2010 race calendar

[Housey]

Ok, I'll bat for the against, just a few points worth considering.

I think 8 Rounds is too much, 6 would be great, why, at 8 rounds your looking at exhausting every trail that is out there, and also there isn't a surplus of clubs to take up the merritt of work involved, all this will achieve is the speeding up of the process called Volunteer burnout.

As a reference, look at the Vic Dh series, 7 clubs involved with a 9 race series.

I'd rather see the Goatfarm used as a state dh venue over Gero, no offence to people that are and have been involved up there, but it's big drive and a expensive weekend for not much of a trail, where as the goat farm with some better communication lines opened up between DEC, Trail Builders and pmbc has the potential to have better State Level Trails. And either way, your pushing your bike at these two venues under current circumstances.

EDIT

And I think October should be reserved for state champs, November is no good, part of a fraternity each year have exams.

[escher]

I'm with Housey.  Some of those races were only two weeks apart - once you squeeze a 4X season in there, if you try to get to every state round you won't have time to do anything else with your life at all. Also, having that many state rounds is going to mean fewer club rounds, and that's not good when you're trying to encourage new people into the sport.

I also think that a state round at the Goat Farm is important to have.  A big flash race right next to Perth gets a lot of spectators (well, it seemed that way, I wasn't there to check), and grows the popularity of downhill some more.  It doesn't really matter if you think the track is not up to standard; newcomers watching the action probably aren't gonna notice.

[Housey]

Sounds the goods having eight state rounds, and having a few different locations will be good, but do we really have to hold a state round at the Gayfarm?

Totally, I thought last years race at the Goaty was great, good track and good times.  It makes for an interesting series as people will be stronger at different tracks and keeps it demanding for those chasing the points.  Like a world cup series.

Oh well, might as well quote skendo on the points dilemma.

Every year we talk about making a demanding points series, how about we start getting the points updated after each race so people no how much they have to chase by the round, how about also, get rid of the existing points scale and make it tighter and score points from each round, the dropping a round is so out dated, fek it off. I personally like the Nps system in the UK, the basic placing points are tight, you have to work hard each race to keep a lead going,http://www.britishdownhillseries.com/rules.html

[Doug]

I think dropping a round is important to keep it tight. It's a big commitment to make it to every round, particularly for parents having to take their kids down to Nannup or further. If you can't afford to race a round, are injured or your bike is broken it means you're not automatically out of the running for the Series. If anything eliminate it only from Elite where the fastest guys will race every round, it's good for the rest of us to be able to compete in our classes without the pressure of being at every single round.

[Rexy]

Having points updated after every round would definately make it more of a series.

This year I didn't really worry about missing rounds, as it wasn't like there was a points chase going on or anything...

Fair point about the Goatfarm been good for attracting attention to the sport due to it's location, comment retracted. Hopefully Chris and others put it and have a decent track for the State Rd there!

[Housey]

I think dropping a round is important to keep it tight. It's a big commitment to make it to every round, particularly for parents having to take their kids down to Nannup or further. If you can't afford to race a round, are injured or your bike is broken it means you're not automatically out of the running for the Series. If anything eliminate it only from Elite where the fastest guys will race every round, it's good for the rest of us to be able to compete in our classes without the pressure of being at every single round.

I hear what your saying doug, it's very valid, but also, I would like to see the people who race every race rewarded, ie, you can come second to a person in a 5 race series when you race 5 races, the other races 4, because your dropping points from one round, they fall back a position and miss out on first place when they have committed to a full series, I feel we're honestly charging people to much to race to be doing that system now days.

[hillthrills]

It's absolutely necessary to have a State Round at the Goat Farm!! We have the potential to hold a National Round there and it's about time WA got another chance. The Goatfarm is to Perth what Eagle is to Adelaide and Stromlo is to Canberra. All disciplines at one venue in close proximity of the CBD.
It may come as a surprise, but the  feedback after the last race there was very positive. Many of the  riders that have been racing for some time actually said they really liked the track and hadn't had so much fun in ages.
The Goatfarm is where a lot of new riders start riding, so when there is a race there, they often feel confident to enter.
On another note, it is by far the best venue to encourage food vendors and other possible merchandisers because of location and accessibility.
That's my two bobs worth
VOTE GOATFARM # 1


 

[mike]

VOTE GOATFARM # 1

Now now a state round is one thing, but let's not get all confused about what a real DH track is 

[oz_as]

It's absolutely necessary to have a State Round at the Goat Farm!! We have the potential to hold a National Round there and it's about time WA got another chance. The Goatfarm is to Perth what Eagle is to Adelaide and Stromlo is to Canberra. All disciplines at one venue in close proximity of the CBD.
It may come as a surprise, but the  feedback after the last race there was very positive. Many of the  riders that have been racing for some time actually said they really liked the track and hadn't had so much fun in ages.
The Goatfarm is where a lot of new riders start riding, so when there is a race there, they often feel confident to enter.
On another note, it is by far the best venue to encourage food vendors and other possible merchandisers because of location and accessibility.
That's my two bobs worth
VOTE GOATFARM # 1


 

A valid comment, but the goaty, Stromlo and eagle park are not what you would call real DH tracks. 

[BELL]

I think dropping a round is important to keep it tight. It's a big commitment to make it to every round, particularly for parents having to take their kids down to Nannup or further. If you can't afford to race a round, are injured or your bike is broken it means you're not automatically out of the running for the Series. If anything eliminate it only from Elite where the fastest guys will race every round, it's good for the rest of us to be able to compete in our classes without the pressure of being at every single round.

you cant just drop a round for one class and not others. not all elite riders make every race, some people have to work too

[oz_as]

What do you work Bell! I thought you just rocked up   

[BELL]

still stopsme from being at a race ya clown

[BELL]

plus gotta give poor old benny a chance haha

[Housey]

Chris is on the right track with Goatfarm being a Nat's Venue, but there needs to be some manipulation of the current trail networks and a shuttle road put back into the planning for it to all to be viable and to encourage people to come to WA to ride/race it, and want to return. In it's current form it's not quite there yet. Just my opinion of course that last bit.

But then on the other hand if it isn't going to be used and develop by a club constantly through each season, how is it ever to grow to this potential, I think scratchy touched on this type of thing in another thread, to much want for more, not enough desire to finish what's been started.

Eagle Park and Stromlo have developed into what they have through constant eventing, I'm sorry, but to me, how much goes on at the goaty through out the year, we seem to be to busy racing as far away from WA's only legal MTB Park as possible.

A valid comment, but the goaty, Stromlo and eagle park are not what you would call real DH tracks. 

I wouldn't say there are a lot of tracks in Australia that would be termed Real DH, but we're in a country with stuff all alpine regions and large mountains, so we're never going to see them on a large scale.

[BELL]

Geez you're good at dribbling Housey.  Haha nice stuff, keep it up.