JO
I dont recall attacking you in any fashion, please point out where I did??? We have known each other for years now and you know anything I say on here I have always been able to say to your face or any one else for that matter. Have I ever acted like I was attacking you then? No. Typing on a keyboard makes it very difficult to convey emotion. Im straight forward and a bit of a smart ass, you know this. You also know that Im honest and down to earth. So why is it that DHDS01 statement about being scared by the low rider turn out numbers brings out the worst of you on here?
Sure the limited class structure topic is over hashed but who has really given it a serious try? Remember the original OMA think tank? Prior to starting they asked what we wanted in a new organization, the biggest response was MORE SEAT TIME. And they said they were going to deliver. And the KOC idea was brilliant! Why not try it on a normal practice day with heat races instead of timing? No extra flaggers, 2 people at the scoring tower and a starter need for an hour or so. The best part is it will give practicers a chance at getting hooked on racing!!! If you dont want to try either thats fine, I am not saying you are wrong for not. My only point to those suggestions was TRY ANYTHING DIFFERENT. The same ole thing isnt working! It doesnt matter how many tracks join the OMA, the organization is offering the same old business model the other Ohio organizations have. Give nonracing riders a reason to try racing!!!
If we talk about the downfall of D11 or CRA yet the OMA offers the same racing strategy how can anyone believe the OMA will do any better? I know being a rider/ racer and back yard track owner does not make me a promoter but neither does being a promoter make a person a businessman. Offering the same product as a sinking ship is a bad business model. Im not suggesting creating an entire new system but just offering a little better prep isnt going to entice new racers to tracks. Isnt that what everybody really wants here?
Nitrofish, you are correct. It is about time with friends and family at the track doing what we all enjoy together. That is the reason I go and trust me I am relishing the time with my son and family! You see me at the tracks and what Im doing. And you are also correct that you, me and most all of the CURRENT racers couldnt really care any less about the money and time spent at the races. But what about the riders who arent at the races? Those are the riders, the future racers, that need to be enticed to the tracks to help keep our loved sport alive. How do we as a group help offer them something they want in order to come to the races? The rider base is out there, look at the weekday practices. How many riders are at Smith rd, Applecabin, Malvern, Briarcliff, RT62, Beans and Ytown mx on a weekly basis that we never see at the local races? Hundreds. Some are at multiple tracks but many arent. And being around the pits and races since 1988 I have heard about every reason to race and not to race. Personally I LOVE racing. Im not into just practicing, I do it to keep fresh and try to improve for racing. Time is the biggest factor for me not being at the track more often. 2 young kids, a house and large yard to care for, a business to run and daily life eat up too much of my time to take up every sat and sunday. Even just 6am to 7pm on a sunday can be too much.
The 4 largest and most consistent reasons I hear people use who dont race much or at all are:
1. Time
2. Money
3. Not enough seat time
4. Classes are too small
Those are in no particular order. So what can you control or change to make these things a smaller obstacle for riders/racers to overcome? I know we "Dingleberries" dont know our ass from a hole in the ground but we make suggestions. We are then told we dont know how to promote. Remember it was us "Dingleberries" on this board who suggested racing quads on saturday for the battle series to help shorten the day. It was initially blown off like all the other suggestions we make. Now where is that idea? Everyone loves it. CTMX did it for their Halloween race even. I personally suggested running the slow beginner 50 kids on saturday with the quads. What happened there? CTMX did it at the Halloween race and it worked fantastic! So just maybe the "Dingleberries" on here know a little something about what WE riders/racers want. Both addressed the time issue and racers were happy all around!
Im really interested to see the OMA numbers without the battle series races in the mix. Those races are special and you guys did your home work on promoting them. By far the best Ohio races in years! On the other hand the normal sunday races dont seem to be any better than the others in Ohio. OIR stopped holding races this year because of low turnouts. Briarcliff doesnt hold any races other than the Battle and LL area quali..... I bet because they dont make money like a normal practice day because of low turnouts. A rider in this thread specifically said he stopped racing CRA because he was racing 5 guys all the time. Are the normal sunday races in OMA really any better? Why would he come to any OMA race if they arent?
It is great to see RT62 trying new things, mini only races, no gate fee for racers and his indoor winter series for 85cc and under is a massive success regardless of what was posted earlier about catering to specific groups not working. CTMX is out of control with trying new and innovative things that others shoot down and say cant work. The track continually grows its attendance even though they use transponders for their races. Each time you go to the facility the track is changed, there are new activities for families/ kids to participate in. Many food, bike part and clothing vendors at each race. Where are the vendors at BC and the other tracks? Bring them in! It costs you NOTHING and I know most tracks charge a small fee for them to have a spot. Let them in free if you have to, they add a big race feel.
Where and when are the OMA monthly meetings? Im sure all of you do this to make sure the organization is on the same path and growing in the direction you all want as a group. Are they open to us members? Maybe some of us should attend and see how the ship is being steered. Maybe it would calm down the wolves so to speak. Or maybe the meeting minutes could be posted for members to read and see what direction the organization is headed? We could learn from them as much as you do. Who is the president, VP , secretary and treasurer? Who would a member contact with questions and concerns?
I am far from attacking any one or any track here! I am worried for the sport I love. I dont see new racers coming out to support our tracks so that we can continue to race them, and yes the numbers do not lie. They arent coming. Does anyone on here think the average attendance numbers are good??? What do we as a group do? The dingleberries can only make suggestions about what we hear and want, and the ones that dont post here but read might not agree with some of us but they also might not agree with you either. The point of this thread was to show real numbers about racers, tracks and organizations. Highly useful information that shows the pluses and minuses in our area. Ohio racing isnt growing as much as some would lead us to believe. Its not dead, its not sinking but it certainly isnt thriving. So do we sit by and settle for what it is or do we make an effort to grow it much more than it is? A few of us want the latter.
Personally I have put my money where my mouth is, I have offered up my track and what little teaching I can help with for beginning 50cc riders all next summer one day a week for FREE at my track at home. I ask that everyone spread the word about it also! I want a group doing this not just a couple kids. Once a year I spend aprox $3000 of my own hard earned money to throw down a one day riding party for riders to enjoy for FREE. I always welcome people I know to ride here all year for a fun free place to ride. Sure my track isnt an par with any OMA track or others that are racing regularly but if you have been here to ride it is challenging and fun. 1:30 lap times and jumps as big as anything at any local track and even bigger than most yet still very safe. Davefest prep is pretty damn good too. I have 2 tractors and a watering system. My point being Im not just your average rider bitching about stuff. And honestly Im never actually bitching, Im making suggestions to try and help our sport. I dont get mad if people dont listen or dont like them, everyone is different. But I make suggestions, I tell people what Im thinking and dont talk behind their back. I offer my track and help as much as possible, I love our sport and only want others to enjoy it to the biggest extent they can.
If that makes me DHDS01 then so be it.