A Question for the CCS Racer

[roadracer162]

If CCS does go ahead with this new system are there any plans to reduce reg fees for those of us that bring a personal AMB transponder?

My guess is that would be a No. Instead I speculate that those funds will be put towards other additional costs of running the club that we as racers just don't see, ya know the hidden costs kinds like a dealer fee when you buy a new car.

I would also speculate that if and when the decision is made to go the route of the AMB the cost of purchasing a used transponder will also go up-based on supply and demand. One must also consider any additional connection/transfer fees when purchasing a used transponder.

[Ducmarc]

hey mark had to text the worlds cheapest racer mingo about about buying a transponder he said he's. Done. Might want to start talkin about this at the riders meeting for a few months before they make a rash desison

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

So a one time investment of $420 for a transponder that you will own, that can be used seemlessly with multiple race org's, that you can sell in the future and recover probably 1/2 your investment, and that will help streamline & improve CCS's registration process and scoring system, is all it will take (for those who apparently enter the least amount of race classes per season) to quit racing with CCS ever again?

Even if as an option, rental units will be available at a reasonable cost as well?

REALLY?

[gpz11]

Yup, they'll quit CCs and go race with WERA!

Oh, wait, they'll still have to buy a transponder.

[roadracer162]

So a one time investment of $420 for a transponder that you will own, that can be used seemlessly with multiple race org's, that you can sell in the future and recover probably 1/2 your investment, and that will help streamline & improve CCS's registration process and scoring system, is all it will take (for those who apparently enter the least amount of race classes per season) to quit racing with CCS ever again?

Even if as an option, rental units will be available at a reasonable cost as well?

REALLY?

Answer; You may be racing by yourself. One of the topics on here has been about how track days have stolen away some riders that may have been racing if it were not for track days yet we make racing even more costly. There are racers out there that don't use high compression pistons only because of the cost of fuel with higher octane.

For me I have not raced with any other organization nor do I have aspirations to do so. I race because it is a hobby for me not a business nor is it a future career. I have no need for any other information that my $100 lap timer doesn't already give. If I did spend the $420 it would be for a GPS timer that I could use split times and use at any track, race event or track day.

Marc, thankfully we are in the Florida region where they do have great scorers and actually can count laps, not to be mistaken with the counters of the ballot during voting season. If the decision is made to go the AMB route maybe Henry will make a decision for himself and his own racers. I just won't race out of my home region or rent on the very few occasion that I might

I did make an observation this past Sunday at a local track day. There seemed to be more bikes in the Novice group than there were racers at the last race weekend. I rode a different bike than my race bike just to have some other riding experience. Of course this was on a 11 year old R1 that is no longer competitive in the Unlimited class.

[MotoHick]

Will buy if necessary but would also like the option to rent.

[Knightslugger]

So a one time investment of $420 for a transponder that you will own, that can be used seemlessly with multiple race org's, that you can sell in the future and recover probably 1/2 your investment, and that will help streamline & improve CCS's registration process and scoring system, is all it will take (for those who apparently enter the least amount of race classes per season) to quit racing with CCS ever again?

Even if as an option, rental units will be available at a reasonable cost as well?

REALLY?

How does this streamline the registration process? I must have missed it.

Westhold "Rental Units" are currently provided to us at NO ADDITIONAL COST, since weather you have your own or not doesn't effect race entry fees. With the new digital systems, they're talking about a rental fee, which would be a cost on top of the current registration fee (no talk of reducing fees for owners so far). An extra $30? so we're talking close to $100 for the first race entry every weekend if you rented... If you bought your own, it would pay off after 15 CCS race weekends. 2.5 years. There's no incentive to agree to this change in Scoring. If you want to race, grin and bear it. tough cookies if you can't justify 3 race weekends worth of cash for a transponder. the way i look at it, i have to front $450 to even compete next year (or whenever). Then figure out how to scramble up the $210 for three races every weekend. now, if my race fees DIDN'T include a TRANSPONDER RENTAL FEE (because CCS wouldn't be leasing them all anymore, reduced operation costs) of $30 that's only $165 to race. $45 is my gas to the race and back. THAT'S INCENTIVE TO SHOW UP with your own transponder.

If rental for the AMB was included with current registration fees (like the westhold is now), there probably wouldn't be much fuss... One thing is pretty clear: We don't want increased race fees. that's what's driving away racers. if we're being charged more for the same thing, we want to know why.

If you're already racing other series... you already own one or if you're looking at other series it's a forgone conclusion. that aspect shouldn't even be being discussed.

[Sobottka]

this is stupid,  you guys sound like a bunch of cry babies! racing is a colossal waste of money and you guys are boo-hooing over a $400 transponder purchase? yeah it sucks but so does my entry fees, tires fees, race gas, travel gas, food, gear bill, hotel fees, bike maintanance fees, gate fees, camping fees, beer fees, engine rebuild fees, and other stuff i'm sure i'm forgetting. given all this, how big of an impact can $200-$450 for a transponder really have? we do this because we love it, not cuz its cheap.
  if you have to quit racing over $400, you cant afford to race.

[Knightslugger]

racing is a colossal waste of money

So are trackdays. probably even more so than racing...

sure racing is fun. that's why we do it... but at what point do you say, it's just not worth it?

[roadracer162]

...how big of an impact can $200-$450 for a transponder really have?

It really is dependent on one's own perspective. In my case about the cost of racing one weekend. Currently my cost of racing is about $500 finishing second and gaining contingency money keeps the cost down. No I don't race as many classes as you may or do I spend the amount of money that you do per weekend but I do it becuase I love it.

Will I stop racing? No. But it will at least in the beginning take away from revenues that the race organization would have received. I will probably skip a race weekend in order to be compliant to the new format.

[squirrel22]

I think the point here isn't whether the current racers will buy one, but will PROSPECTIVE racers do it. 

I've talked a friend into racing with us, and that was like talking the guy into pulling his own teeth out.  He had already run 20+ track days, and couldn't see the value in spending more money for less track time, spaced out over 2 days instead of one.  After I convinced him this is the most fun thing in the world, then I had to talk him into buying race bodywork, taking a school and paying for the license.  Not easy, and I'm actually really shocked that he went through with it.

Imagine introducing another $420.00 into the above equation.....

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

How does this streamline the registration process? I must have missed it.

I mentioned it earlier in the thread, but I'll describe it again.

Currently when you go to registration part of the process is that you get issued a random transponder. The unique identifier number for that transponder is then written down on your registration forms (makes no difference if you pre or post enter). Then all those individual transponder numbers have to be manually entered into CCS's computerized scoring system relating to all the correct racers they were issued to (the possibility for typo errors with manually entering in all those numbers at every event is to be expected). When your finished racing for the event your transponders has to be turned back in to CCS before you leave, getting all the transponders turned in promptly after racing is completed for any event has always been an issue - not to mention those who forget to turn them in and end up in a huge arguement with CCS about it.

With everyone owning their transponder, its' unique ID code will be entered into CCS's scoring system at CCS's main office ONCE as that racers own personal number, then it shouldn't have to be entered in to the system ever again. No more messing with issuing transponders, constantly entering in all the unique ID numbers, or having the pain in the ass of getting everyone to turn in their transponders at the end of every event!