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Improve facilities at existing tracks through small grants. And then show community involvement and apply for another small grant to improve some sort of facility.
Meanwhile, all the GP facilities have full amenities and motocross in Europe is growing.
Conversely I recognize the challenge of running a track and tip my hat to anyone who does it.
One thing I’ve learned about village...Terri will never go the extra mile on anything. That’s why the jump faces get touched once a year when he pays Vernon to redo the track...
The Shop
I've been racing/riding for almost 40 years. I have a wife and 3 year old that I am trying to get to involved now and it's awesome. Bottom line - be happy with ya got now cause ya know, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
Do we get a fair amount of spammers who try to sneak links in on the site? Sure. Those are often in the About Me section of their profile. Occasionally, they also do an innocuous test post or two to see if there are any filters in place against new users. Then they’ll drop a link in. Those would fit within the description of what you’re talking about. Once they're discovered, we delete all their posts, and lock the account.
Do I think the thread in question falls into that category? Not really. There is too much info with actual MX knowledge, and specifity to the area being discussed
I can tell you that we do have quite a few things in place to combat this. There are bans on certain email domains used by known spammers, and we vigorously remove spam and troll accounts. Also, Maverick has some tools that he can use to blast posts that he spots as questionable. I generally hear from him fairly often about accounts that he thinks are questionable. Don’t worry, we’ve got this.
I hope no one is suggesting that we pay to have people come in and post to boost traffic. First off, it’s not really necessary. Secondly, that would be shady, and we don’t run that kind of business.
We also don’t artificially boost our numbers on social media platforms by paying for users.
I got 5 of us together this week, with 3 girls not riding and 2 dogs and unfortunately they merely tolerated it because we wanted them to come along, but they won't do it again for years just like in the past. There is nothing for them, especially on practice days.
I'm involved in some track changes that will follow more of a modified clover leaf layout which should help some, but it's an uphill battle for the girls. I guess I'll need to grab a minibike to give them something to do, but honestly they don't want to, it's just me pushing. It's a guy sport, and when you are steadily away from your spouse to go have fun it eventually causes trouble for many.
That's a lot more than I can say for many other track owners in that area.
If an outdoor Track was smaller and 100% in view Like a Supercross track wouldn't that be a good thing ?
The length of the track is also contributing to the problem, and while it's fun to ride a long track, it's a bitch to keep it maintained especially in the summer. Again, no one wants to undo what they've already done, not only for the work involved but the "change factor" that will eliminate some of the tracks previous calling cards.
Also, in Canada, not for profit clubs can apply for government funds created by the government run lotteries, as well as provincial/municipal grants if you get your municipality’s support, for Capital projects. This is how the Drumheller off road vehicle association (DORVA) installed the first manual watering system (government grants 50% and donations 9in kind 50%). They have since installed an automated watering system and likely generated the capital investment the same way. I know in Manitoba, there are a lot of hard working farmers that have built their own facilities and maintain them (Shadow valley in Morden, Prairie Hill in Pilot Mound, Farmboys Raceway in Brandon, holding open practice and races, but I think they are all willing to accept our help as volunteers wherever possible.
For Mx to survive in Western Canada, it takes more than just race or practice fees. It also requires the riders commitment and support to their riding facilities, wether private or public to ensure that gates to the track stay open. It take a village.
That’s 113 in US terms fuck that shit ill poop n pee in the bushes.
Pit Row
To me, 30 USD per session seems massive. And coming from Scandinavia, that says alot 😂 For comparison, for 200 USD I get a seasonal pass, and am able to practice three days a week all year.
Over here in Europe the majority of tracks are driven by clubs, who rely on volunteering, and it seems to be working quite well. Though there will always be people sneaking out of that too.
Everybody has the "solution", but everybody else has an attempt to mimimize or discredit it.
Track operators have got it tough. Even the op didn't stay in the business long.
I ran tracks from '96 until '15. I loved it, and often miss it.
Would restrooms be nice? Sure. Are they going to save the sport? I doubt it.
Look at hare scrambles. They have thrived and grown in recent years, even through the recession. Not many of them have anything better than most mx tracks.
They can also be used as an argument for the track viewing. Hare scrambles kind of suck for viewing, but consistently are much better attended than mx at all levels. Even at the national level Ironman has done better with their gncc than the mx.
The fact is that our sport is struggling, and it is because so many combined factors, more injuries, complicated bikes that are way too fast for most riders, a shrinking middle class, and so many other things competing for time and disposable income.
From the track operators side, it is an increasing hassle. More expensive all the time, and less and less of a return on investment. More liability issues and sociologocal shifts just pile on.
It will take a lot more than flushing toilets.
Looking for sponsors? How about Tesla... I don’t see Lucas, Amsoil, BelRay, or Maxima wanting to deal with any series that direction much anymore. If only 80% of solar companies didn’t go bankrupt, they would have some write offs. I’m sure FMF, Pro Circuit, Hinson, and Barnett are very excited about this direction too... maybe they can get in the battery business.
What did Villopoto say about the yz250, don’t fuck up a good thing?
If you want to improve motocross facilities start first, by finding a way to get people back to the track. I agree nice bathrooms would be sweet, but it always comes down to cost. I’m fine with it, anyway I can have fun, here in D23 we are lucky to get 200 people to show up for a race, 3-5 people in a class. I remember in 2000 we had 1400, a full Gate of 250A.. what changed starting around 2004?
We never seen a drop and the sun was out all day.. It was a great day to race but most of the racers had went home cause of a stupid smart phone.
If you want to be profitable and eventually pay for that upfront investment it's going to be closer to $60-$80/head plus charge for spectators. At $60-$80/head the financials become unsustainable for us as riders. $40 in fuel in the truck/motovan, $20-$100 in gas for the bike depending on home much you like your exhaust to smell nice, wear and tear on the bike/preventative maintenance, PLUS $60 to ride? You're talking $120-$150 plus every single time you ride. Ride once a week, that's around $500/mo. Have more than one rider in the family, $1,000/month. Unsustainable.
We're stuck. E bikes have the greatest potential to grow our sport. We won't be banned to the far reaches of the earth with our tracks due to noise. Soccer moms and cardigan wearing dads won't be offended by the noise and insist junior find a set of golf clubs. Those same mom's and dad's will not have to change gooey air filters or touch dirty engine oil. Drop the bike off for new tires and chains and sprockets and plug it back in. Maybe just maybe the sport grows.
But guess what? With that growth comes new headaches. Tracks will now have to invest in infrastructure to support ebikes. You'll have an "ebike" charge on top of your $30 to pay to plug in your bike. All those new wine club moms and dad's will insist not a spec of dust float up from that track. Track maintenance costs go up with the more bikes. We need more flaggers. More EMT's. More staff to maintain the facility. It's a vicious cycle that I just don't see an end to.
Im not just talking about bathrooms here.
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