OzVMX Forum
Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kenneth S (222) on November 04, 2018, 10:03:21 am
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I'm a keen VMXer, love Motocross and my club Heaven VMX. I plan to stand for a committee position for 2019 and if I am successful will work with the committee with whatever influence I have to add as much enjoyment as possible to each and every club weekend ride/race meeting for all VMX fans. If you once did race but don't now I'd like to know what would bring you back?
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being 20 years younger....
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# Healthy body
# Healthy bank account
# Fun tracks (You will never please everyone with this one though)
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I still race now and then but I don't attend many Heaven events for what ever reason's. Speaking of tracks Armidale MC has access to one of the best natural tracks I have ridden , sadly only modern classes but if you could hold an event there it would be a cracker. Lots of camping not much else.
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# Fun tracks (You will never please everyone with this one though)
Yeah ain't that the truth. :-)
After nearly 30 years away from the sport.... fun tracks is #1 for me. And a fun track imo is technical/challenging, not overly dusty, has vintage friendly jumps (ie no idiotic supercross s**t) and is not stoopid fast (surprisingly old bodies break if you smash them into the dirt at high speed). Fast, boring, dusty and dangerous and I'd rather stay home and mow the grass.
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FUN, green grass with little or no dust, design track for average older rider
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Time machine, but then again i would use it to go back to 1979 and nail Monique Van der Vlught.
fast flowing sweeping tracks where i get to use the whole gearbox and a 5th gear straight into a 4th gear sweeping left hander that then switches to a right hander and another 5th gear staright.
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Like everyone says: More races at Green Park, Connondale, QLD.
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Like everyone says: More races at Green Park, Connondale, QLD.
The Sunshine Coast Club only have a limited number of weekends they can run at Conondale. They have a Club Series that I believe has Veterans and a Vintage class. Clubs are restricted by what their members want and their lease agreements.
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I haven't raced myself for over a year. I would like too but most of the time with my own club I'm needed to officiate in a position that doesn't permit me to race. Unfortunately the longer I'm off the bike the harder it becomes to get back on.
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Like everyone says: More races at Green Park, Connondale, QLD.
I would say the grass track that Armidale MC uses is better than Connondale for vintage bikes and it's in NSW where Heaven events are held.
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For me it's the cost minimum traveling time to a race is 4 hours for the lack of riding . I do prefer natural terrian course's again very very lack of
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i was an average C grader in my prime, then i tappered right off. I enjoy riding old bikes against other old blokes. I do not enjoy riding against young blokes on stupid modern tracks. I believe the rider should be older than the bike.
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Time machine, but then again i would use it to go back to 1979 and nail Monique Van der Vlught.
I don't think you thought this through Hoony, you really think this young Monique is going to fancy an old Hoony that steps out of his time machine
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i was an average C grader in my prime, then i tappered right off. I enjoy riding old bikes against other old blokes. I do not enjoy riding against young blokes on stupid modern tracks. I believe the rider should be older than the bike.
This. Racing kids old enough to be my grandson who neither own or prepare the bike in era racing.
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Yes.
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Time machine, but then again i would use it to go back to 1979 and nail Monique Van der Vlught.
I don't think you thought this through Hoony, you really think this young Monique is going to fancy an old Hoony that steps out of his time machine
Hahaha ;D
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Like everyone says: More races at Green Park, Connondale, QLD.
I would say the grass track that Armidale MC uses is better than Connondale for vintage bikes and it's in NSW where Heaven events are held.
Duly noted (Insert thumbs up here :D)
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Time machine, but then again i would use it to go back to 1979 and nail Monique Van der Vlught.
I don't think you thought this through Hoony, you really think this young Monique is going to fancy an old Hoony that steps out of his time machine
spot on Geoff, i never think anything through.........i even owned an Evil Kwaka once.
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*bracket racing just like in road race clubs? could be a good option to race people in your own skill level.
*the cost of racing is getting out of hand. It cost me $160 to race a grass track not long ago.
*non MA events?
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*bracket racing just like in road race clubs? could be a good option to race people in your own skill level.
*the cost of racing is getting out of hand. It cost me $160 to race a grass track not long ago.
*non MA events?
By bracket racing do you mean something like A, B & C grades?
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Bracket racing classes are based purely on lap times, no mater what your riding. A little more tricky in mx but a similar system could be done. A novelty at least.?
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I still enjoy riding, not so much racing these days and age does not bother me.
What ticks me off is all the rule changes and endless fees . It seems to be about the $ factor more than the fun factor
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The cost of MA one day license does not help, for their own reasons many riders don't race because of that.
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Why do VMX in Stralia ride with MA? That must styfull 40% of riders.
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l've had a race licence for 45 years but l refuse to pay for another, l'm sick of paying for their mismanagement & junkets to fly around the world !
l ride nearly every weekend but never where l need an MA licence.
l'm also sick of 'minibike parent volunteers' that let the power go to their head.
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Bracket racing classes are based purely on lap times, no mater what your riding. A little more tricky in mx but a similar system could be done. A novelty at least.?
Gotcha! I like it. thanks
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Bracket racing classes are based purely on lap times, no mater what your riding. A little more tricky in mx but a similar system could be done. A novelty at least.?
Gotcha! I like it. thanks
Maybe one class each club day based on age of the rider plus age of the bike. That means the older rider can race a newer bike. 70 plus etc. A twenty year old can only race a 50 year old bike etc. At 64 I can race a Pre 95 bike. You can do bracket racing if you have transponders but that is another cost.
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Like everyone says: More races at Green Park, Connondale, QLD.
More races at Conondale????
Don't you get it, what makes Conondale great is it isn't used every weekend. yes it would be great to have five or more Conondales, but the more you use it the more flogged out it gets.
My favourite track was Echo Valley (Toowoomba), but it is a track that is used almost every weekend now and also has mid week practice. It isn't the track it was when it was used three maybe four times a year.
Conondale is similar now it's not the track it was because it is used more than it was in the past.
QVMX had (may still have) a great track at Biddaddaba (Tabragalba) that is Natural Terrain. It was very good. The land which was resumed by the Government for a dam (which didn't get built) is being Auctioned later this month.
Really Natural Terrain tracks only remain NT if they are not over used.
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My two bobs worth. I see VMX as originally intended having a finite timeline. As has been said if you keep to the vintage rule of 25 years you will always get closer to a modern bike. The fact is old bikes and old bodies cannot keep going forever. What you may not realise is that Heaven is now competing with everyday motorcycle clubs for membership and the market is not that large.
I have seen the local VMX scene change formats, classes and values over my time of involvement. Basically it stopped being fun and became serious. That is not what I personally want. If I was to return to racing what guarantee I could ride my bikes against like bikes and like riders. Who at my age wants to ride very few races, flag for the “guns” and probably not have a fire to gather around and bench race. VMX has changed and it gets harder to get the oldies back every year. Good luck in the future.
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There is too much politics and too many rules involved in this recreational sport in good old Stralia. Had my 2 bikes shipped back to Slovakia and get to ride them more there even only spending 2-3 months there every year. Have a 70ties style dirt track just 10 minute ride from where we live. Its always open and entry is free. I can ride there whenever I feel like it :) :P
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Not sure what you mean about too much politics, you'll have to explain that one, but too many rules???
What rules do you think we need to get rid of to make it fun again?
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Ive never raced MX, not even as a kid so perhaps i should zip it now but I wont.
Have competed in enduro and scrambles and a stint as a monkey on a GT750 slider and i love getting lots of air so Im not afraid of dirt. The vibe for the genres enduro etc seemed more umm, welcoming? MX had the sheep station at stake mentality and to some it still does but VMX seems to have mellowed a lot or riders and that is I feel good for the sport and thats the key word, sport.
I did consider going for a wobble in the pro rata races (age etc) though it seems there are not a lot of those.For now I think I will support the racers and wield the odd spanner in the pits. Most of us old farts have a few war wounds and try as we might can mix it with the younger guys for maybe three laps but we will pay for it for the next three weeks and still wont be on any podium.
I cant get over the fees though. I mean if I go to the shop and give them money I get a whole freddo frog for it and its in a nice shiney wrapper. I dont need to pay for insurance to eat the chocolate as I already have that if I manage to choke on it. I dont need to pay someone to tell me how to unwrap it without ripping the foil as Im sure its the same as last years version I already paid for and really, I dont eat freddo frogs every damn day so why should I have to pay someone to tell me what I can and cant do with them every day.
Shoot even the frikking government comes to the party with vintage club registration so why not this governing body? Its a sport that can and will hurt you and knowing that brings onus. ON US, Be responsible for your own actions to yourself and others.
Im more about enjoying the bikes and the people than the actual racing these days and I will long after VMX has been killed off by MA with the rules and ever increasing fees. Come to think of it, didnt wagon wheels use to be bigger?
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Why does "Stralia" use MA?
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Why does "Stralia" use MA?
The short answer is insurance
The first thing everyone thinks of for insurance is for the rider but its actually insurance for the landowner that is needed to be able to secure venues.
With MA the landowner is covered so its easy to go to a farmer and ask to use their land and explain that they will be exempt from any claims.
Secondly its needed for officials for much the same reasons
To say we ride at our own risk is fine for the perfect world but the perfect world doesn't actually exist and when the shit hits the fan their will be someone chasing reimbursement for their bad luck, that's just the reality of it.
And no I'm not part of the MA fan club, getting independent insurance would be great but its just not that easy.
Vinduro's in Victoria are currently being screwed over by MA, we ride registered bikes in State forests which are deemed public roads but now MV want $15 levy for every entrant to cover public liability for events despite the fact that our licenced riders are covered for most insurance by TAC, we just need to cover officials for the odd bushwalker that trips over his shoelaces while jumping out the way.
Non competitive Vinduro's now have more MA fees that races >:(
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GMC , to be fair on Ma , nobody is forcing anyone to participate in a MA event . If you want to pay $500 for a license and $100 + to ride each time , it is up to you . You can buy a PE ,Xr or DR with with classic registration ($90 PA )and have lots of hassle free fun in the bush , farmers properties or state forests together with the mates of your choice .
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Or, you could race/ride in Victoria, in the VCM series.
MA licence is $330 for the year. To enter each round is $60.
you have a bike, you turn up, you ride. Lots of fun, no hassles.
What kind of races are you guys going to that there's politics & hassles that would make you not ride???
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GMC , to be fair on Ma , nobody is forcing anyone to participate in a MA event . If you want to pay $500 for a license and $100 + to ride each time , it is up to you . You can buy a PE ,Xr or DR with with classic registration ($90 PA )and have lots of hassle free fun in the bush , farmers properties or state forests together with the mates of your choice .
Where do you get $500 from old son? The MA license is nowhere near that. 500 will get you a license and the entry fee for 3 meetings.
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"The short answer is insurance"
Wow for $600 we get millions cover and considering insurance is spread across the world for risk keeping costs similar. No wonder MA travel the world and all big events...lol
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GMC , to be fair on Ma , nobody is forcing anyone to participate in a MA event . If you want to pay $500 for a license and $100 + to ride each time , it is up to you . You can buy a PE ,Xr or DR with with classic registration ($90 PA )and have lots of hassle free fun in the bush , farmers properties or state forests together with the mates of your choice .
That's right, nobody is forcing us to ride in a MA event, nobody is even forcing us to ride nor are they forcing us the breath either, but most of us here have trouble giving up these pastimes.
There are already a lot of us that have registered PE's XR's or DR's and even the occasional KDX (both Classic and Rec reg, approx $75 PA) but the desire to frolic as a herd means that any more than 20 in a group constitutes a event that requires forestry permission and logically PL insurance as well. No need for a MA license for a forest ride either.
Personally I have my own MX track out the back door and a few K's down a quiet dirt road to state forest but I would much rather ride in new places with many like minded people
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"The short answer is insurance"
Wow for $600 we get millions cover and considering insurance is spread across the world for risk keeping costs similar. No wonder MA travel the world and all big events...lol
$600 per event or per year?
Outside quotes that I have seen run around $8k a year and that's for non competitive events.
Love to know what insurance company you use
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Geoff,you have to remember that here in New Zealand we don't sue for personal injury due to having a no fault scheme called ACC. That would mean the insurance only has to cove public liability.
VMX in New Zealand runs completely independent of MNZ using their own public liability insurance unless a club decides to run the class at 1 of their events which are always all in races from what I've seen
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$600 per event or per year?
PER YEAR