Spectating the Suzuki Superbike Showdown vs spectating a WERA event?

[TarzanMan]

I have a friend who is thinking about going to the Suzuki Superbike Showdown next month.

I have only ever spectated at WERA races at Road Atlanta, so I don't know what the standard protocol is for a corporate event like the showdown (what areas you can & can't go to, etc).

Can anyone enlighten me on what I should (tell him to) expect?

[Seca]

Tell him to save his money and attend the WERA events.

[everyday3]

its pretty much the same just more people. Not much is off limits. for 10 bucks you can buy a pit pass and go down to pitts just like wera. there usually only a couple of places of limits but theyll have signs posted.

[Barton72]

With all the manufacturers that dropped out of Nasbike, the date change to not interfere with the Nascar schedule, the hour + wait in between action I won't be visiting the Suzuki Superbike Showdown again. It was something I looked forward to every year. Now I wouldn't even consider it.

[TLR67]

Dont waste your $$$... Go to the WERA events and get a hell of a better show for a fraction of then cost... Plus you can support some local racers here...

[everyday3]

Ill be there, cant afford moto gp. So its somthing but I only go Sat. To much bs the other days and not woth it. I am curious too se John Hopkins race only thing Im stoked about this year.

[motodog650]

Go to both if you can. Each has it's merits. Really wish folks would cease from detering people from supporting AMA Pro. Increased fan support will help as much as anything in getting it back to where it's a thriving series. If you truly love motorcycle roadracing you will enjoy one as much as the other.

[Seca]

I wish they would listen to the fans about the crappy multiple hour delay between races. When I see more racing than standing around maybe I will support it.

[TLR67]

I wish they would listen to the fans about the crappy multiple hour delay between races. When I see more racing than standing around maybe I will support it.

And there you have it....... How many actual races IN A DAY? with WERA? over 20 COMPARED TO 4 with the AMA ? And that dosent even include Endurance...

[Reece]

Maybe we can get Sean to buy a banner to replace the one that Road A pays for. :whistle:

[motodog650]

Hey, I'm just saying that detering somebody from checking it out for themselves is not going to help the series get better. I totally understand what you guys are saying and thats fine to give your opinion on it but to discourage others from attending well, just thinking we would all want to see things improve for the betterment of the sport overall...

[allen]

I love Road Atlanta, for AMA or WERA. But the Superbike has more people, more vendors & top notch racing. It is an event to experience. Wife usually park a truck at turn 8, we keep the snacks and a cooler there. Plus we back up ro the fence and have chairs in the back. Me and my buds ride bikes so we can move around the track easly. Bikes usually have free parking in the infield. I think we pay $5 or $10 to park the truck inside. I truly believe anyone would have a great time there. I know I'll be there.

[redciv1]

Went to one Cycle Jams WERA event in 06 and Petit LeMans last year. I love Road Atlanta, but I hate standing around waiting on races no matter where I go.

[jkhonea]

I love Road Atlanta, for AMA or WERA. But the Superbike has more people, more vendors & top notch racing. It is an event to experience. Wife usually park a truck at turn 8, we keep the snacks and a cooler there. Plus we back up ro the fence and have chairs in the back. Me and my buds ride bikes so we can move around the track easly. Bikes usually have free parking in the infield. I think we pay $5 or $10 to park the truck inside. I truly believe anyone would have a great time there. I know I'll be there.

As far as "top notch racing", you might want to look at who all is running in WERA this year since the AMA shakeup. ;)

[ramm]

Planning on going to both. Racing is racing :up:

as long as it isn't Nascar I'm down :lol:

[Seca]

Hey, I'm just saying that detering somebody from checking it out for themselves is not going to help the series get better. I totally understand what you guys are saying and thats fine to give your opinion on it but to discourage others from attending well, just thinking we would all want to see things improve for the betterment of the sport overall...

Well if attendance is up then why would they change anything? When attendance goes down they will start changing stuff around. I think AMA at RA is a waste of time ( I love RA except when AMA is there)..and I have NEVER paid to attend. I always got free tickets and worked corners a couple of years. I can still get free tickets and I am not going. I would rather sit in my garage, watch the race on TV (even if it is 2 weeks late) and spray paint stuff on the wall about Marc's mom.

[TarzanMan]

Well. I am accustomed to having a pit pass/wristband that lets me walk down to the trackside concrete barrier to watch the starts.

I would usually sit around a pit/EZ-up between races and fetch the odd item/tire for a friend.

Not sure what I would do at an AMA race? Go look at the 2010 bikes Suzuki has out on display? Count the clouds in the sky? :-)

[Mongo]

Email me the costs and I'll ask the boss.

[Mongo]

FWIW I go watch the AMA stuff at Road A when I'm in town. Granted it's less watching the racing than sitting around bullshitting with friends but it's fun all the same.

[Todd]

Email me the costs and I'll ask the boss.
u talkin' to me homey? :D

[Barton72]

Well. I am accustomed to having a pit pass/wristband that lets me walk down to the trackside concrete barrier to watch the starts.
I am accustomed to going to the AMA races and having a pit pass, free tickets, wristband and a sticker on the ATV to drive down trackside to the concrete barrier and watch the starts. Only thing I usually pay for is the $50.00 fee to bring the Polaris in, but I generally sell some extra free tickets and break even.

Even with all those perks, I still don't want to go now that the changes have been made.

[Mongo]

I need to tell the track they're giving away too many free tickets...

[Barton72]

I need to tell the track they're giving away too many free tickets...
I'm sure the track will have a surplus of tickets this year after it's all over with.

[Mongo]

You seem to misunderstand the meaning of surplus....

[Barton72]

How was attendance there last year? I'd like to compare it to 2008 and then compare it to this year after the event has passed. And I don't think I misunderstood the meaning of the word I typed. What I mean is there will be a large stack of tickets that were neither bought, nor given away free still sitting on a table the Monday after the races are over. That is what I meant by surplus.

[Mongo]

There's always a surplus then. Hell, we have thousands of wristbands at the office, guess we're all sitting on a surplus of unsold tickets. Road Atlanta does not have a set number of seats they sell tickets for. They have never sold out for any event that I know of, so there are always unsold tickets. Your use of surplus is meaningless when discussing most road courses.

The numbers have dropped because they cut down on the anything goes partying after serious injuries and deaths. It was not the racing that the big crowds were attracted to. I'm not defending DMG, I think they've made a lot of mistakes and killed off what was looking to be some of the best years of AMA racing ever. They cost a lot of really good people their jobs and absolutely ruined the relationship they could have had with their biggest supporters - the oem's. The upside is our relationship with the same oem's is better than ever. :D

[jkhonea]

I would say the closest Road Atlanta comes to selling out is the Petit LeMans. I thought I remembered them allowing any more in due to capacity one year but think that was probably just vehicles. I would definitely say the Petit is their biggest moneymaker.

[Mongo]

Most definitely.

[DICKIEDOO]

Petit leMans is the only thing I'll pay for. If I want to see motorcycle racing I'll pay the gate fee at a WERA race and watch Tim Hunt, Jimmy Merk, Opie, Taylor Knapp, and other BAMF's race it out.

15 sprint races in one day+people I know+ pit wall seats+cheap gate fees+ amazing racers= a better day than SS show down. IMHO.

[Barton72]

I went there because I got goosebumps every time I heard the bikes coming by for the first time in a year. It had nothing to do with partying. I'm sure I am not the only one that feels that way. Now I don't support the changes that DMG made and I won't return. I'll use another adjective besides surplus since you seem not to like the usage. They will have a more than usual amount of extra tickets left over this year. Does WERA print event specific wristbands, or can they be taken to the next event and sold there?

[Mongo]

Depends on the event but no matter what there are always a lot left over. It's the nature of a roadracing event.

I'm sorry you won't go, you'll miss some good racing. I totally support you choosing to do so because you do not like what DMG is doing. If I had to pay to get in I'm not sure I'd go.

[jkhonea]

Depends on the event but no matter what there are always a lot left over. It's the nature of a roadracing event.

I'm sorry you won't go, you'll miss some good racing. I totally support you choosing to do so because you do not like what DMG is doing. If I had to pay to get in I'm not sure I'd go.

Wait, who is this and who's taken over Mongo's log in? :D

[Mongo]

Eh, I have to support the anti DMG peeps, if they implode we'll run pro racing which could be fun :D Of course it could be an absolute nightmare...

[Barton72]

I'm sure there will be some good racing, but I would rather spend my money at one of your events. And I won't miss it. I'll watch it on my HD TV and enjoy it. Even though I mentioned getting free tickets to the AMA races, I did pay many years. Hell, my dad used to take me as a kid. Knowing a few people and having a girlfriend who tends bar at the right place has helped with getting free tix the past few years. But like you said, I wouldn't pay a dime now.

I'm glad that your relationship with the OEM's has benefited. Hope to see WERA be the premier series.

[jkhonea]

Eh, I have to support the anti DMG peeps, if they implode we'll run pro racing which could be fun :D Of course it could be an absolute nightmare...
I still think that's the best thing that could come of the series. I'm hopeful that y'all will possibly get the chance. If you do, I know someone really good at marketing that could really help you. :D

[DICKIEDOO]

I still think that's the best thing that could come of the series. I'm hopeful that y'all will possibly get the chance. If you do, I know someone really good at marketing that could really help you. :D


Thanks for thinking of me John. :)

[jkhonea]

Thanks for thinking of me John. :)

Yeah, you go right on thinking I was talking about you. :crackup:

[Dragon]

Go to both if you can. Each has it's merits. Really wish folks would cease from detering people from supporting AMA Pro. Increased fan support will help as much as anything in getting it back to where it's a thriving series. If you truly love motorcycle roadracing you will enjoy one as much as the other.

I agree Scott, are you going to be there? I plan to go on Saturday, we should hook up.

Dragon

[bigmixx]

I went last year for the first time and I had a blast. It was my first motorcycle racing event so I didn't have anything to compare it to but overall I enjoyed it. We parked and setup a tent on the back straight. I don't know if I'll go back this year though.

[motodog650]

For sure Jay. We'll do.

I guess what I was trying to get across in my earlier posts is to go to both and determine which if not both are worth your time and money. Just don't think folks on a sportbike forum should be discouraging anybody from attending a motorcycle roadracing event but giving your opinion on your favorite is fine. I enjoy AMA & WERA events for similar and different reasons but attend both if at all possible...

[everyday3]

For sure Jay. We'll do.

I guess what I was trying to get across in my earlier posts is to go to both and determine which if not both are worth your time and money. Just don't think folks on a sportbike forum should be discouraging anybody from attending a motorcycle roadracing event but giving your opinion on your favorite is fine. I enjoy AMA & WERA events for similar and different reasons but attend both if at all possible...

:goodpost:

[DICKIEDOO]

Yeah, you go right on thinking I was talking about you. :crackup:

I will John. Don't you worry. :)