Improving Classic Dirt

[Graeme M]

OK, up front I'll say that CD5 was great - loved every minute of it. And if it stayed exactly the same forever I'd be a happy camper.

But I thought it'd be interesting to see what people think could be done to improve it, and maybe the VMX boys might see some gems in amongst the usual load of crap!

I'll start off with a few thoughts:

The track. I know it's vintage motocross, but we have any number of races throughout the year on real tracks, so I think CD should be more about just riding around and getting a buzz from seeing the bikes. The harder tracks, especially if it rains, simply stop a lot of the bling bikes, or older bikes, getting out and being seen. The first two CDs with their very easy, open grasstracks had a much greater variety of machines on display and gave the spectators a better view. Perhaps as a compromise somewhere like MX Central could run the MX track AND a simple grasstrack in the middle of the Dirt Track. Or go for a rural property as Twisty suggested.

Special riding sessions like the TTs Only, Brit Bikes, Spanish Bikes themes at earlier CDs.

The swapmeet. Again, I preferred the approach at CDs 1 & 2 with a single area laid out for the swapmeet. Maybe that had been planned at CD5 and the rain blew that out of the water?

Some sort of show and shine type thing? It's good to see the bikes on the track, but how good to have all the great restos and bling machinery in one compound and awards for best of whatever?

Make it a full week long, like the Mid Ohio thing. Maybe add in some competitive events too? Or, combine it with the Nats for a true vintage festival, and maximise attendance for both.

[yzhilly]

Wow a week long Classic dirt and MX nats .I would have to take a spare liver . Ouch

[Doc]

I can't think of a lot only Anzac Day seems destined to be forever wet..unless in Queensland 

[mx250]

OK, up front I'll say that CD5 was great - loved every minute of it. And if it stayed exactly the same forever I'd be a happy camper.

But I thought it'd be interesting to see what people think could be done to improve it, and maybe the VMX boys might see some gems in amongst the usual load of crap!

I'll start off with a few thoughts:

The track. I know it's vintage motocross, but we have any number of races throughout the year on real tracks, so I think CD should be more about just riding around and getting a buzz from seeing the bikes. The harder tracks, especially if it rains, simply stop a lot of the bling bikes, or older bikes, getting out and being seen. The first two CDs with their very easy, open grasstracks had a much greater variety of machines on display and gave the spectators a better view. Perhaps as a compromise somewhere like MX Central could run the MX track AND a simple grasstrack in the middle of the Dirt Track. Or go for a rural property as Twisty suggested.

Special riding sessions like the TTs Only, Brit Bikes, Spanish Bikes themes at earlier CDs.

The swapmeet. Again, I preferred the approach at CDs 1 & 2 with a single area laid out for the swapmeet. Maybe that had been planned at CD5 and the rain blew that out of the water?

Some sort of show and shine type thing? It's good to see the bikes on the track, but how good to have all the great restos and bling machinery in one compound and awards for best of whatever?

Make it a full week long, like the Mid Ohio thing. Maybe add in some competitive events too? Or, combine it with the Nats for a true vintage festival, and maximise attendance for both.

Ditto to all of the above - I second the motion.

[AjayVMX]

Guys,  I understand your enthusiasm, but let's not go off on a tangent and create something that isn't actually what classic dirt was originally about.

Classic Dirt is an uncompetitive event to allow a bunch of guys to get together and enjoy their old bikes.

We have already indicated that the track was not as expected due to weather.  I think we should all consider ourselves lucky that we had a rideable track at all, given the pre-event conditions.  Grasstrack venues are a nice idea, but not always practical when you want large numbers of people to camp.  There cannot be camping at Barrabool, for example.

The swap meet at CD is free and people prefer to do thier business from their camp site.  In Mid Ohio, swap meet locations are allocated and cost big $$$ because of the cost of getting it organised.  I seriously doubt our swap meet sellers would be too keen on paying to sell thier stuff.  The swap meet at CD4 did not work as intended and the area allocated effictively just became part of the camping area, so we decided not to bother trying to segregate it for CD5.  Under the circumstances with the weather, this was probably a blessing in disguise.

FWIW, Mid-Ohio is only a three day event.  They get about 25 times the number of people that we get to Classic Dirt.  It's extremely unlikely that CD will increased in length.  Please remember that doing so would also increase the cost proportionally.

[mx250]

AJ, appreciating the effort and work that went into CD5, and appreciating the difficulties and compromises required in organising such an event without the vagaries of weather being thrown into the mix, I would never have been game to bring up the subject.

However, given the above, I contributed to the thread in the spirit of a wish list rather than unrealistic or undeserved criticism of the past efforts.  I think with a little thought, rather than more work, the basis formed can be built on. The intention of the building upon would be to put more people through the gate rather than simply improving things for those already dedicate to the cause. More people, more money .

[GMC]

Theirs always pro's & con's of every angle but I don't think CD should be competetive & it's surprising the number of people who think it is or just don't know what it is.
While mentioning to some people "will I see you there" the response was What's CD5"? or "I'm not ready to race my bike yet"
Some mainstream advertising could help the cause, but that gets expensive & bad weather will kill any gains.
Most of us here are "in the loop" but there are still many who don't know VMX exists or that the CD concept is just about getting together for a fun weekend and that you don't need to bring a bike to enjoy it.

[AjayVMX]

Guys, that's fine...I understand that it is a wish list and indeed we also have some of those aspirations for CD, although combining it with a competitive event like the Vintage Nationals is not one of those aspirations.

I felt the need however to give you some of the reasons that these things don't happen, especially the issue of having a longer event.  CD5 is already the same length as Mid-Ohio now and Mid-Ohio is different in that it is primarily a competitive event, not a fun event.

And most importantly, please understand that it's not about money either.  We try very hard to keep the cost of CD down as low as possible, whilst offering the most bang for the buck.  Things like Event Licences, MA permits and Rider Levies (for the guys that want to ride) are costs we have no control over of course and can punt the cost of riding up quite a bit.  So it's a delicate balance.

Finally, I think the weather did play a role in the attendance at CD5.  I think that if we hadn't had the rain right up to the event, it would indeed have been even larger than it was, not that we really were lacking in total attendance this time around.

[Nathan S]

So if we had a generous benefactor with a suitable property, most of Graeme's wish list would be achievable, yes?

People could turn up on the Thursday, leave on the Monday.
You could have a grass track or three.
Camping would be no problem.
The venue hire costs would be less/non-existant.

This is how CDs 1 & 2 work, as I understand it?

[jimson]

My son and I  have been to all of them and I think they are so good I've told my son Tom what ever happens in our life the CD's will be our weekend away together  so keep them coming I'm sure things will change from year to year but at the end of the day VMX mag put in the hard work and its up to us the VMX junkys  to bring the good vibe along  jimson
P.S I wish the bloody gates was open at 11.30pm on friday night.

[vmxken]

Hi Nathan - camping wasn't permitted on site for CD1, 2 or 3 it was only introduced at CD4 and continued at CD5.

Thanks

Ken

[Nathan S]

OK, thanks for the clarification.

So what I've suggested would be previously uncharted nirvana, if it could be made to happen?

[facthunt]

Hi Nathan - camping wasn't permitted on site for CD1, 2 or 3 it was only introduced at CD4 and continued at CD5.

Thanks

Ken

Well there were lots of us camping at all of the CD events. Permitted or tolerated?
For me, camping on site is fundamental to my enjoyment of Classic Dirt.
Same for the swapmeet, treasures to be found all around the place.
Improvements, the CD concept is brilliant, dunno how you could make that better.
The track did cut up rough for the short travel bikes, a second smoother track would get a few more
older bikes, and riders, circulating.
Would it have been crowded had weather in the lead up been perfect?
How many suitable locations can there be? Not many I'd guess. Selfishly I would love CD6 to be back in Vic.
Thanks to everybody involved in running this wonderous thing called Classic Dirt and I hope you get as much
out of it as we who travel from all over the place most certainly do.
See Ya
Kurt

[Rosco400]

Where is Victoria

[OZYKTM]

Where is Victoria

I think thats where the mexicans come from?