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One thing I've always thought would be a neat idea would be to convert an existing motorhome/camping facility into a track. The amenities would already be in place, potentially including a dump station. Many of these facilities are remote enough that a track wouldn't bother neighbors. Trick would be finding one that is struggling and getting it for a good price. However you go about it, there is going to be a sunk cost into the infrastructure.
I'm also surprised you don't see more tracks built adjacent to existing dirt tracks or drag strips. Seems like a logical place to have a MX or SX track where the parking, restrooms, concessions, possibly lighting, etc. are already existing. Good opportunity to increase revenues on off weekends for those facilities if they have the open space.
I also think people constantly downgrading tracks and stuff on social media doesn’t help either. Just because you didn’t like it or the owner missed prep one day doesn’t mean that you need to bash them on social media and deter customers. Many who have never been they just say “oh I heard that place sucks I’m not gonna bother”. I like to form my own opinion and visit tracks. Many I have gone to and are really fun just someone didn’t like it cuz the jump was too hard or it got too rough and they couldn’t cruise.
I think it all comes down to cost and access .
MX isnt the only sport going through a tough time either. Any motorized sport is having a tough go right now.
Bikes and everything to keep one going is always more expensive for the seat time you get.
I used to road race and the entry fees for sprint races (roughly 6-8 laps) got so expensive i switched over to Endurance racing where the seat time value went way up.
Like wise i gravitated to MX practice days and off road racing for seat time value.
Ive talked to track owners and most of them lease the land so making permanent bathroom upgrades and the like are not gonna happen although i agree it would be nice.
I wish i had a bunch of solutions to offer but it seems like the problems are on all sides :
Cost.
Acces to riding areas.
Phone/video game culture and risk averse leading to lack of mechanical knowledge needed to maintain a bike.
Maybe E bikes can help with some of the issues i described and the few times i rode my buddys Alta i was encouraged by the potential.
The Shop
So yeah, if I owned a track - porta johns would be the way to go.
There was a family yesterday at village two sons on two new bikes. Mother Father and two other smaller children one boy one girl. I watched as they filmed their two boys riding they were all enjoying themselves.
Later I watched as the mother and one daughter walked to the porta potty together the daughter opens the door then turns towards the mom with that look.
Guys our little group talked about it, and the fact is some of the older guys stated the same their wives will not come out because of these type of conditions. So if you want to agree fine if you don't fine. But when you have people like myself that have been doing this for 50 years and more you may want to listen. Not just bash.
Larry Shirey out.
Personally, I'd rather have several Porta Potties spread around the pits rather than only one big one that you have to take a long walk to get to.
Do we really need all this stuff to have fun? Again look at Scrambles. Full Flag starts due to different class structures, no man made track obstacles, no permanent land lease, no fencing requirements, no water truck, no discing and tilling, no flaggers etc. Over twice the riders usually and half the expense. Hmm
There was a track in Watkins Glen right off the back property of the road course. The town is a tourist hot spot and was not uncommon for foreign tourists to come watch the races. They weren't huge numbers but I tried to talk the owner into taking advantage of it somehow. After one of my motos I stopped at the fence to watch the next moto and had a Japanese couple come over for pics and ask questions. Weird but cool at the same time.
If you can figure out how to get spectators in and maybe spend some cash it could help. I know that's a huge "if".
That's a big problem for septic systems and drains.
1) I love combustion engines, but electric being the way of the future for the mini's could come as a benefit to the sport. Could simplify maintenance for non-mechanical parents. Less intimidating for the kids, and could have tracks in town where noise requirements aren't an issue. Not trying to start an argument about global warming, I'm a hard core conservative. I'm just saying that electric bikes are coming whether people want to admit it or not. Personally, I'll always have a gas engine bike, but I still dig the technology that comes with electric. That could get new riders to the track. Lets embrace it.
2) Track owners need to realize they will never make money to justify running a track simply based on entrance fees. Gas stations don't make money selling gas. They make money in the convenience stores where they get foot traffic for people going to the bathroom, then stop by to buy a fountain drink, candy bar (or something healthy like fruit), or a snack. It would be good to have a parts store with some of the basics available. Tubes, lubes, screws, grips, bars, chains, and riding gear. Gotta have another reason for people to spend money. You're better off on having a lower cost entrance fee and making higher margins on the snack, parts, and gear store.
3) Have an on line store in addition to the brick and mortar store at the track. Find a way to generate passive income that people can still buy from where you don't have the operating cost of track prep, etc.
4) UTV tracks. The growth market right now is in the UTV market place. Why not get a UTV track and advertise it? Trying to make ends meet by charging an entrance fee for riders just doesn't generate enough GDP. Gotta go after other markets.
A busy day at a track would be 100 riders. At $25, that's $2500 per day. When one looks at the cost of diesel for prep, maintenance on prep equipment, people to be paid to run the operation, there's no way one can make money in that scenario. Going up to $30 per rider won't solve that equation folks. There's just not enough GDP in it.
Again, you have to look at it like a gas station / convenience store comparison. They don't make money on the gas. they make money on the stuff in the store when you go in to drop the kids off at the pool.
To be honest the bathroom thing doesn’t effect me. I don’t come to the track to use the bathroom, if I’m at the track, I want to be in the restroom as least as possible lol.
And the whole electric thing. It’ll be funny to see what it brings to tracks. I can imagine a whole new type of demographic popping up and having a whole ebike group of people having tensions with the Combustion Engine group people. Making complaints about one another throughout the day
I know times have changed... I know the new generation wants perfectly groomed tracks...won't race if the track is a little muddy... won't show up to a track when it's too hot or cold although the promoter is committed to hold his race... wants a class for every age & size of bike... I get it.
However when motocross was at it's peak we pissed in the front of our truck, took our girlfriends/wifes to the races with no porta potty issues, lucky to see a water truck in sight, non-stop racing all day. That's just the way it was and we loved it!
Support your local track! Enjoy what these hard working promoters have provided you. If you don't like what you see, offer your help and support.
Mike Kidd
Not to mention the threat of lawsuits, like was brought up in another thread.
1) Tracks need better websites. The current batch of local tracks use FB or IG. If they do have websites, they either aren't updated or don't function correctly. Pay to have a website done and have it set up to easily add content. This really is a bare minimum of acceptable business practice today. A couple of track owners around Ohio will take phone pictures of printed race results from the track software and post those on FB or IG as the "race results" LAME.
2) Basic marketing, Gather email address's of your customers. Basic email marketing would go along way of promoting practice/race days. (some are going to bitch about getting to many emails, yeah yeah, so don't give it.) I don't think it is spam if it is something I am interested in.
3) Continue to innovate with unique or fun ideas to generate extra revenue. A couple of ideas that my buddies have kicked around: Have a fastest lap of the summer board with names and lap times for the different size bikes. Have a transponder to rent (the karting world makes use of a single person timing system that is pretty inexpensive) and have a rider "rent" the transponder for 15 minutes or so and post the lap times (of the fastest) for the day, the month or the summer. Email results out to your customers...."Joe Blow just smoked the fastest lap time for the 450's at 1.35 beating the previous time of 1.38." Moto league. Has any track ever tried a moto league similar to a bowling league? Maybe have 1 night a week thru the summer or (early on a Saturday/Sunday before open practice) Pick 2-3 classes and have a race league. For example, just a simple 250/450 2 moto format race. No age group or A,B,C divisions. Run the league for 6 weeks. Prepay for all the races, (you can have a substitute for yourself) timed motos with a short break in between. Have a min/max for class participation. You could have teams, race a 250 and 450 for end of the year awards, have an iron man (someone who rides both classes) Split teams, race the same bike but different rider for each class.. It seems ANYTHING creative over what is being done currently is better than prep, ride/race repeat.
Increase attendance = increased revenue = nicer facilities.
Pit Row
And Wheelie boys all increasing in participation as Moto is declining?
I don't buy the phone arguments at all.
Yes people like phones but they are also looking for things to do outside the house and that consist of personal human connections. Friendships exercise and on and on.
There are a lot of issues bit phones are not one of them.
Sometimes they will come in as a group and not talk to each other but text each other while standing side by side. The phone problem is a real thing and it’s only getting worse I’ve seen studies where they have taken phones off kids and teenagers and the anxiety levels reached could cause a heart attack.
There's a track in San Antonio called White Knuckle Ranch that has good amenities. Air conditioned bathrooms with sinks, parking spots with tables and awnings at each, MX and AX track. They really add to the value, unfortunately the track/dirt is not exactly my fave.
Just Curious where are you from ?
I also race the TORCS XC series where I can pay $10 at the gate, plus a $35 race fee if I preregister. I can race on a new track each month, Saturday and/or Sunday depending on my schedule. It's practically a steal. Perhaps off-road is the future...
They’re great tools for a desperate rider..
Shit you all are incredible. Especially you Mike you know how to promote. It is about the spectators I don't give a shit about having to go into a porta potty I am there to ride. But if that is the best we can do for those that come out to watch and support us than we have missed the boat. Flame on.
Any way just consider this my last post on here. The internet is fucked up. Once again never about specific tracks just brainstorming.
I will never be on this site again.
What more could one need.
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