Aussie Arena Trials

[Trango]

With another season of the indoor world championship recently completed I have to wonder what has happened to arena trials in Australia 20 years ago we had one a year and sometimes three events per year in Queensland. Were they held in other states As a rider who has returned to the sport after a long break I have not heard of any arena competitions. There has been outdoor trials which have featured arena obstacles but apart from some demonstrations, no spectator orientated indoor events that I know of. Have they become obsolete

[beta_babe]

Last indoor, for memory was in 1999. Unfortunately the venue - Southbank - was undergoing an upgrade which inhibited the event a bit. Lack of advertising didn't help, though we did have Dan Clark (UK) compete.

The logostics of running another event, as well as costs (advertising, venue etc) has probably prohibited another indoor being run. Pity really , it was a great night.

[Stu]

I had organised a couple of arena style demos here in the Shellharbour district a few years ago. With alot of help from members from the Wollongong MCC, Trials. Thanks to a great crew! Gary B did the paperwork while I sussed out the obstacles for the demo. They were very successfull with the amount of work involved offset by the looks on the spectators was priceless!
I think the problem doing an indoor series would be distance, paying riders to turn up to ride, and advertising. The major advantage Europe has over us is the smaller distances to travel and set up costs would be reduced.
With the amount of 'stadiums' cropping up in every major town, it wouldn't be too hard to organise for local Clubs to do. It has been noted that even with the demos running now, a small amount of area is needed for set up. I say go for it, it can only be good for the sport.

[rockhopper]

At present we are trying to run a demo event in the staduim races held up here begining of each year, also hoping with steve colley coming out (if it gets the interest) then to hope to get his show into some major motorsport event. With help of the Toowoomba mx club(they run one of the staduim events) we will try to get a indoor event up and running in brisbane, they take alot of work even that its easy to set up, sure beats carting dirt for jumps,lol. So again no one will do anything without support so if riders want indoor events get behind the organizers. cheers

[lukesta888]

I don't agree that distance is a concern.

Take a look at other sports like, jet boating, motor cross, go karting to name a few. They have events spread all over country and interested riders / drivers travel long distances just to compete.

I think this country is getting to the population level of being able to support an indoor series.

All it needs is a few major sponsors willing to support it and reputable organsier that is capable of looking after it and bob's your uncle !!

[rockhopper]

I dont think distance would be a trouble to most, yes i travel alot to all different events, the problems with staduim events of any kind is getting people thru the door, yes sponsors would help foot some of the bill, but they too need to see value for money out of the sponsorship, yes the events is for the riders, but it needs to atleast be able to break even at the venue for it to grow in public interest

[Trango]

the problems with staduim events of any kind is getting people thru the door, yes sponsors would help foot some of the bill, but they too need to see value for money out of the sponsorship

I agree rockhopper. We are involved in a sport that is little known to the general public so any event would need twice the amount of advertising of mainstream sports. The publicity would need to educate people what our sport involves as well as letting everyone know where & when. I applaud the efforts of clubs & individuals for their efforts in holding demonstrations to promote the sport. The more awareness & knowledge that can be generated amongst the public the easier it would be to convince potential sponsors we have a marketable sport that would offer value for their money.

[rockhopper]

Ok, just to add some fuel of desire, i have proposed to the trials sub committee of qld the we run a indoor event, i been looking for a construction site that could be fit for purpose, kind of give a underground appeal, the sport needs to sell itself a little diferent , because i found once people see and understand the sport alot take to in, just like when i coached with the willcocks come and ride and try day last year some 40 odd people tried the sport, it possiable that with steve colley setting dates to come and do courses then i feel his show would also be a draw card to this type of event

[Col Zar]

Hi All,
Good to hear of others doing their bit to promote Trials in Aust. I did 8 shows last year and some were for multiple days. I am keen to attend an indoor event but I do forsee distance and cost to be a problem for most riders.
Indoors are great to watch but they are also the most dangerous to ride. I believe you would need to consider some appearance money to get enough Expert riders. You must consider trials is an amature sport here in Oz. It does take time and money to get to the events to compete and generally the only person paying for that is the rider themselves. Sponsors are an event runners best option as you can never rely upon the monies from the entry gates.
Its great if you can get Steve Colley out for a ride. This will definitly generate interest within the trials community but most motorcycle riders from other diciplens dont know who Jordi Tarres, Adam Raga, Dougie Lampkin or Toni Bou are. So although it will be good to promote a world championship skilled rider i am not sure how well that would promote any particular event.
I have organised many obstacles for various events and although it was a major headache as everyone wants to be paid for everything, I think a series of at least 3 indoor events is a good start. I would be happy to assist a NSW commitee if this series was to become a reality.
Colin
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Beta Babe, in 99 weren't you a "Gas Gas Girl"

[rockhopper]

Its great to see a response to this, i think it would do trials a world of good to get indoor events going, like some of the ideas that others have brought to this fourm. I agree that indoors does have the higher risk element, like its indoor supercross, people like to see skill, but crashes too, guess we havent gone far from roman days huh. I feel that the indoor event should contain a mix of "elite" and lower class sections, as you want to show that 'joe Average" can compete, thats why staduim events are going so well, the diff between supercross and staduim mx is that the so elite stuff has been removed, it still makes for a great night watching even when the c graders are out there racing. I put my two cents into it, any ideas from others