The future of EC/PI track days...

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A lot has been happening in the Ride Day industry of late and
in-particular there has been much discussion about the operation of
Eastern Creek Ride Days now and into the future.

Unfortunately much of the information that has been going around is
grossly inaccurate, whether innocently begun and altered along the way
creating the 'Chinese whisper' effect, or intentionally started by other
operators to dissuade riders from attending future Eastern Creek Ride
Days, either way it has caused a great deal of confusion amongst regular
Eastern Creek Ride Day attendees. To overcome this trend of both
deliberate and innocent misinformation, we have released a "Notice to
Eastern Creek Ride Day Participants" in both Two Wheels (issue released
17th Feb.) and AMCN (issue released 23rd Feb.) which outlines what has
happened to date, along with some information regarding future standards
for Eastern Creek Ride Days.

As well as this notice, we have created a new website which is very
informative and should have pretty much everything you need to decide
whether or not you would like to attend the new look Eastern Creek Ride
Days. The website address is www.easterncreekridedays.com.au .

Bookings can be taken on-line or for further information (or to book via
phone), call 1300 793 423.

Until then...

Good luck with your riding,
Steve Brouggy

Eastern Creek Ride Days
www.easterncreekridedays.com.au
Phillip Island Ride Days
www.phillipislandridedays.com.au
Australian Superbike School
www.superbikeschool.com.au

Ph 1300 793 423
Fax (03) 9792 1075
P.O. Box 2068
Dandenong Vic 3175



Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

Thanks Nev. Looks like they're a $100 dearer, no laptiming and no
overtaking unless you're 3m apart !!

Doesn't sound much chop to me. :-(

JL

 

Ah, well, yes, but....as John L will no doubt explain, a monopoly in
something as non-essential as track days, might not be worth all that much.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

You're right that it is discretionary expenditure for most, and there
are actually a couple of substitutes (not nearly as good though), would
suggest there will be a reduction in numbers but I suspect for the
majority who do ride days regularly the price increase will be forgotten
quickly, for the rest they'll go less often and make hoons of themselves
on the Putty and Old Rd...

JL
(in other words there will be differences in utility and elasticity
between consumers of these services

 

Not just dearer. Only 6 x 20 min sessions each day as opposed to the 8
offerred by most of the previous operators.

Lets see. We'll base a comparison on a weekend ride day, booking within 7
days or or paying on the day, as many do in order to get a better idea of
the weather.

Previous operators prices were around $160 for 8 sessions so we get $20.00
per session. With Superbike School charging $219 for 6 sessions we get
$36.50 per session. An increase of roughly 82%. Gee, aren't monopolies
wonderful...

I believe a number of complaints have been sent to both the ARDC (Eastern
Creeks operatoras) and ACCC on these developments. Seems to me for the ARDC
to exclude other qualified operators and then in concert with the exlusive
rights holder up the price by this amount is as anticompetitive as it gets.

Hopefully customers will send a clear message as to their thoughts on this
by voting with their feet....

Chris

 

there was quite a few $100 -$120 days around

I did a $110 last month with a 3+ booking

thursday is a $100 witha 3+ booking

the last i did was an 8 session day , but as it was near the end of the day
and most
were packed and heading home i managed a 9th session

2 in a row which were the best and hardest i rode all day nearly killed me ,
but it was so worth it

so in that 9 sessions i got 50% more than they are offering for $169

110/9 = $12.22
169/6 = $28.16

when it was first mooted Steve Brougy said no discounts at this time

soon changing how it all works

hmm maybe they vote with their tyres ??

 

Of course.... all these track days have reduced the accident rate on the
Old Road... oh.. it hasn't.

 

Truth be known, it has! Guy-bee, call for you on line three...

G

 

Hello, ChrisR1!
You wrote on Sun, 20 Feb 2005 16:36:30 +1000:


C> Hopefully customers will send a clear message as to their thoughts on
C> this by voting with their feet....

Sucks I know, but I don't think this is likely - where else can they go or who else can they choose?

 

Guess there's always Oran Park??

What annoys me is that Eastern Creek's stated reason for going with a sole
operator was supposedly to enforce a minimum standard of safety and
operational rigour by track day operators. Their argument is that they were
best able to do this by working with one operator. I'm sure the fact that in
the process the lack of other operators removes pricing competition enabling
higher prices had nothing to do with it....

They would have been able to achieve the above by simply establishing a set
of rules and an accreditation process for ride day operators. Don't meet the
rules and standards, you can't run a day at EC. Maybe operators would have
had to increase prices to make the grade, but at least then competition on
pricing still would have existed......

Chris

 

Hello, ChrisR1!
You wrote on Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:10:58 +1000:

C> Guess there's always Oran Park??

Do they run ride days there??

C> What annoys me is that Eastern Creek's stated reason for going with a
C> sole operator was supposedly to enforce a minimum standard of safety and
C> operational rigour by track day operators. Their argument is that they
C> were best able to do this by working with one operator. I'm sure the
C> fact that in the process the lack of other operators removes pricing
C> competition enabling higher prices had nothing to do with it....

Money. That's what it's all about, pure and simple. You and I both know it.

C> They would have been able to achieve the above by simply establishing a
C> set of rules and an accreditation process for ride day operators. Don't
C> meet the rules and standards, you can't run a day at EC. Maybe operators
C> would have had to increase prices to make the grade, but at least then
C> competition on pricing still would have existed......

C> Chris

Couldn't agree more. If they had set a standard, ALL ride day operators would've complied and we would still see some competition.

 

Hey Chris (aka spannerhead)

Heard today that Brouggy has dropped his price to 169 - assume that must be
weekdays but unsure - as he has not many (indeed if any) booking.

Guess your wish came true with people voting with their feet.

ck

p.s. the 'aka' gives away who this is huh?

 

i think you will find it had a great deal to do with the guy that got killed
drag racing the wrong way

heard ? read the website , all the details are there

 

Yeah, yeah. I know its you

 

Yeah. I've done a few in the past. Fun track but far less forgiving than EC
(and much bumpier last time I was there) if you make a mistake - not much
run-off in places. The last turn onto the main straight was a shocker. Bumpy
and the pit wall waiting there for you if yopu got it wrong....

it.

Yeah, should have turned on the sarcasm mode above. What annoys me most is
that it was attendance by ride day enthusiasts that kept EC (and thus the
ARDC) afloat financially for many a year. Now they are screwing those who
have been there best customers.

would've complied and we would still see some competition.

Yep. I reckon as an agreement it's anti-competitive. I lodged a complaint
with the ACCC on the basis that it reduced competition in the marketplace
and they said they would look at it. We'll see.

Chris