Pre entry is great but you still need on the day entry for those that don't know if they can make it or not until the night before...
Pre-entry only is a bit of a bitch,
The problem with that is we are almost hitting capacity with pre entries.
Lithgow had 180 pre enters, coffs was up around 220. In 06 at 250riders Lithgow finished in the dark.
You can get away with it at Nats over summer but NSW State series is a winter thing and day light is short.
Squid might be able to confirm this but this year, even with online entries and no entries taken on the Sunday average numbers for the series have been up again on last year, sitting around 240-?
Sooner or later the venues are going to "sell out" with pre entries whether we officially make it compulsory or not.
as Lenny points out who get the job of telling the angry mob that they can't ride because old mate in the line in front of them is the 300th rider?
As for paying up front and then not being able to race because of injuries. There is a refund policies and you'll get 90% of you money back. The other 10% goes into transaction fees and admin.
As for not having a credit card, i said in the other thread if you simply can't pay by credit card ring the organiser and ask for other arrangements to be made. Mind you if people ring the day after entries close with a sob story I'm less likely to by accomadating than if they had rang 3 weeks in advance.
In my opinion Pre entries give the following advantages
1:Organisers have a better idea of numbers they need to cater for (Mind you most people are still entering at the last possible minute) and so can better organise the weekend with shuttles and facilities to suit.
2:Organisers can better budget the prize pools and have money up front to pay for the infrastructure needed to run the race.
3: There is less cash handled on the day, this has to be an advantage to both organisers and riders
The disadvantages being pointed out are.
1:Some people find it difficult to pay by credit card.
2: If you pay up front but then can't race you loose 10% of you entries fee.
(BTW what happens to the deposit you left on your accommodation and how did you book that with out a card?)
sooner or later races are going to need to be capped somehow. Whether this is first come first served with online entries only or we have some form of qualifying system through club and regional races we don't know