Sorry this is sooooooooo long
Firstly Ted is not speaking on behalf of Heaven VMX (sorry Ted) but has conversed with many including at least one Heaven Committee member (me) for feedback.
This is my personal take on the situation and not an official Heaven VMX position. My name is Greg Scriven current Heaven VMX Club Secretary. This is posted as constructive input.
I think we all owe Bendigo a massive thanks for putting their hands up and then carrying it through even though they must have been aware that it was going to be a financial loss.
As Heaven VMX has been named it is probably best if I put a view (this will be my only post)
1) We have not commented on this thread as it was not any of our business quite frankly. It does seem extreme that the Bendigo Club should hold Viper responsible unless there are other issues in play we are not aware of. But that is best dealt with between those clubs. We certainly will not be commenting further.
2) When Lakes Club in NSW attempted the Post Classics a few years ago it was in cooperation with Heaven VMX club. We approached Lakes who were keen to have a National event at their track.
a) We had several meetings and there was a strategic plan mapped out with responsibilities given to Heaven VMX which were well in hand when the event was
cancelled.
b) The event was completely ready to go but very early on the Lakes Club indicated that there was a minimum entry threshold.
c) Lakes have a lot of experience with National and State title events. They are a very professional club who a highly regarded in NSW.
d) The Lakes club gave the event their very best shot and invested in promoting the event and had sponsors in place but were not prepared to run the event at a loss and face sponsors who felt short changed by seeing very low entries. They even had the track re-licenced for sidecars.
e)They cancelled the event shortly after close of entry just as they indicated they would.
f) Lakes club still lost thousands of dollars but moved to minimise the loss.
3) Some behind the scene rumours are circulating in Chinese whispers that Heaven VMX somehow conspired to discourage members from entering the 2015 titles. We know the sources and propogators but what is the point of pursuing it. This is a complete and utter fabrication and is school yard crap, Heaven VMX has not and would not discourage members from attending any meeting they wished to attend. We are just a VMX club and just try to run fun and entertaining race meetings for our members.
4) As for possible reasons for the low entry here are a few thoughts from feedback from members. This is not laying blame or suggesting anything just some observations and putting a view.
a)The demographics of the riders in the Classic Titles and Post Classics are different. There are many more ‘empty nesters’ in the Classic riders. Riders with younger families may not be nearly as keen to spend a few thousand dollars of the family budget and using up holidays attending a VMX title in the current economic situation.
b)The Supp Regs where out very late and just lacked any real details about what riders were signing up for. Many people looked at a 26 grid and then found nothing about qualifying in the Sup Regs (as it turned out it was not needed, unfortunately). Look at a rider with a Pre85 250cc only. They could travel all the way for 2 laps of practice and either not qualify from that or have one qualifier race, get taken out in a corner and the weekend is over. As outlined above what was in the Supp Regs was not what actually happened was significantly different ?? Is this good?
c) In the Classic titles Pre60, Pre65, Pre70 & Pre75 can all ride in the age races so the majority of riders get an age race. The Post Classics ages races are EVO only which mean more than half the riders get only one class for a bike.
d) So few age classes make championship level. The age races either need to go to all powers instead of 125, 250, 500
OR the age groups need to cascade. This means instead of <30(do we need <30yo age race?), 30-39, 40-49, 50-59,60+ and 70+ maybe it should be <30, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+ & 65+(Super senior). Super senior should stands alone. If 60+ 250cc only has 5 entries they cascade to 50+ 250cc etc etc surely it would be better for a 61yo to race in the 50+ title event (the 60+ can still be scored separately if desired) than just race 4 other guys for nothing except a plastic cup 900Km from home!!! Whatever we do with age races we need more riders to race in class that make title status. Personally I would rather cascade age groups than race all powers.
e) Camping is a big issue. Heaven VMX only use tracks where camping is allowed. All circuits except one have hot showers. The one that does not has a club nearby that riders can use. Please don't bring up Lakes re: camping as there are a few camping sites but they could not be used at the titles, just let it go.
f) Promotion of the event was none existent our club received no flyers or entry forms or any other information. QVMX were active in this area leading up to the 2014 Nationals and so was Lakes the year before.
g) The EVO rules where a factor. No point in discussing that as it has been done to death and people voted with their feet or in this case their drum braked, air cooled and none linkage suspension bikes. Unfortunately Bendigo club naturally were unaware of this. It has to be said that I do not believe it was the major problem but it was a factor.
h) Holding the event one week after BBB was a negative not a positive. travelling to BBB and then hanging around a week is just not really an option. it uses up a heap of peoples budget, holidays and good will from their families. Possible the Titles first then BBB would have been better. I believe there were more Heaven VMX members at BBB than the titles.
i) I guess 70-80% of VMX riders have no real interest in the Nationals. Feedback from Heaven members after the Lakes failure was along the lines of why should we go to Lakes for three days, pay a few hundred dollars and get a few races when we can pay $60 at a Heaven meet, Rider for 3hrs Saturday get 4 races each bike on Sunday.
That there is the nutshell.
5) The Classic and Post Classics need to continue to be split as it is just too large for one meeting and almost impossible to get a track suitable for Pre60 – Pre90. The resurgence of Pre60, Pre65 & Pre70 is reason enough for the split as far as I am concerned. The fact that the two biggest classes (EVO and Pre85) fail at National level is the real issue. Pre90 was pleasingly larger this year I believe?
The possibility of a facility with two circuits could be an option. Like Conondale or Broadford and I’m sure there are others.
