2011 – A year in review
As 2011 winds up and we look forward to 2012, I thought I would share some of my observations of 2011. Like any year, we have had highs and lows. Motocross isn’t a cheap sport to be involved in. Motocross is down in attendance, no two ways about it. Tracks are feeling the crunch, race promoters are struggling, track owners are hurting, and shops are barely afloat. Even Norcalmotocross.com is way down and it costs nothing for people to use it. Why would you want to spend any time on a Motocross website, when you are not riding or racing? Motocross is down to its core, the people riding these days are the nucleus of the sport. Is 2012 the year of rebirth for our sport? Maybe, maybe not, the global economy still seems to be struggling, Motocross is still going to be a luxury that many people simply can’t afford so I am leaning towards the notion that Motocross, although it won’t grow much, isn’t going to shrink much either. Like I said the people that are riding now are the nucleus of the sport. They will keep a light on for everyone and look forward to the return of friends and family who were not able to ride much in 2011.
We all have had friends who have quit riding, either because they have lost jobs, or lost houses, or any number of financial strains. Let us make 2012 the year of the friend sponsorship. I recently had the opportunity to sponsor one of those friends for a day of riding and it felt great. Like many of you, I have a friend that doesn’t ride anymore. He just can’t afford it. He still has a bike, but it is need of repair, he sold most of his gear. I know how much he loves to ride, so I sponsored him for a day. I spent a few bucks and got the oil changed on his machine, threw in a new air filter and paid for day at the track. We grabbed some of my gear and off we went. I can’t afford to be a full time sponsor, but I was able to give him a chance to ride for the afternoon. So if you are in that nucleus of Motocross and have a friend that doesn’t ride anymore, sponsor them for a day. I am not expecting everyone to buy a friend a new bike, and get them outfitted in gear, but you can help out a friend. Bring them out to the track and pay for them to get in. Share your bike for the day. If you can’t afford to pay for them and yourself to ride, then pay for them to ride, and you play mechanic for the day. We may not be donating bone marrow, or kidneys to save a life, but for some people a day at the track or out on the trail maybe the jump start they need to feel better about themselves.
2011 was the year of OTHG. The Over the Hill Gang continues to grow in numbers and popularity. Several years ago, they would get a couple of gates added on to the end of a race promoters program, now they are helping keep race promoters and tracks afloat with Private ride days and Gang Only racing. The OTHG has enough members that regularly participate in racing that they are able to have Gang only racing for 2012. 2012 will be the first time they don’t need to share track time with a regular race promoters. No longer do they have to beg and plead to get some track time, they are able to command it. Membership in both chapters increased, a women’s class (25+) was created, and a +58 class was created. A big thumbs up to the members of the Gang and the leadership of the various chapters for continuing to build a strong motocross organization.
The small camera company from Half Moon Bay continues to skyrocket in popularity. The GoPro wearable HD camera is amazing. You see them all over the place now, not just in Motocross and Action Sports. You catch glimpses of them on all kinds of TV shows. They have 3D cameras and have recently released the GoPro Hero 2 with some great improvements. I will be doing a full write up and review early next year. Some days I see more photographers on the track than riders, okay so maybe it’s not that bad, but there sure are lots of people out with their digital cameras taking shots. As a photographer, I think it is great. I love seeing photos, but if you are taking photos, please make an effort to learn a little bit about photography. Take your camera out of auto mode, study the art, and learn some of the basics. You and everyone you share your photos with will benefit.
Track owners and promoters have had a tough 2011. A close personal friend of mine tried very hard to open a huge facility several years back called California Motocross Park, it never got off the ground. He dared to dream big and really think outside of the box and was criticized and ridiculed for it, and then he took on Riverfront when the previous owner decided to walk away. Again he dared to dream, big and think outside of the box. He tried to restore Riverfront to its former glory at time when all other tracks are fighting for every rider they can get. He worked countless hours and worked himself to the point of physical and mental exhaustion at a level I don’t care to see any one person work again, only to not make it happen. The closure of Riverfront in 2011 was not from lack of effort, 2011 has been tough for the tracks. Attendance at all the tracks is low. Scott Davis is keeping things flowing at E Street and Prairie City (Hangtown). Mike Sexton is on top of things at Argyle and Club Moto. Fish at MMX and Ralph at 408 continue to put forth a solid effort, month in and month out. If you get the chance to get out and ride in 2012, try and make it to one of their tracks. The upside to low turnout at the tracks is that as a rider, you get tons of track time.
As for the health of Norcalmotocross.com, things are good, but numbers are way down. You may have noticed it can be a little quiet on the boards some days. We have removed Google Ads from the site to hopefully improve the experience for our readers. I cannot stress enough how important it is for everybody to Support our Sponsors. I can say with 100% certainty that if it was not for the support of Carmichael Honda and Capitol Yamaha, Norcalmotocross.com would have closed up shop in 2011. The support they provide along with MotoPro Graphics and Fly Racing they have kept the ship running and they have all signed up for support in 2012. So please, please, please, if you are looking for a new bike, or parts and accessories, give Capitol and Carmichael a chance to win your business. If you need graphics for your bike, or hydrodipping, signs, or a car wrap. Call Justin or Steve at MotoPro. Looking for some new gear, try out the Fly Racing stuff.
Everyone have an excellent rest of 2011 and I hope to see you all next year.