Finally CCS steps up to the plate with this great (tong in check) ad. Wondering if all of the motorcycle roadrace orgs should form a coalition to convert the track day flunkies (ok maybe a little strong) to road racers. Most of us (current) racers used track days as a stepping stone and continue to use them for test & tune as well as getting track time on unfamiliar tracks.
There is no question that track access and revenue have been going to the track day orgs the last few years. Can you believe that Road America can be rented by virtually any track day org when CCS is denied (I believe it's still a revenue questions but still) - what's with that?
Well I must say that the Florida Region of CCS have come up with a delightful option. They offer a Saturdy track day within their program for a mere $75 for the day. They even work with the potential racer/track day guy getting the bike to a full tech racebike.
Quote from: SV88 on April 04, 2011, 05:21:06 AMCan you believe that Road America can be rented by virtually any track day org when CCS is denied (I believe it's still a revenue questions but still) - what's with that?
I don't think it was that they were denied, but it is a cost and a date issue. Some dates just don't work because of conflicts with other races in the area.
Regardless, a race track is a rental property. What do you want to do, and when do you want to do it? If the dates and the cost out weigh the risk, well, then you've got to focus on where you can make that small fortune out of what you have. I don't think CCS has a large fortune either.
Last year @ BHF, Motovid ran the track day on the Sat. before the Sunday races. I think it's a good idea because it eases the track day rider into racing. It's not great for the expert racer because the cheap test & tune day is cluttered up with some rolling speedbumps.
A couple years ago I remembered this Italian Ducati rider who would ride the test & tune days, buddy up with the racers and disapear race day! It was funny as hell since he looked better and was certainly better equipped than most expert racers.....
The Saturday Track Day @ BFR last year was run with separate groups. The Racer T&T was not in the same group as the TD customers so if there were 'speed bumps' in the Racer T&T group then they were just slower racers doing the same as you, T&T.
It was a very good experiment and aside from a couple of issue it worked very well for everyone that gave it a try. This year there will be 3 schools on Friday and Racer T&T on Saturday @ BFR. Jason Ferrell will be teaching an advanced 'racer only' class on Friday's for anyone that wants to learn the secrets of going fast.
i think that a trackday organization's flexibility with weekdays is a main reason they're still booking trackdays and making it cost-effective at road america. or at the very least, a sunday-monday type dealio.
GSXR88 - the one thing we didn't like about Motovid running the T&T days is that it reduced racer practice time considerably. Typically a T&T day divides up LW and everyone else or breaks it down further with experts & novice groups.
I think the CCS loss of RA was due to low attendance/revenue. It seems that RA did mention that since CCS wasn't a national series, they weren't interested in hosting it - taking on financial responsibility.
I think you need to come out and do a few more track days with me Steve. I doubt you'll find many speed bumps.
I don't know that CCS was denied. But the way the grids have been, it's got to be hard to cover the bills at the big premier track. That coupled with scheduling and only a few months to squeeze in all our motor sports fun and the pickings are slim.
There are things that can be done to help promote the sport and draw people in. I just don't know that CCS has the man power or time to make it happen?
It's really hard to get people interested in the sport when you can't get them out to watch. Paying to watch amateur racing just seems silly. But I don't run this business, so I don't know where the revenue streams come from. I guess they need to charge the gate fees.