Please rate the Fair Experience

[mackdaddy]

Thanks to all those that showed up for the fair weekend! Thanks to those that helped! Thanks to those that raced!

Now can you help out one more time with some ratings

Please rate the following on a 1-10 scale

1. Over all experince

2. The track

3. Presentation of BMX to the fair goers

4. Ease of getting to the track

5. Helpfulness of the volunteers

6. Racing on 3 nights in a row

7. Enjoyment of the fair itself


Now should we do it again next year?

any comments?

Thanks Again for all your help and for your support of the fair

[J Gallo]

1 being the worst, 10 being best, right?

1. Over all experience [ 9 ]

2. The track [ 8 ]

3. Presentation of BMX to the fair goers [ 9 ]

4. Ease of getting to the track [ 6 ]

5. Helpfulness of the volunteers [ 10 ]

6. Racing on 3 nights in a row [ 10+ ]

7. Enjoyment of the fair itself [ 5 ]


Now should we do it again next year? [ Abso-friggin-lutely! ]

any comments? [ There should have been more pictures! Only 431 on saturday? Sheesh.. that's not enough! Seriously, the only "problem" if you want to call it that was the absence of a "snack bar" at the track. I'm sure the fair people may have prevented that from happening, but something at the track would have been nice, where proceeds could go back to the track. Parking was fine, they let us drop off our gear and bikes at the gate, then go park normally, pretty simple. I wasn't in the stands much, but it looked like the sun was bearing down on the spectators late in the day. Covered spectating area next year? LOL My hats off to all the volunteers who spent COUNTLESS hours at the track helping out, without you, this event could not have been the tremendous success it was! THANK YOU!! ]

[Curtis Newkirk]

I think my ratings would be right in line with what Gallo wrote with the only exception being:

7. Enjoyment of the fair itself [ 7 ] - The kids had a good time on Sunday watching monster trucks and petting animals.

[bnd]

1. Over all experince. -7. Great except alittle "misunderstanding" at the gate with one of our spectators. Brought my weekend experiance down a few clicks.

2. The track. - 8. Loved it except the 2nd straight, just didn't feel right to me. Oh yeah, my racing sucked.

3. Presentation of BMX to the fair goers. - 10. Melton, Roland, Rob did a bang up job of keeping everybody up to speed on what was going on.

4. Ease of getting to the track. - 10.

5. Helpfulness of the volunteers. - 9.

6. Racing on 3 nights in a row -10.

7. Enjoyment of the fair itself - 10.



b.

[Punk-Biker940]

1. over all expeirience= 10 I liked the track and all the sweet picks jason took! And winning the frame.

2. The track= 9 It was fun yet soft...

3. Presentation= 10 I noticed a bunch of new riders and alot of spectators without their kid racing

4. getting to the track= 6 We got to the track ok, but we were stuck in traffic on wednesday and all four days we could never get a good parking spot.

5. Volunteers= 10, Everyone did a great job helping out at the track. I think it was pretty well organized

6. 3 night race= 10 It was great I qualified and got third or better on every race!!

7. the fair itself= 8 Some of the people were mean and didn't really care about anyhting. And Plus I didn't really go to the fair. We were mainly there for the races. (Dont forget the food!)

Do it agian? HECK YEAH!!! I loved it!

Comments?? I Cant wait to do it again

[greg]

I wont be quite as generous with my ratings as the previous posts, but I tend to be very critical of things......so take it as it's meant, hopefully constructive.


1.Over all experience - 9

The thing is I would like just about anything, just because I enjoy riding and being with the BMX crowd.

2. The track – 7

Again, just because I would like about anything. I’m aware of the limitations that were presented with the track (dirt quality and quantity), so given that, I think it turned out good. The gate worked well and seemed to be first quality (nice job Robert and Dave!).

3. Presentation of BMX to the fair goers – 7

Good first effort. But, that is what I consider it…a first effort. Was there a booth that really drew people in? Not really. Yes, there was a booth with info, but there weren’t big signs, displays, something to get the people seeing BMX for the first time excited about it. I think it was good, but needs to be built upon for the coming years to get better.

The outstanding part was Roland’s announcing! Being someone of little words, it is always amazing to me that someone can talk for hours about something. I don’t think there was a moment of silence the whole time Roland was in the booth. The constant flow of info and bits and pieces of nostalgia were GREAT!

4. Ease of getting to the track – 9

I had no problems.

5. Helpfulness of the volunteers – 10

This is where I think Utah really excels. Everyone that is involved in the race scene is more then willing to help anyone and everyone.

6. Racing on 3 nights in a row – 9

Personally, I love it. But, it’s kind of hard on the rest of the non-racing family members (i.e. wife).

7. Enjoyment of the fair itself – 8

Gotta love the freaks! (And no…I’m not talking about Ian)(or Heather)(but…kind of Steve…he’s kind of freakish)

Now should we do it again next year?

Shouldn’t be a doubt in anybodies mind that we should do this again……..and much more!

any comments?

Overall great job by everyone. I think it was great exposure for BMX racing.

[sspencer]

Good post Mackdaddy. UTAHBMX. com is a great forum to discuss such topics and to gather information to make BMX in Utah the best it can be.

1. Over all experince 8
I feel I am being a little bit generous on my score because I am picky about things. Overall it went well and the sport was displayed well but more of an effort to put on a "show" could have been made. Working behind the scenes and getting the track built was a "7". Miscommunication on the amount of dirt, its late delivery and the type of soil were minus factors. The fair crew were awesome to work with "THANK YOU COREY, TAD AND ART!"

2. The track "8"
The type of track was ideal for new riders. It wasnt intimidating, too challenging or dangerous. It was odd that we had three bad injuries on the practice night and no others the rest of the weekend, at least none that I was aware of. The type and amount of dirt was less than desirable but worked reasonably well for racing. After talking with the fair manager he was aploigetic about the dirt situation and offered to make us our own special bleand of dirt for next year! For me this is like finding gold! Look for an awesome track next year.

3. Presentation of BMX to the fair goers "6"
I may be too harsh but more of an effort needed to be made in the marketing and promotion of the racing. Early contacts with the media shoudl have been made and confirmed, a planned marketing "blast" initiated, coordinating with the fair marketing people with their advertisement, better signage for the information booth, scheduled and confirmed staffing of the info' booth (only saw someone working the booth once in the 20+ times that I walked by it). I have other issues but I will refrain. We can do better and more.

4. Ease of getting to the track "9"
Very easy to drop off gear but for the unlucky few that could not find parking in the main arena lot they had to park a quarter mile away by the horse track. There is nothing we can do about that.

5. Helpfulness of the volunteers "9"
Rad Canyon volunteers are THEE BEST! Great job to all! I appreciate all who took the time out of their busy schedules to volunteer with the track build, race prep, officiating, registration, maintenance, etc.

6. Racing on 3 nights in a row "9"
Not everyone has an open schedule to race every night but by having as many dates as possible available it allows most everyone to make at least one night.

7. Enjoyment of the fair itself "8"
The fair is awesome for people watching. I feel that BMX brought a touch of class to the fair when you consider what most of the other events were and the crowd they draw

Now should we do it again next year?
It is not "SHOULD WE" it is now "HOW SHOULD WE?" I have a neverending list running through my head but here is a digested list.

- First off, I think next years race should be the Utah State Championship Final. It will lend to the credibility being promoted as a state championship at the fair. It will add to the prestige of the event knowing that there are titles on the line. Staging awards ceremonies in front of the fair-goers will be exciting as well as enticing to the potential racers. Plus it will be a level playing field for all racers being a new track.
- It is never too early to prepare. Right now we should assign a "Fair BMX Race Project Manager" who will help organize and delegate everthing that leads up to next years fair. We have a large group of very talented people who excel in the required tasks thus maximizing the effort and the finished product.
- Break down all tasks for the fair set up and assign individuals to handle them. By giving small pieces to several people will ensure proper attention to every detail rather than one or two people trying to do everything.
- Coordinating a marketing blast. We should be blanketing any and all possible sources of would-be racers, i.e. skateparks, bike shops, parks & rec. centers, sporting goods stores, gyms, all local forms of media (newspapers, sports magazines, radio and T.V. stations, etc). While contacting these sources we need to educate them about BMX and get them excited about spreading the word.
- I have brought this one up several time before and a couple of the pieces have been implemented but assemble a "new rider program" that will help with making a new riders first experience a pleasant and fun one. Assign a new rider a buddy to help them through registration, practice, checking motosheets, rules, staging, etc. Also place a name tag on the new riders for the first few races so the vet's can identify the new riders and offer assistance and make them feel welcomed. A new rider can easily feel overwhelmed and out of place so anything we can do to help them feel like they belong will ensure their continued involvement.
- Offer a free clinic to all new riders that sign up at the fair. Many potential racers are intimidated by seeing the skilled riders on the track all dressed up in their cool uniforms. By offering a clinic to help them get comfortable on the track help put them at ease.

These are just some of the things running through my head. I do not confess to have all the answers but I feel these are things that can make a substantial difference in the maintenance and longevity of BMX in Utah.

Thanks for listening,
Steve