Come on...give us some tracks to race

[Stone]

The Southwest has got to have the worst tracks to race in all CCS. The closest thing we have to a real track is Vegas.

What I am refering to is Firebird. Due to some unknown reason we are going to be racing the west track instead of the main...which is my opinion is a joke. Its unsafe, it has more tar snakes than 50 year old farm roads and more oil on the track than parking spots out front of a convience store.

For christ sake...The west track is a whole 1.1 mile track!

What is stopping us from racing at Cali Speedway? Whats wrong with the track up in New Mexico's state capital? Whats wrong with racing Utah's new track?

It amazes me that nothing is done to help us ride real tracks.

Rant mode off....

[roadracer67]

WOW, Don't hold back. Tell us exactly how you feel about the tracks in the southwest!

What race weekend are you refering to?

Where is this posted at?

And yes I have to agree with you, the west track is not one of the favorites to race on, but it could be worse. We could have no tracks at all!!!

[Zac]

Whats wrong with the track up in New Mexico's state capital?

Hey Dave, you should run an SMRI race and see what you think of their track.  If I remember correctly the configuration they use for the motorcycle races is just over 1 mile.

Where else do we have to race?  AMP is out of the question.  FB Main obviously has paying customers every weekend that CCS can't compete with (and I'm not a Main fan anyway, talk about tar strips and safety issues).  CCS raced at PIR long ago... that's a nice safe track, wanna go back there?

CCS can't compete with the Cali market right now (WERA West, WSMC, and AFM), so I doubt we'd be going back soon.

Take what you can get here or make the drive somewhere else.  Until CCS SW starts getting 30 bike grids it's not going to change.

-z.

[L8brake731]

Tar Snakes, here we come :o

[MZGirl]

What is stopping us from racing at Cali Speedway? Whats wrong with the track up in New Mexico's state capital? Whats wrong with racing Utah's new track?

Scheduling & track rental fees.

[Stone]

I would think that NM track would pull more riders  due to being a new track and better facility...and as for Cali speedway....run a trackday in conjunction with the race day on Sunday. I would be willing to pay the $250 for the trackday and double my entry fees just to race the same course as the AMA.

We will never have a 30 rider grid with the tracks that we have to choose from. Vegas has a wonderful turnout due to the track and as long as CCS's product is crap...the series will be crap. Plain and simple.

This may seem harsh...but its reality. Its up to the "powers that be" to make this thing fly. After all...CCS is part of a profitable company and can do the same if it focused on some quality race tracks that would draw the crowds.

17 years of being self employed has come down to one simple formula

A good product at a reasonable price with good service will prevail above all. Simple to say...but hard to do. And above all...will never happen if no attempts are made to better a service.  

[AZ-MilleR]

I really wonder what is going to happen next year.  At the June event it was said that Firebird East will be unavailable to CCS leaving only Firebird West.  As bad as FB East and West are it is still 2 tracks we can race on in the region.

That will leave FB West, Vegas and Arroyo as the only tracks in the region.

[Super Dave]

I
This may seem harsh...but its reality. Its up to the "powers that be" to make this thing fly. After all...CCS is part of a profitable company and can do the same if it focused on some quality race tracks that would draw the crowds.

CCS is part of a profitable company, but...

Getting spectators to show up isn't easy.  It's hard to get racers to show up.

First and foremost, racing organizations are NOT responsible for getting spectators there.  Who should be focused on making money?  The organization or a team/rider?  How many press releases have been put out by how many riders?

Frankly, most people went to Laguna to see the GP because Rossi, Nicky, or someone was going to be there.  It's about personalities...not about the FIM, CCS, AMA, AFM, etc.

Riders, teams informational press releases, etc build excitement and bring in the paying customers.  That, as a result, has race tracks paying the AMA and the FIM to come to their track because they can make a profit.

On the flip side, CCS does have to try and get into schedules that are overwhelmed with other motorcycle racing organizations, other car racing organiztions, and other car and bike track day organizations.

Most guys can't just cough up a whole lot of money to pay double to race and another track;  they are trying to follow a series to try and finish well and maybe win a championship.

To think that one organization will always be able to fit your needs is probably too much to ask.  Why not get a license with another organization and race those other tracks when they have an event there?  Might be cheaper than paying double still.

[rotoboge]

17 years of being self employed has come down to one simple formula

A good product at a reasonable price with good service will prevail above all. Simple to say...but hard to do. And above all...will never happen if no attempts are made to better a service.  

Being a pimp for 17 years does not count! ;D

[Roger@ASMA]

Dave, look around on the schedule for other CCS regions. How many races do you see at Daytona for the regular florida region? How many races at Mid Ohio? How many at VIR? How about Road Atlanta? Hmmm.......... I guess the big national tracks don't host very many club races do they. I would say there's a reason for that, this is club racing. Want to travel and do all those big tracks? Turn pro and blip off some good qualifying laps and you can race them. Sears Point is a national track, and AFM has races there, hook up with Tom and go do a day up in wine country.

Basically, CCS SW is based in Phoenix. There are no national quality tracks operating in Phoenix that are deemed safe for us to ride. I've raced at PIR 3 times, and although it's a fun track, I wouldn't want to have a club race there for fear of people getting injured with all those walls, especially nascrap 3&4. Firebird main would be feasable but too many local riders think it's unsafe and turnouts suffer. That leaves East and West....unless you travel.

If you decide to go to Albq, let me know, I want to read the post when you get back. They have great facilities, but you think you can't stretch the leg's of that 1000 at other tracks.... Top guys are doing 52 second times. (of course we know you'll blip 48's)

[Stone]

First lets clarify a few things.

"Getting spectators to show up isn't easy.  It's hard to get racers to show up."

First...When I was refering to drawing a bigger crowd I was refering to racers...not fans. Discount me all ya want...but time and time again I have seen the very forumla that I posted work. No insult intend to the fine people that work the SW region....but these individuals out here go at this as a part time hobby(Roger excluded). Only dabbling a toe in the waters of CCS while their head is on their real job shows in the product and the profitablity....period.

I'm not alone on this guys...I have recieved at least a dozen email on this very thing. The question is...do you do something about it or let the series continue down its road of low turn out and crappy tracks. Its obvious to ANYONE that races these events that there is a problem. I have read or heard every excuse in the book as to why this cant be done....yet not one good reason that it CAN be done. I'm sorry guys....I look at things differently and the only reason that I can find for myself when I fail at something is...That I didnt try hard enough.

"  Frankly, most people went to Laguna to see the GP because Rossi, Nicky, or someone was going to be there.  It's about personalities...not about the FIM, CCS, AMA, AFM, etc."

Apples to oranges... Your missing the point.

"On the flip side, CCS does have to try and get into schedules that are overwhelmed with other motorcycle racing organizations, other car racing organiztions, and other car and bike track day organizations."

Do your really think that Rome was built in a day? Do you think that for one minuate that the progress that Roger has had at his track happen over flippin weekend? You guys need to write a book of a 101 excuses.

Yes...its going require a little work, foresight and drive to make this a better region. Yes...it may take a few years to schedule out the tracks in the future. The point is....take the steps to do something about.


"Most guys can't just cough up a whole lot of money to pay double to race and another track;  they are trying to follow a series to try and finish well and maybe win a championship."

My bad...your right. Again...back to the forumla that I first posted. CCS should start working on this instead of making excuses. This way that guy that are running on a budget (myself included) will be able to race at better tracks. Better product, more people race and the cost can be distributed to more racers and....bingo! CCS has more money to do things!

"To think that one organization will always be able to fit your needs is probably too much to ask."

Hello! My point is yet proven again. For christ sake you guys are so out of touch that even when your ears hear it, your eyes dont believe it. I am not alone buddy. Its widely know and there are many good racers that will not run this organization. Get it? Less racers, less money...???


And now to Roger...

Before ya get your pantys all up in a wad in your rear. You are a prime example of taking the steps to better your product. Everytime that I hear or even the last time I was at your track...it has improved. You are taking this one step at a time and progressing. I have no doubt that in the future you will have one of the best tracks in this region. Your working on a limited budget, yet you are still progressing. That is why I will continue to support you and your track. Even if its not an AMA certified track right now...I will bet that it will continue to grow thru your drive, customer service and being an all round nice guy.

And yes....I do intend to go pro...err...or at least give it one hellva try.

[ekraft84]

On the flip side, CCS does have to try and get into schedules that are overwhelmed with other motorcycle racing organizations, other car racing organiztions, and other car and bike track day organizations.

On a side note, I think it's partially up to the organization to make sure they get the dates well ahead of time, before track day orgs can get them.  I'm not saying they don't do that now, but even the tracks themselves should (ideally) let the organizations have first preference at date selection.

After that, it's just a matter of competing with people who'd rather do trackdays than race, mainly because there are so many trackdays companies out there now.