How Many People Put On Your Local Events?

[biffsgasgas]

In reading a post in USA "Can't drive 55..." I thought of an interesting question to ask the Lot of you.

How many people organize/build/mark out/ride in/setup your local trials events?

When I was a kid in Western New York the event was organized and layed out by 1 maybe 2 or 3 people. There was a trials master who was also usually the property owner and they did most of the work. Some workers would show up maybe a week or two ahead of time to ride stuff in and give their two cents but it was usually the responsibility of one or two people. For nationals and world round events this was not the case of course. I never had a problem building 8 interesting sections and two pains in the a$$. Checkers would show up the day of the event and get pointed to the section they were given.

When I showed up to start participating in Michigan I found that there were about 6 clubs and members from each club all showed up at their club property about 2 to 3 times before the event and each member built about 1 to 2 sections a piece with a total of about 8-10 sections. We would ride each others sections in while giving our thoughts on what we liked or disliked. I considered this better but have found that this makes a lot of Chiefs and not too many Indians. (translation too many bosses not enough workers) However i still prefer this as it requires a lot less attention to the whole event for any one person to handle. Checkers checked the sections that they built so if some one complained they were to hear about it first hand.

So how do your local events get put together? One master does it all? Couple of people get it done over a pint? A large group puts it together?

--Biff

Edited July 3, 2008 by biffsgasgas

[ridgrunr]

For our meets we try to have two guys setting the sections that we call "Trials Masters". We try to have one upper class rider and one lower class rider. We've discovered that often the upper class riders forget what it was like to ride the lower class sections. It's been my experience that if you get more than one or two heads setting a section, they usually end up butting heads as everyone has a different idea of what a section should look like. Too, an upper class rider will tend to spend much more time and effort of the upper class sections, and will sort of slop the lower class sections together. So having a lower class and upper class rider helps our intent to try to keep the section complexity and difficulty somewhat standard, at least as much as is possible. Doesn't always work, but we try.

These two riders, the "Trials Marshals" also get 1st place points for their class for the meet they set. They can only get "marshal points" one time during the year though. We normally set 8-10 sections and two experienced marshals can pretty much set a meet in a day. Sometimes there'll be helpers, but they don't get any points for the meets. Only the "Trials Marshals" can ride the sections for rideability before the meet.

[jsygasgas]

Me and my dad always go down on the saturday afternoon with about 8 other on average and cut out the sections theres a wide range of abilities and evryone chips in making the different roots 10 sections and we generally have 35 riders maybe at the most

Ben

[scorpa3]

For our normal club trials there are rarely more than three of us doing the setting out and running the event on the day. If we get another couple of club members turn up to help find observers or observe themselves it's a bonus.

Four our three National events which are on the road and a much bigger undertaking, a considerable number of extra people chip in to help. Perhaps 15 or 20! It would be impossible to put a road trial on without more helpers, so we are lucky in that respect.

[fanticmatze]

In Germany it's the way that we have 1 person being responsible, but then we work in several small groups of 3 or so to set up sections. So we can have in a rather short time lots of sections built. Usually there are estimated 10-15 people there on each of the 2 saturdays before the event to set up... And we don't ride in our sections. But then I'm allowed to ride at the event the sections I've built (but never ridden before).

For nationals way more time and manpower is required...

[fivemeister]

Today, two of us set out ten sections for a round of the centre championship.

Considering the time of year and the amount of undergrowth that needed cutting, chopping and clearing - plus the amount of thought going into each section for three vastly different range of abilities - plus health and safety considerations - it was six hours of very hard work (considering that you are completely knackered when you finish)

That means its your complete weekend (including the actual trial) accounted for. For guys that work hard during the week and then also have the normal family / home commitments - thats some undertaking that I don't think is ever appreciated.

I don't think that the majority of those that turn up to ride then go straight home ever really appreciate the effort that goes in to organising a trial?

If there had been six of us - we'd have had time for a pint at lunchtime AND been home in time to do things with the kids. Think about it next time your club appeals for help!

[jse]

I don't think that the majority of those that turn up to ride then go straight home ever really appreciate the effort that goes in to organising a trial?

If there had been six of us - we'd have had time for a pint at lunchtime AND been home in time to do things with the kids. Think about it next time your club appeals for help!

We're pretty lucky out here in North Eastern Oklahoma as we have a wide range of both public and private Trials type riding areas and we have a small but enthuiastic group of riders. Usually we have a Trialsmaster and his/her assistant who get first place points for putting on a Trial and we usually have 5-10 helpers that show up several weekends (if necessary) and the Saturday before the event. 8 morning (Beginner to Senior Amateur) and 8 afternoon (Intermediate to Master) sections and three loops is normal for all our club events, morning riders check afternoon sections and vice-versa. Big 2-day events like the Pro payout Octobertest take the whole club to put it on and we start at least a month before.

One of the reasons we have usually have enough Trialsmasters may be that we try to make it as absolutely easy as possible for volunteers to put on events. When I first joined the club here I took over the Trials equipment and now make sure it is replenished before every event and personally take it to the next Trialsmaster several weeks before the scheduled Trial and pick it up after the event is over. Two large boxes contain all the necessary forms, markers, tape, stakes, staplers, clipboards, punches etc., plus two folding sign-up tables and an Easy-Up for cover. This takes a lot of the burden off the Trialsmasters who don't have to scrounge for equipment to put on the event like they used to.

As in just about every club, there is a core of reliable workers and those that float in and out of participation.

Jon

[scott_king]

Hey all,

I feel quite lucky in that with my club we have a core of about 10-14 people who turn up to mark out every track no matter what time of year. But even with this amount of people the 'trial master' generally goes out a night before hand and has a good idea where he wants sections and the routes to be. This seems to works quite well and has plenty of movement to accommodate other peoples opinions.

In order to ensure such a good turn out for the trial those who spend the time marking out get a free entry or half price, but the majority of people do it because they enjoy it and the company.

But it is just not about setting out the trial, from experience with several clubs the admin side, entries etc, falls to the wives of the club president so they deserve a round of applause as well.

Thanks

Scott