ASG - An open letter, a good response, insights about race situation in SA

[JA-Q001]

Here's an example of some expenses at a typical race, showing a % of the total.

 

Admin/Race day expenses 4.9%

Advertising & Promotions 2.6%

Bank Charges 0.3%

Equipment Hire 3.8%

Federation levies 7.0%

Marshalls & Race officials 8.3%

Medals 7.2%

Medical Services 1.6%

Printing and Stationery 1.2%

Prize Money 6.9%

Prizes purchased 4.0%

Race Registration 13.5%

Race Insurance 0.7%

Refreshments & Hospitality 4.8%

T-shirts purchased 3.8%

Donations 1.7%

Toilet hire 3.2%

Traffic department 2.9%

Super Sport 26-min feature 9.6%

Race Numbers 2.7%

 

That only adds up to 90.7 %  , but the point is made and we appreciate the input.

 

One place I really feel a cut could be made is here:

 

Race Registration 13.5%

 

I, for one, am one of those people that do not understand why registration should be such a tedious exercise. That requires me to take a half day off of work to drive an extra 150 km just to pick up my race number. This not only increases my direct entry fee, but also adds an additional R 300 - R 500 to my expenses for a race.

[Dexter-morgan]

That only adds up to 90.7 %  , but the point is made and we appreciate the input.

 

One place I really feel a cut could be made is here:

 

Race Registration 13.5%

 

I, for one, am one of those people that do not understand why registration should be such a tedious exercise. That requires me to take a half day off of work to drive an extra 150 km just to pick up my race number. This not only increases my direct entry fee, but also adds an additional R 300 - R 500 to my expenses for a race.

Agreed, that should all be digital

[JA-Q001]

That only adds up to 90.7 %  , but the point is made and we appreciate the input.

 

One place I really feel a cut could be made is here:

 

Race Registration 13.5%

 

I, for one, am one of those people that do not understand why registration should be such a tedious exercise. That requires me to take a half day off of work to drive an extra 150 km just to pick up my race number. This not only increases my direct entry fee, but also adds an additional R 300 - R 500 to my expenses for a race.

Unless, I misunderstood and that registration fee is to get that race on the CSA calendar.

[Frosty]

Race registration is not only number collection, but also the whole entry process from before you see it online. You pay by credit card - there is a transaction fee.

 

Race timing is also included in that 13.5% - it's the complete package from the race office.

[JA-Q001]

Race registration is not only number collection, but also the whole entry process from before you see it online. You pay by credit card - there is a transaction fee.

 

Race timing is also included in that 13.5% - it's the complete package from the race office.

 Ok, that makes more sense and makes the R 33.75 cut of a R 250 entry fee more bearable. Thanks Gerald

[Underachiever]

Here's an example of some expenses at a typical race, showing a % of the total.

 

Admin/Race day expenses 4.9%

Advertising & Promotions 2.6%

Bank Charges 0.3%

Equipment Hire 3.8%

Federation levies 7.0%

Marshalls & Race officials 8.3%

Medals 7.2%

Medical Services 1.6%

Printing and Stationery 1.2%

Prize Money 6.9%

Prizes purchased 4.0%

Race Registration 13.5%

Race Insurance 0.7%

Refreshments & Hospitality 4.8%

T-shirts purchased 3.8%

Donations 1.7%

Toilet hire 3.2%

Traffic department 2.9%

Super Sport 26-min feature 9.6%

Race Numbers 2.7%

The one that bugs me is the CSA levies.  We know why they ask for it - easy money - but what happens with all the money, including the day licenses?  With that levy I would have expected that the race officials & marshalls are FOC.

 

If you take race registration + race numbers - there is definitely opportunity to take out cost AND improve efficiency.

[nonky]

Page 4 and NO mindless raging, ad hominem attackes, slander or misdirection regarding the topic.

Well done to the OP and ASG, as well as the peanut gallery.

Methinks, I might have to support ASG races going forward.

   

[Frosty]

That only adds up to 90.7 %  , but the point is made and we appreciate the input.

 

One place I really feel a cut could be made is here:

 

Race Registration 13.5%

 

I, for one, am one of those people that do not understand why registration should be such a tedious exercise. That requires me to take a half day off of work to drive an extra 150 km just to pick up my race number. This not only increases my direct entry fee, but also adds an additional R 300 - R 500 to my expenses for a race.

The missing 9.3% is the timing.

It was split in previous years but now is a single cost.

[Icycling]

Do any off the ASG receive support from PPA? Even if through project funding?

Surely as PPA is wanting to grow events on a national scale ASG would be a suitable partner with PPA goals in mind.

I have in the past few weeks suggested to some cycling mates that it would be great if ASG re-did the Giro del Capo (name owned by PPA) instead of starting a completely new tour - Tour of Good Hope. Including in this event I would suggest the Signal Hill, hill climb and a crit even if similar to the Engen crit, close to the new Expo venue.

Possible with partnering with PPA the financial losses could be limited by ASG while PPA re-invest in road cycling. It would be nice to see ASG put more events on in the Western Cape!

I wonder if any of the EXCO of PPA have consider this - showing some leadership? Maybe they have already been in discussions?

 

Maybe this is an open suggestion instead of an open letter.

[ewep]

thanks Gerald,

 

I must say what jumps out for me is 7.2% for the medals...   compared against traffic department at 2.9% and at marshals at 8.3%... 

 

I recently saw a race (can't remember which one - may have been a running race) where at entry they note medal will be digital, and if you want a piece of metal to record your achievement you opt in at an additional cost of about R35.  For me this is a really sensible way to go as for the vast majority, I expect we would rather pay for safety than another piece of tin to fill up a drawer

 

The Marshals are compensated for their fuel.  To give you an idea, 94.7 you do about 10 laps during the day (4AM to finish time).  That equates to a 1000km only on the race route.  Number of marshals, etc.  It all adds up. Not even mentioning services, tyres, etc.  Most of the races a marshal will fund partly out of own pocket as well (keep in mind that a bike uses a tank every 200-300km).

 

*edit: Fixy finger faulty

[Frosty]

The one that bugs me is the CSA levies.  We know why they ask for it - easy money - but what happens with all the money, including the day licenses?  With that levy I would have expected that the race officials & marshalls are FOC.

 

If you take race registration + race numbers - there is definitely opportunity to take out cost AND improve efficiency.

Race officials travelling from outside the province will change for fuel and accommodation.

 

Marshals are the Bike marshals, and also other organisations brought in to help with the marshaling at certain points.

[Frosty]

One thing Wynand didn't mention in his reply (at least not directly), is how numbers (bums in saddles) affects the break-even line. A race organiser plans for a certain number, but will not know until the last few days of online entries if they will be below/inline/above that number. I guess this is why the timing services were not used.

 

Most of the costs are fixed, so when the numbers are down you can imagine the "what now?" expressions of concern.

 

Let's take the breakdown (from before) and split it into fixed vs. variable (with a few that have a fixed portion and a variable amount):

 

Fixed

 

Advertising & Promotions 2.6%

Equipment Hire 3.8%

Medals 7.2%

Medical Services 1.6%

Printing and Stationery 1.2%

Prize Money 6.9%

Prizes purchased 4.0% - those incentives to get you to enter

Race Registration 13.5%

Race Insurance 0.7%

Refreshments & Hospitality 4.8%

T-shirts purchased 3.8%

Donations 1.7%

Toilet hire 3.2% - not convenience, but a H&S regulation

Traffic department 2.9%

Super Sport 26-min feature 9.6%

 

Variable

Race Numbers 2.7%

Federation levies 7.0%

 

A portion fixed and a portion variable

Admin/Race day expenses 4.9%

Timing 9.3%

Bank Charges 0.3%

Marshalls & Race officials 8.3%

[HBO]

Now this is how social media should be used to settle dispute's. Respect to both parties involved and I for one will definitely be more supportive towards ASG.

 

also, thanks to this thread we all now understands the challenges around organising a bit better and will think twice before we just complain.

 

Ryinc, you started a good thing here bud. Respect.

[shaper]

Now this is how social media should be used to settle dispute's. Respect to both parties involved and I for one will definitely be more supportive towards ASG.

 

also, thanks to this thread we all now understands the challenges around organising a bit better and will think twice before we just complain.

 

Ryinc, you started a good thing here bud. Respect.

If nothing else if puts it into cold hard facts rather than myths and assumptions.... which gives clarity for all to see.

[GLENN HOPTON]

Recently I entered Jock Tour, had to pay upfront for the massage session"s that never happened.
Medals were from the Jock Classic. Sent a mail for some sort of response, not a word.
Did the Sondela Classic last weekend advertised with Racetec, Nil, manual timing.

If you ask people that have done quite a few races the feeling seams to be mutual.

[shaper]

^ what he said as the link you should read.

 

Also the massages are not by ASG even though you booked in advance and should have gone to where the massages were happening... why did the massages not happen?