Grears GP by MERP - Course Preview

SCHAFFERNOCKER said:
Those off-road guys will be complaining about the jumps also, can't please everyone. It's a MERP thing baby!!
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Solution: Break the motocross track up in sections, merging woods loops in and out, while running those motocross track sections backwards. Takes advantage away from the specialist and evens the racing field out a bit.

With running the MX track sections backwards, the MX guys will still figure out how to hit everything, but it takes them a couple laps to get it.

Drew had this down at Action Sports. He would then alternate directions from weekend to weekend. Was an absolute blast!
 
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NQ1965 said:
Solution: Break the motocross track up in sections, merging woods loops in and out, while running those motocross track sections backwards. Takes advantage away from the specialist and evens the racing field out a bit.
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That was my recommendation from day 1. Creative layout; you have to sort of blind yourself from the MX track and just look at the property as a whole.
 
NQ1965 said:
Solution: Break the motocross track up in sections, merging woods loops in and out, while running those motocross track sections backwards. Takes advantage away from the specialist and evens the racing field out a bit.

With running the MX track sections backwards, the MX guys will still figure out how to hit everything, but it takes them a couple laps to figure it out.

Drew had this down at Action Sports. He would then alternate directions from weekend to weekend. Was an absolute blast!
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George would alternate directions at Smith Rd too.
Was a love / hate type of thing.
But it always made for a different feel and that kept it interesting.
 
MarctheSharc said:
George would alternate directions at Smith Rd too.
Was a love / hate type of thing.
But it always made for a different feel and that kept it interesting.
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That was my favorite part of Smith rd, always a different track.

Also met some DQ Mike guy. Or maybe it was NQ. Any way, he recognized my bike number, came over and said hi.

Was nice meeting you and Nancy, hopefully see you at the next one !
 
hershey said:
That was my favorite part of Smith rd, always a different track.

Also met some DQ Mike guy. Or maybe it was NQ. Any way, he recognized my bike number, came over and said hi.

Was nice meeting you and Nancy, hopefully see you at the next one !
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"DQ Mike guy" haha :D
What caught my attention was the Canal Fulton Electric bike leaning over with a tie down strap. Didn't want it getting loose and scratching my fine truck . :D:rolleyes:

Yea we're already strategizing on other upcoming GP's. Thay are so damn much fun. LOVE IT!!!
 
NQ1965 said:
"DQ Mike guy" haha :D
What caught my attention was the Canal Fulton Electric bike leaning over with a tie down strap. Didn't want it getting loose and scratching my fine truck . :D:rolleyes:

Yea we're already strategizing on other upcoming GP's. Thay are so damn much fun. LOVE IT!!!
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Nothing better than an electrician!
 
Jack Bierbower said:


I wanted to share this clip I got from the Grears GP. Think we are going shuffle some classes around to make more room for our C/Sportsman riders.

I guess there is something to this GP racing thing……
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WOW !!! Actually pretty cool.

Anthony and I tallied up the head count for that 10am race and come up with like 123 riders on the race course at the same time.
If I'm remembering correct.
"A" class............................................ 6
"B-Intermediate" class................. 36
"C" class............................................ 52
"Sportsman".................................... 29

Those numbers are up there with Hare Scramble sessions at AMA-Vintage Motorcycle Days.
 
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Jack Bierbower said:


I wanted to share this clip I got from the Grears GP. Think we are going shuffle some classes around to make more room for our C/Sportsman riders.

I guess there is something to this GP racing thing……
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52 riders into the first turn was nuts… i mean i was dead last into the turn but still, had a freaking blast. I wish i would’ve got to see my results from 25+, dead last again off the start, was wondering how far i made it up in the class. Can’t wait for malvern man!
 
Romanyak256 said:
52 riders into the first turn was nuts… i mean i was dead last into the turn but still, had a freaking blast. I wish i would’ve got to see my results from 25+, dead last again off the start, was wondering how far i made it up in the class. Can’t wait for malvern man!
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Planning it have results up on the website tonight I’ll let you know as soon as they are. This stuff is hard with a full time day job. Lol.
 
Vet261 said:
I don't think anything can ever top the C class start at the Eroc golf course GP.
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EROC Golf Course had 90 on the line - that's why we made sportsman.

Steve Leggett was on of the guys in the first turn pile up at that EROC and destroyed his shoulder and really bad concussion stuff.


Sportsman is doing its job splitting up our C class - I think the sport needs a sportsman class.
 
Jack Bierbower said:
EROC Golf Course had 90 on the line - that's why we made sportsman.

Steve Leggett was on of the guys in the first turn pile up at that EROC and destroyed his shoulder and really bad concussion stuff.


Sportsman is doing its job splitting up our C class - I think the sport needs a sportsman class.
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Looking at overall elapsed times, there are more than a few guys that could move up a class and still do really well. C class guys lapping other C class guys seems a little off, but I know these are all just for fun. Not trying to start any controversy. These events are great and I wish I could have made the Grear's round. Hope to be back for Malvern.
 
Could implement a random 'seed' race. Racers dont know when it happens during the season. But when it does, it does. And that dictates your class eligibility for the next year. Having it happen randomly will eliminate the sandbaggers back pedaling.

Hand them a nice letter with their award. "Congratulations, you're doing so well in your class and that we have seeded you into similar competitors in the next class. Your competition will be better and you're improving as a racer. See you at the next round."


.........and then they never come back? promotion sucks. Glad i'm not doing it. But Jack has figured it out in some capacity. The turn outs are proving that. I got full confidence he will continue to make the product better, without much input or any at all from idiots like me.
 
For the C class stuff it’s really hard. A couple years ago I was that guy getting podiums in the local GP series - went to a Loretta’s Regional at High Point and literally didn’t even make the main. That’s how crazy the gap is from Local to Regional/National competition.

Being the local GP series I don’t think WE can fix it. It’s sanctioning bodies way above us that have 1.) created the sandbagging problem and 2.) now have to find a way to fix the sandbagging problem.

Our turnouts are going great and growing each time we have a race - but we’re still small enough where we don’t want to go blowing up bridges with riders.

It’s a tough balance - I’ve talked to those top C guys a little already but I’m honestly not sure which direction we are going to take it.
 
Jack Bierbower said:
For the C class stuff it’s really hard. A couple years ago I was that guy getting podiums in the local GP series - went to a Loretta’s Regional at High Point and literally didn’t even make the main. That’s how crazy the gap is from Local to Regional/National competition.

Being the local GP series I don’t think WE can fix it. It’s sanctioning bodies way above us that have 1.) created the sandbagging problem and 2.) now have to find a way to fix the sandbagging problem.

Our turnouts are going great and growing each time we have a race - but we’re still small enough where we don’t want to go blowing up bridges with riders.

It’s a tough balance - I’ve talked to those top C guys a little already but I’m honestly not sure which direction we are going to take it.
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What bridge are you going to blow up by holding riders accountable? LL guys and MERP are 2 totally different beasts. I doubt any LL C class hopefuls are going to stop coming simply because they can't ride C class. Tell them to run the age groups or just have an open class with no classification for them. It's got to start some where or your just saying it's OK to sandbag.
 

This whole GP series thing is picking up way more steam then we ever expected - we thought we would be begging for 100 rider days and at Grears we smashed 300+ entries.

I cant say enough about the whole MERP team - we all picked what we are good at and we work really hard to make sure that job is taken care of. I put a lot of effort into our social pages and promoting. I am proud of the whole vibe and look of our series - I’m proud of the racers we have coming out to support - but this isn’t a one man show by any means.
 
hershey said:
What bridge are you going to blow up by holding riders accountable? LL guys and MERP are 2 totally different beasts. I doubt any LL C class hopefuls are going to stop coming simply because they can't ride C class. Tell them to run the age groups or just have an open class with no classification for them. It's got to start some where or your just saying it's OK to sandbag.
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AMA doesn’t hold them accountable. OMA doesn’t hold them accountable.
Buckeye Series doesn’t hold them accountable.
EROC doesn’t hold them accountable.

I’m not saying we’re not going to do anything - but we’re not gonna fix the whole system.
 
Jack Bierbower said:
AMA doesn’t hold them accountable. OMA doesn’t hold them accountable.
Buckeye Series doesn’t hold them accountable.
EROC doesn’t hold them accountable.

I’m not saying we’re not going to do anything - but we’re not gonna fix the whole system.
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Yep, you can't fix the whole system but you can start to do what is right. Start a trend, be a leader!!!

It's called integrity, so few have it.

I'm not insulting you or saying you're doing anything wrong so please don't take it that way. I'm just saying you have an opportunity to continue to be an innovator of something special. You guys are crushing it so far!
 
How about a simple advancement process based on year end position? Top 3 or top 5 maybe get advanced to next class.
 
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