Birdsville Races. April Edition

[runway16]

So who went? What feed back can you give? Landing Fee? Fuel cost? Numbers of punters? Number of aircraft?
I get the feeling that Birdsville Races as a pilot's destination is over and that the event is over commercialised.

[aroa]

Bit on the news a few days ago Good post Covid crowd apparently “Birdsville is back” !
Didnt show the airfield so how many fly-ins ?. Q unanswered for that.

[KRviator]

Did the idiot council back down and allow underwing camping this year?

EDIT: Apparently not..."Camping is not permitted on the airside at Birdsville Airport. Please ensure you have accommodation booked before flying in".

Add in a $200 per aircraft flagfall, $20/t landing fee and parking at $25 a night, and $570 for a (2 man person) tent and it's an expensive endeavour...Before you even think about the $$ for the nags...

[gerry111]

Didnt show the airfield so how many fly-ins ?. Q unanswered for that.
Pilotette may know?

[morno]

So who went? What feed back can you give? Landing Fee? Fuel cost? Numbers of punters? Number of aircraft?
I get the feeling that Birdsville Races as a pilot's destination is over and that the event is over commercialised.

Over commercialised, no. Trying to get it more orientated towards those who aren’t beer swilling, singlet wearing bogans? Yes, definitely.

I have friends who run it, and they definitely wouldn’t let it become too commercial. They’re just a new generation who want to make it different but better than before and with more events on (fun run, cocktail ball, etc.).

I think the days of it being a mass fly-in though are over. Definitely not that huge event that it used to be.

[Capt Fathom]

$200 per aircraft flagfall, $20/t landing fee and parking at $25 a night

So is that the standard fee year round for Birdsville or is that the price gouge for the races?

[tossbag]

Fred Brophy is still going, wouldn't pay a grand to see it though.

[Squawk7700]

There was a picture on Facebook showing about 6 aircraft.

[Sunfish]

Were CASA there doing ramp checks?

[KRviator]

So is that the standard fee year round for Birdsville or is that the price gouge for the races?That's the "Special Race Week (https://www.thediamantina.com.au/downloads/file/4/birdsville-race-week-fees-and-charges)" pricing.

So two nights there in a 3000Lb single is what? $200 + $30 + $50 + $570 = $850 befoe you've spent a dollar at the event itself?!? And that's not counting the fuel to get there either at whatever ungodly price it is this week!

Talk about an expensive weekend...:eek:

[Squawk7700]

I’m assuming that’s $570 for a 2 person glamping style tent?

[runway16]

I think that the costing spelt out by Squawk spells the end of flying into the Birdsville Races.
Disappointing. It used to be the premier event for pilots and passengers of light aircraft to fly to from around the nation.
Now over commercialised. The fare of the over well heeled and the tour companies that will buy up big on entry tickets.
If there is a $200 fly-in arrival fee one has to ask do SUVs and the caravan nomads crew get charged the same for driving to the BDV Races?
One has the feeling that the Bedourie Council decision makers have shot themselves in the foot.

[KRviator]

I’m assuming that’s $570 for a 2 person glamping style tent?Inasmuch as the below tent is considered "glamping"...And that's without any extras such as sleeping bag, pillow, chair, lantern etc etc They're all additional (http://www.rentatent.com.au/rentatent/events/view/71)...For your $570 you just get a bare tent, in Tent City. BYO everything else.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/313x214/5cf752200c54f_2person_mid_newcolour_1_b289e1747b41fc20c52ecc b6c3cde5819a3ec08b.jpg

If there is a $200 fly-in arrival fee one has to ask do SUVs and the caravan nomads crew get charged the same for driving to the BDV Races?
One has the feeling that the Bedourie Council decision makers have shot themselves in the foot.I'd have to agree with you. I don't think they do either, but if I'm expected to spend that much coin, before even paying for entry to the races they can take a hike. I'll go somewhere where my aircraft, passengers and I are welcomed, and where underwing camping is expected of those flying in, like Raglan or similar.

[deja vu]

Well you know it is screwed if Morno has mates running it. Virtue signalling sneerers.

[morno]

You know that you can still take a tent and camp on the town common for nothing right? Just like everyone else :rolleyes:.

I wouldn’t blame any of the organisers one bit for your inability to camp under the wing nor for the landing fees, that’s entirely up to the Diamantina Shire Council (not the Bedourie council). The race organisers have absolutely nothing to do with it.

And I don’t get your gripe deja vu :hmm:.

So, basically it sounds as if none of you have been out there for years and are trying to hang onto the past?

[KRviator]

You know that you can still take a tent and camp on the town common for nothing right? Just like everyone else :rolleyes:.If by "Town Common" you mean the riverbank sites then yes, but you've still got to get there from your aircraft with your gear, which if I've done it right with Google, is anywhere between a 1.5km and 3.0km hike, depending where you want to throw your swag out...Just what you want after a 5 hour flight from Bankstown. :( Otherwise it's Tent City or the tourist park, according to their website (https://www.birdsvilleraces.com/getting-there/#accomm).

So, basically it sounds as if none of you have been out there for years and are trying to hang onto the past?Not really, I've never been, but would really like to go particularly now I have the RV - but with their (Council's) current attitude it ain't gonna happen, simply because I don't like being butt-phucked by anyone merely because I choose to rock up in my own plane and so am seen as "rich" and therefore, a ca$h-cow. Nor do accept the copout "security" excuse put forward by the council when you look at something like AusFly, or Old Station where they actively encourage you to camp under your wing - afterall, that (for me) would be one of the main attractions of going, the underwing camping with other fliers... It's almost as if they don't want private fliers to go there anymore, given for virtually the same $$ you could fly to Townsville and have a few nights in sunny North Qld...

[Sunfish]

Birdsville has just joined the exclusive group of popular events permanently ruined or destroyed by being "Taken up market" if I read Morno correctly.

The process is always the same:

1) A community group decides to hold an event to raise funds for charity. Over time the good management, obvious value for money and unique experience attract a large following of ordinary people. The charity makes $$$. Everyone is happy.

2) A greedy bastard steps in and decides that they will take a share of the charity money.

3) greedy bastard convinces authorities that there are customers who can and will pay much, much more than current fees in exchange for "a superior experience". that is code for what was called "the carriage trade" - rich folk to monopolize the event. Modern marketing cant for this process is "taking the event up market". The charity will get no more money, greedy bastard and authority will pocket the premium.

4) The event is dressed up (green sustainable exclusive, etc.) and prices are quadrupled or more. Corporate boxes and luxury packages are sold. The volunteers who built the event are excluded and replaced with paid subcontractors.


5) Everyone makes money until the corporate customers disappear, as always happens in an economic downturn.The average punter has long been priced out of the market in favor of corporate customers.

6) The event collapses under the weight of the fixed cost base it inflicted on itself. Volunteers work for free. Subcontractors don't. The general public were priced out of attending and have made other entertainment arrangements,

7) Some years later, a group of volunteers get an idea about how to raise money for charity. They resurrect the original idea.

Vale: Sail Geelong race week. Portsea Polo and numerous other events.

[morno]

Birdsville has just joined the exclusive group of popular events permanently ruined or destroyed by being "Taken up market" if I read Morno correctly.

The process is always the same:

1) A community group decides to hold an event to raise funds for charity. Over time the good management, obvious value for money and unique experience attract a large following of ordinary people. The charity makes $$$. Everyone is happy.

2) A greedy bastard steps in and decides that they will take a share of the charity money.

3) greedy bastard convinces authorities that there are customers who can and will pay much, much more than current fees in exchange for "a superior experience". that is code for what was called "the carriage trade" - rich folk to monopolize the event. Modern marketing cant for this process is "taking the event up market". The charity will get no more money, greedy bastard and authority will pocket the premium.

4) The event is dressed up (green sustainable exclusive, etc.) and prices are quadrupled or more. Corporate boxes and luxury packages are sold. The volunteers who built the event are excluded and replaced with paid subcontractors.


5) Everyone makes money until the corporate customers disappear, as always happens in an economic downturn.The average punter has long been priced out of the market in favor of corporate customers.

6) The event collapses under the weight of the fixed cost base it inflicted on itself. Volunteers work for free. Subcontractors don't. The general public were priced out of attending and have made other entertainment arrangements,

7) Some years later, a group of volunteers get an idea about how to raise money for charity. They resurrect the original idea.

Vale: Sail Geelong race week. Portsea Polo and numerous other events.

Errrrr no Sunfish, definitely not the case.

Like I said, there’s only one organisation responsible for the problems you’re seeing at the airport, and it’s definitely not the race club. The race club have distanced themselves from it.

And everything else you have written is also an incorrect assumption about the event. It’s still very much an event for everyone, but it’s now an event with other events to add to the weekend.

Kraviator, hope you make it out one time. It’s a fantastic event that’s really well done these days. Just a shame the camping under the wing has disappeared. Maybe one day the council might come to their senses and realise the damage they’re doing.

[Sunfish]

Morno, thanks for your reply and Happy Easter.

I hope you are right about the vision of the new generation:

Over commercialised, no. Trying to get it more orientated towards those who aren’t beer swilling, singlet wearing bogans? Yes, definitely.

I have friends who run it, and they definitely wouldn’t let it become too commercial. They’re just a new generation who want to make it different but better than before and with more events on (fun run, cocktail ball, etc.).


My experience of such events is that the people who want to get control always say that they want to make it better. However that is usually code for taking the event up market as you have already suggested (re beer swilling Bogans).

The problem the new management face is that the so called "beer swilling Bogans" come in their thousands and contribute the lions share of the cash and most importantly, they come rain, hail or shine every year, drought or flood because they mentally have "ownership" of the event. Once you tamper with that and tell the Bogans they are not wanted by changing prices and offerings that exclude them, they will go elsewhere.

While that gives you a "Nice" Bogan free event, you had better hope that the up market corporate crowd you sold the event to keep coming back. My experience is that such clientele is very fickle and they certainly don't come rain hail or shine. This becomes apparent when the gate takings start dropping but the cost burdens of all those "Nice" add ons - fun run, Cocktail Ball, etc. etc, keep increasing.

.....And the pricing has just cost the races all those Airplane Bogans who want to camp under their wing. Moral of the story: be very careful about changing the nature of successful local events. They are very easy to destroy and hard to rebuild.

[tossbag]

Did Birdsville years ago when it was under the wing camping, doubt I'd go back unless it was this again. The money required better spent elsewhere.

[deja vu]

Only 3000 instead of the usual 10,000, wow. Could have something to do with Morno's mates, who according to Morno, are helping organise this thing. Apparently they are vetting out all those "beer swilling bogans" who created the whole thing in the first place. But just imagine it will be down to 1000 next time but they will be the right sort of people, pompous superior sycophants sipping their pinot noir and deciding who is acceptable and who is not.

[morno]

Only 3000 instead of the usual 10,000, wow. Could have something to do with Morno's mates, who according to Morno, are helping organise this thing. Apparently they are vetting out all those "beer swilling bogans" who created the whole thing in the first place. But just imagine it will be down to 1000 next time but they will be the right sort of people, pompous superior sycophants sipping their pinot noir and deciding who is acceptable and who is not.

:ugh::rolleyes:

10,000+ would be a stretch. I believe the record for gate attendance at the race track anyway is around 5,000.

By the way deja vu, it’s the same people who have been organising it for about the last 40 years mate. But if it doesn’t satisfy your cravings for beer swilling, I’m sure you won’t be missed.

[gerry111]

William Creek SA - $3.60.
I think the trick's to refuel at Coober Pedy instead. Even Trevor's been known to do that...

[runway16]

Well the council finally succeeded!
This year there were only 40 aircraft at the Birdsville Races. Probably lucky as the rains had turned the non hard-stand into a quagmire. The ARO had a real job getting aircraft into a parking spot. Good work. The cost of $200 arrival fee then $25 landing fee and then another $25 overnight parking finally put off people wanting to fly to the the event. Years ago there were 250-300 aircraft at the BDV Races. This year a change of heart by council. No fees.
Looking at the ASA AIC Sup it stated that there were no landing/parking fees for aircraft below 3300 kb. Too late for those that were keen to go but did they know about the nil fees option. And if they did it would have been too late to buy race entry tickets.
The last BDV Races that I heard about there were only 80 aircraft arriving. This year half that number. If someone heard about the no-fees close to the race date they would have said too late to buy race tickets and arrange a flight to BDV.
The race. No race on the Friday. The race track was awash. Saturday a late start after graders made a reasonably dry track. Head numbers? I reckon about 3-4000.
Comment welcome.

[steelcraft]

https://airport.burningman.org/camping/plane-camping/?s=03

[Paragraph377]

Well the council finally succeeded!
This year there were only 40 aircraft at the Birdsville Races. Probably lucky as the rains had turned the non hard-stand into a quagmire. The ARO had a real job getting aircraft into a parking spot. Good work. The cost of $200 arrival fee then $25 landing fee and then another $25 overnight parking finally put off people wanting to fly to the the event. Years ago there were 250-300 aircraft at the BDV Races. This year a change of heart by council. No fees.
Looking at the ASA AIC Sup it stated that there were no landing/parking fees for aircraft below 3300 kb. Too late for those that were keen to go but did they know about the nil fees option. And if they did it would have been too late to buy race entry tickets.
The last BDV Races that I heard about there were only 80 aircraft arriving. This year half that number. If someone heard about the no-fees close to the race date they would have said too late to buy race tickets and arrange a flight to BDV.
The race. No race on the Friday. The race track was awash. Saturday a late start after graders made a reasonably dry track. Head numbers? I reckon about 3-4000.
Comment welcome.
CASA has contributed to the decline of this once great event. Sneaking around corners and dressed incognito and pinging some poor unsuspecting Pilot for a logbook error or for failing to switch the beacons on. Fun times have been overinsured and over regulated to death. I would rather mud-wrestle Barb from Windorah! Good old days 🤣

[KRviator]

Well the council finally succeeded!
This year there were only 40 aircraft at the Birdsville Races. Probably lucky as the rains had turned the non hard-stand into a quagmire. The ARO had a real job getting aircraft into a parking spot. Good work. The cost of $200 arrival fee then $25 landing fee and then another $25 overnight parking finally put off people wanting to fly to the the event. Years ago there were 250-300 aircraft at the BDV Races. This year a change of heart by council. No fees.
<SNIP>
Comment welcome.Well there you go...I didn't know they'd waived the fees, simply because I didn't even bother to look after seeing them earlier this year, so lack of promotion of the fee-free airport kept this aircraft owner away. Still baulk at paying to stay in town vs under the wing though. Mini-Me and I had a great time doing just that at Old Station a few months ago after loading the RV to the gills and heading up there for the weekend!

[Paul Wildekamp]

Hello all you good people and runway 16 and KRviator,

I went to Birdsville again in Sept. What a party it was. The weather was ****e, but there were no moaning complaining bitch "pilots" who like to
stay close to home and study facebook and google maps. Thank you all!!!

[C441]

Only just saw this thread. Yes, we did go in April (for my Son's bucks party - not quite as feral as it sounds).
Flew out in a Chieftain - let someone else do the flying.
Last minute decision to drop into Betoota on the way proved to be one of the highlights.
Birdsville fuel was about $3.80/lt if I remember rightly.
Probably about 10 or 15 maybe 20 non-local aircraft overnighting including a KingAir, a Conquest and a number of Caravans.
No camping under the wing but stayed in tent-city with 2 man tent, bedding & chairs provided.
Bloody hot both race days. About 39* both days.
About 1800 people at the races. A good crowd for atmosphere but not too crowded - no queueing for a refreshments!
Pub not too packed at night which allowed people to get around and chat to those that had flown and driven in from all over the country.
Great atmosphere and a lot of fun was had by all.
All up cost for 7 of us was $2300.