EnduroCross

[bkinnon]

I just happened to be in Las Vegas two weeks ago for business, and by chance, found out that there was to be an EnduroCross while I was there. I got FREE tickets through a friend, and had a great time. In all the time I have been involved with dirt bikes, I had never been to a professional event. Many of the best enduro racers in the world were there, as well as some MX guys. The course was quite brutal, and although it was indoors, it had water, boulders, logs and obstacles. KTM ruled the night with David Knight for England taking top honors. I am sure I could have made a few laps at my own pace, but these guys raced for 20 laps. I thought it was pretty cool. Here is a link in case anyone is interested.

//www.maxxis.com/media_gallery/photo_gallery_category.asp?id=770

Bill



Downeast Pentons- Central Division

[BobJones]

I was in Vegas last year on business and called Tim Clark & he hooked me up.It is great to see off-roaders able to show spectators about a tenth of what an Enduro or HS is like.Hope this becomes a series so the off road guys could make some decent money.

Bob Jones
Show-Me state

[t20sl]

Cool.  Wish someone would come here to Ohio and line up all the logs in nice even rows.  Ted

[Dwight Rudder]

Personally I think it is a sad joke. To have true offroad guys riding in a stadium is silly.  I am afraid that they hope to turn enduro into a similar show as Super Cross.  Which I feel is a pale comparison to a real outdoor MX.
Sad and shameful in my opinion.  This is what the FIM wants the ISDE to turn into.
IMHO,
Dwight

Dwight Rudder
7 time ISDT / E medalist
8 time National Enduro Class Champion.

[firstturn]

Dwight,
  I agree and I hope it doesn't come to this with ISDE.  Fuuny thing when people see $$$$ potential they don't care who the hurt.  Look at Mike Goodwin and what he did for money...killed Mickey Thompson and his wife.  Sad.[V]

Ron Carbaugh

[Tony Price]

I guess I find Endurocross interesting in side show, or spectacle, kind of way but I dread the day that something like this becomes more marketable and profitable for top riders to do than actually race.

From a business point of view though, when's the last time you saw 10K+ paid customers for a National Enduro, GNCC, Hare and Hound, WORCS, or desert race?

The enduro and Six Days guys have always been my heros, but the average guy on the street, and especially sponsors, can tell you who Ricky Carmichael or Jeremy McGrath are before they can tell you who runs this years Enduro or GNCC #1 plate.

It's a #%*@ shame........

Tony

[tmc3c]

I don't know guys if it is all bad one thing you can say is that it brings awareness to a sport that we all love.What if a family comes to one of these events and gets HOOKED like us and digs further into the sport and learns to love ISDE like us?I don't know many families without knowing anything about racing enduros who would get up at the crack of dawn and drive to a enduro and stand in the woods and hoot and holler for their rider like us.We all started somewhere with our love.Myself I was born into it much like a bunch of us in POG.I am 47 and still get goose bumps when my son and I are in the woods!!Please Brothers don't take offense,you know me I always have something to say even if it is wrong.



Thomas Carmichael


1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler

[wfopete]

Let's take it to the extreme:

Close the forest to all off-roading. Why shoot, they can just ride in these little enclosed arenas where their noise and other politically incorrect habits can be contained and the outside world won't be exposed to them.  Make the course out of old tires and rocks, where the environmental damage will be nil!  As each machine breaks it becomes part of the course. Charge each person a clean up fee to ride. Check back in the year 2525 to see if it really happens. Kind of SCARY uh?[:0]


'01 KTM EXC 520, '74 YZ 250, '86 Honda XR 250, '71 Hodaka 100, '74 SUZUKI TM 400, '73 Penton Jackpiner

[Dwight Rudder]

Events like this will not bring more participants to the sport.  It will not open more trails for us to enjoy. It will bring ISDE and ENDURO events down to a handful of factory sponsored riders with little chance of anyone really getting to participate.  Now enduros have 200 to 500 riders.  How many do you think could compete in a Arena event ?
I don't even like the concept of the "Last man standing." Events like this make a mockery of our sport.  All this comes down to is a Marketable Show.
What a joke. I won't even go watch such a event and will discourage others . I will not help them kill our events as SX has killed MX.
It could be worse in our case.
IMHO,
Dwight[xx(]

Dwight Rudder
7 time ISDT / E medalist
8 time National Enduro Class Champion.

[tmc3c]

"You can't out run MONEY" - Malcolm Carmichael:D



Thomas Carmichael


1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler

[t20sl]

I think that a few MX guys might ride in these things and think about giving Enduros a try, but it will be few.  As to killing off Enduros we should fear the enviromentalists much more than this type of event.  I don't know what enduros Dwight is riding but here in Ohio your lucky to see 200 guys show up for a National, let alone a local enduro.  In the seventies I remember having to get to local enduros, (District 11) early so you would get one of the 400 numbers available.  They would then stick another 50 to 100 riders at the end of the pack (100 minutes after #1 rolled off).  Made for deep ruts if it was wet.  We used to have as many as 17 enduros in Ohio in one year , now it is about 6.  In my opinion the entry fee costs have gotten completely out of hand and that is another reason Enduro's are losing ground.  Exactly how much does a club really need to make??  Some will argue bike and parts prices are another reason but I discount that due to the number of guys play riding at any given area.  The bikes are being ridden and purchased, just not at events.  I am sure this will bring some responses!  Ted

[tmc3c]

Ted,It is just as you say about cost!!I had planned to travel 4 hrs to Charleston S.C. to ride the Swamp Fox Enduro.I sent a e-mail to the Pres of the Family Riders to inquire about the cost.I found I had to join the AMA,SETRA and pay the entry fee.
The government here in S.C. says when we can ride or not in our national forest.We have OHV trail systems here and we have to pay $5.00 each ride which is ok but if it sprinkles they close the gate and thats that.I am worried that my grandchildren will not be able to see the forest except by foot.



Thomas Carmichael


1970 125 Six Day
1976 250 Hare Scrambler