May Viper round at Ravenswood cancelled.

[Momus]

Apparently due to the low turnout at the PC Nationals BMCC have pulled the plug on the scheduled first Viper round this year.

Given that most of the Victorian entrants at the Nats were Viper riders it seems unfortunate to penalise them...

Have a say here if you are inclined:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bendigo-Motorcycle-Club-BMCC/132460016839592

[Ted]

Why was the post by Freakshow with the statement from BMCC, explaining why, removed?

[bigk]

Doesn't matter for what ever reason BMCC cancelled the Viper round, it's their call. Of the 45 Victorian riders at the nationals, 38 were Viper members & 1 South Australian was a Viper member. That amounts to over half the total field, so to say the Viper club did not support the event is whimsical at best. There are 2 other vintage MX factions in Vic & not a single entry from either. Add to that the lack of support by QVMX (4) & Heaven (?) & you have it in a nutshell.
*** Good news for Viper riders is that we have replaced the round at another venue which is expected to be confirmed later this week, so no real stress other than we don't get to ride the Ravenswood track. At least BMCC gave us reasonable notice on the cancelation.
K

[Ted]

Can you pinpoint in a nutshell why only 4 riders came from two clubs with a data base of approx 550 members?

[bigk]

I can Ted, but perhaps it's better left off a public forum.
K

[Ted]

Ok. I understand

[supersenior 50]

Bottom line is the best way to support our sport of VMX is to participate.
Those that supported this event all had a great time, from the likes of Bad Brad, Devilman and Co, through to the likes of me ( I did beat the guy with the fluro vest on the modern bike in every race).
Viper had a good turn out, a couple from SA and a hero all the way from WA showed what it's about. I know the seven riders from Brisbane MCC had a ball, just a shame Jack the wheelsmith had an off with a shoulder injury.
Thanks Bendigo, you did a great job. It's just a shame the support wasn't there to give a better financial outcome

[Momus]

I'd imagine one of the significant costs for the Nationals weekend was water.

Given the general dryness of central Victoria perhaps a rider water levy would be an idea in future?

[Viper666]

I am not privy to what went on behind the scenes at BMCC but here's my assumptions in no particular order;

The price, better to have a full grid at $80 a head than half a dozen at $130 (Or thereabouts) I'm sure this would have deterred our long distant travelers.

The format, OK if you were/are riding several classes but to sit round for 2 days for 3 four lap races is a bit much (Including price). Why not split like a Senior Vic. Machine age/class one day & age related races the next etc. That would make the other day purely to spectate & relax rather than sitting round geared up & uncomfortable. Again would have suited our long distant travelers as they could race one day, relax the other..

I'm not saying it didn't happen but apart from here & Facebook I saw no advertising? And even then the first I knew of it was from Kenny Baker a few months back. Shouldn't have MA/MV got behind this?

Sponsorship? Was any sourced?

My point I suppose is I think it is a cop out to blame Viper for the lack of entries. From all reports (Two of our members did the timing) it was a great weekend so the club did a excellent job of running the actual event it seems the lead up is what failed them.

Again I dont know but this is what I'm sensing.

But to say "We can make more money from a club day without having to put up with your Viper shit" is offensive. A club charter is to promote the sport which means sometimes you dont make much money. Over the last few years our club days were lucky to break even so do we raise the price to make a profit? No!

I do remember something about only being able to run "X" number of events at Ravo & this would have, of course, bearing on the decisions of which events to run.

Sure clubs have to make a profit to survive & provide facilities for its members but can be too driven by the mighty dollar. We are no different but never looked at Viper as a money making exercise. As long as we didn't lose & made a little all was good. It was always one of those things you do.

Anyway they have the right to do, or not do, what they want but it seems a shame that such a long history/partnership is now defunct. Even though I haven't ridden in a long time my last real ride was Ravo 2010. Was one of my favourite tracks too.


 

[Viper666]

https://www.facebook.com/events/1572576932960702/

[Viper666]

https://www.facebook.com/Viper.Vintage.Moto.X.Club

[09.0]

Can you pinpoint in a nutshell why only 4 riders came from two clubs with a data base of approx 550 members?

I can. 1600 k's each way to start. Nearly a week off work. Accomodation, fuel and food. It cost me $260 as I rode 5 classes ( not bitching, it is what it is). So now I'm back home im feeling the pinch but hey that's my choice.
When it's all said and done the majority aren't hard core racers enough to throw that sort of coin at any sort of event. I'm a minority. That works both ways. How many Victorians made it to queenslands title events? Certainly wouldn't be many. Even as a non racer, how many interstate vmxers made the trek to the bonanza? I am yet to go to one even though I have wanted to and all that know me know I'm at most big events.
For what it's worth the guys that go to these events that are from interstate to circulate near the back and are there both to support the event and to just be a part of it are the most hard core imo. Hats off to you guys.
Oh and I counted more than 4 Queenslanders. Dank,Metcher,Allison,kemp,McMahon,tanner,Skyring and myself and im sure I've forgotten someone.
There you go, one nut shell.

[KTM47]

Can you pinpoint in a nutshell why only 4 riders came from two clubs with a data base of approx 550 members?

I can. 1600 k's each way to start. Nearly a week off work. Accomodation, fuel and food. It cost me $260 as I rode 5 classes ( not bitching, it is what it is). So now I'm back home im feeling the pinch but hey that's my choice.
When it's all said and done the majority aren't hard core racers enough to throw that sort of coin at any sort of event. I'm a minority. That works both ways. How many Victorians made it to queenslands title events? Certainly wouldn't be many. Even as a non racer, how many interstate vmxers made the trek to the bonanza? I am yet to go to one even though I have wanted to and all that know me know I'm at most big events.
For what it's worth the guys that go to these events that are from interstate to circulate near the back and are there both to support the event and to just be a part of it are the most hard core imo. Hats off to you guys.
Oh and I counted more than 4 Queenslanders. Dank,Metcher,Allison,kemp,McMahon,tanner,Skyring and myself and im sure I've forgotten someone.
There you go, one nut shell.

I agree with what Brad has said.  The distance to travel and only 2 laps practice then 4 lap races (reduced to 3 after the first day) was just not worth it.  Toowoomba started with ten minutes practice for each class then twelve minutes (6 laps) for capacity classes and ten minutes (5 laps) for age groups.  This was changed to 5 laps and 4 laps for Sunday and still finished at 3 pm Sunday.

I think Ted meant QVMX and Heaven clubs, but some of the Brisbane club members are also members of QVMX anyway.  I think there were at least 8 Queenslanders there.

Which if I am correct this is more than the number of Victorians that were at Echo Valley (Toowoomba) last year.

Below is a list of rider numbers at Echo Valley by the club name.

QVMX  61
Brisbane MCC 15
Sunshine Coast MCC  8
Gold Coast MCC  4
Kilcoy MCC     1
Moreton Dist MX 2
M/C Sportsmen  1

Heaven VMX 12
ADMXC    1
BDMCC   1
BRMCC   1
CHMCC   1
Gawler MCC  1
GMCC   1
HVMCC  1
Inverell MCC  1
MADMXC   1
MBMCC   1
MGMCC  1
MRA    2
NDMCC   5
NRMCC  1
TDVMX   1
VVMXC   1
WDR    1
WMCC  1

As you can see of the 130 riders the overwhelming majority were from Queensland.

As I understand it the club Bendigo MCC did a fantastic job preparing the track and running the meeting.  The VMX community in Victoria needs to ask themselves did we do enough to help.

 

[supersenior 50]

Hi Kev, don't let the facts ruin a good complaint. There was one hour practice Saturday, half an hour Sunday.With only three eras of bikes that was plenty. Only age races were reduced to three laps ( suggested by the riders)
Late Sunday three open races were also reduced to meet the timetable. Only one complainant who in fact wasn't affected. Seven Brisbane MCC riders, four QVMX, five Heaven. I don't recall a pissing contest between Victoria and Qld as to who had the most riders where. Yes the turnout from Heaven and QVMX must have disappointed the organisers, but you can lead a horse to water etc. I know those that made the effort and commitment had a good time

[KTM47]

I'm sorry Col I went by what was on the sup-regs 2 laps practice and what was in the official MyLaps results which does show the number of laps. 

So unless they are wrong it was 4 laps Saturday and 3 laps Sunday and maybe even 3 laps 2nd round Saturday.

I only quoted rider numbers by clubs to show.  That more Queenslanders went down to Victoria than Victorians came up to Queensland last year   FACT.

If I have got my facts wrong let me know (and prove it) and I will say I am wrong, but I don't think I am.