What would you do to make CCS a better race organization? What I mean is, what do you think CCS could do to become a better organization to it's customer base? I know the top complains that seem to come up are customer support with things like refunds and pre-entries and the ability to view lap times/results online. I think the addition of AMB transponders will take care of that second item, but what else do you guys/gals think will help?
Wow, was that a complete sentence Edgar? J/K Seriously though, I hope the transponder deal works out. I would like to see more input into the schedule, ahem Road America Ice Racing, although it looks like nothing has changed for next year. Combine some classes, make the races longer. Switch to an AMA start procedure complete with flashing start lights. Pit bikes races (after the races, not in the middle of the night). How about a year book, see the CRA site. Different trophies. Wheelies permitted for the top three finishers, provided that you can do them, otherwise keep waving. Bring Hooters on as a primary sponsor. Change the rules, so that if you crash you must work that corner you fell down closest too during one of your off races. PA system for the rider meetings. Ban Suzuki.
wheelie thing is a good idea. I miss riding those...Dont have a street bike anymore to do them, hard to sneak in that wheelie at the races. lol All of your ideas are great...drop the suzuki thing though....what am I going to win on?
-no gridding based on pre-entry...should be based on points in that class instead.
-no shenandoah
-cooler trophies
-quicker registration
NATE PMed U
Quote-no gridding based on pre-entry...should be based on points in that class instead.
Actually make it so the 1st two rows are based on points and by entry the rest.
make it better for whom?
Only thing there really pops out to me...
LOWER Gate fees.
YOu can do all the wheelies you want... but you need people to see the show first.
You can have all the kewlest trophies in the world... with no one to see them...
Anyways, you get the picture.
We all want people to watch, this brings in money, sponsors, new rides...
Just my Opinion....
XIII
QuoteOnly thing there really pops out to me...
LOWER Gate fees.
YOu can do all the wheelies you want... but you need people to see the show first.
You can have all the kewlest trophies in the world... with no one to see them...
Anyways, you get the picture.
We all want people to watch, this brings in money, sponsors, new rides...
Just my Opinion....
XIII
I agree, to get myself and my wife in it cost $50. Then if I bring a guy to help change tires, that's $75. That is another race. I have 20 friends ask me if I can get them in as a "pit crew" When I tell them I have to pay to, they can't belive it.
Go to ANY amatuer type motorsports event and tell me how much specators pay?!?!?!
MX usaully $5
Car Dirt track $7
Motorcycle dirt track $5
Drag Racing $10
Ice Racing $free
Please add to list.
I do more advertising than CCS themselves!! I'm always posting links and speading the word all over the web!! I even have CCS stickers on my truck!! There are alot of people who want to come out and bring there kids but no family of 4 is going to fork out $100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, I've got LOTS of opinions on this subject....
First, Endurance racing.
How to fit that into the schedule? Simple. Fewer classes. Pitch the GT races for a start. That frees up 2-3 hours on Saturday. Then lose the classes that few people run in. SCCA car racing tracks each class's entries. Fall below a certain level, probation next year. No improvement? No more class.
When we used to go to Hallet in conjunction with CMRA, we ran a four hour endurance race with all classes of bikes elegible. The only CCS classes eliminated were the GT races.
What if we enforced the rules? If you never tear anyone down, everyone has to cheat to be competitive. Those who can't afford to cheat lose. I've been in engine shops and seen with my own eyes cheater bikes going together. The names of those riders might surprise you. Squeeky clean, unimpeachable statesmen of our sport, who undoubtedly win on talent and experience alone. Guys who clearly could never afford cheater parts. HA! Don't believe it. I've seen those bikes win championships. I've been beaten by those bikes. Why didn't I protest? Who wants to be known as the whiner who can only win by protest? But I'd damn sure like to know if I could have beaten those guys had they been on legal machines!
I agree about the gate fees. And just for the record, I found out that CCS does indeed take half the gate. That has been denied many times, but I've heard it now from two track owners.
Spectators. We need them. We could have them. CCS doesn't want them. There are a million sportbike riders out there. They DO come to racetracks. How do I know? You should see how many show up to TRACK DAYS! Gingerman and Autobahn don't even charge spectators a gate fee during track days, and dozens to hundreds show up just to watch a bunch of guys ride around! CCS has the advertising might, and they have the show. If we don't get spectators, it's because CCS doesn't want them. The high gate fee is the final straw.
Hey, much love to the skeleton crew that runs this national org. But let's face it. Clearchannel just wants our money. That's why the rulebook and schedule award those who can pay the most. Wanna buy a #1 plate? No sweat if you have the money and time. Wanna be a regional champ? Don't miss a single race, by God! And the ones that are 700 miles from your home? Double points or twin sprints, of course! Classes for bikes that only 8-10 guys in the whole country are racing? Hey, it's money. Give 'em a race! Sell our Saturday for an LP track day, and give us no price break for effectively stealing 1/2 a weekend? Shut up and pay, racer scum.
This is pointless. We are held hostage by CCS. What we need is for WERA to swallow CCS whole. Again, much love to those valliant few running CCS. I feel for you, because I too work for evil, uncaring bosses without souls.
Sorry for the rant.
Points! They did a horrible job for me last year. Right up till the banquet they had the wrong Blackhawk farms champion named , Heather kept track of points and had to correct CCS after every race, Made chasing points miserable. It's weird how at my cycling races they actually have what place you got and your current points before your heart rate came down from the race, And it is usually volunteers
and to think the race only cost 25 bucks to enter! You even get free lunch and jerseys. I still wake up every morning and have a bad taste in my mouth from CCS :P
Stumpy
Ooohh, good thread. Sitting back with popcorn and a beer to watch the fun! ;D
Hey there Eric....where ya been? How was Daytona???
and to keep it on subject...I think the points system and updates on the web site have to be fixed...and make the mid-atlantic a real mid-atlantic region...2 races at Roebling? Barber is a great track but still...how is that mid-atlantic? Drop Roebling and make them at VIR...that would be sweet!
Eh, just mediocre for me. Pretty much mid-pack results. I'll tell ya, some fast riders show up at the ROC! We'll talk tuesday night. See ya then...
QuotePoints! They did a horrible job for me last year. Right up till the banquet they had the wrong Blackhawk farms champion named , Heather kept track of points and had to correct CCS after every race, Made chasing points miserable. It's weird how at my cycling races they actually have what place you got and your current points before your heart rate came down from the race, And it is usually volunteers
and to think the race only cost 25 bucks to enter! You even get free lunch and jerseys. I still wake up every morning and have a bad taste in my mouth from CCS :P
Stumpy
Messed mine up in 03. I was keeping track of them for the "selective" classes that supposedly "qualify" to go into expert (contrairy to their own rule book which only states 750 points in a 12 month period. Nothing about "selective classes"). Last race weekend at Gateway they "lost" the results to the am GTU which would had gave me over 750 in the "selective classes" to be eligible to bump up to white plates. Emailed TX 4 times about this and not one reply. Oh well.
Talked with a friend about putting an international class or hobby stock car together for Jefferson Speedway and go circle jerk racing. $1000 for a fwd car, cage, harness and prep. Plus whatever for nomex suit, helmet, gloves, shoes and HANS. Aint road racing, doesnt have the racer family atmosphere like the midwest motorcycle racers here have where people help eachother out, but their rules are hard set and they dont play games with their customers (ie racers).
I agree that the gate fees are rediculus. How much goes to the track? How much goes to CCS? How much goes to the Air Fence fund?
If I go racing and want Becky and my 4 kids to come, not to mention any friends and relitives, how much does it cost me? Alot more than my entry fees, THATS for sure.
The gate fees are just out of line. BFR use to give refunds if you turned in your arm band at the end of Saturdays races if you were not going to attend on Sunday. Not any more. Hence, lower spectaters and lack of attendance, which generates LOWER revenues.
Speaking of gate fees and the air fence fund, does any one have ANY idea how much air fence was purchased last season or the season before when the gate fees were raised to purchase more air fence? I would really like to know the answer to that one.
QuoteGo to ANY amatuer type motorsports event and tell me how much specators pay?!?!?!
MX usaully $5
Car Dirt track $7
Motorcycle dirt track $5
Drag Racing $10
Ice Racing $free
Please add to list.
I do more advertising than CCS themselves!! I'm always posting links and speading the word all over the web!! I even have CCS stickers on my truck!! There are alot of people who want to come out and bring there kids but no family of 4 is going to fork out $100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MX - much less overhead but every one I've been to was $10/day, damn that price sounds familiar.....
Dirt Track - for what 3-5 hours?
Bike Dirt Track - same thing.
Drag Racing - Same thing.
You pay $20-$25 for 2 entire days of racing. It's a fricking deal compared to the rest. When it take $100 to fill a gas tank $20 ain't diddly and it's an excuse because your friends don't want to come anyway.
On the split - normal is 50/50, some tracks however take all of the gate fees (and still charge a rental and for ambulances and workers and cleanup and damage and and and and).
I think they got 2 or 3 more sections Mark, just a guess. Didnt seem like there was any more this year than they had last year. And if what Chris said is true, and I have no reasons NOT to beleive him, teh track only gets half.
QuoteYou pay $20-$25 for 2 entire days of racing. It's a fricking deal compared to the rest. When it take $100 to fill a gas tank $20 ain't diddly and it's an excuse because your friends don't want to come anyway.
Mongo that all fine and dandy, but BHF hits you with $25 on saturday whether you stay for sunday or not. Its no biggie if you are doing both days, but CCS saturdays at BHF, spectator wise, suck. If someone is only able to come watch on saturday, do ya really think they will be back for the next weekend racing if its $25 a shot? Nope. Had a few people very interested in coming out to watch, until they learned thats its $25 A PERSON and you wont get refunded for teh sunday you wont be there. It really needs to go back to day passes and a weekend pass if you are planning the weekend. I can only imagine how much uproar is gonna happen if they raise gate fees again next year.
There's anothing they or CCS can do if you're only there for Saturday assuming they allow camping. We run into the same issue with our Vintage guys so we cut their fees slightly to offset it. Since the tracks almost always handle the money we're not in a position to do the refund thing for part of it.
Either way $25 even for one day is worth it but it would be nice if the track could work with us for one day passes.
Quoteit would be nice if the track could work with us for one day passes.
What a concept.... ??? The trouble is that nobody cares. Or at the very least, falling on deaf ears. :-/
When I started in 99 they had one day passes and yes they allow camping. $10 each day is what it used to be. You could buy a weekend pass on friday for $30 or sat for $20. Or if you were just gonna be there sat, $10. Then they had issues with some people stayign overnight (that only paid for 1 day) and not going and paying for sunday when they got up. So they changed it to buy a weekend pass sat BUT if you left by 5ish, and were not coming back, they refunded what would be sundays fee. Not anymore.
IMO spectator attendance has been way down from when I started. The small stands in 1 and 4 used to be full. Now, 3-4 people?
Ok, so CCS and the track both want to take a little extra out of each and every racer's pocket. Great. That's what racers exist for, to be pillaged for money. But how about guests and spectators? Go ahead and rape the racer for his racer's armband, but maybe give spectators a break?
Now remember, racing is about taking a racer's money. Sponsorship and spectators are about racers getting more money. Is Clearchannel in the business of helping racers, or are thy in the business of taking racer's money?
Spectators are important, yes? We all talk about how sponsorship would be more plentiful and contingency higher if we had a larger fan base. Perhaps the fans we seek aren't made of money? Average 21 year old on his Gixxer, he's got 3K insurance and spent what was left at the bar last night trying to hook up. Let him and his buddies in cheap!
Blackhawk is right down the road from 2 major college towns. Price spectator tickets at $5, put up fliers in the coffee shops and bars of Madison and DeKalb, and watch that place fill up with the kind of demographics most sponsors live for. This would be very good for the sport. But CCS doesn't want to deal with that hassle. And why should they? The whole org is run by half-a-dozen underpaid employees and a mess of volunteers. Why deal with the increased hassle of spectators when Clearchannel can just suck every last dime from the racers themselves, with minimum expenditure on their part?
Face it. Racers pay Clearchannel. Spectators would buy sponsor's products. This would NOT get Clearchannel one extra dime. Why would Clearchannel want to do something that wouldn't make them more money? What? To help their racer customers? WAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Oh, I crack myself up sometimes!
Ummm, not sure on CCE - but the CCS arm of it is indeed in the business of taking money from racers - you're the customers. We have to charge you what we need to to get the bills paid.
Either way the gate fees are set by enough of the tracks now that there is nothing the sanctioning bodies can do about it other than try to get them to work with us. But the decision is theirs on cost and the split for the most part (I'd say at 75% of the tracks we rent).
From what I've seen, WERA views racers as customers. CCE views them as cash cows. It's not so bad getting effed if you get a kiss, too. It's even better if the org seems genuinely concerned with delivering the best environment possible. WERA seems to have a much better handle on this than CCE. I don't say CCS, because I respect those people, and know that they don't make policy.
The point of this thread is, "what could CCS change to make it better for us racers." My stance is that CCE doesn't give a $#!% about its CCS customers. It's 100% about the money, and 0% about the sport, the customer base, or building for the future.
I guess my view comes from a year spent working for Sportbike Track Time. Monte and Bonnie have a great attitude toward their customers. STT views its riders as customers, and does everything possible to enhance their experience. CCS views it's customers as sheep to be shorn. Personally, when I'm spending money, I like to be treated like a customer, not a scumbag who should be grateful for the opportunity.
QuoteWhat if we enforced the rules? If you never tear anyone down, everyone has to cheat to be competitive. Those who can't afford to cheat lose.
I'll agree and disagree with that.
Yes, I know there is cheating.
No, you don't have to cheat to win.
You shouldn't be considered a whiner for having someone torn down. We did it a few years ago, not me, but an instructor of mine. The guy that was protested admitted cheating, but there was no penalty other than being eliminated from the race.
Then, his friend protested my guy. He was livid because he felt that it was done to affect his next weekend. (His guy admitted guilt and didn't tear down his motor.) Knowing that his bike was legal, I told him he would race my bike the next weekend if need be. The CCS referred and the CCS tech inspector both wanted to refuse the protest from the other party as they recognized the fact that the only reason the protest was being fiels was because of his origninal protest. Per rule 12.10.1, the Referee will not accept any protest that is malicious. The CCS race director over ruled.
Don DeChant and I tore it down, was legal, and in need of a valve job. Rider received the protest fee of $500 for tearing it down to see the crank. Cost more to put it back together, and he raced my bike at the next event.
Quoteand to think the race only cost 25 bucks to enter! You even get free lunch and jerseys. I still wake up every morning and have a bad taste in my mouth from CCS :P
Stumpy
The cost of races...
I don't think that's something that can be changed.
A race track has a cost. With the track days driving up costs, good dates are hard to get.
I did a bike race, and it was public roads. Upkeep is paid by tax payers for things like that. Not relevant.
QuotePerhaps the fans we seek aren't made of money? Average 21 year old on his Gixxer, he's got 3K insurance and spent what was left at the bar last night trying to hook up. Let him and his buddies in cheap!
But is that really the customer base for motorcycle road racing?
I'd say the racing enthusiast is a little older.
KE and Sean could probably tell us that even the demographic of the rider has gotten older over the years.
21 years old...yeah, might rather be hooking up rather than watching fifteen classes of racing.
CCS and WERA should be the opportunity for the racer/race team to drive the market.
If you were sponsored by Beloit Honda or something, yeah, that person should have fliers in the colleges. Get's em to the track, send's 'em to the dealership after meeting a sponsored rider. If it was CCE that was driving the customers, then Beloit Honda should be sponsoring the CCS event, not a CCS racer.
Given all that, I think that a racing organization should offer a market opportunity for racers.
Yeah, there should be a viable class structure to promote racing by various riders on various bikes.
Club racing has traditionally billed itself as "sportsman racing"; racing that is paid and financed by racers. Hence the raking over the coals for gate fees.
Points. Current way of it being done is just terrible. If you're gonna be that bad at it, why ask anyone even to try race in an organization for a championship. Oh, is that a pun...organization?
With the proliferation of track days, some racers mind set has changed, in our area. It's almost high time to have a three tier structure for licensing. True amateurs, fast guys that would race for some kind of reasonable, not decent, payout, and a sportsman class for those that are not amateurs which don't feel the need to try and update all the time and may not feel obligated to try and be the fastest of the fast.
Given the right weekend structure, it could be a small show that would actually attract individuals to a race track to see the program.
How about regions. Anyone ever look at the Great Plains Region. Blackhawk, RA,gingerman, autobaun, MAM, Barber, Heartland? How do you call that a region. Compair it to the MidWest. Remembe the Great Lakes? Looks like this is one region, not three. Wow, the people with the most time and money spent can be Multi-Regional Champs. And how is Barber even considered???????!!!!!!!
The Great Plains would look nice like this: MAM, Heartland, Gateway, Hallet.
I call that a Great Plains region.
The midwest would look like this: RA, Blackhawk, Autobaun, Gingerman, Gateway.
You would get people who live in these areas, mainly the great plains area to race then. No disrespect, but then you wouldn't have the Mid West or Great Plains riders complaining about driving across the country. You would get more to show up because they don't have to spend all of their time and money Traveling.
There are plenty of riders to SUPPORT these regions alone without sucking them dry by requiring them to travel to win a championship. Then, maybe some local shops or companies would sponsor some racers, or races. And, you would get more racers because they wouldn't have to drive across the nation to try and win a Championship.
I could go on... and on... and on....
Motomaniac
OH yeah. These riders would still go to places like Barber, or RA because they like the tracks.
I travel to RA yearly not to win a championship, because I like the track and, USED to enjoy racing there with the CCS.
Now that it is a triple dupel plus regional plus a national that is to much to run in a weekend properly you won't find me traveling there for that. I'll spend my money racing against the AMA guys to have fun during a proper run raceweekend at Road America.
Run Fusa events on their own. And if you have to combine them, maybe try a regular event. Not a quadruple regional or whatever.
Make RA a proper race weekend and I'll think about coming back.
I kinda like the idea of having an endurance race in the weekend. I don't know how much I would want to do four or five races if I was going to do a two hour enduro. I think the best thing to do is get rid of the $25 entry fee. If you can get twice the people in at $10, what are you loosing?
QuoteI kinda like the idea of having an endurance race in the weekend. I don't know how much I would want to do four or five races if I was going to do a two hour enduro. I think the best thing to do is get rid of the $25 entry fee. If you can get twice the people in at $10, what are you loosing?
CMRA runs several rounds of practice Saturday morning, then the obscure classes, then a 4 hour enduro. Sunday is when they run the more mainstream sprint races, so there is time to rest.
I am that guy.
I just started doing track days and made my way out to see a few races to get a feel for the scene. I do plan on moving up and racing once my skills improve some more. So with that intro, here is what I saw and my $.01
Gate: My brother and I were a little surprised to get whacked $40 for us to spectate. I have co workers who dirt track at Sycamore and it's a fun night for $10.. Track days. NESBA covers the gate for spectators so lots of "on the fence" friends or family can come out for $0 and enjoy the day. Funny thing, I also went to Northern and studied economics. Think elasticity.. $10 does not seem to bad for a race/ $20 is not bad for good lap dances.. $40 is for a nice Scotch. elasticity not all goods and dollars are the same.
Info: We did not see any sort of program or even a bulletin board with a schedule of what was racing when.
Classes: What the heck is going on out there? We are sort of enthusiasts, and have some knowledge, but some classes had a Heinz 57 flavor going on. ( a odd mix of bikes) What are the dang classes and how do the bikes fit into one. I believe that a SS can run "up" to SB and a lightweight can race up ? and so on. Which brings it back to info and "what in the heck is going on out there?" Is there a must see "feature event"?
Racing: It was very cool to walk all around BHF and see lots of good racing . That part was pretty entertaining as is. I enjoyed it more than the AMA follow Mat show at Road America
Racers: We walked around a bit and enjoyed the very relaxed family atmosphere, but there was nothing to make us feel welcome or un welcome. Maybe make a effort to say hi to unfamiliar faces and thank people who do come out. Some cool 8X10"s for the kids walls or a few T shirts might break the ice for not too many $$$.
Distractions: It's a long day, or half day watching bikes go around and around again. Maybe have something else going on too. Like a bike show and /or have a stage and a few bands. Not every one is THAT into racing, but would come out as part of a bigger event.
That's all I have rattling around my noggin right now. I hope to join you nut cases soon
that guy :D
QuoteI am that guy.
I just started doing track days and made my way out to see a few races to get a feel for the scene. I do plan on moving up and racing once my skills improve some more. So with that intro, here is what I saw and my $.01
Gate: My brother and I were a little surprised to get whacked $40 for us to spectate. I have co workers who dirt track at Sycamore and it's a fun night for $10.. Track days. NESBA covers the gate for spectators so lots of "on the fence" friends or family can come out for $0 and enjoy the day. Funny thing, I also went to Northern and studied economics. Think elasticity.. $10 does not seem to bad for a race/ $20 is not bad for good lap dances.. $40 is for a nice Scotch. elasticity not all goods and dollars are the same.
Read Mongo's response, Tracks set gate, and sometimes are not willing to negotiate. Believe me, racers have been on sanctioning bodies for this in the past. It probably won't change.
QuoteInfo: We did not see any sort of program or even a bulletin board with a schedule of what was racing when.
Usually registration has the schedules available. Spectators might be a little reluctant to enter, but go ahead, and feel free to ask questions if they're not busy. Friendly folk in there!
QuoteClasses: What the heck is going on out there? We are sort of enthusiasts, and have some knowledge, but some classes had a Heinz 57 flavor going on. ( a odd mix of bikes) What are the dang classes and how do the bikes fit into one. I believe that a SS can run "up" to SB and a lightweight can race up ? and so on. Which brings it back to info and "what in the heck is going on out there?" Is there a must see "feature event"?
You have a point, and the solution is both simple and complex. Classifications are as laid out in the rulebook, and they can get complex. The reason you sometimes see a "Heinz 57" of bikes is because we sometime combine classes to save time. Ex: 125s almost always run with another class because they field few bikes.
Is there a "Must see event?" Check the schedule, (Ask a racer if you don't have one) This year Unlimited SB ran under Akrapovic sponsorship and paid out nicely, so the fast guys run money races as a rule.
QuoteRacing: It was very cool to walk all around BHF and see lots of good racing . That part was pretty entertaining as is. I enjoyed it more than the AMA follow Mat show at Road America
Thanks!
QuoteRacers: We walked around a bit and enjoyed the very relaxed family atmosphere, but there was nothing to make us feel welcome or un welcome. Maybe make a effort to say hi to unfamiliar faces and thank people who do come out. Some cool 8X10"s for the kids walls or a few T shirts might break the ice for not too many $$$.
As a rule, everyone is really nice, but you need to remember that almost everyone out there has a job to do. We really do appreciate anyone who takes an interest. Feel free to ask people questions, most are willing to answer if they aren't busy.
Actually, most racers are running on extremely tight budgets, so photos and tees and assorted swag at the club level is not an option. F-USA events do have autograph signing, you might want to check before you attend a national event.
QuoteDistractions: It's a long day, or half day watching bikes go around and around again. Maybe have something else going on too. Like a bike show and /or have a stage and a few bands. Not every one is THAT into racing, but would come out as part of a bigger event.
Sometimes there's a Stunta group at lunchtime, but CCS is a club race event, and not really a spectator event. You have to be pretty into it.
QuoteThat's all I have rattling around my noggin right now.
I hope to join you nut cases soon
that guy :D
See you there, and thanks for the input.
Read Mongo's response, Tracks set gate, and sometimes are not willing to negotiate. Believe me, racers have been on sanctioning bodies for this in the past. It probably won't change.
I guess you just have to keep trying. It's a shame to have such a entertaining product and not be properly positioned in the market. Perhaps a alliance of sorts with the track day orgs which would discount gate fees? That is the most natural audience and breeding ground for future participants. Agreed it will be a tough nut to crack.
Usually registration has the schedules available. Spectators might be a little reluctant to enter, but go ahead, and feel free to ask questions if they're not busy. Friendly folk in there!
You hit the nail on the head with "reluctant to enter". With it being such a open place, I felt more compelled to not get in the way.
As a rule, everyone is really nice, but you need to remember that almost everyone out there has a job to do. We really do appreciate anyone who takes an interest. Feel free to ask people questions, most are willing to answer if they aren't busy.
Actually, most racers are running on extremely tight budgets, so photos and tees and assorted swag at the club level is not an option. F-USA events do have autograph signing, you might want to check before you attend a national event.
My brother and I certainly noticed the variety of budgets on display, which is great. Not everyone is a autobahn cc member.
I will disagree with you on the swag. I spent many years in the local music scene and T shirts can be slight money makers or at least neutral. You could peddle them at the track, to friends and coworkers and maybe have a few with a local dealer. A cool logo could be a hit with the squids of woodfield and then, next thing you know your sponsoring a AMA SB team ;)
Quote:
Distractions: It's a long day, or half day watching bikes go around and around again. Maybe have something else going on too. Like a bike show and /or have a stage and a few bands. Not every one is THAT into racing, but would come out as part of a bigger event.
Sometimes there's a Stunta group at lunchtime, but CCS is a club race event, and not really a spectator event. You have to be pretty into it.
Please. No stunters. I spit up my soda reading the wera Vs starboyz extravaganza. A little something would go a long way to make it easier on the less committed.
If I drag my GF out there and spend all day, walking around in the hot sun, studying every Ed Key line, and drooling over the 250 gp bikes , I will be having a expensive evening or a lonely one. Meaning I won't be getting into it. ;D
To the question of what would be done to improve...
I'd have to say COMMUNICATION
The communication from racers to CCS and CCS back out to racers is terrible. I'd wager a bet that an overwhelming percentage of the issues you see come up (gate fees, licensing, refunds, pit practices, etc) would be completely resolved if the communication was effective between the racers and the organization.
Unfortunately, when the racers don't have a good, clear path to get an issue into CCS, they get frustrated and end up firing off emotion filled rants. Or worse yet, they post flames up on an internet forum.
Then while CCS may very well be resolving the issue, since there is no communication outward, it seems like nothing is happening...
Things happen and are done for a reason. The problem is that not everyone understands the reasons involved (and this goes to both the racers AND CCS).
"The Great Plains would look nice like this: MAM, Heartland, Gateway, Hallet.
I call that a Great Plains region"
Dreams come true....from an e-mail
TrackAddix Forms Great Plains Roadracing Series
Denver, Colorado, November 7, 2005- TrackAddix, Inc. today announced that it has
reached an agreement with the Championship Cup Series (CCS) to begin operating
the TrackAddix Great Plains (TrackAddix GP) Roadracing Championship, under a
sanctioning agreement from CCS.
The TrackAddix GP will open in 2006 with a 9 race series to be focused at tracks
in the Great Plains region to include Road America, Mid America Motorplex,
Heartland Park Topeka, Gateway International Raceway, Hallet Motor Racing
Circuit, and a new track being developed in Hastings, Nebraska named
Motorsports Park Hastings. A tentative schedule is available on the TrackAddix
website at www.trackaddix.com.
"TrackAddix is a huge supporter of roadracing throughout the MidWest and Great
Plains regions, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to develop a racing
series that is truly focused on tracks in the Great Plains area," said Dean
Rumfola, President of TrackAddix. "We have always been interested in building
a strong relationship with the CCS. We feel this new venture will compliment
our existing business, and at the same time benefit the racers in the Great
Plains region."
"We are looking forward to this expanded relationship with TrackAddix," said
Kevin Elliott, Director of Operations for CCS. "Dean and crew have a good
reputation in our industry and we are proud they have come on board as the
promoter of the Great Plains series. TrackAddix will give CCS racers and fans a
stronger presence in the Heartland of America and that makes us excited about
the future growth of our sport in those areas."
I'd like to see some kind of cash payout for sprint races, not just the GT races.
Something is better than nothing.
Lower gate fees, like so many have stated. Make people want to come and watch, don't shoe them away. Maybe have some kind of memorabilia stand, with CCS T-shirts, sweat shirts, stickers and hats.
MAKE THE FANS WANT TO COME AND WATCH!!!! Make the sport fan friendly.
It definitely IS NOT!!!!
Even though it's been said ad nauseum...
It's not up to CCS to make this sport a fan-friendly, spectator sport. It's up to you.
Present a nice pit. Have your pit crew wear a uniform. Get your name out--even if it's just on your leather. Clean your bike and paint it. Have the schedules to hand out to people who stop by and tell them what races you'll be in. Isn't it more fun to watch a race if you know someone in it? Make people know YOU!
The AMA doesn't provide the pits for the teams...they make their own. And you don't need a $20,000 budget to do it, either. Just put a little time into it and consider it part of the job if you are serious about it. Don't wait for it to happen for you.
I would think this info can also be copied and pasted into the "why aren't there more sponsorship opportunties for club racers" conversation. There are plenty of opportunities--you just have to make them happen.
Heather