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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 30, 2014 1:17:17 GMT -5
Back in 2004, motocross racing in northern Nevada seemed a little like home prices at the time: It felt like the upward trend would never end. The races were packed every weekend, and everyone in the pits had massive rigs and multiple bikes. I remember waiting for the results to be posted at one especially packed Fernley race -- I was a Cycle News reporter back then, so I had to wait for the results sheets to haul them home with me -- and I asked the MX West scoring lady, Kim, how many entries there were in total for the day. "612," she said. I marveled at that number on the way home. How big was local moto going to get anyway? But of course, as with home prices, the rising trend in local motocross couldn't last forever. Read the rest of this story on the home page, and please share your thoughts via the poll on this thread.
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Post by Larry63r on Jan 30, 2014 3:26:49 GMT -5
Motocross won't come back until we are out of this depression. Yes, we are in a depression and it won't end anytime soon because we don't make anything in this country anymore. We don't have a manufacturing base and we don't export anything. The "new" economy does not work. Not very many people have the money to spend on racing. Bikes cost too much, gas costs too much, the massive rigs cost too much. The average age of the motorcycle enthusiast is getting older and they don't like the "new" tracks with huge jumps you can't see over with overly steep jump faces that shoot you up to high and then slam you down like a ton of bricks. Sure the experts like it but they are only 5% of the racers. Some of the kids like it but they don't pay for the racing. The dads don't like it and they are out riding in the parks or in the desert and the mountains instead of going to the tracks. Two weeks ago my other club put on the PCGP. We had over 600 entries. About 200 of those entries were in the +30, +40, +50, +60 classes. Almost 300 of the riders were pee-wee, 65cc and 85cc. The rest were the sportsman, the smallest group of the bunch. The plain and simple fact is that the riders don't want to get hurt. I know, it seems simple but most track builders seem to have missed it. Riders stay away from the MX tracks because the jumps are to big and there are to many of them on the track. The Hangtown track just got a facelift and they made it harder with bigger jumps. I have been going to Prairie City every weekend this month and I see about 20 riders at the Hangtown track. Now, at the same time, there are around 60 riders, I am one of them, That is riding the little MX practice in the park and not even thinking about going to the Hangtown track. Not to mention the hundred or more bikes roaming around in the park at large. No one wants to pay $25 to go get hurt on a track that is beyond the skill level of 95% of the riders out there. I don't care what the builders say about their tracks being safe for all riders. It is just not fun to roll every jump, so why would a rider want to pay to ride a track that is not fun. You may not agree with me but the next time you are at the Hangtown track just look over the hill and you might see me. If you are going to Riverfront or E street, I will be going to Mammoth Bar.
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Post by JP 61s on Jan 30, 2014 9:53:04 GMT -5
Larry you've made some good points! One question for you, at Mammoth Bar on OHV ride days is the MX track groomed at all or is it always just left as is?
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Post by fkcycles775 on Jan 30, 2014 14:47:19 GMT -5
I'm sure the economy has a little something to do with it , but I also think from what I'm hearing from local racers that they are tired of local tracks doing practice all the time but never any racing. Here in northern Nevada and northern California we have about 7 or 8 months a year with descent weather. Why is it that we never have any racing in northern Nevada? I help sponsor a local rider and he spends half his time going to California to race because they simply have more racing. I personally believe if we had more local races in this area it might help elevate the local participation and I have no doubt racers from over in northern California would come up here to race. You may not get 500 or 600 racers every race but if the opportunity is there people will get more excited about coming to the tracks. I could be wrong but that's just my opinion.
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Post by beaupre716 on Jan 30, 2014 15:27:38 GMT -5
Motocross won't come back until we are out of this depression. Yes, we are in a depression and it won't end anytime soon because we don't make anything in this country anymore. We don't have a manufacturing base and we don't export anything. The "new" economy does not work. Not very many people have the money to spend on racing. Bikes cost too much, gas costs too much, the massive rigs cost too much. The average age of the motorcycle enthusiast is getting older and they don't like the "new" tracks with huge jumps you can't see over with overly steep jump faces that shoot you up to high and then slam you down like a ton of bricks. Sure the experts like it but they are only 5% of the racers. Some of the kids like it but they don't pay for the racing. The dads don't like it and they are out riding in the parks or in the desert and the mountains instead of going to the tracks. Two weeks ago my other club put on the PCGP. We had over 600 entries. About 200 of those entries were in the +30, +40, +50, +60 classes. Almost 300 of the riders were pee-wee, 65cc and 85cc. The rest were the sportsman, the smallest group of the bunch. The plain and simple fact is that the riders don't want to get hurt. I know, it seems simple but most track builders seem to have missed it. Riders stay away from the MX tracks because the jumps are to big and there are to many of them on the track. The Hangtown track just got a facelift and they made it harder with bigger jumps. I have been going to Prairie City every weekend this month and I see about 20 riders at the Hangtown track. Now, at the same time, there are around 60 riders, I am one of them, That is riding the little MX practice in the park and not even thinking about going to the Hangtown track. Not to mention the hundred or more bikes roaming around in the park at large. No one wants to pay $25 to go get hurt on a track that is beyond the skill level of 95% of the riders out there. I don't care what the builders say about their tracks being safe for all riders. It is just not fun to roll every jump, so why would a rider want to pay to ride a track that is not fun. You may not agree with me but the next time you are at the Hangtown track just look over the hill and you might see me. If you are going to Riverfront or E street, I will be going to Mammoth Bar. You raise a worthwhile point that I missed when constructing the poll, Larry. If anyone else feels that overly jumpy/unsafe tracks are a factor, please note this in the comments. (I've not yet found a way to edit a poll once it's in progress.)
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825
Privateer
Posts: 66
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Post by 825 on Jan 30, 2014 18:49:27 GMT -5
I'm fairly new to this area but it seems there is allot of bickering between track operations. I think if everybody would work together to make a better community it would help. I would hate to see a whole series get cancelled just cause of conflicting dates. We need to be one "Moto community" not a divided one. Just my two cents.
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Post by collord216 on Jan 30, 2014 23:45:56 GMT -5
Economic depression and local sanctioning conflict are definitely a factor, but for you old guys to knock tracks that run open practice every weekend but don't race ( exit 28) are what is keeping our local mx scene alive! They put on practice every weekend for maybe 40 riders? Maybe 10 of those are pee wees/ little bikes which brings me to my point. I was racing 2004 to 2008 every weekend, every race, every series, with the occasional Estreet, because they knew how to run a track, anyhow i was in 7th grade in 2004 racing 125 beg and we had plenty of races with showings of 500+! I've had a theory that a contributing factor to our slouch in showing is because we grew up? I know all of my racing classes were packed and we were all generally the same age. Just my .02
What will it take to make it comeback? Sanctioning bodies need to run events! Open practice is how you make money every weekend, races every once in awhile. New tracks? I think Fernley needs to be completely flattened and completely redone same with stead.
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Post by whylee on Jan 31, 2014 0:07:52 GMT -5
Cant remember if it was here, or on another forum. But I answered this same basic question with the same basic answer as Larry. I would love to get back onto the tracks, but at 53 years old I do feel that most tracks are too much (dangerous). I dont want to triple anything, I dont want to even double anything. I know some people dont really care, some like them, thats fine, but I feel alot of tracks keep alot of riders away because we dont want and can not afford to get hurt. We also dont want to roll the jumps and some of the jumps I have seen are tougher to roll than jump. Its not fun if your in constant fear of injury, I understand that injury and riding go almost hand in hand. I remember years ago riding the tracks at Saddelback and Escape Country where I grew up,and the tracks were tough but sane.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2014 0:09:12 GMT -5
Larry, and anyone concerned,
I agree with you on some points but not all. Tracks can be designed with all levels of riders in mind. Riders at 28 have many options. Its fun to have big jumps, but you are 100% correct, not all riders want to deal with leaps of faith and choose not to ride. Thats why we built alternative sections that flow very well right next to each other. 28 is shredded by all ages, levels and bikes. Its one of the most fun tracks we have ever had. I personally ride the track as much as possible and pay very close attention to new lines, riders comments and turnouts and try to accomadate. I know this post is not directed at 28, but I am a promoter and enjoy the opportunity to talk about 28.
As a rider and promoter these are the problems I am dealing with, from my point of view
1. KNOW ONE IN COMMAND WILL AGREE WITH ME TO HAVE AN ALL LOCAL SERIES.
2. RENO'S POPULATION IS 300,000. THATS A TINY ECONOMY, ONLY 1% SHOW UP TO RACES ON A GOOD WEEKEND. BUT THATS ENOUGH.
3. RENO HAS INCREDIBLE PLACES TO RIDE FOR FREE, THATS TOUGH TO COMPETE WITH. HOWEVER; TRACKS OFFER A MUCH SAFER ALTERNATIVE. THEY ARE WATERED, ONE DIRECTION, PEOPLE ON HAND TO CALL AN AMBULANCE AND VERY WELL GROOMED IN THE 775.
4. I DON'T THINK WE ARE IN A DEPRESSION, RECESSION; YES. WE JUST NEED MORE CREATIVE WAYS OF DEALING WITH IT, WALMART IS THRIVING,WE CAN TO.
5. 4 STROKES ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, BUT YOU DONT SEE MORE 2 STROKES? SO THAT POINT IS NOT-VALID. WE WOULD CREATE MORE 2 STROKE CLASSES
6. MOTOCROSS IS MORE POPULAR THAN EVER, THE TV COVERAGE IS INCREDIBLE. BUT WE ARE NOT DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF PROMOTING IT LOCALLY.
7. SHOPS ARE NOT INVOLVED WITH RACES BECAUSE WE AS PROMOTERS ARE MISSING THE BALL. THEY WANT LOTS OF LOCAL RACES!! PEOPLE BURNIN UP TIRES, CLUTCHES ETC.. THE COOL FACTOR IS THERE, WE JUST NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT! LOCAL RACES ARE THE CURE!
8. TRACKS ARE NOT DANGEROUS, RIDERS ARE DANGEROUS. RIDERS NEED TO ATTEND SCHOOLS, HOLD THEIR LINES AND PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS. ACCIDENTS HAPPEN EVERYDAY IN OUR SPORT, ITS NOT BOWLING.
THE LIVFAST CUP, ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS ON MAY 17,18 2014 BROUGHT TO YOU BY DODGE, SUZUKI, COCA COLA, KELLOGS, BUDWEISER AND WILL BE PROMOTED AT WALMART. ALL LOCAL SHOPS WILL RECEIVE FREE UP FRONT PARKING ON RACE ROW AND GET FREE ADVERTISING AT THE TRACK FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES. ALL WE ASK IS THAT EVERYONE YOU SPONSOR, RACES.
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fast68
Support Rider
Posts: 173
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Post by fast68 on Jan 31, 2014 0:19:24 GMT -5
Fuel was $1.80 per gallon in 04 a new bike was 5k otd the average income hasn't increased to keep up with the cost of living. The price to prep a track and put on a race has almost doubled over the years. Unemployment locally is still very high. Insurance rates are thru the roof price wise. Hospitals are charging astronomical amounts to patients. The cost of the sport as a whole from track prep to rider has increased substantially.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2014 0:23:39 GMT -5
Those numbers are not correct and dude, you cant live your life buried in doom and gloom. You have to adapt and dominate.
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fast68
Support Rider
Posts: 173
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Post by fast68 on Jan 31, 2014 0:29:38 GMT -5
It's not a argument it's an opinion. Doom and Gloom guy my response wasn't to your post it was about the topic.
Ps I'm still trying to log on the the Obama care website.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2014 0:48:00 GMT -5
Same thing, opinions are always construed as arguments, intentional or not. You should get obama care. He will cover your pre existing conditions.
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Post by fkcycles775 on Jan 31, 2014 12:15:08 GMT -5
I agree with a lot of what has been said here but I think livfast said it best. As a shop owner I would love to see more local racing! Sure it helps drum up business but most of all it gets the kids we sponsor out there where people can see them ride and helps promote the sport. Everywhere you go you see advertising for supercross and the amsoil arenacross its on tv every Saturday and I have not personally met anyone who doesn't like watching it. I think we do need a all local series in the spring another in summer and even a fall series to help get people back out to the tracks to watch and participate. I would love to say thank you to livfast for the offer of up front parking on race weekends and you can bet the kid that I sponsor now and possibly a couple new kids I might be taking on in sponsorship will be there no questions asked. look forward to lots of racing this year and hope we can all get together to turn things around and promote our sport. If anyone has any flyers about up coming races and you want to drop them off or mail them to us we will be happy to help promote the upcoming series. Hope everyone is enjoying the good weather we have been having and getting ready for a great year of racing.
Steve
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Post by screen78 on Jan 31, 2014 22:04:28 GMT -5
Tim, what exactly is considered "local" racing to you? Club 775 and SMRA have races only in Stead and Fernley, with one race in Winnemucca, how is that not considered "local?" If you hadn't burned so many bridges, maybe more people would be willing to work with you?
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