G'day Rob,
You get lots of riders on the roadrace track because your average classic bike owner rarely gets a chance to take their bikes casually on a track, l think the same for dirt track & speedway owners, motocross riders have lots of nicely prepared tracks as options, so you really need something special for the owners to risk paying to wear-out their classic bike, that took lots of time & money to build.
Yeh sure classic riders, be them road, mx or speedway, all want to show their bikes off to other enthusiasts and meet old friends.
Broadford has fantastic facilities but the track is a gamble (based on previous years) as to what condition it is going to be in. Tight-arse, old-timer mx riders will not pay the money to be greated with poor conditions. Not such a concern for the other arms of the sport.
It all starts with mx track preppers that don't study the weather forecast for a start, then the road riders (a few) complain about dust blowing over the hill from the mx track (which most blows up from the carpark areas) then the patchy sprinklers are turned on and riders are then greated with mud, dust, mud, dust but worse is that Broadford dirt can be like ice once it is has just been watered.
The track was at its best about 4 or 5 years ago when the then Manager (Marty) had spread a lot of wood-chips around the track, this kept the moisture in the ground and prevented it from forming concrete ruts.
You cannot expect vintage riders to be happy riding a modernish track (table-tops, steep up/down ramps, step-ups / step-downs). So it's a combination of things but the track plays a big part. l remember a couple of years back, there was a great Bonanza turn-out of mx riders when there was a 'Pre 75' grass-track (which was dusty as hell and miles too small) offered to riders; there were heaps riding that track (proves that the offer of the right track brings the riders).
l seem to remember a couple of years back, a rally-car circuit was graded-in where the enduro (shitty ground when not prepared) track was, this track would be easy for a water-truck to drive around, plus dust from that area might not blow over the roadrace track? That track would be perfect for classic bikes! l even think that you cold run mx bikes on ONLY that track, forget about the modern track. l remember riding the 'Channel 0 track' there back in '76? (real dusty)
Spectator wise, the road & speedway get them because they have riders & bikes fo them to look at, l guess we all realize why the mx track doesn't bring in spectators if there are no riders. Maybe offer free entry if you bring a bike to show?
Personally l think the track needs more mulch, thought put into where the water will pool if rain or over watering occurs, in the lead-up to an event the track should be ripped & watered (if no rain forecast) then rolled, rolling it should keep in the moisture in and help water run off should it rain. Rolling it will lessen the ruts forming and keep the track smoother for old bikes.
The BIG mistake that the governers of the sport make is they ask the existing riders/racers what they think the sport needs, obviously if they are still competing they are pretty happy with things the way they are ...... speak to those that do not race/compete anymore.
l guess you just need to get a reputation for preparing a good track, spectators that see a mud-fest at the Nationals, aren't going to be in a hurry to ride the track :-)
After typing all this l have talked myself into believing that the long rally-car track is the answer, l know that l & many others would come and help prepare it & give input for it. Trust me, build it and they will come.
