![MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) Avatar](http://cdn.vidilife.com/image/2006/2/24/398945/1586904L.gif)
Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Feb 18, 2012 0:37:01 GMT -5
The Death of Club Roadracing in America | Benchracing
From the March, 2012 issue of Sport Rider
By Steven E. Holt
Photography: www.rpmgear.com
|
|
Amateur roadracing clubs in America have been the backbone of a healthy and productive professional and international representation of U.S. racers throughout our history. From small grassroots clubs to bona fide giants like WERA, CCS, WSMC and AFM, the American club racing organizations have been a strong influence on the overall national and world racing scene. Virtually every top racer from the USA to grace the international racing scene started in a local racing club, developing the skills and talents to climb up the ranks to the professional arena.
Now, however, comes a sad time in amateur roadracing. Due to the economic downfall worldwide, racing has become one of the victims of lost revenues. It’s only natural to see an economic downturn interfere with racing. After all, it’s an expensive proposition for organizers to conduct a race weekend: track rental (usually prime time for tracks), insurance, medics/ambulances, administrative costs, turn workers, facility providers, clean up, etc. all cost serious money. Money that the racers and spectators themselves supply.
Of course, the racer also faces the costs of racing that can be almost unlimited, with the bike, equipment, gas, parts, tires, safety gear, travel expenses, health insurance and entry fees being but a few of the high costs of enjoying what is essentially a hobby for most. The few skilled and fortunate racers that go on to a professional career and earn enough money to pay the bills are a relatively small percentage of the overall participants.
But there lurks another major slice in the amateur racing organizations’ ability to run events and stay economically fluid — direct competition from track days. Yes, those fun and exciting events where the local racetrack is rented or leased by a track-day organization or club for the general enjoyment and skill improvement of the average street rider or canyon carver. Track days, as has been emphasized and written about ad nauseum in all the magazines, are a relatively new invention, having come into being within the last decade as a true alternative to a full-on racing commitment.
In the “olden days,” there were no track days. A rider was either a fast and risk-taking canyon carver or joined a local racing club. There were no other options. For various reasons, either to satisfy their need for speed, to keep their licenses from being taken by the authorities or to try to reach the professional ranks, street riders were forced to pick one or the other. Racing was generally safer than going gonzo on the street but costs much more.
Then came racing schools. Keith Code was the first entrepreneur to offer a safe and committed track experience for those needing improved skills or wanting more experience before actually racing. Once again, these schools were only an alternative to train for racing or safe street riding but didn’t offer a lot of scheduling for all riders in all geographic areas. They were limited and, at first, expensive. But a rider could get a taste of riding on a track in controlled conditions, get coaching and even rent a bike and leathers to do it without the full monetary and time commitment of a full racing season.
Then came the industrious idea of renting a track for a day and getting average street riders on it. No big requirements other than basic technical safety of the bike and rider, proof of health insurance and a fee. Riders in droves flocked to these newly designed events to get a taste of riding on a real racetrack, the same one their racing heroes competed on. Furthermore, it tested the mettle of more proficient riders who wanted to actually try it out before jumping into a racing series with both feet. In short, it was a boon to the average and improving street rider who wanted a track experience without the commitment of racing.
"
But there lurks another major slice in the amateur racing organizations' ability to run events and stay economically fluid—direct competition from track days.
"
This has been a dream of fast sportbike riders since its inception. The popularity of track days has swept the nation and hundreds of track-day organizations have popped up all over the country, feeding the spirit and fantasies of many a street rider at a reasonable price. Furthermore, they have expanded their criteria to include new-rider instruction, advanced race training, one-on-one coaching, video teaching techniques and healthy scheduling for all times of the week and month. What’s not to love?
However, as previously stated, these track days may be cutting into the amateur racing clubs’ ranks. Along with the aforementioned economic disaster we’re facing for the next several years, track days have redirected a mass of potential entrants and thus, income, from amateur club racing. To many street riders and racer wannabes, track days offer a non-committal, hospitable and relatively inexpensive alternative that may be redirecting a mass of potential entrants away from club racing. For example, the once mighty California-based AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists, which has fostered the likes of Kenny Roberts and sons, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Rich Oliver, Jake Zemke, the Bostrom Brothers, et al) has had a reduction of participants (and associated attending spectators) from a high of 750 racers down to 200 this year alone.
The solution? Well, not many ideas exist. The racing organizations are in direct competition with the track days for customers and each one is taking money from the other. Maybe if they can both work together in a symbiotic relationship, having track days on the Fridays prior to races to allow racers to get in practice and non-racers to be in their own class but able to watch and learn from the racers may work. In fact, many track days and club racing organizations are pooling resources like this already. Having the race clubs supply standards, protocols and trainers to the track-day groups to offer licensing for new racers/novices through the track-day organization can also help. Maybe offer discounted entry fees or waive license fees to those who complete training at a track day and then join a race club.
These and other ideas must be considered if the future of our racing world is to survive. Historically, motorcycling has withstood the test of time, the advent of technological advances, depressions, World Wars and gas shortages. How we handle this new situation may determine if there will be any racing in the future at all. After all, racers are a resilient lot and problems are things to be overcome, fixed and corrected. That’s the nature of the beast. SR
From the March, 2012 issue of Sport Rider
By Steven E. Holt
Photography: www.rpmgear.com
|
|
Amateur roadracing clubs in America have been the backbone of a healthy and productive professional and international representation of U.S. racers throughout our history. From small grassroots clubs to bona fide giants like WERA, CCS, WSMC and AFM, the American club racing organizations have been a strong influence on the overall national and world racing scene. Virtually every top racer from the USA to grace the international racing scene started in a local racing club, developing the skills and talents to climb up the ranks to the professional arena.
Now, however, comes a sad time in amateur roadracing. Due to the economic downfall worldwide, racing has become one of the victims of lost revenues. It’s only natural to see an economic downturn interfere with racing. After all, it’s an expensive proposition for organizers to conduct a race weekend: track rental (usually prime time for tracks), insurance, medics/ambulances, administrative costs, turn workers, facility providers, clean up, etc. all cost serious money. Money that the racers and spectators themselves supply.
Of course, the racer also faces the costs of racing that can be almost unlimited, with the bike, equipment, gas, parts, tires, safety gear, travel expenses, health insurance and entry fees being but a few of the high costs of enjoying what is essentially a hobby for most. The few skilled and fortunate racers that go on to a professional career and earn enough money to pay the bills are a relatively small percentage of the overall participants.
But there lurks another major slice in the amateur racing organizations’ ability to run events and stay economically fluid — direct competition from track days. Yes, those fun and exciting events where the local racetrack is rented or leased by a track-day organization or club for the general enjoyment and skill improvement of the average street rider or canyon carver. Track days, as has been emphasized and written about ad nauseum in all the magazines, are a relatively new invention, having come into being within the last decade as a true alternative to a full-on racing commitment.
In the “olden days,” there were no track days. A rider was either a fast and risk-taking canyon carver or joined a local racing club. There were no other options. For various reasons, either to satisfy their need for speed, to keep their licenses from being taken by the authorities or to try to reach the professional ranks, street riders were forced to pick one or the other. Racing was generally safer than going gonzo on the street but costs much more.
Then came racing schools. Keith Code was the first entrepreneur to offer a safe and committed track experience for those needing improved skills or wanting more experience before actually racing. Once again, these schools were only an alternative to train for racing or safe street riding but didn’t offer a lot of scheduling for all riders in all geographic areas. They were limited and, at first, expensive. But a rider could get a taste of riding on a track in controlled conditions, get coaching and even rent a bike and leathers to do it without the full monetary and time commitment of a full racing season.
Then came the industrious idea of renting a track for a day and getting average street riders on it. No big requirements other than basic technical safety of the bike and rider, proof of health insurance and a fee. Riders in droves flocked to these newly designed events to get a taste of riding on a real racetrack, the same one their racing heroes competed on. Furthermore, it tested the mettle of more proficient riders who wanted to actually try it out before jumping into a racing series with both feet. In short, it was a boon to the average and improving street rider who wanted a track experience without the commitment of racing.
"
But there lurks another major slice in the amateur racing organizations' ability to run events and stay economically fluid—direct competition from track days.
"
This has been a dream of fast sportbike riders since its inception. The popularity of track days has swept the nation and hundreds of track-day organizations have popped up all over the country, feeding the spirit and fantasies of many a street rider at a reasonable price. Furthermore, they have expanded their criteria to include new-rider instruction, advanced race training, one-on-one coaching, video teaching techniques and healthy scheduling for all times of the week and month. What’s not to love?
However, as previously stated, these track days may be cutting into the amateur racing clubs’ ranks. Along with the aforementioned economic disaster we’re facing for the next several years, track days have redirected a mass of potential entrants and thus, income, from amateur club racing. To many street riders and racer wannabes, track days offer a non-committal, hospitable and relatively inexpensive alternative that may be redirecting a mass of potential entrants away from club racing. For example, the once mighty California-based AFM (American Federation of Motorcyclists, which has fostered the likes of Kenny Roberts and sons, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Rich Oliver, Jake Zemke, the Bostrom Brothers, et al) has had a reduction of participants (and associated attending spectators) from a high of 750 racers down to 200 this year alone.
The solution? Well, not many ideas exist. The racing organizations are in direct competition with the track days for customers and each one is taking money from the other. Maybe if they can both work together in a symbiotic relationship, having track days on the Fridays prior to races to allow racers to get in practice and non-racers to be in their own class but able to watch and learn from the racers may work. In fact, many track days and club racing organizations are pooling resources like this already. Having the race clubs supply standards, protocols and trainers to the track-day groups to offer licensing for new racers/novices through the track-day organization can also help. Maybe offer discounted entry fees or waive license fees to those who complete training at a track day and then join a race club.
These and other ideas must be considered if the future of our racing world is to survive. Historically, motorcycling has withstood the test of time, the advent of technological advances, depressions, World Wars and gas shortages. How we handle this new situation may determine if there will be any racing in the future at all. After all, racers are a resilient lot and problems are things to be overcome, fixed and corrected. That’s the nature of the beast. SR
