Flattrack - what am I missing?

[dontpanic]

Mkay....

I arrived at 3:50 and left at 8:20, so that's 4 1/2 hours.

I watched four 8-lap heat races, so that's 32 laps. Watched one 18-lap race. Watched one 25-lap race. Total of 75 laps of racing.

Each flying lap was about 20 seconds, or one-third of a minute. That's a total of 25 minutes of racing over a 4-hour period.

And for this I paid $40. (That's $96 per hour, BTW.)

Why do people watch this $h!t?

</rant>

[nhbubba]

Wait. How did you get $5 off?!?

[tsorfas]

Wait. How did you get $5 off?!?

There were promo codes flying around.

Rant score 2.5/10

[MUZ720]

Thought the racing was good! Nice to see a good crowd looked like Loudon of old only older and tamer, To bad the track was not up to it and got tried of watching the grader and roller go around and around. After three hours of that I was done. Better stands and scoring tower that worked would be helpful! Not sure its worth 45 bucks glad I got discount tickets!!

[Kurlon]

If you were not entertained when the bikes were on track battling I question how you survive without a pulse or breathing? The passes, dives, bar banging, etc when they were on track was awesome. I agree, lots of down time due to track maint, but that's to be expected with a virgin track that hasn't had time to get bedded in yet.

[OreoGaborio]

If you were not entertained when the bikes were on track battling I question how you survive without a pulse or breathing? The passes, dives, bar banging, etc when they were on track was awesome. I agree, lots of down time due to track maint, but that's to be expected with a virgin track that hasn't had time to get bedded in yet.

Completely agree. For a once a year thing, if they give fellow LRRS racers discounts, I'd be in for it next year again, no doubt. (LC10 was the discount to get tix at 32 bucks each online.)

[sdog30]

I figured it out. It's Nascar for motorcycles.

It was nice to see the turn out. Would have been even better if they stayed to watch the road racing.

I think the view point helps, too. When I was sitting at ground level, it was hard to get into. At the top of the bleachers, you could see the whole track and it made it better to watch. The track needs to make the screen 4 times bigger.

[nhbubba]

I figured it out. It's Nascar for motorcycles.

That seems a bit harsh. I thought the racing was cool as hell.
It is pretty neat being able to see the entire track at once. One problem with watching road-racing in person is you only see a few corners. Suddenly there is a huge lead change or shakeup on the far side of the track and you never know what happened.

I agree re: the stands vs the rail. Although the experience from the rail was cool as well. You could really .. taste the racing!

I missed the classic (MWGP) this year as I only have so much time, went to this instead. Next year I'll invert those priorities and make sure I see the road-race. Everything else will be if I can.



On a semi-related note. How was the sumo event this year? I walked those pits early Saturday afternoon and didn't recognize but a few people except for the Taylor clan.

[sdog30]

That seems a bit harsh.

On a semi-related note. How was the sumo event this year? I walked those pits early Saturday afternoon and didn't recognize but a few people except for the Taylor clan.

The nascar comment is in reference to the fact they just go around an oval over and over. Seems to draw the same crowd a little bit too.

The sumo was fun. The track was set up pretty good. The were several boxshop people and the Franco's were fully represented. A handful of loudon racers and the rest were smec guys.

The price was a little high and no real payout (top 3 for the pro classes) so I think that kept more lrrs racers from participating. They ran a kid's group though. I'm sure the track gouged him on renting that lot, so I'd be surprised if Jay made money on it.

Scheduling wise, AMA supermoto had a round in Austin this weekend, so I know several people that went there instead. Also, he was trying to work around the flat track, the classic and motard and sportsman on Sunday, so hence, the weird Saturday morning slot. Definitely hindered viewing and participating from lrrs racers. Would have been nice to have some stands for people to sit in, too.

[nhbubba]

That's right. They swiped stands from both T6 and the motard lot.
Shows where they figured the money would be. (My observation is they were right.)

[PeaPod]

I enjoyed it. And yes, it is NASCAR for motorcycles.

I may not drive more than two hours to go see it, but I certainly thought the racing was good. The track was insanely bumpy which made it exciting to watch who could set up for it, navigate it, and ride it the best.

I just wish the track had been a little less bumpy, and had a bit more of a straight to let the engines come through at full power somewhat.

[tsorfas]

The nascar comment is in reference to the fact they just go around an oval over and over. Seems to draw the same crowd a little bit too.

The sumo was fun. The track was set up pretty good. The were several boxshop people and the Franco's were fully represented. A handful of loudon racers and the rest were smec guys.

The price was a little high and no real payout (top 3 for the pro classes) so I think that kept more lrrs racers from participating. They ran a kid's group though. I'm sure the track gouged him on renting that lot, so I'd be surprised if Jay made money on it.

Scheduling wise, AMA supermoto had a round in Austin this weekend, so I know several people that went there instead. Also, he was trying to work around the flat track, the classic and motard and sportsman on Sunday, so hence, the weird Saturday morning slot. Definitely hindered viewing and participating from lrrs racers. Would have been nice to have some stands for people to sit in, too.

The classic weekend schedule was a total joke this year

[OreoGaborio]

The classic weekend schedule was a total joke this year

Considering there were THREE different sanctioning bodies running THREE different racing events at the same location on the same weekend, I think they did a pretty fair job of coordinating. It wasn't perfect, but deal with it.


Did you even come up for it?

[sdog30]

I have to agree with Pete. There was so much going on, you were almost forced to pick some things over others. So even though we didn't have a ton of spectators for the supermoto race, it scheduled in nice for me. I only had 1 race Friday, and 2 Sunday with lrrs, so it worked out real good.

Actually, I think it was 4 race bodies...lrrs, asra, smec and ama.

[OreoGaborio]

Actually, I think it was 4 race bodies...lrrs, asra, smec and ama.

Ah yep. That'd be correct. And that's just the two wheeled events. We forgot about the Moat Mountain/bandaleros peeps, too.

[Paul_E_D]

1. Flat track racing is a far better spectator sport LIVE than roadracing. Standing near the track with the exhaust pulses hitting you and wave after wave of roost in the face is awesome!

2. The green track meant that it was too bumpy for the real sideways specialists to shine. Over the years as the track comes in it should get better and better.

3. Go to WVRC and try flat track for yourself. 40 bucks for a day of riding. Then come back and watch. I guarantee a different response to it.

4. This was by faaarrrr the best classic in a long time, simply because there was more going on, more people watching, more participants in LRRS, more youth presence, just more. It's a BIG step in the right direction towards reviving a dying sport.

[OreoGaborio]

4. This was by faaarrrr the best classic in a long time, simply because there was more going on, more people watching, more participants in LRRS, more youth presence, just more. It's a BIG step in the right direction towards reviving a dying sport.

100%

[tsorfas]

Considering there were THREE different sanctioning bodies running THREE different racing events at the same location on the same weekend, I think they did a pretty fair job of coordinating. It wasn't perfect, but deal with it.


Did you even come up for it?

No. Cole decided last minute to enter it but my little one had different plans for us.

Yes seeing it from all the other racing happening I agree they did a decent job. Looking at it exclusively from LRRS stand point not so much.

[Pittenger5]

Scheduling wise, AMA supermoto had a round in Austin this weekend,

Dammit, how did I miss that one

[sdog30]

Dammit, how did I miss that one

Not sure. They've gone there for the last couple years.

Jake LaForge was third in the dash for cash Friday and second in pro open on Saturday. My buddy Pete Oliver was second in pro lights.

[Not Sure]

I paid $40. (That's $96 per hour, BTW.)

Well if you want to feel better do the same math for tickets to a Pats or Red Sox game against the actual amount of playing time you see. You’ll view this event as a bargain.

[Pittenger5]

I wonder how "good" the amateur / sportsman classes are. Wishful thinking.

[tsorfas]

Well if you want to feel better do the same math for tickets to a Pats or Red Sox game against the actual amount of playing time you see. You’ll view this event as a bargain.

Talk about a reality slap

[backinthesaddle]

I saw it in Daytona one year, and did it at the local fair a couple times in the 80's. It was ok. Lots of folks seem to love it. I do like the somewhat grass roots nature of it. Maybe a mile or 1/2 mile would be more fun to watch. I have friends who go to American Super Camp each year and say its the most fun they have on bikes. I don't know I like to turn in both directions (which I think a TT style race does).

[Paul_E_D]

I saw it in Daytona one year, and did it at the local fair a couple times in the 80's. It was ok. Lots of folks seem to love it. I do like the somewhat grass roots nature of it. Maybe a mile or 1/2 mile would be more fun to watch. I have friends who go to American Super Camp each year and say its the most fun they have on bikes. I don't know I like to turn in both directions (which I think a TT style race does).

Riding TT courses is a blast and will definitely help draw in a road rider/roadracer. riding dirt track and ice has been the most fun and effective training I have ever done for roadracing. I can't wait to go again.