My opinion therefore is that Heaven needs to focus back on the Vintage classes (i.e. pre 78 in my definition) and not try to dilute itself into a "keep everyone happy" at its race days.
HEAVEN's original focus was the Evo+ classes - they've 'diluted' to embrace the earlier eras when Penrith lost momentum.
Otherwise, I agree totally with your sentiment. My only concern is whether the seperate eras could sustain themselves, particularly as so many of the old guard have stormed off in a huff and seem very reluctant to return to active racing.
Shoey, try this:
Proposal for HEAVEN to incorporate pre-90 racing.
Capital outlay: $0.
On going costs: $0.
Additional labour outlay: <1%*.
Expected additional membership: 10.
Income from additional memberships: $500.
Expected additional entries/round: 5 additional riders in the first year, increasing in subsequent years.
Of course, I could pad it out to make it look like a serious business proposal, but the basic gist is obvious.
*Based on one 'all-in' class for pre-90s. Given the time and effort required to run the club: manage memberships, run the website, conduct race meetings (MA paperwork, track hire, track maintanence, having officials, producing race programmes, and actually running the meeting), then one additional race/round represents a tiny increase in the total workload.
Bill, Alison, No single era club would survive in NSW. Its completely unrealistic to ask a new era of racing to survive alone, when none of the established eras can.