ASA sidecar sectacular

[hitatreeonce]

For immediate    PRESS RELEASE
 
The Australian Sidecar-cross association is proud to announce that negotiations have been successful with the Toowoomba motocross club for the use of the clubs Echo Valley circuit for the 2011 Sidecar Spectacular.
 
The Brisbane branch of the sidecar-cross fraternity will assist in the running of this annual event as a means of rebirthing their sport which had waned somewhat in the passing 20 years from its hey-day during the '80's, when Queensland was able to supply strong teams in the national titles of that era.
 
The event will also use the venue as a platform for all other branches of side car riders and competitors including road race, trials, speedway, dirt track and even rallyists welcome to come and rally/camp over for what will be a real sidecar gathering, with place set aside for all of these other outfits to be displayed statically for all to see.
 
The Australian sidecar-cross association racing covers exponents from pee-wee sidecars right through classics of pre'68, pre'75 and pre'85, juniors on 250cc units and on up to modern A and B graders on the latest chassis imported from Europe using the best modern KTM and Husaberg engines and costing up to $40.000 to build and set up.
 
The event has been set down to be held on the saturday 30th of April and sunday the 1st of May, the week-end following next Easter, so if you have or ride a sidecar of any description and would like to be involved in this fantastic event, feel free to contact either Vaughn Fletcher on 07 3715 5755 or google on line to the ASA website. ( Australian Sidecar-cross Assoc.) 
 
 
 

[odd1]

When are the entries opening for the spectacular? Is it still on?

[lama]

yep its still on just waiting for the regs from south australia will inform you when they are out .

[EML]

Odd 1 just put your money in an unmarked brown paper bag and sent it to the address below-we'll be in touch.
Seriously though, this event is like pulling teeth. The track at Echo Valley was almost washed away, this after the club asking for more rental money in case they needed to buy water so we could run.
We asked if we could run quads to pad the event in case we didn't get a full compliment of sidecars from down south, I thought we might need to bulk-up the event. This had to go to committee for approval before the regs could come out. The quads wanted to run 4 classes but ASA said only 3 could run-stale mate at this time.
The regs are due out and MA is good with the event going ahead. MQ are also good with it but were very addiment that no funds were available to assist with helping us build our sport-then announced the juniors and mini solos are to get more funds to sponsor their junior events?
The Toowoomba motocross club have been very keen at all points thus far and have agreed to prepare the track and run the canteen. We get to keep any gate takings so we are keen to push for spectators. To gain some air time on radio we are looking to run a 'celebrity slide', a one lap dash for local announcers to have a go at passengering for a lap for publicity, perhaps at an event before the spectacular to build interest. Still in the works.
We have sent the above 'Press release' to all moto mags and clubs including Rally style clubs in the effort to attract road going chairs to come and have a geez and camp over. Have had no responce yet so will try again this month. We also intend to have staic displays of other outfits from all aspects of sidecars including Road Racing, Trials, DirtTrack and Speedway just to build some profile for sidecars of all genre. 
So, all things considered, we should have a great event come april 30 in Toowoomba.
If anyone has any other ideas or would like to assist in any way, please give me a call

[QLD779]

Good news... Can you give us some idea of what camping facilities are available at the track ie, showers, toilets etc. Haven't been to echo vally for years.
Looking forward to it.

[EML]

There are basic facilities on top of the hill that suit campervan types. There is a camp ground nearby called Big4, google it for info, it's well specd and reasonably priced-that's where we will be staying.
Note; the club close the facilities for local race meets as the younger solo set have a habit of wrecking them during their overnight stays-while their folks cheer them on apparently!! They asked if these sidecar guys are anything like that-I responded by saying that we sidecar racers are the peek of civility and wont harm a leaf of their grass-until the gate drops.

[EML]

Question to all comers, should we charge a gate fee to the Spectacular? I have had answers for and against, so am keen to know.
We were going to make it $10.00 for singles or $25.00 for a family or car load.
It's will be a fair spectacle as the name suggests and should draw at least a few interested punters, also I reckon that as it's been more than 20yrs since they have been in Toowoomba, we should get more than a few young'uns wanting to see the sillyness.
Give me your vote either way.

[GD66]

Of course you should if you can, don't sell yourtself short :  make the race programme attractive and have the best catering you can. But remember the gate crew are more volunteers you have to dredge up, plus you can't really just put kids on there, plus you need reasonable security for the money.
But if all this is easy, why not charge ? A few bucks won't kill off any keen spectator, and it'll be a few less dollars the entrants have to fork out for.
Have you advertised ? If so, expect some sort of a crowd. Therefore, a few bucks coming in...

[EML]

Thanks GD that's a good start and my thoughts exactly.
Whenever we have tried a "free" offer at work it falls flat I think because if you aren't charging for it, it can't be worth anything, right?

[QLD779]

Has anybody contacted MQ to mention this event in their enews letter. Have just read their latest one and no mention of it. I think it would create some interest with MQ support. Any thoughts???

[EML]

HEY 779 , I got my enews letter from MA earlier in the week and emailed them asking if they could add the Spectacular to their events list. The reply came back saying that as it was "only a club event"  to contact MQ.
I sent a note back telling them it is a national event with outfits coming from SA Vic and Qld with possability of other states as well-no reply forthcoming as yet.
I get the feeling they aren't too keen on someone else telling them their business.
The local Toowoomba council has been much more inviting with a request for info to put on their tourism site-after some prompting from Adam. They have also asked if we would like some assistance and we are to complete an application for funding, that they will help us complete, and also asked if we need some support from local business. They have asked for a copy of our sponsorship proposal and they will see if any locals are willing to assist-how good are they?
We need some time to get up there to get all this happening and are due to get to the club meeting next Tuesday night in Toowoomba. I would like to go Tuesday avo and get it rolling but we are still a man down at work and have plenty to do so it might not happen.
Adam has info on flights to Adelaide for the nats leaving thursday morning and returning sunday eve.
Will post that up after this weekend where we will be having a chat to all to see who wants to drive and who wants to fly.

[VMX247]

CONGRADULATION on working with the Toowoomba community in last nights meeting.
This event, will no doubt go full swing and looks to becoming a Bonza !!
Email info forwarded to WA Sidecar fraternity. 
cheers A

[EML]

thanks WA (Ali) it would be great to just get one team from there to fly the Black Duck.
What's the odds-take the hat around and we will find them an outfit.
Actually they could deliver the Wasp/Honda over and have a drive at the same time. 

[popeye]

Still no sub regs, l wonder if they can organise a chook raffle better.

[EML]

The lack of regs are my fault as I had to contact the quads to see what classes they want to combine. otherwise all is well apart from MA MQs total lack of interest.