OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Graeme M on September 13, 2010, 04:36:07 pm
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Just testing the waters a bit here. I was reading the VIPER thread and noted the small turnout - just 41 riders. Also last weekend HEAVEN in Canberra seemed smaller than I remember. The Pre 78s were small fields, I reckon the Pre 75s weren't that flash and just a handful of four-strokes. And in May I ventured north for a QVMX round at one of their best tracks and reckon that they were lucky to have 40-50 riders there too.
What can others say about their events? Are the numbers coming down? Is racing going off the boil a bit?
Now, Classic Dirt was huge, and the HBBB seemed to go off OK. But do we now have too many events (east coast of course, can't speak for West Aussie)? Or are people losing interest in the racing side of things? Or am I off track with my observations?
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Graeme - one persepctive from over West - it appears theere has been an overall changing of who turns up at pre 75 but numbers are still similar (ie out with the old and in with the new). - 50-70 riders are good "normal" meets and our big ones always pull large numbers - 100-120 riders. So still strong over here. pre 85 is still taking off - getting around 20 riders or so to "invitation" meets.
Rossco
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Part of it could be that slowly the eligible bikes have been retired along with their riders, hence an increasing lack of available bikes.
Maybe when we decide to hang up the helmet for a second time we have a responsibility to either put someone else on them or sell them on, selling will be bloody difficult.
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I don't know about selling your bike after you can still be involved on the day I haven't been to a vmx event yet which I would have liked to go I didn't want to ride my PE it isn't a vmx bike now that I have my tm400 when I get it finished I will be going to as many as possible but maybe there are a large amount of collectors nowadays too my mate has over 30 bikes he doesn't go to events either so if some guys like that have a blow out sale maybe a few more may get on the track but he has worked hard and it is his right to own as many bikes as he likes and do what he wants with them.
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Frosty, you would have to the hoarder of all Pe 400 ;D There is nothing wrong with taking your Pe 400 out to VMX meets... I did it for 2 years, some one has to keep the back of the pack honest ;)
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And that's sort of my point. The rate of registrations on OzVMX, both forum and site, continues to rise. Classic Dirt is big. There are LOTS of super well resto'd bikes around. Vintage dirtbikes are popular. But how popular is vintage dirtbike RACING?
I think the big events are still going off just fine - the Nats and so on. Just look at the biggies OS as well.
But what about the club level stuff? How have the numbers been for events like say the BMCC club series, or HEAVEN, or the VCM series? I don't know - I am just wondering out loud. Any thoughts?
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Graeme, I rode this weekend with QVMX and It was nice to see new faces amongst the old guard. So what this tells me some fade away ...either taking a break as we have had a busy year with a round 13 meets to choose from and VMx s still alive in QLd .
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I know mate and when I get that shed in October then there will be some PE's that is for sure it is a controlled problem of mine that I can't get to many 400's when you want to sell your 400 lot ring me. :D
I think that you have to be on a mx bike to go to an mx event though you can't blame some one for having a hoard either plenty of bikes still pop up for sale.
I'd say collecting and restoring bikes is bigger than racing by a lot.
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We need to pull our heads out of the sand and let the pre 90's in, the impression I get from experienced racers from say the early to mid nineties is that Vintage Bikes are old "Back Breakers" and "Bone benders" etc,
If we were to consolidate and let the natural progression of riders in that want to race "What I rode when I was a young fella" we would have a lot more riders on the track.
If you own a 76 model RM like you did "Back in the Day" age has probably caught up with you (You are probably in your 50's +) and therefore you are more likely to restore your bike and just look at it, or show it rather than taking it racing.
We need to look forward on this one instead of being stuck back in the 70's
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I dont know about that I still grew up around old bikes but the style and look alone of 70's and 80's vehicles is very appealing the cars of the 70's were the best and the bikes of 70's and 80's no bike looked the same but what kids are going to get interested in vintage bikes when they seem second class to the bikes these days maybe kids with dads that race but anyone else probably not.
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We are talking about "Bums on Seats" here, nothing to do with how anything looks, the main incentive to go buy, restore and race an old MX'er is because you bought one new back in the day,
it's why I do it and why most every one here does too, and by excluding pre '90's we are excluding an age group that are more willing and capable of going Vintage Racing",
So put it this way, a 40 year old guy that was racing back when he was 19 was most likely racing a..............................1989 model :-\
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you'll find it's just a timing thing,(the planets didn't align ::)),heavens previous meeting at the lakes went off bigtime,no lack of numbers in any class there,next was Nepeans pre 75 weekend,again good numbers ,next weekend i buggered off to Phillip Island national r/races,no way i could do Heaven round at Fairburn park last weekend coz this coming weekends Dirt Track nats at Griffith,then we go to Heavens grass track at Canowindra oct long weekend,then i'm back to Broadford for Sthern classic (tar),you want numbers??,crunch that fugging lot ;D, :P
pre 90 yeah right >:(
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you'll find it's just a timing thing,(the planets didn't align ::)),heavens previous meeting at the lakes went off bigtime,no lack of numbers in any class there,next was Nepeans pre 75 weekend,again good numbers ,next weekend i buggered off to Phillip Island national r/races,no way i could do Heaven round at Fairburn park last weekend coz this coming weekends Dirt Track nats at Griffith,then we go to Heavens grass track at Canowindra oct long weekend,then i'm back to Broadford for Sthern classic (tar),you want numbers??,crunch that fugging lot ;D, :P
pre 90 yeah right >:(
you crack me up dude ;D :P ;D
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I don't disagree with your pre90 but I don't veiw them as vintage bikes and what is the point if you had stacks in pre90 but no one on earlier classes you introduce a new class and maybe you get a heap of riders in that perticular class but not the ones that are already there.
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so why do think l find and sell bikes, so this vmx movement can grow, every race meeting in victoria are averaging between 45 to 80 riders, years ago it was up to 100 to 150 rides at meetings, l see that VCM AND CSC have a vintage meeting on the same weekend , 19th september Mirbo North and Gellibrand, know how dumb is that THAT IS DUMB AND DUMBER.
We need to go back to a victorian series round. so both clubs are together. :-\
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The cost of racing and maintaining a race bike might have something to do with it. The vinduros are so popular because they are non competitve. There has been discussion to try and get some competitive vinduros but theres just not enough interest yet. I think more and more people want to enjoy the low key social non competitive events like the HBBB, classic dirt, show and shine fundraisers and the vinduros etc as they don’t feel any ‘race pressure’ and past racers are now retiring from racing to just do the non competitive events. I think E74 might be right and you gotta get the pre 90 class happening to let all the keen racers in their 30's/40's to race them and bring in new blood and revitalise the sport.
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Well, I didn't mean to get back into the Pre90 debate, I was just wondering if numbers are down these days.
Matcho mate, I'm not sure that the Lakes Evo Challenge was as big as it could have been. I might be wrong, but I think we used to get up around 100 riders at some of the earlier HEAVEN events (back around 2002 or so I'd guess). Given how much the sport has grown, the number of people on sites like this, the amount of media coverage, and the sheer number of bikes and parts around now, wouldn't you think that a standard HEAVEN round should be showing something like 100-150 riders? And a big un like the Evo Challenge, which used to be promoted really strongly, might get some interstate entries and see maybe 150-200 riders?
I'm not having a shot at HEAVEN, it's just an example I am a little familiar with.
My point is, is club level racing really getting bigger, or has it started to shrink? I don't think that a state based club like VIPER or QVMX or HEAVEN is really getting bigger and being more successful if all they can boast is 40-60 riders at an event.
That said, I don't have any axe to grind. If it turns out that due to event numbers, costs, distance to travel, aging riders, and so on, the best we can expect is 40-60 riders, so be it. I am just wondering if I've seen a trend beginning, or if it's just the alignment of the planets...
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I think it's just been a busy year.
I'd love to go to every event on the calendar within a reasonable distance but I have to balance the bike stuff with work, and time with the family.
And although I don't personally have a problem with later model bikes becoming part of the VMX scene, I think that you're kidding yourself if you think they're some sort of silver bullet for dwindling numbers at a club meet.
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Said it before, so I’ll say it again, VMX inclusive of Pre85 & Pre90 will ebb & flow with the times, seen it before and no doubt we’ll see it again. What causes it and what can be done to smooth it out would be akin to unlocking the mysteries of the universe.
Classes up to Pre78 & perhaps a little bit of EVO are victims of their own popularity, the bikes have become collectible rather than purely race-able and with parts becoming harder and more expensive with time to obtain does not help the cause. Add to that what has already been mentioned that riders living through a 2nd childhood have a crack at racing for a few years then retire to events like Classic Dirt & HBBB. I don’t know where QVMX and Heaven are at, but there are plenty of ex VIPER riders that don’t compete any more, yet still have their bikes and regularly turn up at events like HBBB, CD and practice days.
With access to Pre85 & Pre90 machinery more readily available and easier on the body than the earlier classes we can start to understand why the Pre85/90 classes are growing each and every year and will soon eclipse the EVO and earlier classes.
As I have said before, I don’t specifically agree with the old blokes and on bikes principle, and there is no doubt that a percentage of the younger riders don’t give the amount of respect that they should to both their machinery and their peers, but it is what it is. This was one of the things that I was glad to see will be changed where age classes can be run in the Pre85 & Pre90 races. In general I don’t see the VMX community reacting in a timely & think outside the box manner to the changing status of the sport, particularly when the economy is down and people are looking for the best value that they can get out of their racing/bike budget.
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Everything goes in cycles, and I think we're having a bit of a down cycle at the moment. It's not out of the ordinary, and I don't think its a sign of impending catastrophe.
Factors:
1. The continued success of Classic Dirt, and the rise of HBBB.
2. The success of Vinduros.
3. The loss of certain positive personalities from the scene.
4. Everyone being in a flap over the election (it makes a difference for many of the self-employed).
5. Fall-out from the GFC.
Providing we don't disappear up our own arses with the political stuff, VMX will come good again.
Newer eras coming on-line isn't a silver bullet - but if we continue to ignore them, then we will begin to slide and it will be very hard to scrabble back.
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not trying to argue with some of the points already raised - but I raced bikes around 1980-82 - but when I wanted to start VMX in WA there was only pre 75 - so what - I have an absolute ball racing - you don't have to be locked into what you did as a kid although for some people thats the driver. Also I do disagree with the comment about later model bikes being easier - IMO later model bikes ride on tracks much more difficult and rough - as opposed to natural terrain "VMX" - I find it easier on my 360B at Narrogin than I ever did on my 83 CR at Noble falls. And to echo the comment above about non competitive rides - all our racing in WA is non competitive - you go the speed you want and have a good time - and despite the doom sayers pre 75 is good and strong over here.
If pre 90 is the answer - well lets keep going - pre 95 anyone???? Where does it stop - and remember all the arguing we have had regards having to split the Nats or big meets - unlike Moderns we need to cover eras - that needs to be taken into consdieration to and maybe will be with the proposed split?
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Each state has its own individual circumstances. I ride in NSW so will restrict my point of view to what I see happenning here.
When certain classes at a club day have more flag marshals than riders we have a problem. As Graeme said all indications are that the sport in general has a healthy interest level. So why don't we get the numbers?
In my opinion as a club we need to seriously look at offering what the punters want. Because no matter how you look at it clubs like HEAVEN are the grass roots of VMX.
To me the only way to get the older eras back out there is Grass Track. I know that finding venues for these are the problem but none the less this is the problem we need to overcome. The success of the Crawford River and Canowindra events backs this up. My other view is that we need to introduce a later year cut off to entice younger VMX enthusiasts back into racing "what they had when they were kids" . By building up later eras at tracks such as Canberra and Lakes this will negate the drop off in pre'78 and earlier numbers at those events.
Until either or both of these issues are addressed I fear that club event numbers will continue to dwindle.
Cheers
Shaun
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MA. AUSTRALIA AND THE VINTAGE COMMSSION, CLUBS, ARE YOU LISTENING TO THIS AND TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING AND ASKING.
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This side of the water numbers at race meetings have dropped over the last couple of seasons .
I think Nathan s post pretty well summed it up for reasons why.
There has been a decline in numbers in all classes, i would have thought that the pre 86 class would have grown here for reasons stated in other postings. Also there have been a large number of pre 86 bikes imported over the last couple of years .
You do see a lot of new faces at events but also a lot of other blokes dont come any more.
As far as pre 90 goes again there has been a shit load of nice pre 90 bikes imported over the last couple of years, but as yet there is no class for them here.
I went to a Vintage ATV meeting in the weekend (and rode VMX support class) i was suprised how many old 3 and 4 wheelers were out there , and a few VMX converts riding them :o
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Nathan & TM are on to it, alot of we self employed guys are finding the cash flow down at the moment and we think twice now about spending on "fun" things-I haven't been to Golden Hands in ages :D
On the pre 90 thing-they will cut the guts out of a VMX track in no time and then the pre 75 bikes will be swapping ends in the braking bumps and Husky hopping out of the corners.
The reason you get so many old quads TM is that you have no sidecars.
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CD & HBBB seem to be more about fun without stress, and is relatively cost efective for most, and will continue to grow for those reasons. Racing is a different thing however, on top of license & entry fees, you are usually expected to bring along a flaggy or hold one yourself, which IMO is the obligation of the hosting club, not the riders or their wives, girlfriends etc. This is a pet hate of mine. Also at most riders briefings you are usually spoken to in a stearn voice as if you are a child, with way too many do's & don'ts, and at one particular club here in Vic, "if you don't like it, FU&k off" seems to be the norm! Unfortuantely that's my club! Why can't it be " hey guy's use some common sense and let's have some fun"? There's also usually someone to sook about your bikes eligibility, because you have a 1978 model chain roller on your bike in the pre '78 class, even though the "sooker" probably has twin clicker adjustable shocks which were made yesterday on his. Then there's the wound up 16 year old riding dads bike in amongst the old blokes going ape shit all over the place, coz he's so fast! A lot of clubs don't or won't groom their tracks properley to cater for old bikes, especially down pipe bikes, and the guy's who set tracks, grass tracks included, usually make them too dfficult for the average guy. I'll say it again, any & all tracks should be made for the true C grader, the fast guys will still be fast and not so fast will have more fun and continue to come. VMX racing is stressful, too stressful for many and as much as I love VMX racing, I hate stress, I have enough in my everday life. There is quite a lot of VMX racing here in Vic as well, and if the factions involved put their heads together & actually co-ordinated things, we woud see more riders, vinduro's included. I can't see it changing too soon due to people & opinions. I hear it all the time, " I'd just rather go riding, than racing", no stress involved.
Cheers,
K
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Well put K ;).
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eggsackery big K,nailed it,(apart from the F@%k off,Dennis/Greg n co don't say that up here ;D), :P
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This is making me uncomfortable as it's happening far to often for my liking....I agree with Mr Nimmo that Big K got it right on the noggin' ;D.
The whole success of Penrith clubs formative days of vintage racing was largely due to the fun aspect. Everyone was full of enthusiasm and excitement for this new vintage motocross thing...nothing was a problem for the club officials and the riders reacted with the same positive attitudes. Sure there were rules, we were trying to establish vintage racing as a serious contender on the off road scene so we encouraged the racers to follow the basic pre '75 rules that had been laid down but if a newby came along and his bike wasn't Kosher, rather than send him home we not only let him race but also set him up with racers who competed on similar bikes to help him sort out the legalities of his bike for the future....a sort of buddy system that worked beautifully.
In Sydney it all started to go wrong when Penrith club started to get jaded and tired due to a lack of club officer turnover. Today, 15 years later the same people are still running the show and you're a lucky man if you get a smile out of them let alone a g'day. The fun and excitement that earmarked those early Penrith/Dargle/Nepean days has been replaced by sad sack, boring and way under subscribed 'same old shit' Nepean dirt track meetings. The old magic just ain't there any more.
I don't go to HEAVEN race meetings any more because some overseas guest racers and I were treated like shit at a Crawford River Classic a few years ago and the following year when Ajay, Billy F and I in our capacity as media reps were were treated equally as rudely. I know for real that that particular club official drove quite a few people away from the sport during his tenure. Thankfully the club is now in good hands and from all reports everything is going ahead in a positive and happy way. Sadly if the extreme rude attitude that was shown at those two CRCs has burned someone as keen as me, what did it do for any newbys or borderline enthusiasts that wanted to become involved but copped a face full of attitude for their trouble? We (Klub Kevlar good 'ol boys) always supported that event (hence us donating the Eldridge/Hine/East perpetual trophies) but now not one of us bother going to the CRC or any HEAVEN events. It burned thatdeeply.
I mention both of those club situations to make the point that a club must present a welcoming and friendly face to attract and maintain the loyalty of riders. We're all adults who participate in this sport for a myriad of reasons, the most obvious being that it's a fun escape from our weekday stresses. When the fun aspect is overtaken by negative vibes bought on by overbearing officials or on track dickhead rider behaviour, many folks just walk away, never to return.
Why are CD and BBB growing so fast while the racing side of our sport is floundering? One word....fun. The vibe that exists at both of those events reflects the cameraderie and joy that was the nucleus of VMX during the sports first 10 years. I know more guys building bikes for those events than for serious racing these days. You can build a bike that's out of left field and not race competitive and not give a damn as you're not competing for a trophy. If you're carrying injuries, extra weight or too many years (or all 3 like me :-[) you can still go out and ride your old bike and have some fun...there's that word again.
There are other facets that are restricting the growth of our sport like the dumbing down of the age groups, unsuitable track layouts, the costs of licences and entries, too many under subscribed divisions and many more but each of those deserves its own thread as they each have their own uniques set of circumstances.
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Sadly if the extreme rude attitude any newbys or borderline enthusiasts that wanted to become involved but copped a face full of attitude for their trouble-
When the fun aspect is overtaken by negative vibes bought on by overbearing officials or on track dickhead rider behaviour, many folks just walk away, never to return.
Very true-First impressions are lasting impressions.
cheers
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I joined Heaven as a newbie just 2 years ago, and couldn't have been made to feel more welcome. Firko, bury the hatchet and come to Canowindra, I'll even give you a lift and find a nice warm place for you to sleep the night :)
Mike #278
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Why can't it be " hey guy's use some common sense and let's have some fun"?
I think part of the problem here is that everybody knows who is being a 'knob' but they just leave it to the poor old officials to sort out.
If the riders took some of the responsibility to enforce [nicely but firmly] the 'fun' aspects and not just let some other poor mug take the heat then maybe the message would actually get through to the offenders.
Classic Dirt is a good example [and I am sure HBBB as well], but don't for a minute think that is immune from the 'Knob' factor. I know from personal experience how difficult some people can be to having their idea of fun frowned upon. Again, if the masses [riders] let them know that their actions weren't acceptable I think that would have vastly more impact than being threatened by an individual official.
Now I am not advocating some kind of vigilanty system, but if some of the more senior and experienced riders/racers took these people aside and told them that their behaviour was out of line it would have more impact - a sort of positive peer group pressure. Classic Dirt is supposed to be 'just for fun' but when some people get out on the track they can't help but carve up the slower riders - endless calls for calm at the riders briefing doesn't seem to work. I just wish that these people would chill out and let others enjoy themselves safely as well.
If we can't help ourselves how do we think that some poor, mug volunteer will succeed? We have to take a large amount of the responsibilty to make any real difference.
VMX42
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Firko, I can vouch for HEAVEN, it's all good. My thread here is about the bigger picture for club level events and I didn't want to get into panning any particular club.
The last few HEAVEN events I've been to were great - friendly atmosphere, great officials, good organisation, good racing, good times. Can't fault it. Well... not enough riders is my only gripe! ;D
Here's hoping we get lots for Canowindra in three weeks time, nothing like a full grid of all makes and sizes in age classes on a fun little grasstrack! Hey, did I say fun? Is that the magic ingredient that's getting a little elusive?
Maybe clubs could have a few 'novelty' days rather than just the usual stream of class racing? I remember that very cool 'teams' event at Kembla about 6 years ago. Whatever, the thing that I enjoy at racedays is all-in events. Larger fields and more variety. I'm slow as and not at all likely ever to place at the pointy end, so racing per se is not my reason for doing it. If all I wanted to do was race for sheep stations on a level playing field, I'd go modern (and learn to ride). I'd rather do stuff that's fun.
Age races on a grasstrack at a showground? Now that's fun. Bashing around a track with a million other riders and checking out the bikes in the pits in the Qld sun? That's fun. A low key enduro event with lots of riding and all sorts of cool old vintage enduro bikes? Fun too.
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I joined Heaven as a newbie just 2 years ago, and couldn't have been made to feel more welcome. Firko, bury the hatchet and come to Canowindra, I'll even give you a lift and find a nice warm place for you to sleep the night
Thanks Mike, I was toying with the idea of going to Canowindra anyway mate. I was thinking of taking the Jagwah for a run to check it out. So thanks for the offer of a lift and a bed for the night but I'll be right (I think). Everyone has hammered me about how good Canowindra was last year so it might be worth a look.
I'm glad you've been accepted into the HEAVEN fold with open arms. Now the dickhead dictator factor has gone I suppose it's time to come back and check it out. It's a pity that my gang were so offended back then as they are nearly all pre '65 guys as you well know. That was one of the underlying ideas of the CRC...to create a once a year showcase for the pre 65 class with our donating the Roy East Trophy. Maybe we might to be able to revive the original intentions of the trophies and bring that once a year pre 65 showcase back to the fore...
Firko, I can vouch for HEAVEN, it's all good. My thread here is about the bigger picture for club level events and I didn't want to get into panning any particular club.
I realise that Graeme but I raised both the Penrith and HEAVEN situations to offer up one reason why there are less than
satisfactory rider numbers. It shits me every time someone talks about how well things are going at club level in NSW when in truth over the last 10 years, entries have halved from during the heyday. That's despite all of the newer divisions offering so much variety for the potential racer. The reasons those entry numbers are so abysmal need to be urgently addressed. Things like age groups and strong media promotion were not taken seriously by clubs and the current flat situation is the end result of that lack of foresight.
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Mark,
Will be good to see you there. If you'd like to throw a leg over the Triumph or Can Am you're more than welcome.
Mike #278
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You have to look where the numbers are. I'm 50 and ride moderns, I turn up at a trail ride event that is specifically aimed at family's and you get 5-600 riders signing up. Most of the blokes are in the 30-55 age group and most of them have kids riding bikes with them. It's well catered for with peewee and novice tracks. No shortage of money either. When you count how many specially built caravans that turn up being towed by brand new four wheel drives and have three or four brand new bikes in the back. Much easier to spend money on riding if the whole family get's to go. A few old MX legends turn up as well.
I have a keen interest in old bikes, but I never raced when I was young and don't care to race now. The CD series I like and would ride at. Non competative Vinduro has my interest as well. I like the idea of getting my old bikes out for a bit of a thrash and talk to other people with the same interest. I like the concept of QVMX were they have casual race days and would give that a go. But as far as serious racing goes, I have no interest at all.
The reason I say this is that most of the feedback is coming from racers. But I'm sure there is a large silent minority like myself who sit on the fringes of VMX but most of their time is taken up raising a family and riding moderns.
Which brings me to the point, if there was someplace for the kids to ride while dad raced a few laps and mum came along to cheer, would that help raise the numbers? As the general consensus seems to be focused on making it fun, perhaps making it fun for the whole family would bring a larger participation.
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Which brings me to the point, if there was someplace for the kids to ride while dad raced a few laps and mum came along to cheer, would that help raise the numbers? As the general consensus seems to be focused on making it fun, perhaps making it fun for the whole family would bring a larger participation.
I think that would make a big difference. I don't have kids but I can see the flow on benefit of involving families, but I have brought this up before at club meetings and it has fallen on deaf ears.
One of the great joys when I was a kid was being able to go to race meetings with my dad and hoon around the pits on a minibike, understandably those days are over due to modern liability issues. Its always hard to find volunteers on race day but how hard would it be to set up an area in the pits, it only has to be a small oval marked off by some bunting, where kids could Hoon around and have an adult stationed there to supervise?
Another problem causing lack of entries is sceduling. I been racing for years and was keen as to get into vintage a few years back along with 6 of my mates. We rode all the rounds of CSC for a few years and had a ball but my back just wasn't up to riding short travel bikes....So I got into Viper and loved it and planned on riding all the rounds this year. Problem is that my mates and I are all shift workers or self employed, even if we rule out family commitments getting a weekend off has to organised well in advance. When a race calender doesn't come out till a couple of weeks before the first round there is no way we can get the time off, same problem when races keep getting resceduled. So before the first round was run there were 6 guys already counted out for the season. Things have changed a lot in the workplace over the last 10 years, more people are working weekends and shift than ever before. I think there needs to be a lot more promoting / organisation to get the numbers back up again.
I know the sport is run by volunteers and in the passed I have done more than my fair share of running meetings and flag waving. But a lot of the other sports I have been involved in are also run by volunteers and seem to pull it off a lot better...and the main thing they seem to do different is to encourage the involment of families and local communities, this gets more people involved and interested so that there are more people to help out so that it isn't up to a hand full of volunteers to do everything from track bookings down to catering and flag waving
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Things like age groups ... were not taken seriously by clubs and the current flat situation is the end result of that lack of foresight.
FWIW, HEAVEN made a solid, honest effort with the age groups and they were flatly ignored by the people that made a lot of noise about age races. Nobody was expecting miracles overnight, but there was absolutely no sign of movement from the people that had insisted the age races were all they needed to get involved again.
Really, this is one of the reasons why I think that NSW needs a fresh pre-75 (or pre-78) club - for whatever reason(s), the pre-75 good old boys are going to need more, fresher bait to entice them out of the wookwork than a multi-era club like HEAVEN can possibly provide.
As Firko said, there is a deeply ingrained anti-HEAVEN sentiment that even wholesale changes in committee and membership cannot erase. That being the case, it is completely impossible for the club to make the problems go away, so the push has to come from the old hands.
Until then, we're pissing in the wind.
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crash and burn over here in unzud we have a kids track or they get to ride at lunch time some of those kids now ride vintage bikes and are in there late teens
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crash and burn over here in unzud we have a kids track or they get to ride at lunch time some of those kids now ride vintage bikes and are in there late teens
ditto ;D
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This is OS,but I dont think its on a downward spiral as fast as some think it is.
There are a few other old title holders starting out or collecting too,as has been mentioed on this forum before. 8)
Quote:This is extremely cool , Gary Jones , 4 time AMA MX champion , racing my BSA B50MX . Even better is that he had more fun riding the BSA , than his 74' Yamaha YZ 250 . Gary kept talking about getting one of his BSA's race ready.
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Re: So, how popular is Vintage RACING in 2010?
Very popular ,,every magazine on the newsagancy shelf today,seems to have some old gear in it..
Dirt Action issue 138- The Generation Gap Three National Titles in a row ..(Name em JohnnyO ;) )
Company of Gall,Dack and now Jay Marmont.
Favorite bike.... 84 Yamaha 500 in 250 frame
Hardest year to win and why !! and much more to feast your eyes upon....
Yep its out there for all to see now days 8)
cheers
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I heard numbers were down but not sure there is a good reason except economic. Blame the increase in GST.
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I heard numbers were down but not sure there is a good reason except economic. Blame the increase in GST.
VMX is probably riding higher, with the cost of modern mx..vmx costs are still reasonable. 8)
Eg: Reeds exit from Suzuki.
cheers
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You have to look where the numbers are. I'm 50 and ride moderns, I turn up at a trail ride event that is specifically aimed at family's and you get 5-600 riders signing up. Most of the blokes are in the 30-55 age group and most of them have kids riding bikes with them. It's well catered for with peewee and novice tracks. No shortage of money either. When you count how many specially built caravans that turn up being towed by brand new four wheel drives and have three or four brand new bikes in the back. Much easier to spend money on riding if the whole family get's to go. A few old MX legends turn up as well.
I have a keen interest in old bikes, but I never raced when I was young and don't care to race now. The CD series I like and would ride at. Non competative Vinduro has my interest as well. I like the idea of getting my old bikes out for a bit of a thrash and talk to other people with the same interest. I like the concept of QVMX were they have casual race days and would give that a go. But as far as serious racing goes, I have no interest at all.
The reason I say this is that most of the feedback is coming from racers. But I'm sure there is a large silent minority like myself who sit on the fringes of VMX but most of their time is taken up raising a family and riding moderns.
Which brings me to the point, if there was someplace for the kids to ride while dad raced a few laps and mum came along to cheer, would that help raise the numbers? As the general consensus seems to be focused on making it fun, perhaps making it fun for the whole family would bring a larger participation.
Youre talking about the ADBA rides they are a good thing we take the family to them very ride they have.
If you want and good family day the Brisbane club runs a family day for the mums and juniors, riding vintage or modern. The bonus is the dads can ride there vintages as well.A great day out for the family