Post by Jamo on Jun 8, 2010 13:45:05 GMT 12
I have read with interest the SNZ info with regard mods contained in the AGM information on the SNZ website.
I take issue with a couple of things.
1/ Mod report by Peter Kuriger. Peter seems to be using the old "drop in numbers" white elephant as an excuse as to why we need to approve all type of oddball engine trials. 2009/10 numbers are the same as the numbers racing in 2003/04 based from their own information. Is it just coincidence that in both these years the premier event (NZ title) was held in the South Island? Greymouth in 03/04 and Christchurch in 09/10.
2/The mod class, like a lot of the others, shows numbers fluctuating from year to year and even though by first glance it looks like the numbers have been steadily declining in the last 3 seasons, I think this is misleading.
Looking back through my own information it seems that approx 30% of the registered drivers in the 06/07 season (the peak shown by SNZ at 78) did not race that year. There were in fact only about 52 active competitors.
In the season just gone there were apparently 54 registered competitors. Of the 54, approx 48 were active. The difference between the peak and the troff? 4 active competitors! hardly something to panic about given that 09/10 was the biggest economic recession for decades!
3/ Of the competitors who raced in the 09/10 season as far as I know we have lost 1 (Tash). I maybe wrong about this and there could be more. On the other side I know of at least 6 guys that intend to race this coming season that did not race last season. This will mean that we will have more registered competitors in the class this season compared to last season. What is more important is that we will have more active competitors racing compared to last season.
4/ NZ champs at the Glen this year attracted 30 entries with 28 ultimately starting. I think you will find that if you go back over the last 10-15 years that this number is on par with previous years. The biggest field assembled for the NZ mods remains the 02/03 champs at Rotorua with approx 34 entries. It would not surprise me to see this number exceeded this season.
In short, if you want to start playing with the rules at least do it for the right reasons. I am sick of hearing that something needs to be done due to declining numbers. This is a crock! Numbers will always fluctuate from season to season given the economic circumstances of the time and being a premier class this should be expected. The only real relevant numbers are the active competitors not the amount of tyre kickers. We could all register as mod drivers with no intention of racing but what does that prove?? Lets talk apples to apples, active racers to active racers. This is what counts. NZ champs will always only attract 25-35 odd cars as a lot simply don't travel. NI will always getter a bigger field for the title as they have the most cars. This is a fact and is one reason that the numbers drop a bit in the year that the title is down to run down south.
Like all in the class, I have no hypothetical issue with looking at the rules to try and make the class cheaper, I do however question that by making the class cheaper it will massively increase numbers in the class. This process should be done in the correct fashion and that is by utilizing the class technical committee, after all that is what they are there for! The current trials have been approved by SNZ directors without any consultation with the class technical committee or the registered drivers in the class. This is what I disagree with. The diesel option in particular will require a massive rewrite of multiple rules, not just one. Do we really want to rewrite the rulebook??
I hear the old "vested interest" chestnut being mutted by some, well folks guess again. We are nearing the end of our racing lifetime so by the time any thing changed we would likely be at the stage of winding up anyway so any changes would not effect us. If they did come in while we were still racing we have the resources and the $$ to make the changes and remain at the pointy end of the field, a lot of others don't. I personally believe that radical rule changes could end up having the opposite effect than what is trying to be achieved. Numbers could very possible reduce, not increase.
Don't be fooled by the declining numbers justification for rule changes as it simply does not stand up to legitimate scrutiny.
I take issue with a couple of things.
1/ Mod report by Peter Kuriger. Peter seems to be using the old "drop in numbers" white elephant as an excuse as to why we need to approve all type of oddball engine trials. 2009/10 numbers are the same as the numbers racing in 2003/04 based from their own information. Is it just coincidence that in both these years the premier event (NZ title) was held in the South Island? Greymouth in 03/04 and Christchurch in 09/10.
2/The mod class, like a lot of the others, shows numbers fluctuating from year to year and even though by first glance it looks like the numbers have been steadily declining in the last 3 seasons, I think this is misleading.
Looking back through my own information it seems that approx 30% of the registered drivers in the 06/07 season (the peak shown by SNZ at 78) did not race that year. There were in fact only about 52 active competitors.
In the season just gone there were apparently 54 registered competitors. Of the 54, approx 48 were active. The difference between the peak and the troff? 4 active competitors! hardly something to panic about given that 09/10 was the biggest economic recession for decades!
3/ Of the competitors who raced in the 09/10 season as far as I know we have lost 1 (Tash). I maybe wrong about this and there could be more. On the other side I know of at least 6 guys that intend to race this coming season that did not race last season. This will mean that we will have more registered competitors in the class this season compared to last season. What is more important is that we will have more active competitors racing compared to last season.
4/ NZ champs at the Glen this year attracted 30 entries with 28 ultimately starting. I think you will find that if you go back over the last 10-15 years that this number is on par with previous years. The biggest field assembled for the NZ mods remains the 02/03 champs at Rotorua with approx 34 entries. It would not surprise me to see this number exceeded this season.
In short, if you want to start playing with the rules at least do it for the right reasons. I am sick of hearing that something needs to be done due to declining numbers. This is a crock! Numbers will always fluctuate from season to season given the economic circumstances of the time and being a premier class this should be expected. The only real relevant numbers are the active competitors not the amount of tyre kickers. We could all register as mod drivers with no intention of racing but what does that prove?? Lets talk apples to apples, active racers to active racers. This is what counts. NZ champs will always only attract 25-35 odd cars as a lot simply don't travel. NI will always getter a bigger field for the title as they have the most cars. This is a fact and is one reason that the numbers drop a bit in the year that the title is down to run down south.
Like all in the class, I have no hypothetical issue with looking at the rules to try and make the class cheaper, I do however question that by making the class cheaper it will massively increase numbers in the class. This process should be done in the correct fashion and that is by utilizing the class technical committee, after all that is what they are there for! The current trials have been approved by SNZ directors without any consultation with the class technical committee or the registered drivers in the class. This is what I disagree with. The diesel option in particular will require a massive rewrite of multiple rules, not just one. Do we really want to rewrite the rulebook??
I hear the old "vested interest" chestnut being mutted by some, well folks guess again. We are nearing the end of our racing lifetime so by the time any thing changed we would likely be at the stage of winding up anyway so any changes would not effect us. If they did come in while we were still racing we have the resources and the $$ to make the changes and remain at the pointy end of the field, a lot of others don't. I personally believe that radical rule changes could end up having the opposite effect than what is trying to be achieved. Numbers could very possible reduce, not increase.
Don't be fooled by the declining numbers justification for rule changes as it simply does not stand up to legitimate scrutiny.
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