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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Mar 2005 : 3:40:32 PM
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We have noticed a huge drop off in this class. Can anybody tell me why they are not racing or better, where the bikes are available for sale to be raced.
It is a seriuos situation that may result in the Phillip Island fiasco again.
Its no good bragging about how fast you were and you hope the kids will follow, because at the present rate of decrease of numbers we will have no post classic sidecars racing in one year.
Currently there are two turning up regularly.
For the good of the calss can you tell me anything.
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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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Geoffpgrant
Level 3 Member
South Australia
204 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2005 : 11:47:41 PM
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For myself I have been hanging out to get out there again but the two things that have stopped me are money and convenient race meetings. This year there are no race meetings for us at our local track (Mallala) so every time I race I have to travel. Yes, I will get two meetings in at Mac Park which is not too far away, but the rest will have to be further afield. I am not made of money so having to travel so much means racing less. I was entered for the Island Classic but that did not happen so now my next opportunity is at Winton in May - that will mean 7 months between meetings! (Yes I know there is a meeting at Mac Park at Easter time but unfortunately my other sport takes up that weekend.)
Anyway, with a track record like that it is difficult to encourage others to take up the sport because they immediately ask about cost and when I tell them about licence costs and the fact that they will have to travel a lot then interest wains quickly. It does not matter how much I try and stress the fun factor.
As for ideas to combat the rot, well I think that if we can do something to reduce costs we will have a chance of getting a few more out there again.
Let's look at the cost. $560 a year for licences (I still fail to see why there cannot be a discounted licence for sidecar passengers - maybe somebody can explain to me please). I believe that if MA were serious about enhancing motorcycle racing they would not be looking at us as cash cows. Then there is entry fees, I have not looked at Vic costs this year yet but over here it is around $220 per meeting (which could be 3 races). Now $220 for what amounts to little more than and hour of track time is not really value for money in my mind. Then I am curious about travel costs. It seems to me that some sort of incentive to travel would assist. It would certainly assist me because up until last year I was spending around $5,000 per year in travel. I understand some states get travel assistance from their local branch of MA - we don't! Maybe again MA could get their act together and support travellers equally across the nation.
OK there is a bit more for you all to chew on and add your bit to.
Cheers
Geoff
Sidecar #30
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2005 : 08:09:04 AM
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The HMRAV have entry fees of $140 for sidecars with 6 rides.
Licence costs are something we will never win on, there are too many moto Xers who vote to suit that discipline.
We did try travel subsidy to our meetings and the other riders complained about that. |
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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Former Member
deleted
10 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2005 : 09:41:26 AM
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My prospective passenger is waiting for the june july licence renew date he was not keen on paying full price for half a year. This actully did piss me off when I started racing.
Chris |
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Former Member
deleted
30 Posts |
Posted - 05 Mar 2005 : 12:27:38 PM
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Chris,
All racing licences are now issued for a twelve month period from the date of issue.
There is no change in the cost irrespective of when the licence is purchased.
Ross. |
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Alan
Forum Moderator
Western Australia
353 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2005 : 10:56:43 PM
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John, A good starting point for you would be the 1992 National Championships run by your club at Phillip Island. There were 26 Classic outfits and 20 Post Classics. All or most of these bikes will be around somewhere and I would bet that most are from Victoria or NSW. If these competitors could be located it would give the sport a huge start if they could be encouraged back out to play or maybe advertise their outfits for sale.
Just a thought from the West but the easiest way of keeping numbers up is to utilise existing machinery rather than building new ones.
I am about to pick up my dummy and get back to finishing the survey I had started, has anyone else bothered to do anything or am I wasting my time.
Alan Sidecar 21 WA |
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john
Forum Moderator
Victoria
3130 Posts |
Posted - 07 Mar 2005 : 11:28:52 PM
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| But if you dont renew your licence within a short period of time from when it expires you need to sit a retest and pay a retest fee. |
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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Alan
Forum Moderator
Western Australia
353 Posts |
Posted - 08 Mar 2005 : 9:38:39 PM
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John, I have never heard of a retest except for persons who have been out of the sport for a considerable time. If you read the criteria for gaining a comp licence I doubt if this would be normal practice as to gain your licence initially is in my opinion far to easy and would not back any retest system. Are you sure this isnt a local over administration scheme?
Alan Sidecar 21 WA |
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