Race Series

[Eddie Krawiec]

I do feel that everyone is jumping on the support band wagon here. Their were so many racers so fast to bash the AMA series and now their on here saying how we need to support something to keep motorcycle racing going. If everyone opened their eyes at the time you would have seen this coming. AMA Dragbike was the only National Series and to loose it would be bad. WELL HERE IS THAT TIME and it is the worst thing that could have ever happen for the sport. Some may be glad that it went under but this just sent the sport back 10 years.

I think someone need's to put a lot of thought into this before the try to get something going. I do think it could happen fast but their is only one series that could make a move fast and that would be Mirock. It already has a base foundation to it but I really don't Royce and Steve want to take something like this on. They both already have full time jobs with their own tracks and would have to hire someone to run and maintain it then. Even then it still wouldn't turn into something national since I think they would tend to say at tracks in the North East.

I really do feel that the correct way of starting a series would be to take and do 3 to events in the second half of 2011 and then follow it up with a 6 race series on 2012. NO more then 6 so you can let the series grow a little then look at adding 1in 2013. Keep them all 5 weeks a part to start and then go from their. Whoever is looking to do something I wish them the best of luck at it. I just hope everyone does support it even if they have a good or bad experience at or Motorcycle Drag Racing will be back in the same boat again. Ed

[chachi]

Eddie,just wondering,why wait till the second half of 2011

[Vince10R]

I agree with Eddie but i think with the economy the way it is now you will still only attract a few people to run an entire series nationally. Most of the people going to these events are probably somewhat local to the track that the event is at. I think where AMA messed up was with all the membership bs. 90 percent of the racers at most events including mirock are street guys or weekly bracket racers. I have been racing since i was 18(mostly in cars) and i only raced one AMA event because i went and it cost me around a $150 to run street et by the time i paid for entrance fees, memberships and plates. Im an avid hardcore racer and that was to much for me to pay too race for next to nothing, so i never weant back. Now think of the guy whose buddy said to him lets go to the ama event and race our bikes(probably 50% of the people at the event) He gets there it costs him 150 dollars and he gets blown out first round, do you think that guy will ever come back if a hardcore racer wont? Mirock has a great thing going where a non-racer(someone who doesnt race every week) can pay 60 bucks and run both days and make a weekend out of it. Thats the kind of stuff that brings racers in the gates hence the success of the mirock races. This will also bring more people to the stands cause chances are that guy has buddies that will show up to hang out through the weekend if for nothing else to party. I dont think motorcycle drag racing has what it needs to catch the attention of the big crowd. What i mean by that is if you go to a NHRA event theres a whole lot of real fast sportsman cars out there but knowone is in the stands for them, so just being fast isnt enough. the stands dont fill until the pros come out and i dont think the average person puts what we do in anywhere near the category of top fuel funny car and dragsters. Yeah to us a low 7 sec bike pass is fast on a streetbike but most people out there would much rather see a 4 sec funny car pass. JMO take it as u will. wish luck to whoever tries a new series maybe something i said here will help.

[Eddie Krawiec]

The reason for holding off is easy. It takes time to plan. Their are a lot of things that have to get done. Track dates, Sponsorship, Vendors and all the little misc stuff that goes into it.
I'm involved and help out people with 2 races a year and it always feels like I'm working on something for them. A lot of people really don't understand the time and work that goes into making 1 event work let a lone a series of 6-8.

[Gregory Clay]

I think that's a great idea

[richard gadson]

great post eddie!

[QMIZER]

I agree with Eddie but i think with the economy the way it is now you will still only attract a few people to run an entire series nationally. Most of the people going to these events are probably somewhat local to the track that the event is at. I think where AMA messed up was with all the membership bs. 90 percent of the racers at most events including mirock are street guys or weekly bracket racers. I have been racing since i was 18(mostly in cars) and i only raced one AMA event because i went and it cost me around a $150 to run street et by the time i paid for entrance fees, memberships and plates. Im an avid hardcore racer and that was to much for me to pay too race for next to nothing, so i never weant back. Now think of the guy whose buddy said to him lets go to the ama event and race our bikes(probably 50% of the people at the event) He gets there it costs him 150 dollars and he gets blown out first round, do you think that guy will ever come back if a hardcore racer wont? Mirock has a great thing going where a non-racer(someone who doesnt race every week) can pay 60 bucks and run both days and make a weekend out of it. Thats the kind of stuff that brings racers in the gates hence the success of the mirock races. This will also bring more people to the stands cause chances are that guy has buddies that will show up to hang out through the weekend if for nothing else to party. I dont think motorcycle drag racing has what it needs to catch the attention of the big crowd. What i mean by that is if you go to a NHRA event theres a whole lot of real fast sportsman cars out there but knowone is in the stands for them, so just being fast isnt enough. the stands dont fill until the pros come out and i dont think the average person puts what we do in anywhere near the category of top fuel funny car and dragsters. Yeah to us a low 7 sec bike pass is fast on a streetbike but most people out there would much rather see a 4 sec funny car pass. JMO take it as u will. wish luck to whoever tries a new series maybe something i said here will help

[Gary Benson]

Great post Ed....all series have there issues, but people have to get involved to help fix them. Bitchin and moanin does nothing, now its gone.

[C_Henry]

The economy is what it is , BAD ! If we don't have jobs , we don't have money . If I don't have a job , one of the last things I'm gonna be worried about is a bike race . No matter who has it , or how it's done.
I do agree with Ed on tha time line thing though. Maybe this economy will slowly start to turn for tha better ? Til then , everything is gonna suffer .

[Black Widow]

Vince I am feeling on that membership and fees thing..the only race I would do is atco but it cost to much..get rid of the fee and the seris could be good again...

[1motime]

Vince I am feeling on that membership and fees thing..the only race I would do is atco but it cost to much..get rid of the fee and the seris could be good again...

X2

[Tommy Federici]

Why is it that Drag-racing never really got picked up by the AMA like the motocross, atv, roadracing, hillclibing etc.

[kneedragger4576]

because of their entrees!

we dont have the volume they have in motorcross, and other two wheel events.
look in the stands at a motorcross event, packed out!
look at a dragstrip,
the only ones in the stands is family and entourages!
and the nutswingers too, didnt mean to leave yall out!
its just like u guys are saying,
make a trip to a big event and u will be a grand in the hole before u go down the track!
and then they wont let u go down the track cause u dont have a tag on ur bike or any other excuse that might arise!
many people still have jobs, but they dont and cant throw their money away like they use too!

i dont see it turning around any time soon, but i hope it does!
its gonna take someone with deep pockets to get everyone back in the swing of things!

[ray perryman]

I feel bad for what happened to AMA, but the average guy just can't
afford to run the full series. If you live on the west coast you couldn't say that AMA runs a true national series, look at how far you have to travel to participate. If you live on the east coast it's in your back yard
if you live west of Texas it's a very expensive road trip not including
the fees. You can't grow new racers when a series doesn't make it's
series available to everyone. I used to live and race in Cali AMA Dragbike had atleast 1 race a year there and everyone could go.
The guys I know in Texas the go to AMA have deep pockets and they
complain about the gas and travel. Just my .02

[CoffmanRacing]

It all comes down to a few things. (1st): Cost to Race, between Fuel, Food, Fees, and every other expense you have to payout to race, its hard on the wallet when in most cases you get nothing or very little in return. (2nd): Classes for racing, to build any sport you have to make it affordable for the new guy to start and get into. No one is going to spend $150.00 to race for the first time knowing that the odds of them making it past the first round is slim, that’s an expensive test and tune. $10 or $15 verses $100 or $150 Test and Tune. (3rd) The last one is wide open, the economy plays a huge effect on all racing pro and novice. Spectator turn outs are based on allot of variables such as entertainment factor being a huge, things to promote and bring peoples interest into the sport, open racing programs such as womens class, youth classes, etc.
I know 100's of people local to me that would love to give racing a try but are scared because they dont want to look bad in front of people they dont know, they dont have the money to afford to spend $45-$100 just to try something and they think their bike isnt fast enough. Yes the ET class reduces one of these things but without practise your reaction times cant get better, but you cant afford to spend $100's of $$$ just to practice, so people shy away and street race instead.
I love racing, I am working on starting a build for my son in another year, I woud really like to see things get better by time he starts to race and maybe from there things will continue to grow into something big like NHRA, who knows.