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Another thing you mention illustrates how there's no winning here. MXSports already has been reamed this week for supposedly demanding improvements that created an impossible cost burden. True or not, your comment on the place being a shit hole and the current promoters better off discarded shows how easy it is to whipsaw the folks running the series. As Bill Cosby of all people said, "I don't know the secret to success, but the secret to failure is to try to please everyone."
"NASCAR tracks are the same"...
BWAHAHAHAHAHA
Uh, sure.
Even Darlington is "different"...do you wanna talk Road-Course or Chicago...or "California"?
You might wanna check your shoes; 'cause, you've stepped in SHIT!
And my point wasn't that improvements aren't necessary; heck, MXSport wanted some, and Ralph and Diane and the Legion folks haven't said anything was unreasonable.. But there is a thread putting this impasse on MXSports for demanding costly improvements. Just saying it's not possible for anyone to come out clean with everyone.
http://www.podbean.com/home/podcast-directory-play.php?eid=6131263
Beer sales at races.
Concessions.
Liability.
X2
Regardless of the holiday, this was a long week. There's still some confusion and heartache over what exactly led to the demise of the Southwick National, which likely ran for the final time last Saturday—and went out like a lion. As I have explained here before, there is a disagreement between the landowners (American Legion 338) and the motocross promoters who lease the land (Moto-X 338). They were really, really far apart on the numbers for their renewal, as the Legion wanted to up the rent to some four times what Ralph and Dianne Pitello were paying. There was a lot of back-and-forth between the two parties (or at least the Legion's lawyer and the Pitellos), and when it became clear that the Legion wasn't budging and they could no longer make the business model work, the Pitellos simply retired.
Before you jump to the conclusion that MX Sports should just find another promoter, let me say that there was no problem with the race promoter at Southwick—Ralph and Dianne were hard workers who did all they could for the racetrack and the national, even though they did not get the beer money (Legion) or parking money (school next door) and the facility is too small for camping. There is no other national-caliber promoter in the area that I know of, though the Legion is now actively looking for someone to take over the track operations. But if Ralph and Dianne couldn't make the new rent with all the races they were running, as well as the national, who could make it work under a multifold rent increase? MX Sports is firmly on the Pitellos’ side here, and while it sucks for Moto-X 338 fans, it also sucks for them. They took a bath in 2009 and 2011 due to storms coming up the coast, and they were hoping to recoup some of what they lost in the next few years. Now they are retiring.
And before anyone jumps to more conclusions about where this race might end up, I promise you the next national won't be in the infield of any race car tracks. Miller Motorsports Park is a unique event that I believe adds diversity and a new region to the series, but others don't like the idea of holding a motocross race in a non-traditional setting. We are not looking to do more, nor can we, because according to previously agreed upon terms with the AMA, any event held at a facility with more than 35,000 permanent bleachers is considered a supercross and can't even be qualified as a national or be part of the series. So while there's certainly going to be some more threads about how I am “killing the sport” by trying new venues and racetracks, I’m just trying to grow it. And with all six rounds so far having exceptional crowds—the last Southwick attracted the most fans ever at the grand old sand track—I think we're on the right path. Miller Motorsports Park won't be everyone's cup of Red Bull, but it will be a cool diversion and it will be interesting to see how it works out. And the video you saw of a smooth, dry track last week was actually filmed back in April, and those were the first bikes ever on that track. Come August 17 it will be rough, it will have much different soil, and the riders and teams are going to love working out of the race garages like they do at Daytona. Please give it a chance. If it doesn't work, we'll go back to the drawing board.
I also wonder if the people complaining about traditional motocross realize that a few of the early outdoor national events in AMA Motocross actually took place inside car-racing facilities like Road Atlanta and Daytona International Speedway.
Come on how can you say such a thing with all do respect to ralph and diane its not rocket science
Putting on a national is not that hard a lot of work for sure but not hard.
There isno reason why MX Sport doesnt work with a new promoter you did with Tennessee utah pala freestone why not southwick. Unless of course there are other things going on that we are not aware of then i can understand but no reason not to come back if YOUR numbers work.
Pit Row
Ralph and Dianne , they are smart enough to see that it would be impossible to make any money under the new LEGION terms. ?
so THEY retired , smart people. I guess a qualified promoter is someone who would like to lose money,
if anything DC is being loyal to his own people.
A highly motivated person, or group, formulates a plan, leases property and builds a dynasty.
The landlord goes along. One day, the landlord, for whatever reason, becomes convinced that more
profit can be had.
The rent is jacked up. The "builder of the dynasty" totally dependent on THAT property to maintain the
dynasty, is faced with an impossible choice. He knows that property won't support the rent demanded.
Shame it happened to the Pitello's.
Advice, own the property that you build your dynasty on.
Promoters retire because the race now under a new lease would be a very bad investment.
What NEW qualified promoter would want to make four times the investment in a race that has lost money the last two years even though it cost then four times less than the new lease will cost?
So again, what is off base ?
Putting on a national as YOU put it " its not rocket science,Putting on a national is not that hard " But it IS expensive and you need big money to do it.
Oh, and I did hear them try and figure out how many employees they have for the event. Tim said they have 300 staff t-shirts done up, and always run out.
Easy. Not hard.
Two American kids growin up in the heartland???
First... The Legion, trading on the power of the "Southwick National", is able to lure in a fresh faced promoter
full of hope (and not much else) willing to agree to the $100K rent. He borrows every dime he can get his hands on, family cash. He get's through the 2014 National and loses all his cash. Can't continue.
Second.. The Legion passes around the deal. Gets no takers. Ends up with a savvy operator that gives them the
same $20K the Pitello's offered.
Three...The Legion, unable to get any takers at all, closes down the property and sells it to a local home builder thats been after the place for 20 years.
Post a reply to: The American Legion