HKr1
January 7th, 2010, 04:07 PM
Guess for now, no more Tiger Track Days @ NPR.
First off, I want to say thanks to everyone for their patience with the
trackday situation.
(WARNING: this is e-mail is lengthy....if you have a short attention span
just read the first paragraph! Being verbose is a bad habit of mine......)
I regret to inform everyone that as of today, Tiger Trackdays will cease to
run motorcycle trackdays at Circuit Grand Bayou (NPR). The reasons are
many but ultimately it came down to the financial bottom line. The cost
for us to run an event at CGB has risen by $1000 per month. This is simply
not sustainable. If attendance for 2010 was hypothetically the same as
2009, I would lose a substantial amount of money. When the cost of the
Airfence (that TTD provides) is added in, the situation worsens. CGB has
to protect their bottom line as well, and while I understand the rationale
of their rate increases it simply isn't something that works with the TTD
format.
Circuit Grand Bayou has other plans for motorcycle events, though I will
not speak on their behalf as to what they are. That, and I frankly don't
know what they are.
For those of you who had a credit left on your season passes, contact me
for a pro-rated refund. Also, just as a measure of full disclosure, I will
be selling 8 sections of Airfence Bike since CGB has no need for them. The
2 other sections, which were purchased with donated funds, I plan to donate
to the Roadracing World Action Fund. If anyone has any specific questions
on this, feel free to contact me.
This is not the end of Tiger Trackdays. It may take on new life as a
traveling circus of those of us who want to go do trackdays at out of state
facilities, or future local developments.
I have enjoyed getting to know all of you over the years, and I'm happy to
say motorcycle roadracing/trackdays are much healthier now than ever before
due to the efforts and participation of everyone. There are more track
motorcycles here now than ever, and that's a great sign for the sport.
Whatever shape that motorcycle trackdays may take in the future, I ask you
only to remember that the sport is only as healthy as YOU make it, and only
as safe as YOU demand it be. While never perfect, we made great strides in
improving safety over the years and I would hate to see it take a step
backwards.
TTD is something that was born six years ago out of a broke college
students desire to ride, and I think the low-cost, high-fun, family
atmosphere we created is a testament to the good people here. I rented the
track, took a gamble or thirty, and we've never looked back. While I
nearly became fast for a brief moment in time (ask Roddy!), I have slowed
on the track over the years. However I never stopped having fun and
getting to see the development of our local talent is something I will
always be proud of. The names are too many to mention, but so many of you
were led around the track over the years by myself, Keith, DJ, Roddy, Kevin
etc....and before we knew it you were showing us the fast lines! (Except
for DJ.....nobody ever passes him unless his bike is upside down....which
happens a lot....but I won't get into that here)
There are really too many people to thank, so I won't even try as I would
inevitably leave someone out. I will plan a get-together of some sort
soon, and will keep everyone posted.
As always I'll answer any questions I can, and fresh ideas are always welcome.
'Till next time....
-Shane
First off, I want to say thanks to everyone for their patience with the
trackday situation.
(WARNING: this is e-mail is lengthy....if you have a short attention span
just read the first paragraph! Being verbose is a bad habit of mine......)
I regret to inform everyone that as of today, Tiger Trackdays will cease to
run motorcycle trackdays at Circuit Grand Bayou (NPR). The reasons are
many but ultimately it came down to the financial bottom line. The cost
for us to run an event at CGB has risen by $1000 per month. This is simply
not sustainable. If attendance for 2010 was hypothetically the same as
2009, I would lose a substantial amount of money. When the cost of the
Airfence (that TTD provides) is added in, the situation worsens. CGB has
to protect their bottom line as well, and while I understand the rationale
of their rate increases it simply isn't something that works with the TTD
format.
Circuit Grand Bayou has other plans for motorcycle events, though I will
not speak on their behalf as to what they are. That, and I frankly don't
know what they are.
For those of you who had a credit left on your season passes, contact me
for a pro-rated refund. Also, just as a measure of full disclosure, I will
be selling 8 sections of Airfence Bike since CGB has no need for them. The
2 other sections, which were purchased with donated funds, I plan to donate
to the Roadracing World Action Fund. If anyone has any specific questions
on this, feel free to contact me.
This is not the end of Tiger Trackdays. It may take on new life as a
traveling circus of those of us who want to go do trackdays at out of state
facilities, or future local developments.
I have enjoyed getting to know all of you over the years, and I'm happy to
say motorcycle roadracing/trackdays are much healthier now than ever before
due to the efforts and participation of everyone. There are more track
motorcycles here now than ever, and that's a great sign for the sport.
Whatever shape that motorcycle trackdays may take in the future, I ask you
only to remember that the sport is only as healthy as YOU make it, and only
as safe as YOU demand it be. While never perfect, we made great strides in
improving safety over the years and I would hate to see it take a step
backwards.
TTD is something that was born six years ago out of a broke college
students desire to ride, and I think the low-cost, high-fun, family
atmosphere we created is a testament to the good people here. I rented the
track, took a gamble or thirty, and we've never looked back. While I
nearly became fast for a brief moment in time (ask Roddy!), I have slowed
on the track over the years. However I never stopped having fun and
getting to see the development of our local talent is something I will
always be proud of. The names are too many to mention, but so many of you
were led around the track over the years by myself, Keith, DJ, Roddy, Kevin
etc....and before we knew it you were showing us the fast lines! (Except
for DJ.....nobody ever passes him unless his bike is upside down....which
happens a lot....but I won't get into that here)
There are really too many people to thank, so I won't even try as I would
inevitably leave someone out. I will plan a get-together of some sort
soon, and will keep everyone posted.
As always I'll answer any questions I can, and fresh ideas are always welcome.
'Till next time....
-Shane