Improving LRRS

[Kitt]

To those who were at the banquet - what did you think about the changes?



To those that weren't, cliff notes: (feel free to ad, I will cut and paste here)

1. Talk of new track is said to exist, but nothing in near future.

2. NHMS is adding a $10,000 purse to the championship winners.

3. No wrist band fee for racers who pre-register more than 3 races per weekend.

4. $15 camping fee at track.

5. Bigger budget and plans for classic.

6. We need some way to help market LRRS so we can stay strong.

7. More airfence.

[Nazo]

thanks for the recap of the main topics.
Sounds like they have development plans of the LRRS business....which is good to hear.

[Kitt]

my thoughts:

1. Talk of new track is said to exist, but nothing in near future.
Just to keep us happy/near/hoping for newer & better track... But hey, if it goes through, sweet.

2. NHMS is adding a $10,000 purse to the championship winners.
Cool, 23 classes, I saw about 20 different faces collecting awards (awesome congrats to you guys, you get contingencies and dash $ all year) - lets put $ into 20 people's pockets to keep our league alive (so much for the other hundreds of guys). We need new riders, and good novice and amateur programs to feed the expert classes... we're not making it more attractive or more affordable for about 95% of the racers. I know dozens of people who have quit for financial reasons... none of them were recent class champions.

3. No wrist band fee for racers who race more than 3 races per weekend.
Nice, I think that's fair! It's encouragemet to get the guys who run 3 races or less (many guys) to put more $ into LRRS in race entries (I already do, so I win)... but wait? we're trying to build up something, so how does NHMS recoupe $ from #2 and 3? see #4:

4. $15 camping fee at track.
Ok, first I've heard of it... I'm cool with it, as we had a year off (rightly so) because of all the varying/undesirable conditions... but hey, if we're not paying gate fees, somebody should pay for the electric they're using. Anyone have info on this though? Is this per rig, per head? pay at the gate thing, or a nasty nate enforced thing like electric was?


5. Bigger budget and plans for classic.


6. We need some way to help market LRRS so we can stay strong.
Agreed, but we need to lower gate fees for our friends/guests/people who ride so we can get more people to the track to get "the itch". Race weekends aren't like trackdays, as much as anyone may say otherwise... Wanna get stoked? go to a competition that you can get licensed for and join in on next month. I think it may be cool if part of Penguin's new track experience marketing campaign, they market the rookie race as an "exhibition race" or split it into a slower and faster group, it may be less intimidating. WHY DONT WE OFFER A $15 PASS FOR SATURDAY ONLY? WHY DONT WE OFFER BLEACHER SEATS FOR $5? A lot of people like to be home sunday before a work week, so if they want to come to races on saturday, they have to spend $25 LAME $5 outside the tunnel/ day, $15/day $25/wknd inside.


7. More airfence.

[ceo and a bunch of numbers]

Just to clarify, they said the gate fee waiver is only if you PRE-register for at least 3 races.

It will be interesting to see how they decide to police/collect on the camping fee thing...

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Originally Posted by ceo and a bunch of numbers

Just to clarify, they said the gate fee waiver is only if you PRE-register for at least 3 races.

It will be interesting to see how they decide to police/collect on the camping fee thing...

I'm lost... is the no wrist band fee if you pre-reg for 3 races, or more than 3 races?

I had no idea there was an additional electric fee if you're not in a garage. Anyone know what it is? Is it included in the camping fee? Gotta have those warmers. I've always been in a garage so this is new to me.

Anyway, it all sounds good enough to me. I'm curious about the rules as far as trampers/trailers that get left there, trying to get some answers on that now.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Kitt

To those that weren't, cliff notes: (feel free to ad, I will cut and paste here)

1. Talk of new track is said to exist, but nothing in near future.
Not surprising in this current economy.
2. NHMS is adding a $10,000 purse to the championship winners.
Does this apply to experts only?

3. No wrist band fee for racers who race more than 3 races per weekend.
Nothing wrong with a little discount. I'm curious how many folks race 4 or more races per weekend? I was contemplating on doing 2 this year, maybe 3? Two per day doesn't sound too much from a time standpoint but certainly hurts financially.
4. $15 camping fee at track.
Per night? Per weekend? Per person or per trailer? Just curious. No heartburn over this one. I would hope that they open up a little bit more space so there's no electricity issues though. How did they structure this before?
5. Bigger budget and plans for classic.
Awesome.
6. We need some way to help market LRRS so we can stay strong.
I was thinking about this last year. It'd be neat to get some of the car clubs involved as many of them do "group rides" all over New England on the weekend. Additionally, without a functioning PA system in the key observation areas or integral knowledge of who is out there in what heat, etc, it's just a bunch of guys screaming around the track on motorcycles. Maybe a Saturday only visitor fee instead of Sat/Sun & Sun?
7. More airfence.

Also awesome.


Definitely looking forward to this year. My wish list?

- Open registration for 2 hours (10-12?) on Friday morning and staff with volunteers. I'll be the first to volunteer.

- A better spectating area in the infield (temporary bleachers at the apex 3 similar to pre-paving? More bleachers in 1?) would be sweet and could potentially draw in more people. A functional PA system (realizing this is in NHMS' hands) would be nice too. I saw too many people miss races last year because of dysfunctional speakers or FM transmitters. Not to mention those who didn't know who was out there (visitors) had a hell of a time trying to figure out who was winning or what was happening in the corners they weren't standing in....

Like I said though... am psyched for April to roll around regardless...

Fitz

[Rambunctous]

That $15 camping fee must be for the special new area. I thought the wrist band fee covered everything.

[Kitt]

Fitz - CHAMPIONSHIP winners... read: experts only

no idea on how often we'll be paying the $15 fee

Rambo - NEWB... electric fee used to be for anyone that had an extension cord plugged in, even if you were in a tent. This year it was waved to help the growing pains and excavation hiccups.
Sounds like as it stands, electric is free - and camping will be $15 per????

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by Kitt

Fitz - CHAMPIONSHIP winners... read: experts only

Gotcha. Sweet for the experts. Realizing it's dynamic, does anyone know what the spread is between novice, amateur and expert?

Fitz

[Pittenger5]

Originally Posted by Kitt

To those who were at the banquet - what did you think about the changes?



To those that weren't, cliff notes: (feel free to ad, I will cut and paste here)

1. Talk of new track is said to exist, but nothing in near future.
2. NHMS is adding a $10,000 purse to the championship winners.
3. No wrist band fee for racers who pre-register more than 3 races per weekend.
4. $15 camping fee at track.
5. Bigger budget and plans for classic.
6. We need some way to help market LRRS so we can stay strong.
7. More airfence.

Well my opinion is probably moot at this point, but to chime in.
1. Big surprise.
2. Fantastic. Congrats to them, they've earned it. Just wondering how costs will be recouped? Oh yah, out of everyone elses pockets. I found it funny at the banquet when they announced the vanson money it was everyone you thought it would be. Congrats. Like I said, they've put in their time and earned it, but I dont have to be thrilled about it.
3. I'm fine with that. Its a good incentive to pre-reg, and have people potentially do more races. I always pre-regged and did 4 races, so it saves me a couple bucks.
4. I wonder how they're gonna do this. Like mentioned, is it per-person, per tent, whatever. I pay for a garage, I run power from that to my trailer, am I getting charged for power twice?
5. Wheres the damn motard race! But they tried to do a lot last year, and granted the weather blew, but it obviously didnt do much.
6. I agree, but we need cheaper alternatives for people to come watch. As well as places to actually watch. They destroyed 3, so basically your only choices are 6 and 1 now.
7. Would be nice

[Rambunctous]

I hope that the camping fee is not pp/per night. That would mean no more coming on Thursday. Basically it would mean arrive Friday and leave Saturday. Skip the one race on Sunday to save there. I pay for two so it would be a killer. I hope it is 15 for the camper for the weekend. I can handle that.

[daviid]

Originally Posted by "Dangerous" Dan K

I'm lost... is the no wrist band fee if you pre-reg for 3 races, or more than 3 races?

I had no idea there was an additional electric fee if you're not in a garage. Anyone know what it is? Is it included in the camping fee? Gotta have those warmers. I've always been in a garage so this is new to me.

Anyway, it all sounds good enough to me. I'm curious about the rules as far as trampers/trailers that get left there, trying to get some answers on that now.

the electrical fee went away mid season 2008.

[csmutty]

1. Talk of new track is said to exist, but nothing in near future.
Cool.
2. NHMS is adding a $10,000 purse to the championship winners.
Like others have said, good for them to be able to get this, but I really can't afford to be paying for it.
3. No wrist band fee for racers who pre-register more than 3 races per weekend.
Not sure this will effect me as I don't know as if I can afford that many races per weekend.
4. $15 camping fee at track.
Like was said before, as long as that is for the weekend. Otherwise I might as well rent a garage.
5. Bigger budget and plans for classic.
Cool.
6. We need some way to help market LRRS so we can stay strong.
Agreed.
7. More airfence.
Schweet.

[daviid]

Originally Posted by Kitt

To those who were at the banquet - what did you think about the changes?



To those that weren't, cliff notes: (feel free to ad, I will cut and paste here)

1. Talk of new track is said to exist, but nothing in near future.

This really peaks my interest as Bruton Smith is rumored to be buying the Phillip Morris plant in my town and will be turning that into a race track.

[scottieducati]

1. Talk of new track is said to exist, but nothing in near future.
- Not happening anytime soon, 5+ years out at least.

2. NHMS is adding a $10,000 purse to the championship winners.
- Great to see, should bring back Amateur Class champs and enforce cherry pickers and technical regulations.

3. No wrist band fee for racers who pre-register more than 3 races per weekend.
- About time.

4. $15 camping fee at track.
- Doesn't affect me

5. Bigger budget and plans for classic.
- Again, awesome.... hope it includes marketing to other areas so we have more than a whopping *2* outsiders come for it.

6. We need some way to help market LRRS so we can stay strong.
- Of course, all of you need to go market to make the series more $$. The day they say the costs are proportional to the # of riders (e.g.: we build attendance, they lower entry costs, wristbands go away, etc.), then I'll be interested.

7. More airfence.[/quote]
- Always a good thing.

["Dangerous" Dan K]

Originally Posted by daviid

the electrical fee went away mid season 2008.

Thanks bud. Considering I started in 09, it makes sense I wouldn't know. Still curious to hear the answers to some of the questions in this thread, like how camping will play out (per night or weekend, per trailer or per person, etc)? If you have a garage can you still run your trailer off that or is it a second fee?

I suppose I don't even need power to my tramper, I only use it for light. I could just run them off batteries if I had to. It would suck if the camping was per night per head, considering I'm always +1 and wanted to start going Thursday-Sunday this year. Eh, we'll see.

[Kitt]

Originally Posted by csmutty

4. $15 camping fee at track.
Like was said before, as long as that is for the weekend. Otherwise I might as well rent a garage.

Let me reiterate, and clarify, it is a CAMPING fee. If you sleep there, you will pay.

[csmutty]

Originally Posted by Kitt

Let me reiterate, and clarify, it is a CAMPING fee. If you sleep there, you will pay.

Ahh ok. Does that still count if you sleep in the truck

[Kitt]

Originally Posted by csmutty

Ahh ok. Does that still count if you sleep in the truck

it should, regardless of how shitty your rig is. worry about getting a license, then worry about ripping off LRRS

[csmutty]

Originally Posted by Kitt

it should, regardless of how shitty your rig is. worry about getting a license, then worry about ripping off LRRS

Papers are in the mail lol.
Just had to wait till I had enough mula in my checking acct.

[BMFR6]

i didn't read the whole thread, hoping Kitt's summary is accurate. It sounds like some good improvements...... but where is the money coming from??

[Rambunctous]

Cute how you have to have the garage paid for before they finalize costs.

[lrrs428]

Ya, Nasty Nate would go around on Fri Night or Saterday and collect 10 dollars form the infield pits that were using electricity. In 2008 about half way throught they stopped charging for it. I like the Pre Reg for 3 and No Charge for wrist bands. An amature Championship would be nice to have back even if there is no purse. It would at leat make it more intresting amongst us Amatures. One year maybe i wiolkl have the Banquet off.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Remember these are the same people who told us Online registration was starting in April 08.

Just wait and see,

[Danz19899]

I'm not a racer yet but it sounds like some of the proposed things will help out a bit.

I do think they need to figure out ways to try and get new racers in the game. I've been looking into it but its still far off. with a little luck i'll be doing production twins in 2011, i'd like to do more but dont think i can afford it.