CROSS POLLINATION with P-DOG: TRAINING RACE SERIES DISCUSSION

Again, P-dog scooped me this week on a topic I had been thinking about posting.
Damn you P-dog!!! Here is a copy of the comment I made on the topic of training races:

Yes Andrew, Tuesdays are run poorly. Yes the courses are fun, much better than Seward in my opinion but they are not run well. All of these have happened more than once and they are gripes that I have heard from other riders, not just my typical whining about races around here:

1. Lap cards not being accurate. I was in a 2 man break last year for the majority of the race with a 1-3 field that was small. They gave us 1 to go 2 laps in a row. How hard is it to keep track of 2 guys? Again, the lap card mix up happened more than once.

2. The promoter telling us to keep track of how we finished to help with results. If I was paying $5 for the privilege of using the track, I am ok with that. Since I am paying you ($13 last year, $15 this year) that is your job. Use a camera, get it right.

3. The promoter frequently rings the bell for primes when it is obvious that 2 different fields are coming together on that lap. It happened again last Tuesday. He is not figuring out the re-entry trajectory of the space shuttle, just when would be a good time to ring a prime bell and not contribute to the confusion of one field catching another.

4. The promoter doesn't even take the time to get to know his customers. I know a rider who got 3rd overall in the series a few years ago. The promoter still does not know the rider's name.

5. Finally, and really this is the least of the transgressions: he gives little to nothing back in terms of some pay-back. Thursday night races cost the same amount, and on just about every Thursday there is the opportunity of winning at least most of your entry back for the night. The above mentioned rider who got 3rd overall in the Tuesday series got a multi-tool. When Doug Davis won the Seward series 2 years ago he won $300 and a fleece top. That and the fact that Thursdays are run well, finishes captured on film and the fact that the promoter knows just about everyone (and that most people can ride there) are the reasons why Thursdays are going strong and Tuesdays are not.

Bottom line: Once you reach a certain level of entry fee, along with that comes a certain level of expectation. Charging $15 every week for a training race reaches that level and the Thur series gives back proportionately, the Tues does not. There is a training series that has been going on in LA at the Rose Bowl for over 40 years. It is every Tuesday and Thursday night. There is no entry fee, no prizes, just a start time that everyone knows and a finish line. Sometimes this race has had over 150 riders in it and every time it is contested like the World Championships. That is what training races are all about. If there is a fee to use the course (Seward, SIR) then charge just enough to cover those expenses and put a little in the promoter's pocket to reward him for the effort. If you want to charge a bit more, give back some more effort and some green in return. Your customers will thank you and keep coming back.