The Nats

[GMC]

This bit the track gave the Pre 75 boys a bit of strife at the Bonanza weekend 
May need a tad shaved off it 

Thats not VMX , and thats for sure

That looks like a picture of moderns? I didn't think that corner of the track was used at the Bonanza, I thought it was bypassed??


I think MA bit off more than they could chew last year. It seemed like a good idea at the time to have separate tracks for the pre 75 & pre 85 but it stretched resources too much, corner stewards, water etc.
The pre75 track ended up too dusty so the guys came over to the main track which wasn’t prepped for the older bikes.
Your always going to get teething problems of some sort, so long as lessons are noted then we can move forward.
As far as I know they are planning on one track this time & putting all the effort to prepare it better for all classes.

[Rossvickicampbell]

Firstly I reckon this should be on another thread!!  Secondly I think both you guys are right at the risk of being a fence sitter.  Unlike Modern MX I think our vinatge scene is unique in that the range of people who compete go from "those who could win riding a coke can aka Brad et al" and those "that haven't finished the first lap before the winner is over the line".  Our sport has to cater for both and hence me not going to the Nats again because I tend more towards the latter type of rider and appreciate a track more suiting my old girl (and my old body) and understand the "Brad" type people who appreciate a track which tests their skills and fitness.

I think the current Nats for those who want to ride for sheep stations and CD style events for the rest of us.  Decide which one suits you - ride there and we should all be happy    I do think different tracks for different eras/ages (of riders also).  Modern MX usually (not always but a higher percentage) caters for younger guys and if you aren't on the latest and greatest 2010 model then probably don't bother - I think our ranges are significantly different!

M2BW

cheers

Rossco

[Nathan S]

Yes Brad , exactly that , a proper track in the style of  pre 74 ,that can be ridden by all . Yes it could be a bit boring for the pre 90 , but is that not the point I am trying to make ?  Those old bikes where first and deserve all the respect and should be shown in the right light . To me thats the spirit of VMX .  Dont you think a DOT getting jumped at a supercross looks out of place ?  Well I do , sorry

Riding a pre-90 bike at race speeds around a natural terrain track is still racing, and it will still be enjoyable.

I keep saying this: Look at the popularity of the old ThumperNats and AmCross - even the 'young lunatics' on modern bikes enjoy racing on old style tracks. It is completely beyond me to understand why it seems logical that old lunatics on 25+ year old bikes would find it boring.

Old riders on short travel old bikes like grass track.
Young riders on new bikes like grass track.
Old riders on new bikes like grass track.
But apparently old riders on long travel old bikes hate it?

[KB171]

Just in case there's any confusion ,that photo i took is a VIC title modern meeting  just after the Bonanza meet,  At the Bonanza  that part of the track was used early on the sat, but cut out later,  I like plenty of others rode pre75 bikes on it both days, some didn't like it,some did.

[pirie593]

Ah, its all coming back to me......dust, dust dust and too much red wine Friday night.  Yes, a short cut was put in place after the first sessions. 

[All Things 414]

I didn't think that corner of the track was used at the Bonanza, I thought it was bypassed??

Yes they used that part of the track at BBB until people started getting ferried off in Ambo's and some little guy had to moan to the MV guy and Drakie about just how bad the track was for any type of bike. 

[Nathan S]

Allow me to put it to you this way Nathan . If you where living in WA or Tassie , and you hade the option to race in Raymond terrace  or in Connondale . Which one would it be ?  Would you drive for 3 solid days to ride on an old bike  in Raymond terrace ?

That's a question with an obvious answer.
And you're comparing a grass-track with a modern track (and, to be fair, Raymond Terrace wasn't in ideal condition when we were there).

How many riders of modern bikes would prefer to ride at Raymond Terrace over Connondale?

Everybody loves grasstrack.

[Davey Crocket]

Maybe with all that money there making out of us they can afford to lay some grass down? 4 month's is plenty oy time for it to grow!!!! and not allow anyone to ride it the week before like the MA rules say for a national event!!!!, and by the way Conondale is the premier MX track in Australia, whether it be modern or vintage, ask anyone who's riddin it and I dought you'll get any negative answers. I think alot of clubs out there could take a leaf out of the Sunshine Coast clubs book and like Vwalter say's it's up there with the best in the world!!! If you haven't been there then come to CD7 and see for yourself, it will be your best VMX meeting - get together- talking- riding-perving weekend of your life, halueluyah brothers AND sisters (thats for you Ally and the others). Even the Mexicans can come...... GMC leave the rain behind!!!! .I am looking forward to Broadford Nat's though, I went to the GP's 10 years ago and loved it.

[albrid-3]

Mortlake Track here in Victoria was one of the best, best for viewing, fast, 6 gear, if you had it. l liked connondale, totally enjoyed the hole meeting in Aug 09.

[EML]

If they just fill in between the quads to make small table tops that should do. Either way broadford is hard work for a passenger, but hey, we're all in the same sand pit. Let's just not have a two lap final again thanks.
As I've said before, how they ever got to have a GP on it is beyond me-minimum width should be no less than 8m which gives at least 4 solo lines and 2 sidecar lines on any part.
Once again the guy with the biggest($$) engine will win the start and then no-one will get round him on that track-unless someone does something stupid, then someone will get hurt!!

[DJRacing]

It's not for me to say, and I'm only looking from an outsiders point of view, so please dont put out a contract and send the hit-men of vmx to hunt me down.

Nationals are Nationals.

But the vastness of Australia doesnt allow its self to be 'travel' friendly so a track that can cater for 'all eras' and 'all ages' is always going to be difficult to find (I'm not saying none exist) so I look at different ways to accommodate all bikes and riders.

At present the 'Nationals' are held once yearly and held at different venues. That format works, and should be kept. But there could be a twist to the 'classes' format. At the moment all 'class eras' race on the same track and same weekend which makes for a very big (extended) meeting.

My 'outside' view is that the 'Nationals' could be (should be) still held every year but bi-yearly for the different 'class eras'. In other words, the Pre60, Pre65, Pre70 and Pre75 classes (including sidecars) plus 'age group races' could be raced the first year on a track that is "suitable" for those eras. The following year the 'Nationals' would be held for the Pre78, Evo, Pre85 and (when/if) Pre90 classes, on a track more suited to those bikes.

 This still means that the 'Nationals' are held every year (albeit, bi-annually in reguards to classes) with more time to run the races (or less time to be away from home) on tracks that could show case the bikes in there respective eras.

My understanding of most VMXers, is that they have more than one era of bikes in their stables so they can still ride each year at the 'Nationals' and if they dont have bikes for both years then what a great excuse to get another bike 

With certain 'eras' only getting to race bi-annually it could bring out more bikes, make the winning of trophies even more special because the trophy is held for two years and if a racer is less fortunate with finances and only has the one bike then he/she is more likely to go to the 'Nationals' every second year rather than every year.

Anyway, I'll keep looking over my shoulder for those hit-men, at least until Nathan stirs it up somewhere else   

[odd1]

The Nationals are a race they are not promoted in any other way.So far all I have read is members having a go at the promoters and organizers who I might add usually work for nothing and by the look of it not much thanks. All the people who have complained,how about you put your hand in your pockets and give the orgaizers a $100 each to hire a grader and bobcat for the weekend and then how about you get off your collective arses and go down and give them a hand.

[odd1]

Well I can see it know when a club refuses entrys because they can't provide a suitable track for pre75 bikes there will be uproar and most of it will come from the poeple who stand around and let other people do the hard all the hard work!

[odd1]

1 weekend for nationals  51 weekends for moderns We had better face it we are Dinosaurs  and eventually we are all going the same way if you want the sport to keep growing or at least keep going at the same rate we have to compromise Most clubs are full of young guys who help and dont ride vintage bikes so its a big effort for them to come and help.

[090]

With all this to-ing and fro-ing ( such is the magic of a forum), no one has mentioned a nats track that has been unsuitable. I have only been to two and both were all good.
CD5 was at a track that has been mentioned,that wasn't able to be prepared properly due to the weeks of rain before and at the start of the event.
BBB is the other and someone has said that there were teething problems there. Neither were nats tracks and if they are the only two events that were sub standard in some eyes, then what the problem is....really?
And who in their right mind would think that Broadford will be anything like a modern track? You're cracking jokes.