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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Dec 2004 : 3:54:13 PM
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We are thinking of asking around for explanations and solutions to the current low levels of sidecar numbers.
What questions would you think should be asked?
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John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
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superrocket
Level 1 Member
Queensland
9 Posts |
Posted - 21 Dec 2004 : 4:27:59 PM
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Hi John - i think most competing sidecar racers are at a loss to find reasons why the fields are dropping off. Don't know if these help but. Some questions might be - Loss of suitable tracks? Rising costs in travel and accomadation? Rising costs in liscences? Too much officialdom? Lack of spares? Increasing age of current competitors?( need of new blood)
Disparity in bikes performances? Possible return to standard capacities? Older big wheel type classes? Co-ordinators to try and contact racers for commitment to compete in various races? - My point of view is biased towards classic sideys - but i think we all would like to see more bikes on the tracks. I had planned to go to Winton champs but intermittent ignition problems prevented this, - it seems to have been a below average championships from what i have read on this site.Negative races like these make it difficult for people in W.A. - Nth Terr and Q.L.D. to want to spend a lot of money and time getting to these races. I digress though prehaps a questionnaire to all known racers and ex-racers might help. Thanks - Lex |
Lex Dreier |
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Patrick
Level 3 Member
Victoria
314 Posts |
Posted - 21 Dec 2004 : 9:23:41 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by john
We are thinking of asking around for explanations and solutions to the current low levels of sidecar numbers.
What questions would you think should be asked?
Question One - Do log books stop your entry?
Question Two - If you have entered a solo for the/any event would you enter a sidecar for a super/super discount entry fee?
Question Three - What do others think about a race for the fastest 20 sidecars log book free [pre 1985?] as a billing similar to the big race for the fastest solos at the Southern Classic? |
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Alan
Forum Moderator
Western Australia
353 Posts |
Posted - 22 Dec 2004 : 12:08:54 AM
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John, I dont think that any of the questions you have tabled would provide the answer we are looking for although the answers will be interesting. Question 1 regarding Log Books could be a large part of some peoples problem though as there was a negative reaction from Queensland regarding the change to the brake rule a couple of years ago, which wasnt really a change but more of a bringing itno line and clarification of the rules. If anyone were serious about racing they would make their machines comply and just get on with the job.
The only thing that holds me back is money and time, as I have stated on many occasions to travel from Perth to any other track is a huge consumer of money. If I could get help to transport my bike to major events I would enter the lot, unless it was at Winton, But I would certainly do the Island Classic, the AHRMA races at Eastern Creek,the Southern Classic and the Nationals, I would also take in as many State Champs as I could but that is just me.
The questions asked should really revolve around why people arent entering now such as:-
Why arent you entering races?
Is the cost of racing to high?
Has the introduction of Log Books affected your interest?
Does the fact that only a select group who are well funded win races stop you from entering?
Would the introduction of a lower capacity limit make racing more acceptable to you?
Would a change in the year cut offs for classes rekindle your interest?
What changes to the existing rules could bring you back to racing?
What other issues are keeping you from racing?
If you have no further interest in racing would you sell or lease your machine to someone?
These are just a few ideas to try and help and I do not pretend to know the answers. What I do know is that if a survey is carried out, it will need to be sent to every competitor from maybe the last 10 years with stamped addressed envelope if you want a reply or a telephone survey would do the same job if someone wanted to take that on. Apathy rules supreme and the only way to get answers is to ask the question.
Sorry it took so long to get my message across.
Alan Sidecar 21 WA |
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Former Member
deleted
48 Posts |
Posted - 22 Dec 2004 : 1:54:45 PM
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| I'm willing to conduct a mail out survey if we can come up with the names and addresses and a suitable set of questions. |
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Former Member
deleted
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1 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2004 : 09:25:34 AM
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| Alan, I love the perth Track BTW.Maybe the decider for me to leave the posty in the shed may give you an idea why folk aren't racing. The last Island Classic I attended decided me, I had 4 machines in the event,two of mine and two I sponsored. I had to argue the toss at the gate to get in as I was not provided with enough passes. They said my entrants license was invalid.I produced a current license and managed to get in without paying the extra $20odd. We went to our prepaid garage to find we had been moved to a tin shed with no power or window,someone "more important" than us wanted a garage.We got no refund or recourse and had the shed in 40degree heat. My solo bike and my sidecar had no failures all weekend wich is not surprising as Steve and I got a combined total of.... wait for it..... 23 laps of competition for three days at the Island.We had two practises each of 4-6 laps(memory fails).At the time I worked out my weekend cost about $115per lap of competition.(not counting food or beer,just the cost of the weekend)Steve was fortunate enough to win a couple of his races and got a poxy little trophy which would have cost the promoter maybe $9 to $12. I just thought to myself,what the ph.u.ck am I doing this for.... this is supposed to be fun. This year as you know we travelled to Perth for the ASC.In an effort to learn the track as well as we could Marty and myself did every lap we could in practise,and we did 43 laps of Wanneroo, just on the practise day.I had raced historic bikes from 1986 until then.That was enough,it is getting worse,too many classes,too little riding,too much politics.I can not get a log book for my solo,despite it being one of the only "proper" post classic bikes in the class. Reason,I cannot truthfully say what my swingarm is.I got it from the wreckers 10 years ago for $30. It is round and black,looks just like a swingarm of the period,it is just 1 1/2" longer than a H2 one.It is not a hand fabricated box section chrome moly swingarm,it has been on the bike for years with no problem,and in fact won two national titles.The bike is a very good example of what you would have seen if walking thru the pits in 1972,it even looks like a Kawasaki triple,but it cannot be raced.Yet we have pre 1962 bikes with 6 speed boxes,digital ignitions and carbon fibre pushrods,and various other parts.I can get and build a competitive 2003 R1 engine for the same sort of cost as that of buying and building a competitive H2 motor.Any more reasons you need????? |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2004 : 2:00:15 PM
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Establish a survey to be completed by interested persons along these lines;
- Which discipline/s do you race in?
- Which period they are interested in.
- Why do or did they race sidecars?
- If not racing now, why?
- When did they stop racing?
- What would need to change for them to race in the future?
- Would the introduction of a lower capacity limit make racing more acceptable to you ?
- Would a change in the year cut offs for classes rekindle your interest?
- What other issues are keeping you from racing?
- What changes to the existing rules could bring you back to racing?
- If you have no further interest in racing would you sell or lease your machine to someone?
- How serious are the issues of rules changes?
- How does the intensity of competition effect your decision about Racing?
- Is the number of meetings and issue?
- Does the length of meetings1 or 2 day influence you?
- Would you be prepared to assist at Sidecar training days?
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John Daley Sidecar #68
' there are those who do, those who dont do and those who undo. We must lampoon the latter." |
Edited by - john on 24 Dec 2004 08:59:10 AM |
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Alan
Forum Moderator
Western Australia
353 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2004 : 11:47:12 PM
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Neville your comments are valid and appreciated, having started racing a modern albeit a fairly uncompetitive outfit a couple of years ago and being able to make the same comparisons I have to mostly agree with you. It is interesting to note that while they dont race very often the Morgan brothers one of whom is a Historic Commissioner have changed over to moderns and havent brought out their historic machine for some time.
John your survey as detailed should provide some answers and I think that we should find a state based coordinator from each state to conduct the survey and send the results to a central point for collating, maybe that is the role Garry could take on. Local knowledge of competitors will ensure that most if not all current and recent ex competitors would be contacted. I am happy to look after WA if thats the direction you choose to take. There is yourself in Vic, Geoff Grant or Neville in SA, maybe Dave Morgan in NSW, that only leaves Qld and they do have a lot of sidecars up there especially Period 3s so we should be able to get someone up there to look after it for us.
Alan Sidecar 21 WA |
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Former Member
deleted
48 Posts |
Posted - 23 Jan 2005 : 11:00:11 PM
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| Have any states besides WA made a start on this survey yet? |
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Alan
Forum Moderator
Western Australia
353 Posts |
Posted - 24 Jan 2005 : 11:55:33 PM
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Garry, I am well into it but it is taking longer than anticipated but I will complete WA shortly.
I doubt anything else is happening as no comments have been made on here which I would have expected to happen. The most common trait we seem to share is apathy.
On a slightly different subject I have heard on the grapevine we have a modern sidecar in WA come from Darwin. Any idea who it might be and what the machine is?
Alan Sidecar 21 WA |
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Former Member
deleted
48 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2005 : 06:30:30 AM
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Yes Alan if you send me a copy of the results I'll put something together. If anyone else wants to send me some contact information I can mail out the survey but it is a bit hard to find the contacts from here. John? Lex? Neville?
The modern sidecar could be Geoff Fleming. Some years ago he tried to fit a TZ750 into it but couldn't so then was to get a four stroke and last I heard he had it going and wanted to contest some of the Aust RR rounds.
I'll look him up and see what he's doing.
Anyone can contact me about this survey at
Garry Stubbs
PO Box 434
Palmerston NT 0831
or garry@outfit78.com
Just been informed the modern is a new short bike owned by Warren Thompson who is moving to WA in a few weeks. |
Edited by - n/a on 26 Jan 2005 4:08:43 PM |
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Geoffpgrant
Level 3 Member
South Australia
204 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 2:44:48 PM
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Hi Everyone,
My apologies, I was unaware of a survey actually happening 'coz I had not got to this forum yet. I had been following a bit about the survey on the 'Sidecar racing in Australia' website but there was nothing there to indicate that we were actually conducting a survey.
Having now read the developments here I am certainly happy to conduct what I can of the survey. Unfortunately I am only aware of 6 people in SA who have some relationship with historic sidecars (I am one and you have heard my comments in many forums, you have heard Lushy's comments and one never even got his sidecar on the track before he gave up years ago) so I not sure what value the other three will add but nevertheless I will see what I can do and hope that it adds to the big picture.
Now does somebody have the final list of questions we are asking or do we just ask every question that has been proposed on this site and the 'Sidecar racing in Australia' site (I notice there are some differences). What are you using Alan?
Cheers
Geoff
Sidecar #30 SA |
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