How do we fix it, I have been involved with the promotion of the Nats, I can't see how to do it.
First up, get MA to pull their fee structure back to an affordable level. Charging clubs double the permit fee to run all classes is greedy and detrimental to the future of any big meetings promoted by small clubs. The simple solution is for the permit fee to be $3000 for
all classes from pre 60 to pre 85 inclusive. If for some reason the event is split the fee should be $2000 per event because of reduced entry potential.
The next situation to remedy is to find out why the entries in certain classes were down at Canberra when compared to previous years. Perhaps the promotion wasn't as well planned as it was in previous events in Queensland, Griffith and even as far back as Wagga. For there to be only two sliders and three sidecars in attendance, almost bugger all pre 70/250 entries, a dismal three pre 65 entries and other classes to be under subscribed something has gone wrong somewhere. The reasons for the lack of entries needs to be found and a plan undertaken to fix whatever it was that caused it. The Classic Dirt Track Nats must remain unsplit to encourage, as Pete said the next generation of racers to get involved.
The promoting club for next years Nats needs to go all out with promotion on social media and forums as well as the traditional 'free plugs' and paid ads in the moto press, they'll need to keep the Nats in everyones mind, all the time. They'll have to make their event attractive for racers to
want to be a part of the experience. Promote it like a club day and you'll get a club day response. Promote it like it's to be the biggest and best Nats ever and you'll get 'em there. The classes that suffered at Canberra need to be singled out for extra focus. We all know that there are shitloads of pre '70/250 and pre '65 bikes out there so their owners have to be convinced to attend.
Frankly, I don't think the event is broken. If both divisions are included in the one event we'll see the growth return. The ball's in MA's court. They created the problem and it's up to them to fix it.