Venting about the CCS Jennings weekend

[xunil11]

First off I would like to say the Jennings GP is an awesome track, now that is out of the way...

On monday before the race weekend I called the track to ask about camping there on friday night.  Seeing that friday was a JGP event and not a CCS FL event they stated that we would be able to camp.  For those of you who do now know anything about FL region, they have a policy the keeps you from camping @ the track during CCS FL events, even though the track allows it.  They also stated that the gates would be open until 10pm.  Me and my bud get off work early on FRI to get down to FL around 6pm, when we arrive there were a couple of RV parked outside, even though the gates were wide open and no one @ the gates.  After a little conversation we found out that there would be no camping and the gates "closed" @ 6pm.  As we were talking a couple of trucks w/trailers just drove right in.  So me and my bud resolved to find a good spot walked in and scoped out the area.  He went back to get the truck and while I was waiting some guy came up and started harrasing me about being inside the gate, and told me I couldnt be in there.  All the time more trucks w/ trailers are coming in.  Problem #1 we are not allowed to camp, and the gates are supposed to be "closed & locked" to prevent theft.  The gates are about 15' long and you can walk around them.  

Day 2 practice session day.  The USGPRU was there 125 and 250's witch was awesome.  Well they were all in our practice group.  I ride an SV.  So there would be like 60 guys out on the track for a practice session, witch was not safe at all.  so after 2 sessions they decided to split us up, but they werent just going to make 4 groups.  How it was before the split was Expert Yellow, Combined (EX/AM) Pink, thats us, and Am Purple.  The new plan was to go EX Yellow, EX Pink, AM purple, EX Yellow, AM Pink, AM Purple, EX yello, EX Pink.  So the combined riders were looseing track time, IT WAS CUT IN HALF!  But they werent going to compensate us for anything.  AFter ALOT of bitching they decided to to goto a 4 group session EX Yello, EX Pink, AM Pink, AM purple.  Then they combined a lot of races like thunderbike, and Litweight S/S but didnt tell anyone this.  

Race day was good no major problems, but everthing leading up to the race day was just a mess.  The only reason I race @ Jennings GP, is b/c I am in the SE circuit and they are on the circuit as a combined SE/FL/Southern race.  I am thinking about not going back to JGP for the may race, simply b/c of the CCS FL people. >:(

[ScubaSteve]

  Why because of us are we to fast for you? As for the camping it may be allowed at the next round the other tracks we race at dont allow it. Yes Fl always has thunderbike and SS as a combined race its the way its always been done because we dont race on saturdays. Some people like the way Fl is run some people dont but there are some changes that might be made in the camping dept from what i hear Henry might chime in if its true.

[68]

NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN, !

It is all about security and insurance, There is a camp ground at the highway exit you can camp there in tents for free campers are $10.00 for the eletric.

This has be gone over for many years.

[hooter31]

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SECURITY AND INS. WHEN WERA HAS EVENTS AT THAT TRACK AND THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH ANY THEFT OR INS. AND THEY ALLOW CAMPING

[ScubaSteve]

  According to someone from jenningsGP that i talk to i hear different because jennings allows it and Moroso or homestead doesnt. Either way it doesnt bother me one bit. Supposely henry is looking into it so who knows.

[hdpromos]

We have been racing at Jennings for 2 years now. CCS/Florida has never allowed camping in the paddock. This is nothing new! I told USGPRU and everyone else who would listen long before this race, about our policies and that we don't allow camping (in the paddock). Still too many complained, "why can't we camp"? We have been following this policy because of the possibility of theft. And the other Florida tracks will not allow camping period. However, regardless of what some may think, I do listen to the riders. "For God's sake" I was one for 23 years! Some things I agree with and can change while others I disagree with and will not. The regular Fl. riders are familiar with our policies, such as camping. I also realize that the SE riders and others are not so familiar. This can and does cause problems and I understand why. So I am in the process of changing our no camping policy at Jennings. Stay tuned and you can count on it being organized for everyones benefit.

With regards to the practice sessions on Saturday being over crowded in the lightweight group: I agreed it was and we originally made a bad decision that would have penalized that group unfairly. We corrected it before it was initiated. And I might also say there was no "mob" action that made us change it. Only 2 riders spoke to me (Steve Wenner and Brian Gordon) and I agreed with them. We were caught out on that one and we fixed it. We are not perfect and never claimed to be. Every group got 6 practice sessions. The claim that we combined classes and never told anyone is a "bold faced lie"! If you would just read your schedule of events, you can see that is how the races were always scheduled. This is the same exact scheule we started with at Homestead, Moroso earlier this year and continued at Jennings.

And as far as xunil 11 thinking about "never coming back to JGP because of the CCS/Fl. people". That is up to him. Threats lies and insults don't get it! Reason does! We will be back, count on it!

HD

  

[xunil11]

Why because of us are we to fast for you? As for the camping it may be allowed at the next round the other tracks we race at dont allow it. Yes Fl always has thunderbike and SS as a combined race its the way its always been done because we dont race on saturdays. Some people like the way Fl is run some people dont but there are some changes that might be made in the camping dept from what i hear Henry might chime in if its true.

When I stated CCS FL people I meant those that organize it SCUBASteve, not the riders.  The riders are always great no matter where you go.  Henry tried to explain to me the reason for not camping.  He stated that @ either Moroso, or Homestead I cant remember the guy @ the gate was supposed to close the gate @ 5pm, but he let it stay open until 6pm.  Then a couple of stearing dampers were ganked off of some bikes.  All in that hour, did it ever occur to anyone that the reason things are stolen is b/c there is no one there to watch it.  That is my point about camping.  Then the lack of any posting of a schedule prior to the race weekend.  So those of us who pre-register and are not used to the FL region racing how are we suppoed to know that races are combined.  Then not to mention if you look on CCS website and goto tracks, the Jennings GP link states that it has camping.  So someone not in the FL region or even a newbie racer would never know until they got there.  

Take it as you want, I have been racing for several years now and out of all the circuits that I have been racing CCS FL was the most dis-organized.  

[hdpromos]

xunil 11, you are a frustrated "chronic"! ::)

HD

[watsonx11]

The weekend @ Jennings was my first weekend of racing ever.  I have been to several other events as a spectator/pit crew with my team mate.  I was very dissappointed about not being able to camp, but we knew about that before hand, @ least for saturday night.  And then we were both starting to get aggravated when the announcement went out about splitting/jumping the Pink group for practice.  But that was made good by CCS FL.  I also made a mistake on the registration for LTWT S/S and THUNDERBIKE, but I went and the lady @ the counter let me change my entry for thunderbike.  I was upset with myself for not catching it, not @ the CCS FL guys.  Anyway, I was upset about the no camping, but not to the point where I wouldnt go back to Jennings.  Especially b/c Jennings is such a great track, and the people there are great.  

[MightyDuc Racing]

If you ask me, which you didn't but I am going to tell you what I think anyway, CCS FL does a great job at putting on race weekends.  As with any event (especially ones with hundreds of crazy people  ;D), things do occasionally happen.  
It all got worked out.  Atleast next time you will know what to expect.  Besides, didn't you get to go racing? ;)  

[ecumike]

I was one of those smokers out of that 60 :)

Just about everyone on/in the USGPRU knew about the camping issues, gate openings, closings, etc., as I/we asked Henry and the track about it before hand, and we posted it on the USGPRU boards.

The only thing that was a little frustrating is that I called the track and they said the gates were closing @10 on Fri nite, but @5:40 some of the 125ers called us on our way down to tell us that they announced that the gates were closing @ 6 and not to come to the track. What was worse is that we were only 30 mins away... arggghh.  But it all worked out fine.

Just as the practice splitting went... everything was 'adjusted' and it all worked out fine.  

The track was great and everyone had fun. It just took some getting use to. The only thing I would suggest is opening the gate earlier.  Having the gate open @8 and practice start @9, I thought was a little rushed having to get setup, register, tech, and get ready in 1+ hour.

[MightyDuc Racing]

As per request from the "locals,"  no motorcycles are to start until 9:00am!  They seem to have a complaint about the noise!?  Wouldn't know why!
How much earlier do you suggest they open the gates?