We also need to think if the push option is suitable for a local race.

reason being we may not be able to run a nationals but we have good number of supporters to keen to see an event or two.

Also ive been in negotion to sort out another location and its looking pretty positive at this stage

I can understand the complaints for a nationals-level, but to be honest it's not more than a 5 minute push from the bottom up to the big corner.

One alternative could be for us to build a singletrack that runs along the eastern side of the driveway/road (and pretty much flat) to get much of the way up the hill. Although it's probably a bit of a mission on that steep hillside

Jono wrote: I can understand the complaints for a nationals-level, but to be honest it's not more than a 5 minute push from the bottom up to the big corner.

One alternative could be for us to build a singletrack that runs along the eastern side of the driveway/road (and pretty much flat) to get much of the way up the hill. Although it's probably a bit of a mission on that steep hillside

huge mission and also it's not Steves land over there

banga wrote:

skeletor wrote: kcuf. whatever happened to the late 90's hard group who had never heard of shuttles? We used to push terawhiti for both runs! lazy. I'll be there on Wednesday work pending. There will be a way.

We aren't talking about you and your "hard" mates here are we?

This is nationals, people are paying $70+ per race, trying to get UCI points so they can race overseas, trying to get results to keep their sponsers happy etc etc.

Sad eh....

But yeah i have to agree, back in the day no-one minded too much, at least at the local level, but it's too flashy now.
Anyways, in my opinion it wouldnt be a good idea to run a Nats race like that Mike. I reckon you'll run in to all sorts of trouble, with complaining and also riders vs cars and stuff heading up to the Airstrip. I can see wipeouts on that bottom cornerand real transport/congestion problems on that hairpin corner.
I reckon local/punter races would be sweet to run it like that (it's not a big push really), but not at Nats level.
Like Ricky said, LG has probably had it's day as a nats race venue, and need to look elsewhere. It's such a pity cause we all thought the new road seal would open it up, but it's gone the other way and the Watsons are even more protective of it now.

Mark wrote:

banga wrote:

skeletor wrote: kcuf. whatever happened to the late 90's hard group who had never heard of shuttles? We used to push terawhiti for both runs! lazy. I'll be there on Wednesday work pending. There will be a way.

We aren't talking about you and your "hard" mates here are we?

This is nationals, people are paying $70+ per race, trying to get UCI points so they can race overseas, trying to get results to keep their sponsers happy etc etc.

Sad eh....

But yeah i have to agree, back in the day no-one minded too much, at least at the local level, but it's too flashy now.
Anyways, in my opinion it wouldnt be a good idea to run a Nats race like that Mike. I reckon you'll run in to all sorts of trouble, with complaining and also riders vs cars and stuff heading up to the Airstrip. I can see wipeouts on that bottom cornerand real transport/congestion problems on that hairpin corner.
I reckon local/punter races would be sweet to run it like that (it's not a big push really), but not at Nats level.
Like Ricky said, LG has probably had it's day as a nats race venue, and need to look elsewhere. It's such a pity cause we all thought the new road seal would open it up, but it's gone the other way and the Watsons are even more protective of it now.

Well said, dont worry thats the way ive been thinking from the start but i think its onlyfare to hear everyone out and make a democratic desicion with reasonable facts over personal opinions as to why the final decision was made.

Im pretty sure we could sort the riders path out but the problem would be getting them to stick to it and not cutting the downhill corner to get up the hill.

The haipin corner area would also be short of space for several trucks in waiting which could kill any spectator traffic getting in or past.

basically it comes down to a numbers game as to the size of events in the Gully.
I think we will be maxing out at around events with 100 riders.
Steve's main concern is the frequency of heavy traffic and limiting unnessary ware.
Bit of a bugger really , guess we might just have to go for more members only events with 4wd's ,suits me fine.

Well the meeting went quite well last night , thanks to all that turned up
Everyone that turned up were pretty positive about finding solutions to make it happen.

We covered a number of options, discounted a few others and came up with a few new suggestions that could ease the size of the pushing problem.

No desision has been reached as yet and further discussions will be conducted on site on sunday.

Ive made a decision to remove my support as the acting REO for the possibility of running a Nationals event in Wellington early 2009.

There are so many good reasons for and against what we are proposing from so many people who’s opinions I really do trust. I feel I owe all involved a clear and reasonable justification for my actions.

This has been one of the hardest decisions ive had to make as a club president trying make things happen but on a personal level one of the easiest. Last years nationals pretty much cleaned me out and left me struggling to find motivation to do anything , it didn’t really help that the complicated responsibilities of managing Long Gully feel on my lap soon after.

This year for me has been about me trying to clear Jawbone off my plate and encourage more people to get involved in general. My reward for all my efforts was to have a holiday at Christmas free of digging and race commitments, to do my own thing, session the track ive worked so hard on and hang out with friends. Running a nationals would kill that reward and to be honest there is a real potential that I could burn out and drop all the work I currently do.

I also feel my decision will be the make or break of this event going ahead because im the only one with Race management experience that is willing to stand up and take responsibility for such an event.
The fact that im the only one suggests we have a real shortage of qualified help and suggests as a club we need to step back and focus on the drought of local events and give more locals the opportunity to get involved in more manageable sized events.
As a club we are really are quite disorganised (actually me) and need help to get our selves into shape and maybe focus on working towards the following years nationals.

Yes I think we can solve a lot of the perceived problems and run a Nationals event in Long Gully but at what cost to our relationship to the Watson’s or the organisation of local events and reasourses. Put quite simply one national event sucks a lot of time, effort and resources to the point where no one wants run anything for months before and after wards.

At the last meeting I proposed we go on site and investigate solutions. I still want to go ahead and do this with the intention running a far less involved race before Christmas.

Sorry if anyone feels like ive mucked them around, but other recent threads have really provided me with the rare opportunity to sit back and focus on the bigger picture.

Big thanks to all that have shwn support too



Thanks everyone.

(P.S big ups for harry (jumpmtb) for telling it like it is, nice one bruva )

cheers for all the races youve organised in the past mike, theyve all run smoothly and been fun

Good call Mike, sounds like the right decision.

See you tomorrow, the weather looks good!!

Nige

Thats a tough call to make Mike, but IMO its the right one at the end of the day.

On the brightside, Levin is holding a National so not too far to travel. We have alot of work to do up there due to storm damage but the LVN DH boys will provide an awesome track!

just to add some clarity to this situation.

I rang Chris Mildon form MTBNZ and confirmed that we wouldnt be running a round of the 2009 natrionals and instead would be concentrating on developing the local scene with the hope of getting more people involved to concider taking a nationals in 2010.

Well, my hand is still up for helping with the local races

Cool , yea im starting to look forward to running some local stuff.

Already we are planning a couple of events for members up the gully.
we should be able to run smaller evnnts for about 50-60 people if we can get at least 4wd's to pich in.

Ive got a couple of other evnts in my head i want to do ,but i'll let that out when the time is right.

Yeah 2nded on the good call Mike.

I think its time I got off my lazy ass and started organising, count me in for those local races

Big ups for all ya hard work & dedication Mike.