2017 Calendar updated

[Carl-52]

Re major injuries you know i am not talking about you Nick. Yes i havnt been injured in a crash yet (ive had a few, maybe i crash well), and yes i know people like you Nick, Mick Kang, Mick James have had huge crashes, hell David Bourne broke his back at the creek in T1. I can and have seen the effects of a big crash, lived with them too (Stu has had more than his fair share of huge crashes and bad injuries that he recovered from while i was growing up). But those people have a reason and it is completely reasonable to not chance that again on a suspect weather condition race weekend.

But im talking about the others, why do they not turn up to wakefield? All they ever hear is its bumpy, its shit, theres no grip... Pretty sure everyone at the last St G meeting at wakefield and the state titles ( both the same group of riders ) had an awesome time, even with the track conditions at State titles where i crashed twice trying to push too much. I havnt had a bad time at wakfield ever, even when i put myself upside down after a highside on t4 at the 4 hour (only scrape was the helmet on the tarmac, everything else was untouched until i squashed the shoulder slider into the mud landing, so i went a long way up and was lucky to avoid injury)

Yes im 22, when i crash big, im sure my body will bounce back a bit easier than some of you guys, i have no dependents and a few other things. But i will turn up to any race event i can be it rain or dry because i want to race and support the club that organises the meeting, and i think i can say the same thing for Stu who does have kids, job, mortgage etc. We have regular in depth conversations with the club officials and we propose changes, some of which do make it into action and some do get missed. There's alot of crap going on behind the scenes with track hire, organisers, licensing etc And with how often St G has to fight for dates, why wouldnt they lock in the dates they know they can secure?

And to talk about dirtbike meets, they dont have that many, how do i know? Because i raced dirt track with them for a few years. Most events are in conjunction with other clubs so they have the man power to run the event and also to drag competitors out of the woodwork. They've had to cancel a few rounds due to too low entry numbers (20 riders was the last round i think). With maybe 4 rounds a year.

And you do realise that officials of the club have cancelled holidays, family commitments etc in the past because there wouldnt have been enough officials to run the meetings for you.

So back to the question. Why dont people turn up to the race meetings that arnt Eastern Creek? ( presuming they hanvt had serious injuries)

[simonr]

So back to the question. Why dont people turn up to the race meetings that arnt Eastern Creek? ( presuming they hanvt had serious injuries)

We are really only talking Wakefield, because there are too many other variables comparing EC to interstate rounds

Wakefield Park is a goat track compared to EC (I like goat tracks because they make you better else where, but a lot of others don't think so);
A 2 hour drive is too far for some precious people;
Extra cost of 1-2 nights accommodation;
Increased risk of a crash (my crash rate is about 1000% higher at wakefield than EC);
Same cost of racing at EC with far better facilities;
It might be harder for some to get the whole weekend off looking after kids etc, rather than the wknd at EC where the missus can come by and you go home every night;


More?

[zooker]

Wakefield Park is a goat track compared to EC (I like goat tracks because they make you better else where, but a lot of others don't think so);
A 2 hour drive is too far for some precious people;

I'm surprised with how expensive SMSP ride days are that more people don't make the effort to get some practice at Wakefield. $145 for a weekday + fuel would still be cheaper than SMSP. And people won't get good riding Wakey without riding Wakey. I've seen people really struggle as the only time they ride the track is on a winter race day. Head down when it's warm, practice, learn the track and people will have less issues with it and would be more likely to race it hopefully.

Although I'm glad no-one does because it gives me a chance to gain back the points I lose at SMSP (except Carl who seems to have learnt the ways of Wakefield)

[simonr]

I'm surprised with how expensive SMSP ride days are that more people don't make the effort to get some practice at Wakefield. $145 for a weekday + fuel would still be cheaper than SMSP. And people won't get good riding Wakey without riding Wakey. I've seen people really struggle as the only time they ride the track is on a winter race day. Head down when it's warm, practice, learn the track and people will have less issues with it and would be more likely to race it hopefully.

absolutely, but when they wont put on many weekend ride days, taking a day off work to go down there mid-week is more expensive then riding at EC on a weekend