Please let's keep on topic. Again, I don't want people slagging off at particular people or matters relating to the PC titles. This is meant to be about managing potential problems that became apparent and which may arise at future meetings.
Barra, the idea to use blue flags is not aimed at typical club days, these are usually well managed as they are. But at the titles, you end up with a much wider cross section of skills and ability plus a greater level of aggression.
My main point, and it may be that I am wrong given I am not involved, is that Pre 90 and Pre 85 racing is not 'vintage' the way it was originally formed. When you can get a largely modern track with very fast riders on bikes with plenty of travel and reasonably sophisticated suspension and handling, you have a very different playing field to that which was found at say the '93 Vintage Nats.
I believe that as we make the PC titles more and more professional and attract more serious entrants, we raise the bar for on-track performance. And blokes like me are out in the cold, because no way would I risk my life, and that of others, by wobbling around in those conditions.
It's all very well to say if a bloke pays his money it's his right to ride, but geeze, where do you draw the line on that. There is enormous scope for problems in that mix.
I'm not pointing the finger at QVMX or Toowoomba MXC. I'm pointing the finger at something I think needs to be discussed for future promoters to consider.
A natural terrain track is a way better option. But if you can't have that, and the good guys want a proper modern style track (and after all, tracks were pretty gnarly in the mid to late 80s), then how do you manage the risk?
Or do we just accept the risk because it's a tough sport?
Regardless of risk, we also face the question of Joe Average losing interest. Clearly at least one rider abandoned the meeting for those reasons. Australia doesn't have the population for the titles to become a very small pond catering to a few fast guys.
Personally, and you can howl me down for this, I think the time for Vintage titles is over. Winning Championships is what you do when you are 20. Not 60. I think it would be better to stick to club series and big social events like CD and PBBB.
