Interesting Loudon article

[Degsy]

here

[brewmaster]

It's about $. Motorcycle racing = less $ in and requires more $ out. Nascrap = huge $ in and less $ out. Simple math really. Sad but currently true.

[highsider]

That was a good read.

[benVFR]

The quote about the best air fence is funny.

Check out the air fence at Catalunya... looks like it is 4-5x thicker then at Loudon, with multiple densities to slow the bike/rider.

And that's after a huge sand trap/run-off area. Hopkins got right up from a triple digit crash andfinished 4th!



Maybe Loudon would be safe for those guys if the entire nascar section had an air fence that thick! But would there be any track left to race on?

Watching the Superbike race yesterday I think the guy from Soup is dead on... why would anyone even remotely think of taking a race away from Miller and giving it back to NHIS! The Utah track looked amazing..

There was a great quote from Larry Pegram... something along the lines of, "Racing at this track makes me feel so warm and cozy... cause the walls are SO far away! It's awesome!"

[zx1012r]

I think most of that is just painted tires. The run off area is the key point, though!

[trackdog]

2006 "Classic"?
In short, not too specific........I'm looking over the track while cornerworking, specifically the sealer that was used, the way things are run in general, the way security was implemented, I'm just a little disappointed.....I really wish there was another show in town.

I think the best part was feeling like a prisoner rather than the "entertainment" for the the Classic weekend.

I'm just not happy..........

Thanks for posting the article Degs.......

[Stoneman]

From a spectator's viewpoint, it was a terrible let down. I mean how everything was run and how entrance to the track/pits were run. It was laughable. The whole 'administrative' side of things that is...

It took me over 10 minutes just to get into the track.

'...oh, if you're using a credit card, go there to pay...'.

'...I don't know why she told you that, you have to go over to THAT window to pay...'

'...I KNOW there's no one there, just wait...'

'...that'll be $65 please...'

'...oh, just the entry & pit? You gotta go back over there...'

'...this line is just for racers. I don't know why she sent you back to me...'

'...I'm sorry, my mistake. You pay $10 here and give the slip to THAT chick at the gate, then pay another $10 at the tunnel entrance...'

'...why'd she tell you to give that to ME? You gotta give that slip to HER...'

And on & on & on & on & on & on...WEEEEEE!!!

[bentbryan]

Goddamn! Even the friggin' burgers at the cornerworkers appreciation party were under-cooked! That sort of thing will make a big wad of diarrhea come out of you!

[trackdog]

Originally posted by Stoneman
From a spectator's viewpoint, it was a terrible let down. I mean how everything was run and how entrance to the track/pits were run. It was laughable. The whole 'administrative' side of things that is...

It took me over 10 minutes just to get into the track.

'...oh, if you're using a credit card, go there to pay...'.

'...I don't know why she told you that, you have to go over to THAT window to pay...'

'...I KNOW there's no one there, just wait...'

'...that'll be $65 please...'

'...oh, just the entry & pit? You gotta go back over there...'

'...this line is just for racers. I don't know why she sent you back to me...'

'...I'm sorry, my mistake. You pay $10 here and give the slip to THAT chick at the gate, then pay another $10 at the tunnel entrance...'

'...why'd she tell you to give that to ME? You gotta give that slip to HER...'

And on & on & on & on & on & on...WEEEEEE!!!

Exactly!

....."but I'm stationed to work T7...and that gate up there is the fastest, safest, and only way to get to my post during a race!" I said

" you can walk up there, no bicycles beyond this point, leave it here and walk up" said security at the tunnel entrance.

As I watch all sorts of vehicles head out to the hill!

WTF!

[R7]

Originally posted by bentbryan
That sort of thing will make a big wad of diarrhea come out of you!

It wasn't me, honest

[R7]

Originally posted by trackdog
2006 "Classic"?
In short, not too specific........I'm looking over the track while cornerworking, specifically the sealer that was used, the way things are run in general, the way security was implemented, I'm just a little disappointed.....I really wish there was another show in town.

I think the best part was feeling like a prisoner rather than the "entertainment" for the the Classic weekend.

I'm just not happy..........

Thanks for posting the article Degs.......

I didn't even know there was sealer on the track up in turn 7? In a couple more years, all you are going to see up there are Motards because they are the only bikes that fit the track well and can run safe. It really is time to put some serious money in that track or even building a new one

You're right on feeling more like a prisoner. You can't go here, can't go there... but yet they let the animal hill people in the infield and clog up and dirty the showers with long lines
Even the regular race weekends are not the same anymore... no more riding out back, no more pitbike track/races... can you even still walk the track at night or in the morning?

[trackdog]

I didn't even know there was sealer on the track up in turn 7? In a couple more years, all you are going to see up there are Motards because they are the only bikes that fit the track well and can run safe. It really is time to put some serious money in that track or even building a new one

Refering to T2 and 12, not T7!...lol
And as far as trackwalks, that had better not be the case!

I'm feeling disgusted with the whole thing.

Buy its the only show in town!

You can't ride dirt out back?

[Paul_E_D]

No offense, but you guys need to focus on your race programs. When they make a rule that prevents you from doing what you need to do to learn and go faster is the only time you should really even notice what the administration is doing.

My .02

However, I agree with you that it feels less like OUR place during a race weekend. When I started it was like we owned it on a race weekend. Oh well, that's the direction America is heading on all fronts. Ownership society my ass! we barley control our own property.

Things I've done at Loudon that I'll never do again:

Rollerbladed the track
longboarded the track
bicycled the track
rode the track by myself (motorcycle)
Rode a pitbike on the track with no helmet
disposed of waste oil when I wanted

It's a bummer, but hey, I'm racing. I feel incredibly lucky to be doing that. Is the other stuff distracting me? negative.

[WebCrush]

I've got a running count of how people have felt here: http://racing.webcrush.com/pollBooth.asp?qid=Poor

Add your vote to the list.

[s a x m a n]

because I have nothing to compare it too ... i have the time of my life each and every race weekend

[Ken C]

You mention comparing, so....

The old Loudon track was a nice layout to race on, I'd say maybe 15% more fun than the current track. But it was dangerous! It was fun because we really didn't know better. We know better now, because the standards and expectations have changed.

NHIS is more dangerous than many other tracks at first sight. But, you guys have no idea how good we've got it terms of facilities, and quality of track surface.

The old track's surface was pathetic. I remember racing when there were potholes right on the line that you needed to avoid, as well as patches of concrete everywhere. I didn't hear any complaints, because it was the state of racetracks back in the 80s.

The infield was the familiar rocky, sandy dirt with one paved access road that snaked through the pits. Everyone pitted in the dirt. If you were a big team, you'd have an astroturf carpet, but not many did that. The bathrooms were the worst. There didn't even any doors on the stalls. It wasn't till the last year of the old track when they finally put some shower curtains in .

Damn, I sure sound like the old man saying "You kids don't know how good you've got it. Back in my day..." Well, maybe I am that guy.


Pictures Here

[Paul_E_D]

Plenty of other tracks are still like that...

[WebCrush]

Originally posted by Paul_E_D
Plenty of other tracks are still like that...

Plenty?

I'd like to hear that list.

[Ken C]

Many of the Canadian tracks come to mind.

Let's face it, time marches on and with it comes new expectations and standards. Nothing wrong with wanting what has become the norm, but it shouldn't wreck your enjoyment of a perfectly good (not great) track.

[Paul_E_D]

Well, I only have pictures from RRW and reports to go by, so I won't bother dissing any track I haven't been to, but grass growing through the pavement, no electricity, etc. makes loudon seem more than decent to me... but I'm not a complainer, so you guys can disregard my comments and carry on with you whinging...

[WebCrush]

A lot of Canada sucks, lets not discuss it.

I don't know what tracks RRW talked about, Paul, but I've been around the a bit and have yet to see anything that you speak of.

Summit--sure needs a repave, and it'll happen eventually, but they did just build a 3rd road course. Facilities are 'ok'. Some sections paved, some sections on grasss. Electricity provided, no garages.

VIR - near perfect track(s), great paddock, great facilities, etc. Garages being built (prolly done by now). Bathrooms ALWAYS clean and like new. Only complaint is the kitty litter on the ground.

Daytona--garages, electricity, bathrooms, paved paddock, etc. Not much to complain about there. Biggest negative is the inability to camp IN the paddock and being forced to leave at 6pm.

Road Atlanta, Barber, Ohio, etc are all pretty the same as above.

Then you get to the more sketchy tracks--Roebling, Nelson, Putnam, etc. I hear they are bumpy, lack elec, and are most 'rough'. But then again, they are not the only tracks withint a region, they are just there to add some variety to an already existing program.

[OreoGaborio]

I like to concentrate on things like racing and having fun.

It's a racetrack... the competition is awesome... i've made a REDICULOUS number of friends and the people couldn't be better... i get to camp out w/ those friends & have a fucking blast with them every weekend... I get to wake up & do a few laps in the AM.. fire up the grill & make some breakfast... race... whizz / shit / shower in bathrooms that are certainly better than the ones at boyscout summer camp... eat lunch in a cafeteria that beats the hell outta the one at my elementary school. The list goes on.

Granted I just started racing this year, but I haven't had a single bad weekend of racing yet. Concentrate on yourself and what you do, not what other people are doing. If the LRRS managment does something that negatively affects the racers activities while racing on the track, THEN i'll complain.




Adam, you don't friggin race there any more, do you? So why are you still whining and acting like a little kid? That's like bitching about an ex-girlfriend you had back in Jr. High... it doesn't affect your life anymore and we're sick of hearing you talk. Shut up and move on with your life.

[WebCrush]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
Adam, you don't friggin race there any more, do you? So why are you still whining and acting like a little kid? . . . Shut up and move on with your life.

Not my choice in the matter, and LRRS has made sure I couldn't go anywhere else either. Where would you suggest that I move on to?

You've experienced, what, THREE weekends and you're surprised that people that have been doing this for 7-8 YEARS might have something negative about that place?

Come back in 7 years and tell me how fair you think you've been treated during that time.

[Awesome]

I'm unhappy with a number of things at the track and with an income in excess of $50,000 per weekend i would think some of those things should be addressed.

[WebCrush]

Originally posted by hessogood
I'm unhappy with a number of things at the track and with an income in excess of $50,000 per weekend i would think some of those things should be addressed.

You're obviously not alone in that opinion as it appears that in the last day or two 10 more people voted LRRS as the worst org bringing the total to 40 votes or 54%

http://webcrush.com/pollBooth.asp?qid=Poor&aid=-1