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I’ll say here also. I just read a thread and I will confine my posts to positive thoughts . Sorry guys and gals.
You want an example? Ok. last year my son was hurt. He was cleared on the thursday before the east coast national. I called the track… nothing. I went to the website… nothing. I drove the hour and a half only to be told that the track is closed! When I asked why there was no posting I was told that they(les) didn’t think they needed to tell anyone. When I explained the situation I was told, rather roughly that there was no way my son could even get on some part of the track. Not to mention the woman who would not come out from behind the trailer while I was speaking to Les, She had a lot to say also. Mr. Behm even tried to speak to someone but was told no. Almost every track is always closed for 3 or 4 days before a National. Common practice. Not an EHT thing.
How about another example… how about a race called because of heat. This has happened at eht. The problem with that is that they raced earlier at fleminton and blue diamond, and the next day at both central jersey and bensalem. Again no notice, people just did not show up. Unbelievable but true. The race that was cancelled due to heat was a Tuesday evening race. Flemington did not race that day. I don’t know about Blue Diamond. As for not having it posted, please excuse me for being at the hospital with my son for 3 days and not driving the hour home to do a post on the computer. The answering machine did have the cancellation on it because I checked it myself.
How about another example… Two years ago the times for races were at 6pm. This was great, we could go up to flemington race there, then make it to egg harbor. Then last year the times changed. No warning, no explaination, they just changed. Then at the start of this year the times were even earlier. I guess someone complained because the times went back. Great. When the track staff have to work nights or weekends, then race times have to change. No other explanation needed.
You know I was there for the “meeting” that was really a screaming fest after the national. Right at the picnic tables. Nice touch I thought. I had to walk away. There were a lot of things going on that led up to the melt down at the meeting after the 2005 National that I won’t go into. I am not the only one who has problems with this track. There are 2 other tracks in NJ. As you said the parking lot has its fair share of offenders. Funny thing though, We go to central jersey and while I don’t say that there are no problems, any are kept well hidden. That’s great. They’ve had their share of problems in the past too.
I am not saying that all of the people who help out at eht are a problem, There are some very helpfull folks, what I am saying is that the majority of the complaints seem to be directed there.
As to why the state is in shambles, maybe I overstated it a bit to make a point. I am willing to say that this year was better than last. Two examples of things happened at the past two presidents cups.
Two years ago we had to buy a jersey from someone in florida, and we were not the only ones. It was a disgrace, I think we had mabe 12 riders, and more than one did not have a jersey. I don’t remember seeing your name on the list of people who volunteered to organize jerseys for the NJ riders. I do remember though that everyone, not just Board members, at the State Meeting agreed not to expend the money for new jerseys in 2004 when there were plenty of new and used ones to go around and very few people were planning on attending the race in Florida.Not only that but we were very unorganized. This year as I walked around I saw whole sections of people from the same state sitting together, some had areas where you could go , and most had at least some state meeting. This all reflects very poorly on the state. Did you offer to set up a section for NJ riders and families? Did you try to get everyone there organized and hanging out together? I wasn’t there, but I know a few people who were and they didn’t mention anyone trying to get the Jersey group together. They were too busy working at the race to do it themselves.
I am sorry that you are offended by my comments but a state that can boast as many national champs should be just a bit more organized than that. And??? Do I ever see your name on a list of committees to do just that? Go up to registration at any track and volunteer for not just the day’s race, but to go above and beyond.2005 State Series Committees–The people who signed up never came through so, the new committee had to step in so the kids would get what they earned. Below is the list of committees and the volunteers who did the work.
State Plates-art approved, ordered, provided list of names, classes, standings, received, sorted, bagged, handed out–Janeen
State Hoodies-art approved, ordered, provided list of names, sizes, picked up, sorted, bagged, handed out–Janeen
Awards Banquet–food organized so that there would be a variety–Janeen
State Points–Janeen
State Plaques–Janeen
State Championship Trophies–Janeen
State Qualifier Race Registrations–Janeen
State Jerseys-Ordered, went to pick up 1 1/2 hours away because the company delivered to wrong address, sorted, handed out.–Janeen
State Awards Banquet Invitations-designed, printed, addressed, mailed–Janeen
Awards Banquet Door Prizes-suggested, purchased, organized, handed out-Nancy and JaneenHome track of above EHTBMX!
Offended? Yes!
Brett:
Working at the Presidents Cup, the Grands, or other races that are not specifically hosted by a track ie; the East Coast National, the Stars and Stripes etc. usually garners the volunteers kids free entry fees for that race. And in a way it is an honor to be asked to work the big races because you have proven your skills.
The registration time change was made to accomodate mostly my schedule and was announced for three weeks (all the notice that I had) prior to the change, was posted on the forum, etc. Wouldn’t have been much sense to leave registration at a time when the clerk couldn’t be there. Honestly, believe it or not, I do have a life outside of BMX. I have work obligations and family obligations that will always come first.
The cancellation for the heat was because of the 105 degree heat index, with excessive humidity. We chose to cancel rather than have any kid get sick. We made up the race about 2 weeks later on a cooler evening.
I have no answer for the pre-National track closing other than that is the way it is done all over unless they have special paid practices. Maybe it should have been posted for the newbies, but shoot we all forget that not everyone knows the rules.
Meetings. I will gladly attend the meetings. Used to have monthly meetings. Used to have nice conversations with the 4 or 5 other people that showed up. All board members. Nobody else ever made the effort. And yes everybody knew when and where they were.
The meeting we had at the Incline Club was nice. Had a bunch of people sign up to do jerseys, hoodies, plates, trophies, etc. See name who ended up doing it. Signing up is easy. Following through is the hard part.Other than that, I’m done. I’ve reached my limit.
I’m not quitting, but I am pulling way back. This was the proverbial straw.
bmxgrlmom— great job– at least there is a track, and anymore, that’s an accomplishment in itself. thank you
macd– sorry bud– i don’t bitch about tracks– ya know why– cause i don’t have the time to help. every so often i may sweep a berm– but anymore, that’s about all i can offer. so unless you are contributing, tissues are in the bathroom.
brett– you are crazy– a good guy, but just plain nuts..
now what was this post about?– legitamacy of nats, supporting the local scene, growing the sport— lets get back to that. tell me again when those flyers and hangers will be done
Damn! This really exploded! Alot of good points. A little backround first if you don’t know me…I have only been in this racing thing for 2 and a half years. I have 2 kids, 6 & 8 who race, I race 35 + novice.
My small opinion…In the short time I have been around, it seems to me that BMX racing in NJ has come along way in the past 2 years. I have had plenty of questions (thanks Janeen for ALL the answers). I wondered why there wasn’t more organization for things like the Pres Cup. I wondered why the state series rules were not clear last year. I still don’t quite know how all this works, but I do know that there are a few key people who frankly are working there @sses off and getting no respect for it. They can’t be expected to do it all. Like Brett said, I don’t know how to make all this better, but I do know that bitching about it online isn’t gonna solve anything. The UBMXRC is a start, and I hope everyone who has an idea, and wants this to BMX thing to go somewhere shows up next meeting. If we all do a little, this could get big. The Olympics are not the answer, but they certainly can be used for the betterment of the sport. Just don’t expect someone else to do it.
Craig, I certainly understand about HC being closed this weekend. I am home and would love to be racing. Unfortunately, when the track director, main gate person, head scorer and registration person, along with the other registration person, along with a few other key volunteers you may normally be able to call upon are away, it makes it very difficult to hold a race!
As for the National scene, I wondered at the beginning of the season, what is the difference between a National and a Regional? OK, points in the National series, but in all practicality, NOTHING! Make the National (like Supercross) for the pros and elites, and elevate the regional series to what the Nationals have become. If you finish well (top 5?) in your Region, you are invited to the Grands.
Bottom line? There is only so much we can do in NJ. It all starts with promoting HERE. Lets get on it. There is a herd of BMX (and MTN bikes!)bikes out there just waiting to be raced…lets get them on the track!
Nuff said for tonight!
LorenHEy Mac, how can you offend anyone if that happened to you, you just spoke the Truth.
Heres one last year the state series was set up, then what races counted changed!
Then how many was changed.
Then whoever came up with the deal chages the points cap or says that they forgot to correct it for the different amount of races
It be nice if all this was hatched out prior
Oh yeah the excuse, this was their first year. I’d buy that if it was their first year of BMX, but it wasn’t. How does this look to new perspective riders.
As too why I didn’t go to the finals last year. Well I didn’t wanna find out if there was some twist at the endBill, I was on the front lines of that whole State series mess last year and yes it was all screwed up. BUT, this year the State organization went out of their way to make sure it was cleared up. WHY? Because concerned riders made sure of it. Are the State series rules available at YOUR NJ track? They are at HC, why? Because a concerned rider asked questions and made sure of it.
Thank you bill I hope you are back on your bike soon. As I said in my last post, I’m done. I won’t say anything unless I have something positive to say. Janeen, sorry that you got stuck doing everything this year, It was better overall. I hope you will continue and I will try to help out as much as I can living in Pa(my son is in NJ). Unfortunately that means only an occasional volounteer.
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