VIPER: Take 2

[bigk]

Seeing that Ross has taken his bat & ball & gone home just when the coversation was getting constructive, lets have another go. Anyone with some constructive idea's on how to improve the VIPER series & bring it back to the days when 120 riders was normal, post them here, send me a PM or email [email protected] and I will compile them and get them to the relevant people. I have already voiced what I think are the main issues, but to take a different approach here's a few more ways to help IMO, there's more than one way to skin a cat, and we all agree the cat needs skinning. On a different note, I believe VIPER is running without a president at the moment, can anyone confirm this? If so, I think it's a mistake as every ship needs a captain. A president/go to person is vital if things are to improve. Now some ideas:
Flaggies: Given that the clubs don't/won't/can't supply flaggies, maybe the VIPER members should have a roster where 6-10 members forfeit riding for a particular meeting and do flag duty. Volunteers first, but rostered if not enough. Those members in turn will be awarded full points for their respective classes for the meetings they flag. Would this be an option?
Points: You only have to have a break down or big crash and you're out of the points, so to keep everyone in the hunt and allow for a disaster day, everyone's worst meeting points should be dropped and not scored, ie: if there's 6 rounds, only your best 5 results are scored. I'm sure there are people who stay away if they can't make up any lost points.
Rider support: It is imperitive to have the riders informed and kept abreast of things, a regular newsletter & contact is a must IMO. The data base must be extensive, a letter to both current & old members would be a good beginning.
So there's a start, discussion open. Keep it clean & relevant, let's move forward and make for a great new season. Any assistance will be much appreciated, "many hands make short work".
K

[POM]

Well done k..........for the short term at least,the race format has to change somewhat(not completely) to more suit what riders we already have... .IMO ross had some good ideas on this.

[bigk]

Every idea should be analysed and discussed on it's merits and probability of solving a problem. The main problem I see with combining classes and I agree there's nothing better than full grids, is that it doesn't encourage riders to bring multiple bikes if the classes are combined. Certainly not canning the idea, but we want to encourage more riders & more bikes to come along first. The question to be asked is if you have 3 bikes, how do we get you to bring them all along to a meeting? Keep the ideas coming.
K

[POM]

Good point with the multiple bike thing,however if the combining of classes can be achieved in a well thought out manner,maybe by by asking members what bikes/classes they are likely to ride next year, then there is no reason why an improvement on the existing format cannot be had.....as i said maybe short term fix only till the numbers return........

[bigk]

Yep, a letter/email or whatever to all current & previous members needs to happen NOW, but who is going to do it? The VIPER meetings haven't run to time constraints of late and have always finished relatively early, so the program is not over loaded in that respect. Get a president & executive committee set now, make a plan & make it happen. I know it sounds easy if you say it quick, but that's the first step IMO. Come on all interested, post your thoughts & comments, info is knowledge, knowledge is power.
K

[POM]

Who has the list of members?

[geoff22]

I think some combining of classes may be good but maybe by capacity and not era.For argument sake people who have a pre85 bike probably have it cause thats the era that appeals to them. I maybe wrong but I would think they are likely to maybe build another pre85 bike of different capacity to gain an extra ride rather than a bike from an era that doesnt appeal to them. If all pre85 are combined it becomes a waste of time. Maybe evo 125, pre85 125 and throw in pre90 125 into the one mix with separate points . May encourage a few pre90 125's cause not many 125 guys enjoy getting there face filled in by a 500 out of the gate. All hypothetical of course

[POM]

I think some combining of classes may be good but maybe by capacity and not era.For argument sake people who have a pre85 bike probably have it cause thats the era that appeals to them. I maybe wrong but I would think they are likely to maybe build another pre85 bike of different capacity to gain an extra ride rather than a bike from an era that doesnt appeal to them. If all pre85 are combined it becomes a waste of time. Maybe evo 125, pre85 125 and throw in pre90 125 into the one mix with separate points . May encourage a few pre90 125's cause not many 125 guys enjoy getting there face filled in by a 500 out of the gate. All hypothetical of course.

spot on geoff

[FDR]

Quality newsletter like Scooter news takes a lot of effort to produce with thanks to Jo & Steve.

Produce newsletter with coming event promotion, revelant information, pictures, map to tracks, series points, entry form, link to OZVMX Viper site, etc, would help tremendously.
Some people cannot operate a computer so send newsletter by mail were requested.

Riders are out there, start promoting series put an add in Just bikes, herald sun all free, can only help.

Encourage people to bring two bikes to meetings as current race program caters for all, combine classes next year if required but for 2012 just try and build a bigger data base of riders.




 

[bigk]

In a perfect world we would have capacity classes for all era's, BUT we have to have the rider numbers to accomodate it first. Unfortunately until the rider numbers increase, some will have to be all powers classes. Pre '78 & Evo are my era and I'm only a tad interested in pre'85. Pre'90 is modern racing in my eyes. However I realise we are all different and need to cater for everyone, or most at least. How do do it is the question. Someone will be a little disappointed at best, but it's how to maximise the fun, minimise the pain and find a happy middle road? VIPER originally stood for pre '80 (now EVO) and pre' 85, so in sticking with that they should be the premier classes with pre'78 & pre'90 as the support classes. Nothing is set in stone though. The first thing we all should do is change our attitudes to "glass half full" rather than "glass half empty". Talk it up, get excited, get motivated. No matter how much I hate stutters, doubles & rythm sections, it sure beats gardening. Having said that I still believe track design at some clubs is a big issue and needs to be addressed. Can we hear from some of the VIPER organising people please?
K

[POM]

Frank..in a perfect world increasing the rider numbers is ideal.but its just not going to happen quickly,no matter how hard you try, in the meantime something has to be done now to increase the numbers in each race, (3 or 4 riders in a class does not make a race )..combining classes seems the only way to fix it for this seasons racing.

[Canam370]

Produce newsletter with coming event promotion, revelant information, pictures, map to tracks, series points, entry form, link to OZVMX Viper site, etc, would help tremendously.
Some people cannot operate a computer so send newsletter by mail were requested.

[/quote]

Viper did run a newsletter in the earlier days. It had points tallies,entry forms, directions to the meet, general guff and for sales etc. Not a flash production, just photocopied pages stapled, labeled and posted. The membership fee incorporated the cost of the mail out. The advent of the website may have made it redundant but its nice to get hardcopy in the mail. Not everyone gets online and the immediacy of mail can act to catalyse action.

[paul]

(Question)           in the last 4 years ,how many new riders have started raceing with viper

[FDR]

 

(Question)           in the last 4 years ,how many new riders have started raceing with viper

Paul, I would say enough to keep the series moving forward.

2011 series riders dropped off for whatever reason.

[FDR]

POM i hear you this season needs to be good, I just think some advertising and possibly contact people that used to ride can increase numbers.

I like attend meetings with two bikes as being vintage bikes they do go wrong, combining classes could mean back to back races for some and were not getting any younger or fitter.

Forgot to mention flaggies in previous post, problem needs to be adressed for 2012 series.