Trophies!

["Dangerous" Dan K]

I know it's the interwebz and we're only supposed to bitch about "the man" and never give props, but let's talk about trophies again. Everyone was happy to talk about them last year when we just got those plaques and we all bitched.

I think the trophies round 1 were sick! I talked to quite a few others who felt the same way. It's awesome to have a nice, legit trophy of someone racing a motorcycle. The fact that it's the coolest single race I've seen LRRS give out (expert championships are a whole different animal) and I got it for my first AM win surely doesn't hurt, but still, I gotta give props to the first place trophies they gave out round 1. Anyone with me on this?

[Kurlon]

The curved glass trophies from the classic a couple years back were pretty freaking cool, as were the medals. I really don't like the traditional 'trophy' personally, but cool to here they're putting the effort in.

[union]

The 1st place trophies were nice. We used to get those on occasion in the past. I have one from 09 in my garage

[csmutty]

I thought they were pretty cool. But I don't really care. I'm there to hang out with people and have a great time racing and bsing.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

The curved glass trophies from the classic a couple years back were pretty freaking cool, as were the medals. I really don't like the traditional 'trophy' personally, but cool to here they're putting the effort in.

I don't recall those. Either I wasn't racing yet or was new enough to not be seeing/earning trophies.

The 1st place trophies were nice. We used to get those on occasion in the past. I have one from 09 in my garage

I raced in 09, it must have been before I was collecting trophies. I thought it was cool as hell, and I still have all the trophies I've gotten from LRRS scattered around (although the plaque never got all the tags I got put on it).

I thought they were pretty cool. But I don't really care. I'm there to hang out with people and have a great time racing and bsing.

I agree with you for the most part. I had a BLAST last year, and only bothered putting less than half of my little plates on the plaque. That said, the trophies they gave for first round 1 were cool. Where I live, that stuff works as home decorations. Goes well with the place, it's more of a garage/shop than a house.

I wonder if this is what they'll be doing all year or if it will switch up?

[Chippertheripper]

Credits>trophies

Gotta do everything possible to stay in the game.

[BrianC]

Novices don't get trophies this year supposedly because dudes used to cherry pick the novice class... I can understand that I guess, but it would've been cool to have gotten something. Maybe they should have just put a limit on how many novice trophies a rider could get or something.

[OreoGaborio]

The first place trophies was just the wooden base with the silver guy on the motorcycle, right? They've been giving those out for years now.

Personally, I liked the big plaque from last year but I understand why some people didn't.

But really, I think the biggest issue here is the utter absence of any Novice recognition. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that that the Novice class podium finishers didn't get a friggin thing during round 1. I can't tell you how unbelievably disappointed a certain 14 year old was to hear he would get NOTHING after his first ever podium finish, and then his first ever race WIN. There are VERY few things that LRRS does or doesn't do that get under my skin. For the most part, I think they do a pretty great job at running our series, but I think this is absolute GARBAGE. How are we going to get the series to grow if we don't give the NEW racers a friggin thing for their efforts but a pat on the back and a "good job"? That's absolutely inexcusable.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

The first place trophies was just the wooden base with the silver guy on the motorcycle, right? They've been giving those out for years now.

Personally, I liked the big plaque from last year but I understand why some people didn't.

But really, I think the biggest issue here is the utter absence of any Novice recognition. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that that the Novice class didn't get a friggin thing during round 1. I can't tell you how unbelievably disappointed a certain 14 year old was to hear he would get NOTHING after his first ever podium finish, and then his first ever race WIN. I don't want to get too worked up over it, but personally, I think that's absolute GARBAGE. How are we going to get the series to grow if we don't give the NEW racers a friggin thing for their efforts but a pat on the back and a "good job"? That's absolutely inexcusable.

Yes, wooden base grey motorcycle guy. It was the first time I recall seeing them, but I've only been racing 2 years. I also may have not placed that weekend and not seen them for some reason.

That sucks about the 14 year old in question. Obviously I know who you mean.

[OreoGaborio]

Yeah I'm not trying to keep it a secret, it just came out that way.

Jake was friggin bummed. Showed up to the trophy ceremony with his ECK pit shirt on and a big smile on his face, hung out till the end then went up to the trophy girls after and was just deflated by the news. I was hoping it was a just bad joke or something.

A conversation with Tom Blanchette has already taken place. Hopefully things will change for round 2.

[PPS26]

gotta say i was pumped when i had my first win as a novice...makes u think hey i really can do this

[smf]

The first place trophies was just the wooden base with the silver guy on the motorcycle, right? They've been giving those out for years now.

Personally, I liked the big plaque from last year but I understand why some people didn't.

But really, I think the biggest issue here is the utter absence of any Novice recognition. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that that the Novice class podium finishers didn't get a friggin thing during round 1. I can't tell you how unbelievably disappointed a certain 14 year old was to hear he would get NOTHING after his first ever podium finish, and then his first ever race WIN. There are VERY few things that LRRS does or doesn't do that get under my skin. For the most part, I think they do a pretty great job at running our series, but I think this is absolute GARBAGE. How are we going to get the series to grow if we don't give the NEW racers a friggin thing for their efforts but a pat on the back and a "good job"? That's absolutely inexcusable.

just playing devil's advocate here, but isn't giving NV trophies out kinda like watching kids "graduate" from 4th grade? ...in other words, let them realize early that once they make it to the show they'll get credit. I've got a fair amount of NV hardware I was happy to have, but I bumped as soon as I was allowed and now it's just that... at stack on a shelf. I'd have kept racing regardless.

to be completely honest I'm not sure I agree with no NV trophies, but I like the fact that some part of society isn't overcongratulating people for once in recent history... sorry it has to be friends of friends that took it hard

[The Snowman]

I would have even liked credits for round 1. I won all 3 races I entered, because they wouldn't allow me to bump for round 1, and I didn't get shit for my efforts.

[smf]

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I would have even liked credits for round 1. I won all 3 races I entered, because they wouldn't allow me to bump for round 1, and I didn't get shit for my efforts.

You got experience and if you ran the right tires contingency... oh and you're inthis for the fun, right? Cause no one at Loudon over 15yrs old is gonna be Ben spies.

[OreoGaborio]

just playing devil's advocate here, but isn't giving NV trophies out kinda like watching kids "graduate" from 4th grade?

You got experience and if you ran the right tires contingency... oh and you're in this for the fun, right? Cause no one at Loudon over 15yrs old is gonna be Ben spies.

Any idea how much statements like these irritate me?

It's not about becoming the best in the World. It's about performing at YOUR best against the people in YOUR league, not being the WORLD'S best against the world's best.

I got trophies in elementary school, high school, college, etc for various achievements... podiums and championships in soccer, baseball, basketball, track n field, etc etc... but by your reasoning I shouldn't have gotten recognized because I wasn't competing against the Brazil National Team, the Red Sox, the Celtics or Usain Bolt.

And no one's asking for trophies for last place. We're asking for trophies for PODIUM FINISHERS. When you've got brand new racers who are ineligible to bump to Amateur, should we not recognize them when they finish on the podium?

RECOGNITION for your achievements against people in your class is PART OF THE FUN for the vast majority of people. Those that say they don't care about trophies either got way too many or never got any at all.


I think it's simple... All classes get recognition for podium finishes. Novices get certificates, Amateurs get medals, Experts get trophies or plaques. That way everyone gets the recognition they deserve and all the killjoys who thinks that no one but the world's best deserve recognition get some sort of gratification that we're not watching 4th graders graduate.


And when we've got track officials saying weekend after weekend that they're trying to find all sorts of new ways to bring new racers into the organization to improve attendance and help the series grow, yet they wipe out all novice trophies, is that not completely counter productive? I'd say it's borderline hypocritical.

[The Snowman]

Well said Pete.

[smf]

Any idea how much statements like these irritate me?

I certainly do now. I still would've said it though. It's nice to have both sides of the conversation voiced at times, even if you don't believe in it - ever been in a debate?

It's not about becoming the best in the World. It's about performing at YOUR best against the people in YOUR league, not being the WORLD'S best against the world's best.

if you know you're performing at YOUR best isn't THAT enough? nevermind that all your competitors just got beat by you.

I think it's simple... All classes get recognition for podium finishes. Novices get certificates, Amateurs get medals, Experts get trophies or plaques.

that sounds like a damn good idea

And when we've got track officials saying weekend after weekend that they're trying to find all sorts of new ways to bring new racers into the organization to improve attendance and help the series grow, yet they wipe out all novice trophies, is that not completely counter productive? I'd say it's borderline hypocritical.

It's definitely counter-intuitive... The way the whole thing was handled sounds pretty unprofessional - they should've been very up-front with a change like that and had the conversations before so there weren't any surprises at trophies the 1st weekend.

You got experience and if you ran the right tires contingency...

and I stand by this comment like it or not... to suggest he got nothing out of running is total BS, especially on a weekend with such challenging conditions. I think a more accurate statement would've been that he didnt get what he thought he deserved.


and in case you missed it:

to be completely honest I'm not sure I agree with no NV trophies

Those that say they don't care about trophies either got way too many or never got any at all.

or maybe, just maybe, realized somewhere along the line that the trophy didn't really impact them at all. that the actual racing was what they loved...

[Pittenger5]

ever been in a debate?

I was captain of the Mass Debate team back in high school.

On that note, I liked trophys for novii, I have a few, I always enjoyed recieving even the little bit of recognition. Most of us wont be the next Scott Jeff or Eric, but just to have my little place in the racing world was always nice.

[Mustang]

But really, I think the biggest issue here is the utter absence of any Novice recognition. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that that the Novice class podium finishers didn't get a friggin thing during round 1. I can't tell you how unbelievably disappointed a certain 14 year old was to hear he would get NOTHING after his first ever podium finish, and then his first ever race WIN. There are VERY few things that LRRS does or doesn't do that get under my skin. For the most part, I think they do a pretty great job at running our series, but I think this is absolute GARBAGE. How are we going to get the series to grow if we don't give the NEW racers a friggin thing for their efforts but a pat on the back and a "good job"? That's absolutely inexcusable.

There was a certain 27 year old who was pretty disappointed too. Not because he needs a medal or trophy, but for $60/race, it'd be cool to get a $2 or $5 trinket to say "hey man, nice work."

Eh, I could type a book about this. I've been meaning to talk to Tom/Eric/Wanda, but haven't gotten around to drafting an email.

A conversation with Tom Blanchette has already taken place. Hopefully things will change for round 2.

Nice to know.

just playing devil's advocate here, but isn't giving NV trophies out kinda like watching kids "graduate" from 4th grade? ...in other words, let them realize early that once they make it to the show they'll get credit. I've got a fair amount of NV hardware I was happy to have, but I bumped as soon as I was allowed and now it's just that... at stack on a shelf. I'd have kept racing regardless.

to be completely honest I'm not sure I agree with no NV trophies, but I like the fact that some part of society isn't overcongratulating people for once in recent history... sorry it has to be friends of friends that took it hard

Maybe I'm just too close to it, but no, it's not like watching kids graduate from 4th grade. Everyone graduates from 4th grade; not everyone gets a podium in NV. Some type of recognition for a NV podium isn't akin to each person in the 6th grade getting an award for "Best Participation - Teacher Assistance," "Best Participation - JV Basketball Team Asst. Mgr," "Best - Participation - Showing up to Class on Tuesday," etc.

if you know you're performing at YOUR best isn't THAT enough? nevermind that all your competitors just got beat by you.

While that internal satisfaction maybe should be enough, it's nice to have something to show for your efforts - even if it's "I podiumed after spending hundreds of dollars to race this weekend and all I got was this lousy certificate" certificate, lol

[Kurlon]

Devil's advocate time:

I thought NV was reworked so the reward for doing well was orange backgrounds with black numbers? It's not competition till then, just an extension of the school, you're not supposed to stick around and try and 'win' it?

Recognition is nice, but how far back do you go? Trophies for best time in your practice group?

Full disclosure, first time I won a NV race, Doc ended up grabbing my trophy for me as I was too busy twirling wrenches and bench racing somewhere in the pits.

[Mustang]

Devil's advocate time:

I thought NV was reworked so the reward for doing well was orange backgrounds with black numbers? It's not competition till then, just an extension of the school, you're not supposed to stick around and try and 'win' it?

Recognition is nice, but how far back do you go? Trophies for best time in your practice group?

How is NV not competition? And no one is saying the "winners" in NV are going to stick around and try to keep winning races there; sandbagging is no fun.

Practice isn't competition, I'll give you that - and consequently no one is suggesting physical recognition for practice

[Kurlon]

How is NV not competition? And no one is saying the "winners" in NV are going to stick around and try to keep winning races there; sandbagging is no fun.

Practice isn't competition, I'll give you that - and consequently no one is suggesting physical recognition for practice

AFAIK the goal of the reworking of NV is to re-emphasize that it IS practice, just a practice with full race procedure as part of the drill. Full dress rehearsal, etc.

[Mustang]

AFAIK the goal of the reworking of NV is to re-emphasize that it IS practice, just a practice with full race procedure as part of the drill. Full dress rehearsal, etc.

I wasn't aware that that was the intention, but it very well may be. If that's the case (or even if it's not), why do NV "races" cost the same as AM/EX races?

And before we get cute, I realize the track surface/facilities don't know whether a NV, AM, or EX rider is using them...but at the very least, AM/EX are getting more for the same dollars (and EX even more to some extent, if you consider championships), why?

[Kurlon]

I wasn't aware that that was the intention, but it very well may be. If that's the case (or even if it's not), why do NV "races" cost the same as AM/EX races?

Because you're on track, consuming:
A) Facility time
B) Cornerworker time
C) Insurance
D) etc, etc

The 'extras' EX get are part of the incentive to bump. Everyone pays the same to play, but the rewards go up as you move up the ranks*.

Realize that outside of LRRS, AM isn't even considered real racing, no championships and a constant push to bump out ASAP. Watching discussions about it on the CCS forum (and similar rank tiering in other series) is pretty interesting.

*I'd wager most of the EX guys could care less about trophies, they just want to bang bars, corner low and shave seconds off their times while having good battles. Contingency money they care about of course, but the wall art, that just takes up space.

[daviid]

Because you're on track, consuming:
A) Facility time
B) Cornerworker time
C) Insurance
D) etc, etc

The 'extras' EX get are part of the incentive to bump. Everyone pays the same to play, but the rewards go up as you move up the ranks*.

Realize that outside of LRRS, AM isn't even considered real racing, no championships and a constant push to bump out ASAP. Watching discussions about it on the CCS forum (and similar rank tiering in other series) is pretty interesting.

*I'd wager most of the EX guys could care less about trophies, they just want to bang bars, corner low and shave seconds off their times while having good battles. Contingency money they care about of course, but the wall art, that just takes up space.

outside of lrrs, there is amatuer championships & they are recognized.

if there was no amatuer recognition we wouldn't have amatuer classes at the ROC either.