VMX HAS IT REACHED ITS PEAK ?????

[Curly3]

The ongoing resurection of vintage Short Circuit may have taken a few away but there's always new people getting back into it.
Does seem there are a hell of a lot of events on the calender, maybe too much to choose from.

[John Orchard]

As someone new to classic dirtbike racing, and being a few years past my riding prime, the thing that plays a BIG part to me getting out and riding is the preparation of circuits for inclement weather.  I spend many hours building the bike in the garage, searching the internet for the rare parts to keep my bike in a rideable state.  I am not going to pound it around in knee deep mud that will put me back in the garage again for weeks fixing the damage; aside from that, I ride for fun, I do not feel that it is fun wobbling around in bad track conditions.

This is why I have decided to create a purpose built VMX track at Broadford, where I have input and can try to keep it smooth, keep it dry so it is old bike & rider friendly.

Just how 'I' feel.

[BAHNZY]

The majority of riders, although they won’t necessarily agree, purchase & race a machine that they align with their youth.
If you look to the heydays of Pre65 to Pre85 VMX racing (National’s aside), which was probably 8 to 10 years ago, the average competitor age was somewhere between 30 to 45. For anyone trying to market a low dollar recreational product or service, having a demographic that targets, Male, 35 to 45 with access to a moderate disposable income is like having a gold mine handed to you.

Fast forward to 2011 & on average, if you were a 16 to 25 year old rider “back in the day”  buying a new;
1960 to 1965 bike you would average out at 61 to 56
1965 to 1970 bike you would average out at 56 to 51
1970 to 1975 bike you would average out at 51 to 46
1975 to 1980 bike you would average out at 46 to 41
1980 to 1985 bike you would average out at 41 to 36

Take the nominal  8 to 10 years, the majority age demographic (as noted above) has moved from 35/45 in 1999/2000 to 45/55 in 2010/2011.   This brings with it the issues around motivation to race, fitness & the one that gets lost with some people, the resistance to race a bike because it is becoming  increasing difficult, and expensive, to get good quality replacement parts. Add the deterioration in its general condition over a 5 round winter race series and it’s not hard to comprehend why people don’t want to “race” their pride and joy.

The recent years success of HBBB & Classic Dirt starts to make sense as to why the numbers have climbed to the where they have, because amongst other reasons, the rider demographic has moved. People want to enjoy the sport with their mates without having to get up at 5:00 am to drive 2 hours to a race meeting and compete in sloppy, grinding paste conditions.

When you look at EVO racing the level of componentry &  technology coupled with the hybrids simply scared some people away from the class.  Add to that the inability of some committees to recognise the potential & growth in the Pre85 & Pre90 classes, it doesn’t surprise me at all that “competitive numbers” at races are dwindling at such a fast rate.

[Nathan S]

Spot on Bahnzy, even if maths isn't your strongest point... 

[EML]

I have to agree with all that's been said and i have said all this before.
From a sidecar crossers point of view we can't keep doing what we do.
I run a 1976 Wasp that was already well used when I got it. These frames were built for 1/2 of a GP season-i.e 4 to 5 months of flat out racing and training. Then they were to be sold on to clubmen to do 1 or 2 more seasons and then upgraded to a newer model.
My frame will be completely stripped, checked and repaired in the off season-this is why more and more of these frames are turning up in funky colours instead of the traditional nickle-chrome, once they have been repaired it's difficult to get them re-chromed properly.
As mentioned we need to have a couple of marquee events like HBBC, CD etc... and of course a couple of National 'racing' events but above that there should only be some local club events and displays.
These bikes are not getting any younger (nor are we) and we should be showing them to people that will appreciate them and get something in return for that.
I think too that a Goodwood type of event should be on the cards.

[Marc.com]

  Add to that the inability of some committees to recognise the potential & growth in the Pre85 & Pre90 classes, it doesn’t surprise me at all that “competitive numbers” at races are dwindling at such a fast rate.

Bang on I would say, finally what was not recognised is there has to be a cross over from modern MX to VMX at some point where the guys finishing their MX careers see VMX as a natural less serious, cheaper and less punishing alternative to riding moderns. If we want VMX to grow they are the riders that need to be targeted..... who knows retiring modern MX riders may lust to ride pre 65 bikes but I am not so sure ( has anyone ever asked them).... more likely they will want that 89 RM125 paddock basher they started on.

My idea is that the cut offs should advance annually, so next year it is possible to ride pre 91 dragging in another years worth of riders. With pre 78 and Classic classes we are really starting to move in that direction now. Then promote the shit out of VMX at modern meetings

[worms]

sorry, I didnt realise how serious this post was.

so Ill bugger off then! Worms

[albrid-3]

I feel we need to go back to the original format at club level, when VMX  first started, specially here in victoria we need to be one body, 5-6 round  series  pre 78 to pre 60s
keep viper as it is, with pre90 to pre80.

[VMX247]

5-6 round  series  

why do you have to have this format every year ?
cheers A

[Iain Cameron]

I agree with marcFX 100% on his post 4 back. Classes need to be upgraded to keep newer riders coming into the fold , as a early 50 year old my era is pre 70 , pre 75 . I really don't think many 20 somethings understand our passion for the early bikes , but as mark said their first bikes where pre 85 , pre90  we love our first bikes why should we force them to forgo their era   Iain

[albrid-3]

Because it needs to change vmx247 for the better of the sport, I have been involve with this vintage movement from the day dot. Some People are funnel vision and don`t like change and are only focus on themself and not the sport in general, some people or club members atitude need to change and that is across board.

[Slider29]

 I 'm just a fence sitter, BUT the political bullshit that goes with  running an event has got to put people off. In dirt track for example i'm led to believe you can't race a slider in the same race as a mx er. What a load of crap!!! Have a look at the pics on photo forum( dirt track images). All in together and no probs. Bit of friendly rivalry but thats good.  Whats different now? Oh that's right, different LINE . Silly me  
    regards  Mark

[Tossa]

I suppose us in the west that has a club based on every pre75 doesn't suffer with too many problems.  It's just A, B, C, over55 and sidecars.  Era means nothing.  With the occassional feature race ie pre65, pre70 European etc.  No rounds, no trophies, just damn good fun.  Because what we all tend to forget sometimes that's what it is these days damn good fun

[FDR]

VCM ran 6 rounds this year as it has for the last 15 + years, all events were well attended with numbers well up from last year.
Series cutoff Evo class, fast fifties also compete which boosts numbers by up to 20.
Fortunately weather was kind which helps, tracks were carefully selected to suit the older machinery and middle aged men that make up the majority.
Three x natural terrain and three x estabilished mx tracks groomed to suit.

My opinion leave the step up jumps, doubles, woops to the modern bikes and riders that enjoy the challenge.

[Tossa]

I forgot to add with being so isolated we still attract between 50-100 riders per meet and they run every third week, I think approximately 12 events during a season.  not bad seeing as we very seldom if ever see an interstate rider