Decent BMX Gate Vid Applys to 4x gates

[dirttorpeedo]

the start sequence is different than ABA/NBL at the 4x. if anyone is concerned about the gate being jumped/slingshot turn the bad bad man around to start backwards. old school.j/k. if it can be done the jumpers need to be moved up a class. K?

[mfoga]

Ok cool video to bad I can't do either. Still need to work on that. I can't remember who said it but they said that the 4x track at Fontucky had a gate but it was destroyed and they aren't replacing it. It was someone up there racing too. Not sure if thats true or not but that whats I heard.

[denmother]

Originally Posted by mfoga

I can't remember who said it but they said that the 4x track at Fontucky had a gate but it was destroyed and they aren't replacing it. It was someone up there racing too. Not sure if thats true or not but that whats I heard.

There was a wooden gate but they did not use long enough nails/screws and it fell apart quickly and then got destroyed and never got redone.

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by denmother

There was a wooden gate but they did not use long enough nails/screws and it fell apart quickly and then got destroyed and never got redone.

Ok I didn't really get the full story just was saying there use to be a gate but it got destroyed. That makes sense, especially since I remember seeing some sort of gate in previous event photos.

[mfoga]

I was just poking around and looking how can it be that expensive for a gate you can get a full setup for 4grand. Thats seems like a cheap investment for something that will last years and years and could get more people to race.

[Rockinthecasbah]

its not on the $$$ list for SRC 4x doesnt bring in enough cash for anyone to care the races are ridiculous anyways never the same number or qualifying system...but its all we have local so we deal with it

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

its not on the $$$ list for SRC 4x doesnt bring in enough cash for anyone to care the races are ridiculous anyways never the same number or qualifying system...but its all we have local so we deal with it

Yeah but getting a gate and organized might be people to start racing and that means more money. they need to put the effort in before anyone is going to come unless they are happy with 20 odd people.

[BobBurnes]

Honestly, there are no two ways about it and this isn't up for debate; for 4X you need a proper working gate. Yes, it's a BMX style gate having an air ram (Or in the very least, a hand operatated release) and a sequnce (sp) to signal the riders to prepare.

Done.

If the rules could be bent, I say let's make the track straight, no jumps, and if we could start anytime that would be great. This way, we'd be fair to everyone.

Funk that.

I want a gate with a ram. I want sick drops, some wicked challenging turns, and jumps that have awesome flow. I want a 4X track. I've raced on tracks all over the UK (And for such a small place, they've got double the number of 4X tracks than we do in the US!) and Europe. I wouldn't call me an expert in production of 4X, but I've got a lot of experience in this discipline.

We're being cheated.

If you can't balance on a gate-learn, just like a rider learned to turn, just like a rider learns to jump, so on and so forth.

I love this sport and I want it to spread. I'd do anything to see the track packed and be hard pressed to fit all the riders on the top of the hill, but that won't happen if we don't build it up.

Settling for what they offer shouldn't be an option. I think Donny's cool and I think the SRC is a good thing, but he's not our boss. We're his. We're the blood and sweat of our sports. We're the bones that hold this thing together and if our venues/races aren't improving it's not Donny's fualt-it's ours.

God, now I want to see my enemies driven before me and hear the laminations of their women.....AAH!

Have I said too much?

I'll put the soap box away....

Denmother:
I know Sandhill is rebuilding this season, but they're promising a pair of great tracks for 2009. I guess it was due some ground breaking.

[BobBurnes]

Originally Posted by Rockinthecasbah

its not on the $$$ list for SRC 4x doesnt bring in enough cash for anyone to care the races are ridiculous anyways never the same number or qualifying system...but its all we have local so we deal with it

Actually, and only EC will be able to answer it for sure, there will be another option soon. And knowing what EC is capable of, it'll be epic. Like ninja's on skates duking it out with stripper pirates epic.

[denmother]

Originally Posted by BobBurnes

Actually, and only EC will be able to answer it for sure, there will be another option soon. And knowing what EC is capable of, it'll be epic. Like ninja's on skates duking it out with stripper pirates epic.

Are you referring to Vailocity at Vail Lake????

[denmother]

So, even if there was a gate, who is going to set it up and tear it down for every practice and race day????? Oh, and provide the necessary electrical hook-up?

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by denmother

So, even if there was a gate, who is going to set it up and tear it down for every practice and race day????? Oh, and provide the necessary electrical hook-up?

I still dont see this as that hard. For the gate all then need to have sleeves that the gate slides down into if they dont want to leave it there all the time. hook up the pneumatic pump and use a small generator for power.

[denmother]

Originally Posted by mfoga

I still dont see this as that hard. For the gate all then need to have sleeves that the gate slides down into if they dont want to leave it there all the time. hook up the pneumatic pump and use a small generator for power.

Maybe you could call Donny and volunteer for all of the above (insert smirk and sarcastic attitude here).

[mfoga]

Originally Posted by denmother

Maybe you could call Donny and volunteer for all of the above (insert smirk and sarcastic attitude here).

My point is that its seems like if they truely wanted to step up and do this it wouldn't be extremely difficult. I am sure if it would make a difference more then one person wouldn't mind helping but everything I have heard it seems that they have no interest in doing it so whats the point.

[Rockinthecasbah]

Im done bashing SRC , its fine if they dont want to give us the venue for a real 4x experience then we will go somewhere else. Come on E.C. get er done

[BobBurnes]

Originally Posted by denmother

So, even if there was a gate, who is going to set it up and tear it down for every practice and race day????? Oh, and provide the necessary electrical hook-up?

The start tower, where the permenant gate would be connected to, would have a dual start mechanism. It can either be hooked to an air ram for race day or gate day practice or release manually by a pull arm for those days the ram isn't available or isn't working.

The gate should be locked in the down position allowing riders to practice the track from the start gate. As far as who has the key, that should depend on who is responsible for the track. Perhaps a trusted few who are at the track often could unlock the gate for practice days.

The air ram could be set up on occasion and doesn't need to be stored at the course. Might make a day of the thing were people pay 5 bucks a person to help pay for the gas to run the generator or provide gas for the generator.

The air ram wouldn't be required for most practices as the manual mech on the gate will allow racers to practice they'll need.

The start tower, as mentioned above, could be anything from the 15 foot drop tower with a stair case to a 3 foot tower.

I'm more than willing to design, help fund, and build the tower and gate and money is an issue for me, but I love this sport, I love my biking family, and I want to see the best offered to both.

Originally Posted by denmother

Are you referring to Vailocity at Vail Lake????

I'm refering to Vail. I've been told EC's got some plans for the place, but all in good time. I'm sure what ever EC's planning is going to be awesome.

[denmother]

Ok, FWIW here is Donny's response to my email regarding the issues you have been discussing regarding the 4x racing at Southridge (you know me I like to go straight to the source).


-----------Original Message ---------------------

From: Don Jackson dhridge@pacbell.net
To: Nancy Harris nancy_h1@pacbell.net
Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 11:13:43 AM
Subject: Re: Fontana 4x questions

Pass it on.

We have a gate. As for the way we start it, has been for the lack of riders and the reason we have been doing it like we have, it gives the riders more time on the track.

Thanks,

Donny

Nancy Harris <nancy_h1@pacbell.net> wrote:

Hey Donny,

I know you are a busy man but I was just wondering what the deal is on the 4x racing at Southridge. There has been alot of discussion on STR regarding the lack of a start gate and how the qualifying rules change from race to race. Also, it seems as though there are a lot of disgruntled riders that vow not to come back for 4x racing because of this. I just thought I would pass on the info.

I'm also interested in finding out, for myself, because I would like to start racing 4x since I now have a 4x bike of my own.

[2wheel_lee]

I'm glad that Donny took the time to give you a complete, well thought-out answer. My conversations with him have been very similar.

BTW, is this the same gate that he's had for a long time now? If so, it doesn't make sense that he has a gate that he didn't want to use.

His point about giving riders more track time is valid. At the first race, if I recall correctly, there was one qualifying moto and a main. Some riders only raced down the course ONE time for their entry fee. That was when I concluded that this was the first time he'd ever put on a 4X race. He did wise up at later events, giving riders two chances to qualify for the final. But as someone mentioned, the qualifying process wasn't always the same from event to event. And yet, most local BMX races offer three chances to qualify, which is pretty nice, considering the entry fee at local BMX races is 1/3-1/2 of what you pay to race 4X with SRC.

As long as Donny insists that it's not worth the effort to do 4X, the ridership will equally reflect his efforts.

Also BTW, I personally haven't vowed to not race 4X at Fontana, but I've heard that a lot from others. I just wanted to make that clear.