. Aim to increase membership by 2% strategy "prepare benefits schedule of being a member of MNZ". So this to me means tell everyone how great we are and why they should belong so we can get more money. That's just not how a successful organisation operates. Usually it's what can we do for our members that will encourage more people to want to join us. The focus is internal instead of external.

It seems to me their strategies are off the mark and members, riders and clubs need to communicate with them more to get the message across.

So what is MNZ like? Is it there for the sport and promoting it and building it or is it more their for itself? I'm curious. So which came first MNZ promoting MX etc and the like, and then people like Josh etc being on the world stage or was it a club thing?

It seems to me that MNZ at this time may not be the answer to the question. Is MNZ heading for the "they know best thing".

With cars, who has made the difference. I suspect it wasn't the governing body but more the drivers, team owners, promoters.

It seems to me if you want to succeed with marketing road racing you go and talk to the car guys. They have lifted their game dramatically over the last several years. I bet they'd be happy to talk as well.

[steveyb]

I will put in a plug for the set up that Maarty VB has built and plead for more of them.
Yes, takes money to make (but surprising how little if you think outside the box)
Yes, takes time to build and set up and take down. But you are building stuff anyway aren't you? And if you can't afford an extra 30mins at each end of the day then you are messing about.

Go have a look at what he has created. It is fan bloody tastic and I for one will be attempting to do the same for Moto Academy (if he can show me how!! hint hint hehehe).

This speaks to the issue of stepping up the game and making the show more attractive.
All good things start with small steps.
Jumping into the deep end is a sure fire way to get drowned rather than to learn to swim.

So think about this: If EVERY single racer stepped their game up by simply setting up a tidy and organised pit area (instead of having shit from arsehole to breakfast flung about the place), hung up a signwritten board or banner showing who they are, what they are riding, who is helping them, stuff like that, wore some nice clean clothing, had a shave, maybe made sure that their bikes are always painted well and CLEAN!!!!!, then suddenly the meeting starts to look like a well oiled and presentable offering. If you have a group of mates who race together, make it a team and paint all the bikes the same colours (and not just black or red!!) and come up with a marketable name, not Shit For Brains Racing or something crap like that.

At the moment we look like a dogs breakfast!

ADMIT IT.
If you think that it is currently OK and that what I have said above is too much to do, then you are part of the problem!
What I suggest costs nothing (except maybe the board and bike painting) but makes a world of difference.

By example, if you behaved in this way at BSB, MRO or BEMCEE meetings in the UK, you would be spoken to by someone and told to step up your game.
(And don't get on my case about BSB being all this and all that. BEMCEE, even maybe MRO in some respects are no different to VMCC, just in scale. But 'cos they do these things and others like having mega pound entry fees and prize money, there is more money for everyone, well at least there was!!).

Have a think about that before planning all sorts of They must do this and They must do that and We need someone to do this and that.
Maybe the current structure is not 100% the greatest, but actually it works, but the competitors let it down by not stepping up their game. Anyone who thinks that a new club, a new promoter a new this and new that will change anything if the competitors don't change first is simply dreaming.

Sponsorship and revenues are about marketing and if your offering looks like, tastes like and smells like a dogs breafast then par infra......
But if it is slick and attractive then people will want to be involved. As Clivoris said about the Tier 1 cars, it is the hype. Their racing is a bit pedestrian compared to ours, but their paddock, presentation, hype make us look like we are rolling in the mud.

And don't get on my case, I have been around this sport since 1989 and I am trying my best, a step at a time, to make a difference in my pit area and surrounds. Next please?......

YOU can make the difference.

Steve

[svs]

Or put more effort into an overworked VMCC...

VMCC has been asking for people to step up and sort this thing for years! The ideas aren't new. But when you only have 2 or 3 core people organising the series (who all have full time jobs) then some other people are needed to set up the 'event' side of things. Working till 2am just to get the actual racing setup and late entries sorted was enough for me to throw in the towel.

When I was secretary I tried getting shops onboard for merchandising and display stands but see how many actually turned up and ran a stand? None. Tried getting people to put out signs the day before "Motorbike racing this way -->" sort of thing, but again real life and real jobs got in the way.

The ideas are there. The clubs have the experience and knowledge with running the racing side of things. If you want to promote an event - make it easier on yourself and rock on up to a club and offer to do it. I'm pretty sure VMCC would jump at the chance. (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...42&postcount=4)