Sales Pitch

[lawnman]

Just joined the forum, am thinking about which club to join for 2012. I am 56, retired from Cal-Fire and now coach high school football/baseball in Burney, CA. I am an hour from both Redding and Susanville, so traveling to the Marysville, or Reno areas, to race is pretty much a draw. My son and I practically lived in Marysville when we were hitting it hard, but with football he has pulled back from racing seriously now.

I've done the MRANN thing, but the club I was in folded. My son got second in each of the two desert races he did, but didn't like racing desert, so I have moved away from desert racing. I like both off-road (am a D-36 member) and moto (but really like the sand tracks a bit more than than the hardpack). Was in Sierra OTMX last year and went to 2 nationals (V & LA) and had a good time, but was the only Sierra member to attend the LA race.

However, the price of fuel scared me when I got home and added up expenses. I took 395 home and was about blown over by the wind. So I set about purchasing a dually for my cab-over camper and now have the package I need and the price of diesel is going up. Sometime I think I'm jinxed!

I am a member of the Sierra OTHG, but many of their races are to south and west of Sac, which adds to the cost as well. I am also a member of SMRA, and have raced their races and like the lower-key attitude that is present there. I also joined CMC this year (don't know how many i will do) and raced the opening round of the Golden State National Series at MMX (325 entries, it was packed). I am a 52+ Novice w/ OTHG.

I have one son who lives in Truckee, and his younger brother (the ex-racer) is constantly bugging me to go over to Reno to ride so he can hook up with him and go snow boarding.

So lay your sales pitch on me as to why I should join the Reno OTMX. Do many of your members attend the nationals?

Vince

[rooster73]

please don't think we are not paying attention. I am starting dinner and we plan out my "pitch" during that time. Be getting back to you soon...........................Rooster

[rooster73]

I guess the first thing that crossed my mind after reading your post was how active you seem to be. So, the first point would be that we (the club) would be lucky to have you as a member. We need members able and willing to be interactive with the other members, club functions and the ever changing logistics that keep us going. You are able to be as involved as you would like to be. From laborer to President of the club depending on your level of involvement. As far as racing, you said you like sand and boy, do we have sand.
There are many of us that enjoy the gathering of like age guys and having ride days exclusive to our age groups on a track built to accommodate "riding styles" that come with our seasoned attitudes. The same things you mentioned in your post about expenses have lessen our members to attendence ofinternationals around the west coast in recent years. I do believe that is changing this season because many of us are planning on hittilng more internationals and have started taking about our plans to "team up" and share expenses to make it more afforable to travel to some of the great tracks available to us on the international schedule.

Our club has gotten to the point of "age" that most of the involved members are reaching there December years and in an effort to continue we have included 30+ riders as full members of the organization. We feel the best way to have a great oldtimer is include him as a vet and he can see, understand, and learn what the oldtimers is all about and be an asset to the club for many years to come. Forward thinking I would like to believe.

We meet once a month for club disscussions and decision making. You are not required to attend (distance and all) but you do get points for attending. Work parties earn points and racing internationals and local events are awarded points also.
At the end of the year you are able to get local club awards and
international awards for your participation.

At our meetings the club supplies food and beverage, we have "playdays" exclusive to club members and family. If you work for the club when we put on local races you can earn free entries. Alot of benifits if you add it all up for a small dollar amount of only $ 25.00 a year.

Really, I could go on and on but I think you get the idea. We need you and we are hoping you need us..................besides, I am about 12 years older than you and I want you to come so I can see if I can beat you...........................Straight up - 5 laps.
Are you game?...............................................Rooster

Really just kidding about beating you, thought that might stir you enough to come on down.............just great riding and alot of fun. (But, don't look behind while your'e riding, cause it will be me with a grin on my face.)

[lawnman]

Thanks very much for taking the time to respond to my inquiry. You did a good job of speaking on behalf of your organization.

I looked at the recap of club points from last year. There is a header across the top that states a rider can not have more race points than work points? I read that as it is more important to help put the race on, than to race it? I suspect that one can both race/work at a race? I understand how many points are earned, just not the reason for the limit. Maybe you can clarify the assignment of points and explain how a rider would successfully operate within this system. It gave an example of race points being capped at a specific number. Are you penalized if you race more than you work (but you do work)?

I see where racing one of the local series earns points toward the club championship? On average how many ride days do you have per year?

Thanks again for your reply.

[jbrown62r]

Racers are still rewarded for their international race results, the points that are listed on this site are just for our club standings.

Its my understanding that the intent of that rule is to promote participation. Its easy to accumulate help points. Even with you living a bit further away. We always need help on race days and practice days.

We have members who help with every facet of running the track and organizing the races. Since we run and operate our own track we do not need to do many fund raisers in order to put on a really awesome International.

We have a busy February planned. We have a meeting on the 14Th, followed by two days of fully prepped practice on the 18Th- 19Th(if your spending the night its also Arenacross weekend). Then we have our round of the Spring SMRA series. Practice is the 25Th with a race on the 26Th.

If you PM me your email address I can put you in the prospective member list and make sure you know when we are having an activity.

[rooster73]

I will try to show you an example of points accumulation. Lets say that during one month period there in a meeting, a work detail, practice day and race day following. (every task/motion gets the same award in our point system..5 points) So.....you attend a meeting (5), you do a work detail task (5), you race on sunday (5). For that month there is a total of 15 points on your sheet next to your name. The next month there is a meeting,
a practice weekend planned and a International Race. Now it is meeting (5), you decide to do a task at the practice weekend (say just one day) (5), and you attend the international (which is a two day event, 5 race points per day) (10). So...this month you get 20 points. Added to the prior month you equal 35 points. So far you have 20 on the admin/help side and 15 race points. Still a total of 35 points next to your name. I have gotten in trouble for using the following verbage before but here goes again, we don't think we are so much a "racing club" as we think we are a "Participation Club". To join the club and not be a part of the "group", I feel, and only race to accumulate points and not participate should not be rewarded the same as a involved club member that moves the club forward while enjoying his racing.

Let me make you aware Vince, I am not a club officer and have no rule making authority. I am only giving you information so you can understand what we do............................Rooster

[lawnman]

Can you earn work and race points on the same day?

[larry63r]

If you work and race in the same day you get points for both. We have people take over our job while we are racing our moto and then go back to our job as soon as we get off the track. We work all day in our riding gear. My son helps take over for me during my motos.