NZ road racing in serious trouble

[evol mas]

enough talking!!! lets start doing somthing!!! wata we gota do to get something actuly on paper and out there so we can start geting some money coming or some one appointed ect!!!
whata we gotta do????

[k14]

I think you have posted this a few times now shaun...that possibly why know one is repling??

Yes it is becoming a little repetitive.

I would quite happily commit to paying a sum of that size but in all honesty I am not convinced as of yet that there is any benefit in doing so. There needs to be a more complete document/proposal to outline exactly where the money will go and what benefits will come of it. Is there someone in particular you have lined up that will take up the position?

[scuzeme]

F@#k me this subject has been well in truly thrashed out and im probably going to repeat what has been said one hundred times but in the simplest terms:

First of all i dont think theres anypoint bagging those that help organise and run meetings even if they are half arsed attempts atleast someones doing something, who else is going to do it...you?

Lifting the profile of road racing is the key to this whole thing guys.
If you lift the profile you lift the popularity, if you lift the popularity you lift the numbers of racers and inturn the numbers of spectators then the TV networks give you airplay.
Once you lift the popularity then you can garner greater revenues by way of fees gate sales and ultimately get the corporates on board that want to tap into the market being created and expanded - then the profile gets lifted again and it becomes a lovely self feeding cycle.

I and a few others formed a committe last year looking at bringing a road race back to the Wellington i myself spoke with the Wellington City and Lower Hutt City counsel representatives and just let me say this i had no negative vibes back instead there was open minded interest.
The committee had also been in discussions with interested sponsers, to be honest we really needed more poeple on board that were willing to give up some serious time to get it properly off the ground.

My point is you need to raise the profile which is exactly the point Shaun was making originally, whether you agree with hiring a promoter or markting manager or some other way, we need to find the best way and all help take our sport to the new Zealand public.
Just to make the point, what was the interest in the sport like when Aaron Slight was on the world stage, was it strong here in NZ during that time? if it was, it was solely because the profile was lifted.

Profile = popularity = prosperity.


Cheers.

[FROSTY:Me]

if it can come to fruition we ( CKT ) would undertake put up $500 per annum .

WE--Millars car (and motorcycle) Centre will match that pledge

[Paul in NZ]

Please forgive the intrusion... I don't race and don't attend meetings and really, don't care too much either way...

Maybe the 'racers' need to step back a bit and look at the bigger picture.

Do the race meetings exist to;

Satisfy the needs of the racers? or Operate as a commercial enitity returning a profit to a promotor?

Think of it this way. Imagine it's a stage show. Who takes the $$ risk and reaps the rewards of a great season, the promotor! Are the actors given a choice what lines they use or parts they play - erm nope but the promotor makes a guess as to what the punters will pay to go see...

In the heyday of roadracing the promotors put on 'events' and paid good money to the riders (actors) to turn up. The riders had little say over safety etc and gradually this and society has changed, e, when was the last time you went to a speedway solo meeting yet 40 years ago it was HUGE!

The point is - IF the riders want to run a race to suit themselves then please get ready to bear the whole cost of the track, insurance, marshalls etc and stop grizzling. Much like gymnastics or bowls or (ta dah) bucket racing does do.

Otherwise, come up with something new you can sell, (screw MNZ if they won't play ball - do you really need them??) talk to a promotor and see if you can get them to get behind it. - how do you think the crusty demons manage? Do they have a competition license??? (doubt it)

You need to step back and look at the big picture - is this to satisy the user or to entice the public?

[suzuki mama]

Totally agree we all need to look at big picture .
our sport is in chaos ,thru bad decisions ,inefficent practices and ever widening gaps between the office at huntly and the Clubs, with the most lethargic Board in history when it comes to actually addressing problems.so the answer is obvious .this is an incorporated society we the members make up MNZ LETS GO TO sparc admit we have a problem ,ask them to do review .they have for other codes facing pretty much the same problems we are. lets advise our new President and Board divine intervention isnt coming and direct them as we can to obtain a Sparc review ,address problems honestly and reunite the clubs for the betterment of all riders not just each faction and get on with making Motorcycling fun ,safe and Fair .that mission statement causes some mirth around our club.just in passing what happened to online voting we heard about last year? or do we get the most confusing vote papers we got last year

[Shaun]

I think you have posted this a few times now shaun...that possibly why know one is repling??

Yes I have mate, and will keep re posting it untill people STOP whinging about the race scene and act upon healthy idea's offered to them years before the crisis we are now in

[Shaun]

Just read it, if it can come to fruition we ( CKT ) would undertake put up $500 per annum and encourage other businesses directly involved with supporting the road racing industry to follow our lead. If there is an insistence that we join an affiliated club and thence pay a sub to MNZ then no problem.

Thanks Robert and Shane

Me ( MD Chassis Shack) Will also commit $500 Per annum

We have a Grand already, lets go


MODS, Can We Start a "FREEZE" Promotion Link for this for other companies to add there support to the above idea?

[Shaun]

enough talking!!! lets start doing somthing!!! wata we gota do to get something actuly on paper and out there so we can start geting some money coming or some one appointed ect!!!
whata we gotta do????

Got your PM and good on you for trying to do the write thing with our sport. The thing you all can do, is go and find a company that will agree to support the ' Salary issue" for a promoter to do his /her job for us! ANd add it to the thread where CKT an MDCS have committed $500 each already

Thanks for the support

[Paul in NZ]

Shaun

With the greatest respect. If you put a promotor on salary it won't work for you or them, they need to serve a clear objective. ie are they promoting the riders diverse dreams or making the meetings popular, it might not equal the same thing. If you just want marketing expertise for existing meentings approach a marketing company but you will need a retainer + marketing budget.

A good 'promotor' of the old school will own the event and fund it (as entertainment) but don't be amazed if he/she dictates what classes will be supported. ie if flat track HD's are what the punters want, thats what a promotor will provide. Like I said, are you trying to save road racing as it is of provide a viable spectacle (road racing as it might be)

[wharfy]

Shaun

With the greatest respect. If you put a promotor on salary it won't work for you or them, they need to serve a clear objective. ie are they promoting the riders diverse dreams or making the meetings popular, it might not equal the same thing. If you just want marketing expertise for existing meentings approach a marketing company but you will need a retainer + marketing budget.

A good 'promotor' of the old school will own the event and fund it (as entertainment) but don't be amazed if he/she dictates what classes will be supported. ie if flat track HD's are what the punters want, thats what a promotor will provide. Like I said, are you trying to save road racing as it is of provide a viable spectacle (road racing as it might be)

Basically we need to turn every round of the Nationals into a Wanganui/Paeroa type EVENT maybe just make them the North Island rounds ? I think pretty much everyone who raced the Nationals raced at these (yeah, I know Stroudy didn't do Pearoa) I believe in the past they have been part of the National series.

[Paul in NZ]

Basically we need to turn every round of the Nationals into a Wanganui/Paeroa type EVENT maybe just make them the North Island rounds ? I think pretty much everyone who raced the Nationals raced at these (yeah, I know Stroudy didn't do Pearoa) I believe in the past they have been part of the National series.

Then ask yourself - why did people come to THESE events and can it be replicated???

[Shaun]

Then ask yourself - why did people come to THESE events and can it be replicated???

Because it is A road RACE, THE SAME PLACE THAT THE SPECTATORS RIDE THERE OWN BIKES

Replicated- NO way

[Kickaha]

Because it is A road RACE, THE SAME PLACE THAT THE SPECTATORS RIDE THERE OWN BIKES

Replicated- NO way

I would say more likely because they can get up so close to the action

[DEATH_INC.]

I'm gonna upset a few but here goes.....
People don't go to the racing because as a whole it's BORING to watch. As bikers we see a lot of the stuff that the general public don't, so we think it's exciting. Most of the racing I see is relatively follow-the-leader stuff....boring.
Not much you can do about that of course.....though maybe a reverse grid setup may help....(yeah I know, bad idea...safety and all)
I think a lot of spectators at Paeroa at least, just go because it's a big biker meet, rather than the racing. How many are non-bikers?
I think we need more circuits too, where are all the old street races? I know they used to do one in whangarei at least, there must have been others.
Auckland has it's own problems, the track being a major one, it may be fun if you can avoid the walls, but it doesn't lend itself well to spectating....and where the hell are the facilities? the club can't be blamed for all of it....

I guess I'm saying we need to forget (to a point) what the racers want, and look at what the public want, a good entertaining day out.

How do we do it? I really don't know.....
Is this really what we want too?
One last thing, look overseas, are the club/national ( not gp or wsbk ) meets that popular with the general public? Or do they just attract bikers from a larger pool?
I know this seems a little negative, but maybe we just need to be realistic here.....this is only a shitty little country after all.....