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Former Member
deleted
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2 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Oct 2004 : 1:15:42 PM
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I believe that to ensure the future of the sport there has to be incentive to get good large entries and attract large crowds of paying spectators.
Firstly leading events need to have prize money paying from 1st down to 7th place for all classes.
This will lead to large fields of riders which will make up a highly promotional events that will attract paying spectators.
I know that the mentality in this country is we do it just for fun but I believe that for the sport of Classic Racing to survive this has to change or it will die.
At the Ulster GP this year they pay prize money for all classics!!!
Forgotten Era in UK pays some prize money at events.
With the amount of politics finding it's way into the paddock this is eventually going to drive away folks away from the sport unless there is incentive to stay.
And now on a different subject.
If MA want to have dinky di period race bikes then develop the rules for those classes and then we can see how many entries there will be.
I say leave the rules as they are for improved classics.
And as a personal insight.
When all said and done we all provide entertainment to the public and role out a working museum to keep the history of motorcycle racing alive. We should be all working together to ensure the survival of the sport for the young fellows to take over when we are too old to carry on.
and congratulations.
Full marks to HMRAV and a great Southern Classic 04 you are firmly on the right track keep up the good work and keep moving forward with out fear.
Ivor Evans #28 TR250 REPLICA.
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trsuzuki |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 12 Oct 2004 : 4:08:40 PM
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Thanks for the good words Ivor, I shall drop the slab off on the way home.
PRIZE MONEY
I have to say I have listenedd to all the views about paying prize money in Australia [ Because I did consider it worthwhile once], but now I beleive it would wreck the whole process as we know it. The opinion of others is as follows;
- Cheating would increase
- Arguments about eligibility would increase
- Camaraiery that currently exists with lending and help may not survive
- Egos may get even bigger
- Entry fees would need to rise to cover the prize money
- Volunteer helpers may not take abuse from paid riders nor want to work for nothing.
- Personnaly I would not put the effort I put in if prize money was floating about.
If we go commercial the whole management process would need to go fully commerciial, and that would add to the cost of racing. Commercail support comes at a price of intrusion by the people with the money and I dont think it would be a pretty site.
Currently we have commercail interests in the moderns, and its not a pretty sitesometimes.
I may be wrong but I have changed my view of the matter as I investigated all aspects of it. |
John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 09:53:48 AM
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I notice in the September Issue of Classic Bike they have a discussion about the future of Classic racing . Perhaps we can learn something from their discussion.
their email for comments is classic.bike@emap.com |
John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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trifield12
Level 1 Member
Victoria
13 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 6:17:54 PM
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| BRING IN PRIZE MONEY AND THE AVERAGE JOE WONT WIN ANY RACES |
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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 6:41:18 PM
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I don't believe prize money is the answer, however an increase in the spectator crowd could mean that entry fees and licence fees could be reduced.
It seems to be a chicken and egg situation. Do we get the spectators there first or do we reduce charges to make the sport easier to get into, and get bigger fields to attract more spectators?
Personally I suggest we have to get smarter about what classes we run, look at what the paying customers want to see. |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 6:50:56 PM
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One thing I would say about the prize money idea, and that's I believe any A grade road racer who enters an historic race meeting should get at least free entry, and should probably be paid start money.
Those huys can really help the cause. People Like Peter Guest, Gregg Johnson, John Maher - they are the greats, and that's who I like to see racing at historic meetings. Getting more of these guys into the sport would give leadership to the young guys. |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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steve
Level 2 Member
Queensland
86 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 9:07:35 PM
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Hi All
At the Eastern Creek meeting INCA they pay prize money only to the INCA fellows?? which attracts international riders, which I can only gress that they are paid to turn up also fair enough!! but as a Post Classic rider we get half the rides as the Classic crowd for the same entree fee's the Posties are bunched into one race 40 odd & the Classic's get broken up into 3 or 4 classes which make up 40 riders also!! the last meeting Feb this year the last couple of racers the Period 4 still had about 30 odd people belting around & 4 or 5 in each for the Classic class remaining & the last Classic race for the day 3 started where most of the crowd just left & most of the riders starting leaving also, lucky the BEARS fellows were there as we got a few more rides thanks to them "Heritage Bears" Prize money is good but should be accross the Classes & for any one who cares!!!!!!
Last INCA meeting in Feb lots of people stay at the Blacktown Lodge workers club where the presentations were, "ALL" the Queenslanders Car got Broken into "Only Queensland Cars 9 in total smashed windows & stole riding gear etc etc didn't touch cars parked beside them at all!! We were safe we had a HIRE car but it was Qld plated yes it got smashed up also but the same type of HIRE care parked beside ours in the same car park plated NSW wasn't bloody touched!! Pissed off the Police said it was a common thing Maybe a thing to remember when in NSW fellows & gals
Steve Queensland |
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Alan
Forum Moderator
Western Australia
353 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 9:59:13 PM
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Prize or appearance money will just about kill off our sport.I for one would never contemplate riding at a meeting where prize money was paid selectively. The INCA situation is a little different but for the rank and file based in Australia not a practical suggestion.
Fees are already high enough and sponsorship difficult to get so how would this be funded or would we end up paying 3 or 4 hundred dollars entry per meeting like we do at the Superbike rounds.
Alan Sidecar 21 WA |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 10:11:53 PM
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| Steve the trouble with break ins has nothing to do with racing, its called bad luck. |
John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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Former Member
deleted
120 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 10:25:11 PM
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| I'd put up the prize money to see Ross Martin race. |
Jayne |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 10:43:53 PM
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How is any promoting club going to pay for the free entry to these A graders?
Will all the people who freely give their time to a club still do so when some entrants pay nothing?
How do you differentiate between an A grader who helps a meeting and one who does not help?
Surely if people want free entry they need to look at their own role in life generally?
But can we stick closer to the original topic, "How do we improve participation" ?
There are many areas that need consideration promotion, facilities, improved management, spectators etc that can all be considered.
Lets please look at them. |
John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
Edited by - john on 27 Oct 2004 10:48:40 PM |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2004 : 10:54:54 PM
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An area to look at is track hire costs.
One reason Moto X has lower fees is because their track hire is much less per rider.
Two reasons more riders and lower track hire fees overall. Maybe that is one area to look at?
But I can say the HMRAV used a sponsors money to lower entry fees by $50, that was about 50% of the going rate at the time and there was not a single extra entry nor a single thanks for the gesture.
So what can we learn from that? |
John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2004 : 6:54:37 PM
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One thing I find encouraging about this topic, is that the discussion is actually happening. If enough of us are concerned about the future of historic racing, and we communicate, we should evetually find some answers.
Personally I believe we only have to look at what is happening in motorsport in the US and Europe, to see 'how it could be'! |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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acotrel
Advanced Member
Victoria
2147 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2004 : 6:57:14 PM
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| John, Because something is cheap, doesn't necessarily mean it's more desirable. Would you buy a truckload of SH*T because it was cheap? |
Is your machine authentic or merely eligible? |
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Alan
Forum Moderator
Western Australia
353 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2004 : 9:42:20 PM
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Alan before you start comparing our situation with the US and Europe, England in particular, I suggest you take a long hard look at their rules and compare them with ours, not just the general rules but in detail, then you might not be so keen to follow their lead. The other thing you could look at is value for money and available track time, they are not in the same race except maybe for this years Nationals but the jury is out on that one for anther week or so. While I was as some people would believe wasting my time on the Commission I spent literally hours downloading and comparing rules from just about everywhere that runs historic racing and came to the conclusion that what we have here and complain about bitterly is not so bad after all. What we really need to do is to be more positive in our discussions and find ways of giving riders value for money and enough track time for their needs, then we will start to gain ground. The problem is not going to be solved by changing rules but it will be by providing a friendly environment, consistent interpretation of the rules and providing value for money.
Alan Sidecar 21? WA |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2004 : 10:27:24 PM
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Al, I said nothing about anything being cheap, nor did I offer to buy a truck load of anything.
But I spend about 30 hours a week working to promote Historic racing.
And I pay the same entry fee as anybody else at the meetings I help promote.
And I get pissed off when somebody comes along and says "..... should pay nothing to race.
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John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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