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Post by BarryB on Oct 4, 2021 19:33:19 GMT 12
.........all tracks are not up and running without restrictions by the end of November? We may have to have a 'no jab no jollies' policy, but to lose something like a NZ Superstock, Stockcar, Super Saloon, Sprintcar or Midget title, or even more disruptive overall, the Palmy Teams Champs, with maybe only 24 hours notice would be unacceptable to a lot of people. Palmy is a private promotion, and the risk would be upon the promotion, but a major New Zealand title, for which a club may only be eligible to host every 10-15 years, could be financially disastrous for a number of clubs if it were taken away after months of planning and infrastructure spending, sponsorship money having to be repaid etc etc.
Smaller club-type meetings can be organised, scheduled, raced, postponed or cancelled at very short notice. We have mobile phones and the internet. However, the current uncertainly around restrictions affects everybody; SNZ, all clubs, all competitors and our entire spectator base, especially those who travel for major shows, requiring accomodation, sometimes flights etc.
The government is talking about more freedoms with vaccination rates at 90%+, but that's looking extremely unlikely at current rates, at least until children can be vaccinated also. I have my own feelings on those that sit idly by and are prepared to let children do their job for them, but that's another story. Speedway, along with concerts and festivals, require paying punters through the gates. Unlike more major sporting groups who derive a proportion of their income through television rights, or horse racing that derives a proportion of their income through betting, speedway doesn't. These other sports certainly aren't thriving without crowds, but speedway and music events just cannot exist at all.
We also have the problem of possible parts/tyres shortages this season, due to shipping delays. I have no personal knowledge of just how big this problem might be, but it has been raised in some circles.
So these are some of the things we are currently having to deal with, and will be dealing with in the foreseeable future, especially in Auckland (and maybe the Waikato). And modellers have said just today, with the easing of restrictions that it's only a matter of time before Covid hits the South Island again.
Will there come a time, like at the end of November, where SNZ will, for the protection of its clubs and its championships, need to decide whether to cross fingers and press ahead in hope? Or make a decision to hold all championships over for 12 months, with all 2021/22 titles to be raced in 2022/23 to give a little more certainly to all stakeholders.
This decision would actually be assisted by decisions made at the 2021 SNZ AGM to not vote in anymore titles beyond this coming season anyway, with a new model to be introduced before the start of the 2022/23 season. So by putting back the upcoming championships by 12 months due to the uncertainly of being able to have crowds right through the upcoming summer, we would not be putting back any future seasons as there are currently none in place.
What are the thoughts of macgorians, a place whose membership contains club members, competitors and spectators, among others.
Barry B
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Post by midway on Oct 4, 2021 19:51:47 GMT 12
Well thats placing your best foot forward ,,and certainly has good merit ,and while there is a gross amount of uncertainty of future events happening it gives those time to reshuffle
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Post by BarryB on Oct 4, 2021 20:39:47 GMT 12
Well thats placing your best foot forward ,,and certainly has good merit ,and while there is a gross amount of uncertainty of future events happening it gives those time to reshuffle I'm only talking about SNZ championships midway. Every club would still be free to run whatever meetings they were prepared to take the risks on, abiding by whatever restrictions were in place at any given time. But Bruce Robertson certainly won't be running the Teams Champs with a crowd limit of 1000 people, even if he could get all of the teams there. It's tragic to think that last summer we were the envy of the world, with full crowds attending events all over the country. I went to one concert with 50,000 people, and plenty of full-house speedway events. Those countries that once envied us, are now laughing at us. But that is also another story. Barry B |
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Post by mod46c on Oct 5, 2021 6:04:35 GMT 12
.........all tracks are not up and running without restrictions by the end of November? We may have to have a 'no jab no jollies' policy, but to lose something like a NZ Superstock, Stockcar, Super Saloon, Sprintcar or Midget title, or even more disruptive overall, the Palmy Teams Champs, with maybe only 24 hours notice would be unacceptable to a lot of people. Palmy is a private promotion, and the risk would be upon the promotion, but a major New Zealand title, for which a club may only be eligible to host every 10-15 years, could be financially disastrous for a number of clubs if it were taken away after months of planning and infrastructure spending, sponsorship money having to be repaid etc etc. Smaller club-type meetings can be organised, scheduled, raced, postponed or cancelled at very short notice. We have mobile phones and the internet. However, the current uncertainly around restrictions affects everybody; SNZ, all clubs, all competitors and our entire spectator base, especially those who travel for major shows, requiring accomodation, sometimes flights etc. The government is talking about more freedoms with vaccination rates at 90%+, but that's looking extremely unlikely at current rates, at least until children can be vaccinated also. I have my own feelings on those that sit idly by and are prepared to let children do their job for them, but that's another story. Speedway, along with concerts and festivals, require paying punters through the gates. Unlike more major sporting groups who derive a proportion of their income through television rights, or horse racing that derives a proportion of their income through betting, speedway doesn't. These other sports certainly aren't thriving without crowds, but speedway and music events just cannot exist at all. We also have the problem of possible parts/tyres shortages this season, due to shipping delays. I have no personal knowledge of just how big this problem might be, but it has been raised in some circles. So these are some of the things we are currently having to deal with, and will be dealing with in the foreseeable future, especially in Auckland (and maybe the Waikato). And modellers have said just today, with the easing of restrictions that it's only a matter of time before Covid hits the South Island again. Will there come a time, like at the end of November, where SNZ will, for the protection of its clubs and its championships, need to decide whether to cross fingers and press ahead in hope? Or make a decision to hold all championships over for 12 months, with all 2021/22 titles to be raced in 2022/23 to give a little more certainly to all stakeholders. This decision would actually be assisted by decisions made at the 2021 SNZ AGM to not vote in anymore titles beyond this coming season anyway, with a new model to be introduced before the start of the 2022/23 season. So by putting back the upcoming championships by 12 months due to the uncertainly of being able to have crowds right through the upcoming summer, we would not be putting back any future seasons as there are currently none in place. What are the thoughts of macgorians, a place whose membership contains club members, competitors and spectators, among others. Barry B You've raised some very good points there, I'm not convinced it falls in SNZ remit to make such a decision, would expect a GM would be needed to do this  |
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Post by BarryB on Oct 5, 2021 7:05:51 GMT 12
You are probably right. I'm sure they have Zoom :-)
Barry B
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Post by FlyingTheV on Oct 5, 2021 8:05:35 GMT 12
I'm waiting for Ramjam to join the conversation here!!!
There is validity to what you say Barry as it remains highly likely that different parts of the country will have different levels of "freedom" in terms of permitted attendance numbers. What might work for keeping groups of spectators separated in clusters might work in Meeanee or Oceanview or Palmerston North where there are different entry points, but it might not work for other tracks i.e. Rotorua or Gisborne. Given that these national events are often the lifeblood for club-run tracks in particular, it would be unfair to start shifting the titles around to allow them to run elsewhere. So postponing titles for 12 months under the same roster would appear to be the most sensible outcome for everyone including organising committees, sponsors, volunteers etc.
Let's hope it's on the radar for SNZ, and if not, it should be....
Roger M.
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Post by theothermikeyb on Oct 5, 2021 8:06:52 GMT 12
I think you are right Barry. I don’t want you to be right. I want you to be wrong. I want to think you are wrong. I want to argue with you.
But I can’t cause you are right.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2021 8:25:51 GMT 12
I'm in two minds over this one.
What's the fairest thing to do?
Get to next year and get back to square one?
Or run the champs and no south Islanders travel anyway?
All it will do is put some tracks further down the rotation.
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Post by brendanlucas on Oct 5, 2021 8:31:10 GMT 12
Very frustrating situation we find ourselves in. Frustrating, because we are being held to ransom it would seem by a group of anti-vax folk, and some lazy folk that just can't be rrrrr'sd getting the jab. Frustrating that the government havn't used there platform to explain (via the educated experts) to the masses how pathogens thrive, and how they don't thrive, and the function of the vacine and what it is made from, and pointing out that by shopping at Pak'n'Save you are likely putting you're health more at risk then having the jab. Also frustrated the government haven't said by blah blah date, everyone has had a chance to get the jab, so we will be at level one with masks, and by the way any covid patients will be sent to either Ohakia or Waiouru, where the tent city for covid patients will be, & frustrated the government are quite possibly prolonging the covid lockdown to put downward pressure in the property market, & to create enough of a decoy to get there dodgy 3 waters thing across the line.
BL
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Post by BarryB on Oct 5, 2021 9:33:20 GMT 12
I think you are right Barry. I don’t want you to be right. I want you to be wrong. I want to think you are wrong. I want to argue with you. But I can’t cause you are right. Believe me I'm hoping I'm wrong too. I have been looking forward to this season more that any other season in recent years, but feel as every day passes that it's not going to happen, at least not according to everybody's hopes, wishes and dreams. With this new tiered system of Level 3 announced yesterday (meaning a total of 4 tiers of Level 3) with no targets or timelines I began to seriously wonder, and then Bloomfield saying last night that would likely be 4-8 weeks, which takes us into the beginning of December still at Level 3. Then what? 4 x tiers of Level 2. And what will happen with the Waikato? Hopefully just a brief blip on the radar like the Hauraki Plains cases, But how long before some fool carries it even further afield? Some clubs may be able to find a way of running smaller meetings at Level 2, but certainly no major events. Does anybody know how bad the tyres/parts situation is likely to be? Barry B |
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Post by BarryB on Oct 5, 2021 9:36:15 GMT 12
Very frustrating situation we find ourselves in. Frustrating, because we are being held to ransom it would seem by a group of anti-vax folk, and some lazy folk that just can't be rrrrr'sd getting the jab. Frustrating that the government havn't used there platform to explain (via the educated experts) to the masses how pathogens thrive, and how they don't thrive, and the function of the vacine and what it is made from, and pointing out that by shopping at Pak'n'Save you are likely putting you're health more at risk then having the jab. Also frustrated the government haven't said by blah blah date, everyone has had a chance to get the jab, so we will be at level one with masks, and by the way any covid patients will be sent to either Ohakia or Waiouru, where the tent city for covid patients will be, & frustrated the government are quite possibly prolonging the covid lockdown to put downward pressure in the property market, & to create enough of a decoy to get there dodgy 3 waters thing across the line. BL Please don't mention the 3 waters thing in my thread haha. Barry B |
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Post by mod46c on Oct 5, 2021 10:09:45 GMT 12
I think you are right Barry. I don’t want you to be right. I want you to be wrong. I want to think you are wrong. I want to argue with you. But I can’t cause you are right. Believe me I'm hoping I'm wrong too. I have been looking forward to this season more that any other season in recent years, but feel as every day passes that it's not going to happen, at least not according to everybody's hopes, wishes and dreams. With this new tiered system of Level 3 announced yesterday (meaning a total of 4 tiers of Level 3) with no targets or timelines I began to seriously wonder, and then Bloomfield saying last night that would likely be 4-8 weeks, which takes us into the beginning of December still at Level 3. Then what? 4 x tiers of Level 2. And what will happen with the Waikato? Hopefully just a brief blip on the radar like the Hauraki Plains cases, But how long before some fool carries it even further afield? Some clubs may be able to find a way of running smaller meetings at Level 2, but certainly no major events. Does anybody know how bad the tyres/parts situation is likely to be? Barry B Don't have direct knowledge om the parts situation but plenty of commentary indicating World of Outlaw teams having trouble getting tyres so take what you will from that |
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Post by hbhornets on Oct 5, 2021 11:11:25 GMT 12
Very frustrating situation we find ourselves in. Frustrating, because we are being held to ransom it would seem by a group of anti-vax folk, and some lazy folk that just can't be rrrrr'sd getting the jab. Frustrating that the government havn't used there platform to explain (via the educated experts) to the masses how pathogens thrive, and how they don't thrive, and the function of the vacine and what it is made from, and pointing out that by shopping at Pak'n'Save you are likely putting you're health more at risk then having the jab. Also frustrated the government haven't said by blah blah date, everyone has had a chance to get the jab, so we will be at level one with masks, and by the way any covid patients will be sent to either Ohakia or Waiouru, where the tent city for covid patients will be, & frustrated the government are quite possibly prolonging the covid lockdown to put downward pressure in the property market, & to create enough of a decoy to get there dodgy 3 waters thing across the line. BL It's not the jab people are having issues with its there government. Let that sink in. |
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Post by tonyr on Oct 5, 2021 11:45:17 GMT 12
As a leper who lives in Auckland I have resigned myself to no speedway this season. Absolutely gutted!
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Post by busterbell on Oct 5, 2021 12:04:11 GMT 12
The Government talking head experts are all saying level 1 has gone and the goal post's are shifting regularly while at the same time giving no commitment to duration. Opening nights and practices are already falling under the cancellation hammer and I surmise this status will remain until Christmas. The government are solely reliant on vaccination percentages while offering no alternative should that fail. This thing looks like it is going to become much worse, we have tackled the virus in the reverse of everyone else who have already been through their worse and are coming out the other side. I think the virus and it's management will dictate how much speedway there will be this season. I managed to witness a sniff of the new season but were well aware this will be all I get for the foreseeable future. Time to hunker down and ride it out, open the borders and hope for the best, the best perhaps being a fresh start in the 22-23 season.  |
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Post by midway on Oct 5, 2021 21:42:46 GMT 12
The last Covid _19 jab must of missed its target and went in one ear and out the other  It is good to see he has relieved himself from stress levels that have been in the system some time , And can wash under 3 waters a unique water sprinkler ,that needs no umbrella .. |
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Post by go29 on Oct 6, 2021 12:53:47 GMT 12
If the Government is allowing festivals like Rhythm and Vines etc to go ahead in December so long as people attending are vaccinated and can show proof of that, then I can't see why speedway meetings won't be able to go ahead with a similar kind of rule in place.
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Post by BarryB on Oct 6, 2021 14:11:47 GMT 12
If the Government is allowing festivals like Rhythm and Vines etc to go ahead in December so long as people attending are vaccinated and can show proof of that, then I can't see why speedway meetings won't be able to go ahead with a similar kind of rule in place. That is what they are working towards of course, and to be eligible to receive a vaccination certificate (VC) by December people need to start thinking about getting their first jab now if they haven't already done so. However, and especially if the Level 3 boundaries keep expanding, those VC's will mean nothing if the government says none of those events can proceed. The likes of Rhythm & Vines? That is their target today, and it will still be tomorrow, but whether that is a realistic and achievable target remains to be seen. My question was, if everything was still on-hold come the end of November/beginning of December, i.e; speedway still hadn't held it's first meeting, or lets say only the SI tracks had been able to open, what should we as a sport be doing? Not based on what is being planned for December in the first week of October. Barry B |
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Post by busterbell on Oct 6, 2021 17:35:45 GMT 12
snz said today there is contingency to transfer to the following year/season if the need arises. They also said they can be flexible on rules pertaining to qualifying for a title. It was left to the clubs discretion whether they can operate with whatever covid compliance is required at the time.
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Post by BarryB on Oct 6, 2021 18:01:49 GMT 12
snz said today there is contingency to transfer to the following year/season if the need arises. They also said they can be flexible on rules pertaining to qualifying for a title. It was left to the clubs discretion whether they can operate with whatever covid compliance is required at the time. That's good. The worst part is that clubs can plan for months, even years for some of the really big titles that don't come around too often, and it can all be brought undone in a heartbeat. There is no certainly on anything at the moment, and I guess all anybody wants is the most certainly possible. Barry B |
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