|
|
Post by Phred on Mar 4, 2018 14:13:12 GMT 12
Standing next to wise chap last night,the conversation turned to the subject of how to make the event more popular with both drivers and spectators.
His suggestion was to run the Sunday night event earlier in the day.
Most people have work on Mondays a few hours earlier out of the venue may make the event more popular with spectators and competitors.
Seems to make sense
Your thoughts?
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Mar 4, 2018 14:24:58 GMT 12
Go back to running Fri/Sat is my first thought but if Sunday is a must then a 3pm or 4pm start might be a go.
|
|
|
|
Post by BarryB on Mar 4, 2018 14:31:24 GMT 12
Looking at a video of last night the crowd looked better than the numbers that have turned up on a Friday night in recent years in Auckland? But the proof will be whether tonight's numbers are down from when the event's second night is a Saturday.
What it really needs to succeed is 8 teams. But yes, if it has to be. Saturday/Sunday then 4pm is the latest start time. While out of towners are probably taking Monday of work, a 6.30pm Sunday start time is unattractive to locals.
Barry B
|
|
|
|
Post by speedsinestv on Mar 4, 2018 14:46:42 GMT 12
Nelson Street is a great big truck car park Friday afternoon, it's horrendous these days. Makes it impossible to run Friday night.
|
|
|
|
Post by go29 on Mar 4, 2018 15:31:05 GMT 12
Nelson Street is a great big truck car park Friday afternoon, it's horrendous these days. Makes it impossible to run Friday night. Yeah we went to practice for the NZ Supers on the Friday night and it was obvious why they were running that meeting Saturday and Sunday night.. traffic was a nightmare, especially for us country folk |
|
|
|
Post by Colin E on Mar 5, 2018 10:38:07 GMT 12
Only problem with a 3 or 4pm start is it means 3 or 4 hours less time for guys to fix cars. As much as getting home last night at just before midnight (thanks to the part of the Southern Motorway being closed) I would rather that than find that some teams are a car short due to lack of time to complete repairs.
|
|
|
|
Post by speedsinestv on Mar 5, 2018 11:34:11 GMT 12
First thing is to make a significant improvement in the efficiency of the running of the meetings. And it's not one area that needs to be addressed to solve that, it's many - starting on time, recognising early and acting on track work, towies (don't even start me!), and cars gridding up. I can't understand why drivers who are about to blitz around the track during a race, think its okay to amble up to the start! The Sunday meeting could start RACING at 6pm, and must be complete by 9, but it could be done in 2.5 hours. Perhaps even do the Grand parade at 5, race at 5.30. That makes for a reasonable finish. If that doesn't work, keep the efficiency of a quick programme and start at 7.30 Friday. But we need to try something, because last nights outstanding entertainment should have been seen by thousands. And no spectators, means no prize/appearance money > means no Teams Nationals etc etc
|
|
|
|
Post by Regan O'Brien on Mar 5, 2018 12:11:23 GMT 12
Just bring the meeting to HB was more easier to get in and out on friday's and way more central to get teams lol.
So if everyone knows that friday is a pain to get there just go earlier to the track instead of 3-4.00. nuts if I have to leave thursday night to go to Auckland then so be it.
|
|
|
|
Post by kevtherev on Mar 5, 2018 14:13:40 GMT 12
Having it Fri/Sat meant they had Sunday afternoon as up backup if it rained and most of us could still get home that night.Now we have to wait till Monday night and take Tuesday off as well.Same problem with the Palmy Teams now as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by alleycat137a on Mar 5, 2018 15:45:27 GMT 12
to me either way is good, actually sat/sun works better. if its fri/sat yes they can run rain out sunday, but you still need Friday off work, if its sat/sun you don't need Friday off, and you even may not need Monday off because you can go home after meeting sunday, but if you don't want to do that you can take Monday off, and if its a rain out you can go home after meeting Monday, so fri/sat you DEFINITLY need a day off, sat/sun you MAY need a day off. and you don't have to deal with traffic. so sat/sun sounds better if you ask me. but that's just because it suits me.
|
|
|
|
Post by percy on Mar 5, 2018 17:29:09 GMT 12
I felt the Saturday/Sunday mix was a winner. Auckland is a nightmare on a Friday night at the end of a five day working week there are plenty of reasons not to make the journey to Onehunga. One of which is it's qualifying night. Easier to say no to a qualifying night than a finals night.
If rain does look like it's going to fall Sunday they can always run the show as a one nighter on Saturday. Likewise if Saturday get rained out make it a one-night Sunday deal.
Why Sunday started at the regular time I have no idea. I stated earlier in the week it should have been a 6pm start and I stand by that comment. You had teams from Huntly and Rotorua and you make it a real stretch for their fans to attend finals night. I don't think a lot of thought went into that decision.
I also concur with speedsinestv regarding the running of the show. There was a lack of urgency all night long despite it being a Sunday. Whilst the teams have to take a portion of the blame for their start line shenanigans the whole meeting was run on slow motion. Had it not been for the Modifieds running 20 laps without caution we may have made 11:00pm. That's a ridiculous time of night on a Sunday for what is supposedly a family sport. It was bizarre because on a normal night Waikaraka runs a tidy show, I'm not sure what went wrong.
For mine Saturday/Sunday is the right way to go it just needs a bit of refinement to maximise the concept. Would also be interesting to look at the live stream purchases of Sunday vs Friday night the previous year.
|
|
|
|
Post by BarryB on Mar 5, 2018 17:57:42 GMT 12
Like those above I have my own personal preference, and that's for a Friday/Saturday meeting. But the promotion has to do four things;
1; get 8 teams to make for a better format, a better contest and a better spectacle
2; promote the thing and get enough public through the gates to pay for the thing
3; run it on the two nights most profitable for the club, regardless of what people like me want
4; show some urgency and get us on the way home one hour quicker than last night, especially if it's a Sunday
Barry B
|
|
|
|
Post by midway on Mar 5, 2018 21:04:34 GMT 12
Well for only once i sort of agree with a Mr B Brown .
Years gone by Friday nights was a hummer ,people got off there backsides a little earlier to address the traffic kaos and found there way to the park ..
Sundays as a reserve day ,but if you want to play with fire and run this meeting on sunday nite ,you will soon be noticed by the lobbyists who wish to remove speedway from Waikaraka park ,it is a perfect example,..The power of the people will always out weigh the best of them ..
|
|
|
|
Post by speedwaynut on Mar 6, 2018 9:17:42 GMT 12
Firing off fireworks at 10pm on a Sunday night will definitely get the lobbyists going!
Loved the fireworks, but not sure the neighbourhood did. I received two complaints from fellow workers on Monday about the fireworks!
|
|
|
|
Post by mordecai on Mar 6, 2018 9:25:45 GMT 12
Firing off fireworks at 10pm on a Sunday night will definitely get the lobbyists going! Loved the fireworks, but not sure the neighbourhood did. I received two complaints from fellow workers on Monday about the fireworks! those were some bloody good fireworks better than palmy I think |
|
|
|
Post by Parrot on Mar 6, 2018 9:51:05 GMT 12
Friday is only an issue because Aucklanders have "must go same way every day, all the time mentality". Its easy to get to Waikaraka at 5pm on a Friday night from anywhere in NZ. If coming from South get off Southern Motorway at Takanini/Manurewa and go SH20. If coming from North use Waterview tunnel and SH20. If coming from Auckland City use Church Street or Queenstown Rd. People choose to crawl down Neilsen St every night when they dont need to.
|
|
|
|
Post by go29 on Mar 6, 2018 10:45:09 GMT 12
Friday is only an issue because Aucklanders have "must go same way every day, all the time mentality". Its easy to get to Waikaraka at 5pm on a Friday night from anywhere in NZ. If coming from South get off Southern Motorway at Takanini/Manurewa and go SH20. If coming from North use Waterview tunnel and SH20. If coming from Auckland City use Church Street or Queenstown Rd. People choose to crawl down Neilsen St every night when they dont need to. We came from the south on the Friday of NZ Superstocks for practice and took SH20. Was definetly not as bad as continuing on SH1 but it still got to crawling pace a couple of times. That may not be the case normally, but it definetly was on that day. |
|
|
|
Post by wayspeed on Mar 6, 2018 11:56:10 GMT 12
Lived in Auck for 10-12 years , traffic is nuts every morning and evening.
You need to allow 3-4 times to your travel times. motorways should be 25ks=15mins, but in Auck 25ks can take 40-50 mins during peak times. Peak times on a Fri arfo are 3pm till 6:30pm or even later.
|
|
|
|
Post by hbhornets on Mar 6, 2018 12:40:58 GMT 12
went from north shore to papakura. took 2 and a half hours from 4.15 till 6.45.
|
|
|
|
Post by BarryB on Mar 6, 2018 14:08:41 GMT 12
I think the current figure is 800+ new cars registered on Auckland roads every week? That's over 100 per day. They gotta go somewhere, and half of them always seem to be trying to go the same way as me!!
Barry B
|
|
