NESBA??? Good or Bad or Average

[r6_philly]

First off, I am a volunteer. Second our riders manual informs members that if they are late they MAY miss their first session. At 8:00am we make an announcement that tech and registration are closed and to please attend the riders meeting. While the riders meeting is being given I speak to the riders at the end, so if a rider walks up to me under the canope infront of all of the other riders and asks if I can tech his bike, my reply is "after the riders meeting". This guy called me a DICK! By the way, he has since said he was sorry for calling me a dick and Im not mad at him any longer. We did tech his bike and he did ride. I chimed in because he dug up this year old incident to to make a negative statement about our entire organization. Again, we are all volunteers and we can be human too. When I get up early and need to insure that we do a good job of getting everyone on the track on time, it can be stressful. We need to be structured and organized so the day flows well. I hope this clears up your concerns. Jason

The "Assistant Director" is a volunteer? maybe if the org pays a few more people (instead of getting volunteers) and run the day more efficiently and have a TECH guy run TECH?

If the general riders meeting is not going on and I show up 20 minutes late and can't get my bike teched right away, I probably would think 3 times before I spent the money next time.

I was at a practice day 2 weeks ago. I got my bike together mid day, I thought about doing a session or two. I Went to the registration guy and asked if I could pay like $90 (a little more than half) and run 2-3 sessions. I thought the company was for profit, but they turned me away. Didn't really matter, I was just bored... but the point of the story is, a lot of people involved in racing/trackday biz are not really great business people. Quality people, perhaps, in all other aspects, but not good business people. customer first (or how about just money first)... I always try to say. but it doesn't usually take.

[Jason Crisamore]

I obviously will never get you to agree. But here are a few more of the facts. We have 5-10 tech inspectors on duty WHILE tech is open. We announce that tech is closed until after the riders meeting and that we will re-open it AFTER the riders meeting. I sometimes do the riders meeting, therefore I will not be teching until after the meeting. We DID tech his bike and he did NOT miss a session. I'd say we did our job and  dispite the little stand-off, its a done deal. Thank your for your overwelming concern for an issue that you were not involved.
I would actually like to say something about the original post. All clubs offer access to tracks that we all want to ride. If you are the rider that does not want to travel and only ride in your region, then by all means try everyone offering trackdays. But expect differences in the way days are run. At NESBA, I believe we offer a well defined program that does require riders to be evaluated before being moved up a class. I believe this gives more value to the disired Advanced class. Riders at the racer level should appreciate that our Advanced class will be filled with riders with a higher level of experience and skill because of the time they have spent learning skills in the lower classes and that is not to say that a first timer couldn't be the next Rossi, but better to be safe then sorry. I crashed my first day on the track. I was FAST enough to be bumped to Advanced but lacked experience so I learned the hard way.Thanks for reading, Jason Crisamore

[steelcityracer]

Dear Jason Crisamore NESBA Mid-Atlantic Assistant Director,


Sometimes things happen in life which may cause people to be ten minutes late.  Im sure even you have been ten minutes late.  I was ten minutes late, and saw that the riders meeting was going on, and did not want to interupt it, so I waited until after it was over.  I tried to find someone to tech my bike and unfrotunatly, you were the first one who I found.  I asked you to tech my bike and you immediately started speaking to me in a very condasending way, borderline yelling at me, and telling me that I shouldnt have been late, and that I probably would not ride until after lunch.  That is when I called you a dick.  You looked stunned, so I said, yes, that is what you are acting like.  I did not "dig up" this year old incident to speak negatively about NESBA as a whole.  Someone started a thread asking about experiences at track days, and I told about a bad experience I had with ONE NESBA staff member.  I did not post with the intent of discrediting NEABA on a whole.  Dutch was reasonable, and sucessfully mediated a situation that really shouldnt have hapened in the first place.  I also know many other cool people who are on the NESBA staff.  Also, I did miss the first session, unless you consider riding the last lap of the session running the session.  One last thing, the NESBA advanced class is no different than other track days advanced classes.  It has riders of many different skill levels, and often varies from day to day.  All of the advanced sessions that I have ridden with different organizations have at least a few riders that I lape every 5 or 6 laps.  Thats no disrespect to NESBA, but just saying that it varies depending on who signs up for that day, and there will usually be a few slow/slightly less predictable riders in any organizations advanced group.

Sincerely, Henry DeLuca
Racer

[danboy]

I've got to say I've ridden with all of the orgs and choose to ride with Nesba these days almost exclusively.  Their Advanced group is a step above the others for a reason, they don't keep the doors open letting people ride, they make people actually earn getting into the respective groups there and they actually have rules and enforce them. Man you mean they actually have rules and stick to them, now theres a new concept instead of stroking egos. They have a plan for a good track day and so far they are the largest and most successful longest running org out there, its a simple fact.....maybe they are doing something right? Their CR's are a step above the other groups clubs in this area (Mid Atlantic-Southeast) as well which when coming up they helped me the most. I've seen some of the other clubs coaches riding in Nesba Intermediate group (R6 philly that would be 3 of your coaches 1 just made it out of Nesba Beginner and yes that was recently and I know several others that are coaches elsewhere that didn't make Nesba CR) they were nice capable people but who would you rather have teaching and running the day? From what I've seen their CR's are approachable, capable people that truly love the sport and give back what they can to a good club..not just take what they can to get track time. Not all of them are the fastest people out on the track on any day but they are all Nesba A group riders that have not just ability but the intangables that make Nesba what it is.  Nesba runs a track day not a race practice or a race day or even a school so they expect certain rules to be followed. This may be not what everyone is looking for but this is their product. It's not for everyone so there are others to pick from. When looking for a club try them all everyone has something a little different.

[Dutch110]

The "Assistant Director" is a volunteer? maybe if the org pays a few more people (instead of getting volunteers) and run the day more efficiently and have a TECH guy run TECH?

If the general riders meeting is not going on and I show up 20 minutes late and can't get my bike teched right away, I probably would think 3 times before I spent the money next time.

I was at a practice day 2 weeks ago. I got my bike together mid day, I thought about doing a session or two. I Went to the registration guy and asked if I could pay like $90 (a little more than half) and run 2-3 sessions. I thought the company was for profit, but they turned me away. Didn't really matter, I was just bored... but the point of the story is, a lot of people involved in racing/trackday biz are not really great business people. Quality people, perhaps, in all other aspects, but not good business people. customer first (or how about just money first)... I always try to say. but it doesn't usually take.

Dafan,

You obviously have never attended a day I have ran. The last thing they are is inefficient. Ask our members.

If you would also go back and read everything that has been posted you would also realize that we make it very clear that tech and registration close during the riders meeting and will reopen afterwards. You can tech and register at ANY TIME during the day just as long as it is not during the RIDERS MEETING.

Thanks for your advice on how we should run things but I think we'll stick with the format that took us from a regional club like TPM to a national organization. Still run by all volunteers thank you very much.

[G 97]

NESBA been berry berry good to me. 

I like NESBIANS 

[rwracer]

I've only run Mid-Atlantic but NESBA is definitely the most fun I've ever had on a non-race day...



The flip-side is that Dutch and the other Senior staff needs to admonish the CR's NOT to give anyone crap for "lateness." 
It definitely does happen and it's definitely ALWAYS wrong and always unnecessary.

But beyond that I can only say NESBA is a great org.

[r6_philly]

Dafan,

You obviously have never attended a day I have ran. The last thing they are is inefficient. Ask our members.

If you would also go back and read everything that has been posted you would also realize that we make it very clear that tech and registration close during the riders meeting and will reopen afterwards. You can tech and register at ANY TIME during the day just as long as it is not during the RIDERS MEETING.

Thanks for your advice on how we should run things but I think we'll stick with the format that took us from a regional club like TPM to a national organization. Still run by all volunteers thank you very much.

Dutch, I have never registered nor ridden at a NESBA day, so my comments are PURELY based on what Jason has said above.

I picked up the following:
- He was asked to tech, so I assume he was doing tech
- It was not during riders meeting, rather, it was during a "beginner riders meeting", so it shouldn't affect a non beginner rider
- If he was not assigned to do tech, I assume that there is no one else doing tech

I had nothing to add to this thread after your post, I think you had responded well to the issue, and all should have been forgotten. I only had something to say after reading what Jason posted. Jason, is not very good a customer service, and you are, I think you should continue to make statements for NESBA, and Jason should refrain :)

If you don't run a decent business, you wouldn't still be in business. I respect how you run your days and will never try to tell you that any other way is the better way. I may have suggestions if I ever attend one of your days, but I am too cheap to pay soooo lol

Like I suggested before, try everyone out and make your own opinions... and there are nice guys working and there are not so nice guys, don't judge the org on one person.

[johnny scheff]

   FWIW I haven't ridden with NESBA since 2004.  The summer of 2003 I did 35+ track days.  This was my second summer on the track and I was between jobs so I rode every chance that i could.  As a beginning track rider on an SV in the intermediate group I found the passing rules to be a bit stifling.  The structure was very rigid,  and they seemed to have just as many crashes,  if not more, than STT,  the other group that I rode with that summer.  The structure of the day was sensible.  I believe the issue was with it's implementation.  There was an overwhelming sense of arrogance from the control riders.  I think that this attitude bred competitiveness in the riders.  I understand that CR's are volunteers.  I know that it is hard work for no glory.   At the time it was intimidating.  Looking back now I just don't understand why you would want huge ego's and attitudes dealing with beginning riders. 

I can tell you what NESBA actually stands for:  Negative Energy Sport Bike Association.  Given that statement you know where I stand. 

I know that is a harsh statement.  Not all of the CR's were bad guys.  But most of these guys had below average people skills.  The guy who seemed to be in charge,  I think his name was Garth,  was always helpful and friendly.  Overall the crew was very heavy handed.  I always advise my beginning track day customers to steer clear of NESBA.  If you are within 5-7 seconds of the lap record the advanced group is probably the fastest of the track day org's and the best fit for you.  For a beginning or intermediate rider there are better options.   Later - Johnny - CCS # 234

[G 97]

People know Garth. He's kind of important. He is a big deal. 

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

    I can tell you what NESBA actually stands for:  Negative Energy Sport Bike Association.  Given that statement you know where I stand. 

[johnny scheff]

Chris,  I have a check for you.  Mailing address please.  Later - Johnny