CCS is considering rider owned transponders

[TTD]

[QUOTE=Pittenger5;968107] Things we had for free for years suddenly have charges to them and we're not allowed to be upset? [/
QUOTE]

---------------

You can be upset, but also be reasonable. Can you race somewhere else for less money? (sportbikes...not motards, dirt bikes, etc)

If you can, then you have a legitimate gripe.

If you cannot, then you do not.

[lrrs313]

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They obviously understand economics to some extent. Look how much they are advertising their NASCRAP tickets "starting at only 39 dollars!" I'm really starting to think the new owners are simply trying to run LRRS out of business, probably so they can do away with the pesky road course.

[Pittenger5]

If you can, then you have a legitimate gripe.

If you cannot, then you do not.

Sure I do. I can not race. Or as mentioned there are other avenues for racing. Heres a hint, Im a midpack expert on a motard. I'm 29 years old. I'm not going MotoGP, WSBK or even AMA. Superbike racing isnt anything more than a hobby. They've just priced me out of my hobby. Ill miss it, sure, but its not like my hopes and dreams were pinned on it.

[TTD]

Sure I do. I can not race. Or as mentioned there are other avenues for racing.

Agreed.

Everyone will make that same choice.

My point was simply if you can do the same thing elsewhere for less money...then it makes sense to try and change things (by bitching about LRRS prices)

If all LRRS is doing is getting "in line" with the other racing orgs, then it's hard to fault them.

If this year has taught us anything, it's that the law of supply and demand is still working perfectly.

[butcher bergs]

If all LRRS is doing is getting "in line" with the other racing orgs, then it's hard to fault them.

It certainly is when nothing is any safer than what's available on the east coast.

The risks are certainly far less at other venues with regards to runoff and such, so yeah it's cheaper for a guy like me to trek to a place like NJMP. At least there I know I can crash with reasonable safety because myself and my machine won't be mashed into a solid object like a wall or massive rock. To me, the cost of going there is worth it because I know I won't be piled up against a concrete wall.

It's not so much about the cost in general rather it's the cost vs safety that's the delicate balance. IMO, NHMS is way out of line to be dumping these fees and changes on racers with little to no improvement to track safety. Hey, if it were a simple $20 at the gate for the weekend plus $60 or $90 entry fees I'd have nothing to say....but that isn't the case.

[TTD]

Bergs, I agree with that.

But keep in mind that LRRS/Loudon was built already.

Now, NJMP starts with a blank piece of dirt and is able to make a safer course.

So Loudon is now playing catch up.

But as someone who rents both tracks... keep in mind the costs are almost double at NJMP.

[Pittenger5]

So Loudon is now playing catch up.

Loudon shouldnt be playing catchup in my opinion. They should realize we have better, and for once viable choices in our part of the country. Raising prices and fees while offering not much improvement doesnt seem like the wisest plans.

[TTD]

Believe me... no one wants lower fees than me.

As an owner of MTAG, I make money with more racers and fans in the pits during LRRS events.

As an owner of TTD, the more it costs me to rent the track, the less I make.

But I am also realistic. If the track doesn't make a profit on motorcycle events...then motorcycle events cease to happen.

Again, it all comes down to the law of supply and demand and the price elasticity of racing and trackdays.

We'll either settle on a price structure that works for everyone... or NHMS will no longer have motorcycle related events. Will someone else fill this void? Maybe.

[butcher bergs]

Bergs, I agree with that.

Be careful, that's twice this year.





I understand that Loudon was already built but here's the thing, IF the powers that be are attempting to keep some iteration of motorcycle racing in NH they are doing it at the expense of sacrificing nothing....which is the irony in and of itself because they are in fact sacrificing revenue in the long run while not understanding the economics of Joe Average. Not everyone has bikes to throw away like certain experts we see out there and that's where they seemingly miss the mark. Fact is, at least 75% of the LRRS attendees have less than 3 bikes yet NHMS apparently feels that the attendees have disposable income and this is directly reflected in the financial changes being dumped on the community.

Would it behoove them to implement a partially new road course in the parking lot area behind T6 thru T10 then find a way to safely incorporate that into the existing T3 to T10/11 area? I'm talking completely throw away T12 all the way up to T2 or even T3 for motorcycles. Seems to me spending some money on at least a partially and entirely new layout would be the better, safer and in the long run economical way of doing things. I highly doubt the town would say no to that.

Just my .02

[lrrs313]

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Any word on the track in Tamworth? That might change the game a little bit.

[TTD]

Be careful, that's twice this year.

Actually it was more... but I kept it to myself.

As for your ideas on building a better roadcourse, etc... I agree with that completely too...

and so does the track.

Unfortunately, when you have NASCAR to deal with... and a declining revenue from motorcycles... you can't just go moving walls and sponsor signs.

[The Snowman]

Guess I'm picking a good time to consider not racing next season. Realizing how expensive it is now that I've done it, if it gets even more expensive, I won't enjoy it quite as much.

[TTD]

Guess I'm picking a good time to consider not racing next season. Realizing how expensive it is now that I've done it, if it gets even more expensive, I won't enjoy it quite as much.

Don't jump to conclusions and be sure to look at the big picture.

Points being...

1 - right now is the "silly season" of talk and speculation... 90% of which will end up being untrue.

2 - all the price hikes that have actually come to fruition have probably added up to less than 8% of the average racers budget.


This is not to say that racing isn't expensive. It definitely is.

When I quit I couldn't believe how much extra $$ I had (well... after the CC's were paid off).

It's a blast to race and there are ways to do it cost effectively... but it still costs an amount that is a lot to most people.

[TheIglu]

I used to think racing was expensive.

Then I took up flying.

So now I think of racing as the cheaper alternative.

But trackdays blow it away for my fun/dollar ratio, so there we go.

[The Snowman]

Don't jump to conclusions and be sure to look at the big picture.

I was thinking about it even before I saw this thread.

My intentions for the season were just to do the rookie weekend in August to say, "been there, done that".

However, after experiencing the rush of racing, I wanted more.

Now I'm feeling that I'm pushing my luck, because I'm pushing myself to get better and faster. Add to that, the money I've spent on racing has me really thinking.

I've also thought the same about street riding after experiencing a real thought-provoking crash, which has altered my perception street riding in general. My street bike is now for sale.

[Yknot]

Guess I'm picking a good time to consider not racing next season. Realizing how expensive it is now that I've done it, if it gets even more expensive, I won't enjoy it quite as much.

You're not getting out of this that easy, we still have to figure T6 out.

Buying a transponder would suck, but the safety gear I got no problem with. I'm kinda attached to my melon.

[Chippertheripper]

I was thinking about it even before I saw this thread.

My intentions for the season were just to do the rookie weekend in August to say, "been there, done that".

However, after experiencing the rush of racing, I wanted more.

Now I'm feeling that I'm pushing my luck, because I'm pushing myself to get better and faster. Add to that, the money I've spent on racing has me really thinking.

I've also thought the same about street riding after experiencing a real thought-provoking crash, which has altered my perception street riding in general. My street bike is now for sale.

and you already had a bike that was ready. try prepping 2. (while buying one of them) i certainly will be taking a step back over the winter to assess. there certainly is more to life than ripping around nhms. here in the interwebz its easy to get lost in that.

[TTD]

Actually, the advent of trackdays has made racing much more palpable.

It used to be you went from flip flops and tank tops on the street... to full racing gear and everything else you needed to race... in one weekend.

At least now, most people are doing little bits as they progress through the trackday groups... then going racing.

[Femmekat]

i certainly will be taking a step back over the winter to assess. there certainly is more to life than ripping around nhms.

More to life? Not possible....

(But you can ignore me because I'm in my wookie "honeymoon phase" with the track.)

[Chippertheripper]

true story. i tried a td as a test: to see if i wanted to race...and it's all i've worked towards since.

[Chippertheripper]

honestly lauren, i love it. i really do.

[csmutty]

This reminds me of the new rules thread from last year. A whole bunch of speculation. I was one of the people who was complaining then, but when I got to the track all I saw was benefits.

[lrrs313]

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honestly lauren, i love it. i really do.

So do a lot of the rest of us. That's why I (and I'm guessing a lot of others) am so pissed about the constant increases. They are making it more difficult to justify the sacrifices we have to make in our lives to do what we love so much. If it wasn't so much fun nobody would say anything they just wouldn't go.

[Chippertheripper]

i fully understand. i'll try and keep doing it on the cheap for as long as cheap lasts. if you know what i'm saying.

[lrrs313]

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i fully understand. i'll try and keep doing it on the cheap for as long as cheap lasts. if you know what i'm saying.

I hear ya.