Suzuki Classic Dirt 10

[AjayVMX]

John probably makes a fair criticism about the relatively late decision to cancel, but equally we were trying to give everyone the freedom to enter without badgering them.  It's a fine line.

At the end of the day, the numbers we had pre-registered were appalling in comparison to previous CD events at this late stage.  The gee up to get people motivated only resulted in a trickle of extra entries during the last week, so the writing was truly on the wall.

Please remember also that the riding fee is not the only component of income in the event, the event entry and camping fees are actually more money and those are never paid until the day.  We had to estimate (guess) what they would be, based on past events and rider attendance.  So running the event at a higher fee would just not have been feasible, let alone reasonable to those that had already entered.

By far the most common reason stated for not attending has been financial.  No doubt other factors apply for various people, but they appear to be in the minority.  The financial squeeze has notably had it's effect on other Vintage events this year also, so hopefully this is just a speedbump, not a brick wall.

At the end of the day, we shall try to learn from this experience to ensure that CD10, when it happens will once again be "same old bikes, same old dirt, same old fun"

[TM BILL]

I feel for Ken and AJ as this is a decision they wouldn't have made lightly . I have been to 5 of the 9 CD events and they have all been fantastic  I wouldn't have made it this year as i will only just be home from my UK trip.

One common thing i have found at all CD events is how cheap they are to enter and ride at . They would have to be the best value for money motorcycle events on the planet and maybe too cheap.

I dont think people pushing their own barrow for later era bikes or discussion on venues or marketing will help the event to go forward ,the guys know what they are doing and have a proven succsessfull formula.
The VMX guys have been let down by us the great VMX public for whatever reason 

As with all events people have to get behind them and show support as soon as entries are available, i dont think a big increase in the registration and riding levy would deter many as for most of us its the smallest cost anyway all things considered.

Hopefully CD10 can go ahead next year and we can all get behind it and support this great event .

[vmx42]

Hey Guys,
My personal view on Classic Dirt is that maybe, just maybe, it has strayed from its original intention.

The first 2 events in Kyneton were primarily SOCIAL... with a bit of riding thrown in for FUN.

Over time the event seems to have drifted away from the original focus on the social side of VMX to more of a riding [almost racing style] event with some added bench racing. The upshot of this is that the event has to supply [or access] bigger and better facilities to accommodate the riding. This of course significantly limits potential venues and vastly increases the promoters upfront costs.

So my question is... how many punters would attend if the event was promoted in the style of the original 2 Kyneton events? A VMX Classic Dirt event that is NOTHING like a race meeting and instead a simple event primarily focussed on everybody getting together for a huge social weekend with a bit of riding thrown in.

I am not trying to limit the event [and maybe I am just wearing my Rose Tinted glasses], just to refine its purpose and place in the VMX calendar. In my mind it has become a serious riding event when its original intent was more as an inclusive social event designed to bring everybody together for one weekend a year. There are plenty of other events for serious riding/racing.

Classic Dirt needs to be seen as a completely different type of event to differentiate it from the pack - it should be OUR ONE SOCIAL EVENT of the year - not another pseudo race meeting.

My perfect event would have the FEEL of a mate simply inviting his friends to his farm for the weekend. Setting up a simple track in the paddock, and everybody getting together - have a ride, have a beer, have a laugh, take the piss, a big BBQ and some more beer. Go to sleep and get up and do it again... and come back next year...

That's my 2 cents spent...
VMX42







_{...and yes, they are MY 2 cents. Nobody has loaned them to me. Nor have they asked that I spend their 2 cents on their behalf. My 2 cents... no reading between the lines please...}

[Husky500evo]

      I have to say that I am bitterly disappointed with this outcome. I had to organise time off from work for myself and the missus, book and pay for  Hunter Valley accommodation (needed to talk the missus into coming to CD with me) in the week before the event, paid my entry fee well in advance and planned a heap of stuff to drop off and pick up at the event. To cancel the accommodation now is going to cost me half of what I paid plus a $50 cancellation fee. To say that the state of the economy and lack of funds to pay a $40 entry fee for an event that is within a few hours of Sydney, has got to be a joke. We must really be dealing with the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum (or "bottom feeders", as I think Walter has described) if that is the case. I would happily paid two or three times the entry fee.  Also to blame last years weather or not liking the track , has got to be piss poor excuses as well. It was going to cost me over $800 in fuel to drive the 5000km plus return trip from North Queensland, but I was more than happy to do that, as I did last year. I feel sorry from the NZers who have paid for flights. To read all the pissing and moaning on this forum when the CD events were held in Queensland, from southerners wanting to have it closer to their home, really leaves a sour taste in my mouth. When they get their wish, (and that goes for the nationals events as well) they don't support the events.
      I am no way critical of the organisers or the good people from south of the border that I have met at the 8 Classic Dirt events that I have been to. But I feel that I am swimming against the tide and it is now highly unlikely that I will enter another event south of the Queensland border, except for maybe the Bike Bonanza. Maybe it is time for me to look another hobby, so I might dust off my old stand up Jet Skis and just go trail riding to get my motorcycling fix.   

[firko]

I'm going to have a really selfish whinge now..............For the last three years I've suffered from some pretty restrictive and annoying health problems that had kept me largely away from my bikes and anything to do with the sport with the exception of Classic Dirt and this forum. This year sees me in the best health I've been in yonks and pumped up with a new enthusiasm for the sport. I've built two new bikes and revamped a couple more and bought new riding gear.....all enthusiastic about returning to the sport that I genuinely love. Then shit started to happen..........
*HBBB...Ready to leave when my travel partner became very ill himself right at the last minute so we had no choice but to abandon the journey south.
*Post Classic Nats...Looking very much forward to acting as a spannerman for a mate's debut of a really trick and interesting pre 85 bike.......meeting canned.
*Dirt Track Nats . Unable to enter because I couldn't arrange respite care for my elderly mother. It was either CD10 or the Dirt Track and I took the CD10 option.
*Crawford River Classic . I was excited about experiencing my first VMX ride in 10 years, the Cheney and DT1 are ready but my old mum unexpectedly suffered an injury preventing her  going into the respite facility so I had to forgo plans of attending for two days, leave the bikes at home and travel up for a 4 hour drop in social visit.
*Classic Dirt 10...My Klub Kevlar chums and I have attended every Classic Dirt and have hosted some of the best parties, presented some genuinely interesting bikes and really hooked into the camaraderie that CD is famous for. This year we'd hired a 6mx6m marquee, industrial sized BBQ and a bunch of rooms at the Black and Gold and were debuting three, possibly four new bikes. I was excited about riding for the first time since CD2 at Kyneton. Unfortunately.. canned.
*HEAVEN final round, Canowindra. I had mum booked in to respite for Classic Dirt so this morning I cancelled it and attempted to book her in the following weekend so that I can ride the Canowindra round. Unfortunately I haven't given them enough warning so it's booked out. I'm now playing phone bingo trying to find a facility that can take a 94 year old with medical needs. I don't like my chances on such short notice but I'm not giving up without giving it a good try.
*Classic Nats I had accommodation and Mums respite booked for Canberra so with the venue change being on the same date I only had to cancel the motel and the original respite still stands.  I'm entering three bikes with three different riders and I've also volunteered to do some eligibility consultation and announcing. Edna is booked into respite, the bikes look like they'll be competitive and I have the Jeep booked in for a service three days before leaving. I really have my fingers crossed.

I guess I'm being a sook but the Classic Dirt cancellation has really put me into a dose of the miserables. I really thought that this year was going to be a personal ripper and a big one for the sport but in the end it's been a shitter both ways. There have been good reasons for the cancellations and my mums welfare comes above any bloody race meeting but I still can't feel anything but sad and depressed when I should have been jumping with joy.

 

[bazza]

VMX42 you are on to it and sum up what Ray started with.Not saying thats better than we have now but K.I.S.S. principal and for costs,getting old and forgetfull but i dont remember MA having there nose in the trough in the early days (another cost) Kynton was car club paddock ,swap meet,huge social event and a ride
May be find land thats reasonable for price,cut out legends ride and frills, Keep It Simple Stupid philosophy,MA out of picture ,just good times.
Can a land owner invite 800 mates to his place for a ride with out MA bull shit?

[nada]

I'm going to have a really selfish whinge now..............For the last three years I've suffered from some me pretty restrictive and annoying health problems that had kept me largely away from my bikes and anything to do with the sport with the exception of Classic Dirt and this forum. This year sees me in the best health I've been in yonks and pumped up with a new enthusiasm for the sport. I've built two new bikes and revamped a couple more and bought new riding gear.....all enthusiastic about returning to the sport that I genuinely love. Then shit started to happen..........
*HBBB...Ready to leave when my travel partner got very ill himself so we abandoned the journey south.
*Post Classic Nats...Looking very much forward to acting as a spannerman for a mate's debut of a really trick and interesting pre 85 bike.......meeting canned.
*Dirt Track Nats . Unable to enter because I couldn't arrange respite care for my elderly mother. It was either CD10 or the Dirt Track and I took the CD10 option.
*Crawford River Classic . I was excited about experiencing my first VMX ride in 10 years, the Cheney and DT1 are ready but my old mum unexpectedly suffered an injury preventing her  going into the respite facility so I had to forgo plans of attending for two days, leave the bikes at home and travel up for a 4 hour drop in visit.
*Classic Dirt 10...My Klub Kevlar chums and I have attended every Classic Dirt and have hosted the best parties, presented some genuinely interesting bikes and really hooked into the camaraderie
that CD is famous for. We's hired a 6mx6m marquee, industrial sized BBQ and a bunch of rooms at the Black and Gold and were debuting three, possibly four new bikes. I was excited about riding for the first time since CD2 at Kyneton. Unfortunately.. canned.
*HEAVEN final round, Canowindra. I had mum booked in to respite for Classic Dirt so this morning I cancelled it and attempted to book her in the following weekend so that I can ride the Canowindra round. Unfortunately I haven't given them enough warning so it's booked out. I'm now playing phone bingo trying to find a facility that can take a 94 year old with medical needs. I don't like my chances on such short notice but I'm not giving up without giving it a good try.
*Classic Nats I had accomidation and Mums respite booked for Canberra so luckily I only had to cancel the motel and the respite still stands.  I'm entering three bikes with three different riders and I've also volunteered to do some eligibility consultation and announcing. Edna is booked into respite, the bikes look like they'll be competitive and I have the Jeep booked in for a service three days before leaving. I really have my fingers crossed.

I guess I'm being a sook but the Classic Dirt cancellation has really put me into a dose of the miserables. I really thought that this year was going to be a personal ripper and a big one for the sport but in the end it's been a shitter both ways. There have been good reasons for the cancellations and my mums welfare comes above any bloody race meeting but I still can't feel anything but sad and depressed when I should have been jumping with joy.

Certainly makes my predicament look pretty minuscule, I hope it works out for you Firko!

[GMC]

Can a land owner invite 800 mates to his place for a ride with out MA bull shit?

Of course you can, but as a land owner I wouldn’t invite that many people over without some decent insurance cover and that is what MA provide.
Love them or hate them it’s the insurance that we need.
I’m not prepared to lose my house because some dickhead trips over his own tent peg while pissed.


CD at the Nats, clutching at straws again.
The 2 events cannot work together and they would distract from each other.
CD is about bringing out all the uncompetitive bikes to ride for fun.
Nats is about bringing out all the uncompetitive riders to ride for sheep stations.
There would not be enough time for everyone to ride let alone time to reorganize CD

[Simo63]

CD at the Nats, clutching at straws again.
The 2 events cannot work together and they would distract from each other.
CD is about bringing out all the uncompetitive bikes to ride for fun.
Nats is about bringing out all the uncompetitive riders to ride for sheep stations.
There would not be enough time for everyone to ride let alone time to reorganize CD

LOL .. as usual Geoff has a humourous side to inject

But jokes aside, whilst it's probably too late to do anything for this year (Asie from a trail ride and there is some good riding around that area I believe), I thought there might have been some merit in the idea of a combined event.  Maybe more along (what I think is) the Goodwood festival of speed concept .... racing, shows, trade exhibits, swap meet and social stuff ... all mixed in together?

[FourstrokeForever]

Keep your chin up Mark. Life gets in the way of what we want out of it sometimes and it's easy to get depressed about it. I feel your pain mate, having gone through a bit of a rough patch myself the last couple of years. And this year I made the postive decision to get back to what I love doing and out of the shed. Again. life throws it's shitty hospital passes at me and I miss out on what I had planned. It isn't going to stop me doing what I can though. Things will turn around if we all make it turn around. At least you have the Nats to look forward to now, even if you won't be contesting. The guys, and girl, will have one of the best pit bosses in their corner and I'm sure you will enjoy yourself. I know Tony C will give it his all for you, as no doubt will the others.
 
I'm still working on finding someone to share the trip to Wryalong with. I simply can not justify going by myself. Let alone the cost involved and I'm pretty sure that someone will look after my bikes and gear for me IF the worse scenario happens (you know, that thing we don't talk about!) but I just don't want to end up in an awkward situation and having to worry about all my toys.

This is why alot of us don't pre enter events and organisers need to realise this. We simply don't know what might come up to prevent us from entering/attending. I know it's hard on organisers not knowing if they will have a viable event or not, but every business has to take that chance. All the speculation in the world doesn't mean a profit other than on paper! There is no such thing as a sure thing. If all our farmers pulled the pin every time they had a bad year, all our food would be coming from OS by now.

The last big do (other than hbbb) that I attended was WA's 15th anniversary in 2010. Even then, it was only a month before the date that I had commited to being able to go. I rang the President, asked if it was too late to enter, he said no, I sent off the paperwork and away I (we) went. Even then, 1 of the guys pulled out so 2 of us had to effectively cover his missing fuel money. It's a big land we live in and travel isn't cheap. Trying to do all the events on the calender year in, year out is nigh on impossible for us mere "bottom dwellers" (as has been stated) who have to  budget our lives.

[/quote]

CD at the Nats, clutching at straws again.
The 2 events cannot work together and they would distract from each other.
CD is about bringing out all the uncompetitive bikes to ride for fun.
Nats is about bringing out all the uncompetitive riders to ride for sheep stations.
There would not be enough time for everyone to ride let alone time to reorganize CD

[/quote]

I don't believe that to be the case Geoff. I think the 2 combined would only enhance the "vibe" of all things VMX related. Maybe if we think big, big things will happen....

Must admit though, "Nats is about bringing out all the uncompetitve riders to ride for sheep stations" did induce a good chuckle. Thanks!

[number8]

Another way It could be looked at is that the event has always been a promotion primarily for VMX magazine, bearing in mind how profitable the event has been in recent years based on record breaking attendances, you have to wonder why the event should be cancelled at such late notice specially when there were overseas visitors committed to attending, the carry over profits from the previous few years in particular you think should have been able to off set a year that was not as profitable and certainly would have been valuable goodwill to the VMX community and all that had committed themselves and there money to go this year as John O said this event should not have been cancelled, to run it would have been giving back to the market place that the business of the magazine thrives off ? this will impact future CD's so the downward spiral could begin until it is a memory,just sayin

#8

[vmx42]

CD at the Nats, clutching at straws again.
The 2 events cannot work together and they would distract from each other.
CD is about bringing out all the uncompetitive bikes to ride for fun.
Nats is about bringing out all the uncompetitive riders to ride for sheep stations.
There would not be enough time for everyone to ride let alone time to reorganize CD

LOL .. as usual Geoff has a humourous side to inject

But jokes aside, whilst it's probably too late to do anything for this year (Asie from a trail ride and there is some good riding around that area I believe), I thought there might have been some merit in the idea of a combined event.  Maybe more along (what I think is) the Goodwood festival of speed concept .... racing, shows, trade exhibits, swap meet and social stuff ... all mixed in together?

Hi Simo63,
The Festival of Speed has the hill climb and rally sections as demonstrations, not races. The Legends Laps at CD are a similar concept.

The Festival has enormous manufacturer support and has actually precipitated the death nell of traditional Motor Shows around the world. It is a fantastic event, but it is more of a celebration of motor racing and not really promoted as a social event. Our tiny [by comparison] VMX passtime hasn't got the commerical reach of the Festival and I can't see it ever achieving it.

My 'Farm' concept was my simple attempt to position CD in a completely different sphere from the plethora of VMX competition events available. IMHO its primary focus should be on the social side of VMX with riding as a sideline. CD seem to be getting lost in the long list racing events. It should have a clear differentiation from them.

And yes, Geoff is correct about the liability and the necessity of MA involvement.

Cheers,
VMX42

[bazza]

If small clubs in Unzud can get Millions of dollars of cover for under a $1K why cant auzie???
Have people tried or do you all believe the MA spin on insurance?

[firko]

I was just talking to a mate who brought up something I hadn't considered. He reminded me that Classic Dirt had, in the main been held on Easter and later, Queens Birthday long weekends which enabled interstaters to take less time away from work. Perhaps the event being held on a normal two day weekend had some impact on interstaters travel options. (Just thinking out aloud)

[bazza]

Number8   Very valid point!!!
Firko         Very valid point re long weekend