Tracks in the city...

Big Lenny
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Big Lenny
Edited Date/Time 1/23/2014 10:24am
Driving around LA you see very large lots that can easily be made into practice tracks right in the city..They sell all these bikes to us but you have to go at least 60-100 miles to ride them makes no sense...
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EricY
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EricY 1/22/2014 1:17pm
1/22/2014 1:17pm Edited Date/Time 1/22/2014 1:18pm
My guess would be noise, and probably cost.
enketchum
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enketchum 1/22/2014 1:23pm
1/22/2014 1:23pm Edited Date/Time 1/22/2014 1:23pm
Maybe rent is too high. I see milestone in your avatar.

If you really want to ride, start your own Wheelie Boys Chapter...
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 1/22/2014 1:25pm
1/22/2014 1:25pm
enketchum wrote:
Maybe rent is too high. I see milestone in your avatar.

If you really want to ride, start your own Wheelie Boys Chapter...
I thinkin' more like the Ascot days, the money to be made I'd bet is worth it...
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 1/22/2014 1:29pm
1/22/2014 1:29pm
You Cats remember the Pomona Fairplex when it was open?..

The Shop

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TannerMxer
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TannerMxer 1/22/2014 1:47pm
1/22/2014 1:47pm
enketchum wrote:
Maybe rent is too high. I see milestone in your avatar.

If you really want to ride, start your own Wheelie Boys Chapter...
Sorry, I can't help it... you directly quoted it.



https://youtu.be/x4o-TeMHys0
EricY
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EricY 1/22/2014 1:52pm
1/22/2014 1:52pm
I honestly don't know if/how tracks around here make any money. Land here is fairly inexpensive compared to the rest of the country, but it's still 20-30k an acre depending on where you are. By the time you add in the cost of the land, track build, equipment, insurance, etc, that's a pretty hefty price tag. Then track fees here are about $15-25 a day, and I never see more than 20-30 bikes most weekend days. Not sure how they stay out of the red.

The closest track to me is about 1-1.5 hours away, and I would certainly go a lot more if it was 15 minutes away. But people love to bitch around here if you are making the slightest noise. I'd hate to see what they'd do with 20 bikes ripping at once.
MxKing809
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MxKing809 1/22/2014 1:54pm
1/22/2014 1:54pm
I think that's the idea for Red Bull straight rhythm.... Drop it in the middle of a city somewhere
Trav138
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Trav138 1/22/2014 2:00pm
1/22/2014 2:00pm
Brings back memories of a track i rode about 15 years ago. It was a few minutes right out of Houston. I can't remember the name, had alot of fun there. Any TX guys help me out with the name?
enketchum
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enketchum 1/22/2014 2:17pm
1/22/2014 2:17pm Edited Date/Time 1/22/2014 2:17pm
Big Lenny wrote:
You Cats remember the Pomona Fairplex when it was open?..
You mean the track they had on the infield of the horse track?

Do you remember when the Pomona Fairplex was a Japanese internment camp?
C.Worthy
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C.Worthy 1/22/2014 2:28pm
1/22/2014 2:28pm
Big Lenny wrote:
You Cats remember the Pomona Fairplex when it was open?..
Yea! I loved being able to ride at night at that place just because it was so close. If I remember correctly, didn't they check the db level of the bike before you were allowed to ride?
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 1/22/2014 2:35pm
1/22/2014 2:35pm
Big Lenny wrote:
You Cats remember the Pomona Fairplex when it was open?..
C.Worthy wrote:
Yea! I loved being able to ride at night at that place just because it was so close. If I remember correctly, didn't they check the...
Yea! I loved being able to ride at night at that place just because it was so close. If I remember correctly, didn't they check the db level of the bike before you were allowed to ride?
Yep, saw a lot of pissed off ratted out 80cc riders...
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 1/22/2014 2:36pm
1/22/2014 2:36pm
Big Lenny wrote:
You Cats remember the Pomona Fairplex when it was open?..
enketchum wrote:
You mean the track they had on the infield of the horse track?

Do you remember when the Pomona Fairplex was a Japanese internment camp?
Japanese internment camp was before my time, but yes that's the place...
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 1/22/2014 2:38pm
1/22/2014 2:38pm Edited Date/Time 1/22/2014 2:45pm
Big Lenny wrote:
You Cats remember the Pomona Fairplex when it was open?..
C.Worthy wrote:
Yea! I loved being able to ride at night at that place just because it was so close. If I remember correctly, didn't they check the...
Yea! I loved being able to ride at night at that place just because it was so close. If I remember correctly, didn't they check the db level of the bike before you were allowed to ride?
I believe they closed it down because of one Cats complaining about the noise, the same place they hold the Drag Nationals...Huh ...There are a lot of riders right in my own neighborhood that I don't even know...
C.Worthy
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C.Worthy 1/22/2014 3:24pm
1/22/2014 3:24pm
Big Lenny wrote:
You Cats remember the Pomona Fairplex when it was open?..
C.Worthy wrote:
Yea! I loved being able to ride at night at that place just because it was so close. If I remember correctly, didn't they check the...
Yea! I loved being able to ride at night at that place just because it was so close. If I remember correctly, didn't they check the db level of the bike before you were allowed to ride?
Big Lenny wrote:
I believe they closed it down because of one Cats complaining about the noise, the same place they hold the Drag Nationals...:huh:...There are a lot of...
I believe they closed it down because of one Cats complaining about the noise, the same place they hold the Drag Nationals...Huh ...There are a lot of riders right in my own neighborhood that I don't even know...
I thought I read somewhere back then that a lot of them were false accusations and that people were getting paid off or something like that to complain about the noise even though there was a special sound net barrier that prevented the noise from reaching the neighborhoods. Apparently by the time that info came out it was too late and the tracks fate was already sealed. Maybe I'm wrong, it's been awhile...
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 1/22/2014 3:30pm
1/22/2014 3:30pm
C.Worthy wrote:
Yea! I loved being able to ride at night at that place just because it was so close. If I remember correctly, didn't they check the...
Yea! I loved being able to ride at night at that place just because it was so close. If I remember correctly, didn't they check the db level of the bike before you were allowed to ride?
Big Lenny wrote:
I believe they closed it down because of one Cats complaining about the noise, the same place they hold the Drag Nationals...:huh:...There are a lot of...
I believe they closed it down because of one Cats complaining about the noise, the same place they hold the Drag Nationals...Huh ...There are a lot of riders right in my own neighborhood that I don't even know...
C.Worthy wrote:
I thought I read somewhere back then that a lot of them were false accusations and that people were getting paid off or something like that...
I thought I read somewhere back then that a lot of them were false accusations and that people were getting paid off or something like that to complain about the noise even though there was a special sound net barrier that prevented the noise from reaching the neighborhoods. Apparently by the time that info came out it was too late and the tracks fate was already sealed. Maybe I'm wrong, it's been awhile...
You could be right there was talk of some kind of "sound wall", but I heard too that the Cat complaining once owned a motorcycle shop...
GuyB
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GuyB 1/22/2014 3:39pm
1/22/2014 3:39pm
EricY wrote:
My guess would be noise, and probably cost.
Noise, dust, and liability.
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 1/22/2014 3:55pm
1/22/2014 3:55pm
EricY wrote:
My guess would be noise, and probably cost.
GuyB wrote:
Noise, dust, and liability.
So it can be done again on the edge of the city?...
GuyB
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GuyB 1/22/2014 3:58pm
1/22/2014 3:58pm
Big Lenny wrote:
So it can be done again on the edge of the city?...
...oh, and zoning.

All you need is someone willing to take the risk.

Pit Row

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BAMX
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BAMX 1/22/2014 4:02pm
1/22/2014 4:02pm
It seems like they can be done but the upfront costs would doom the track unless it was packed on a regular basis. The reason most tracks are run down is because that is their financial reality.
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 1/22/2014 4:55pm
1/22/2014 4:55pm
I think it would boost bike sales too, like I said there's alot of Cats around here that never make it to the track, I don't think making money would be an issue IMO once they get rollin'...
ihatemotocross 1/22/2014 5:45pm
1/22/2014 5:45pm
The MX track business seems to be a labor of love more so than one of profit


Bigger facilities make $$ off having pro-shops, lodging/camping and holding one off events like Tough Mudders and things like that.
jmx411
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jmx411 1/22/2014 6:16pm
1/22/2014 6:16pm
Only way it would work is turn big old empty buildings into supercross or arenacross track. Which would be cool
kstyle
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kstyle 1/22/2014 8:33pm
1/22/2014 8:33pm
GuyB wrote:
Noise, dust, and liability.
Spot on Guy B. Add in environmental impact. City engineers are wayyy more concerned about erosion, quality of dirt and impact on land when you are in the middle of the city. Like ours, strict city by laws also restrict opening/closing times, traffic flow and other absurd things you only learn about when running a track in the middle of the city.
Big Lenny
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Big Lenny 1/22/2014 8:56pm
1/22/2014 8:56pm Edited Date/Time 1/22/2014 8:56pm
GuyB wrote:
Noise, dust, and liability.
kstyle wrote:
Spot on Guy B. Add in environmental impact. City engineers are wayyy more concerned about erosion, quality of dirt and impact on land when you are...
Spot on Guy B. Add in environmental impact. City engineers are wayyy more concerned about erosion, quality of dirt and impact on land when you are in the middle of the city. Like ours, strict city by laws also restrict opening/closing times, traffic flow and other absurd things you only learn about when running a track in the middle of the city.
No, I worded it wrong,.. on the edge of the city...
xxxFRIOxxx
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xxxFRIOxxx 1/22/2014 9:14pm
1/22/2014 9:14pm
I think Ralph at 408mx.com has the right idea, every town/city has fairgrounds. Although the rent is high, I use to shell out the 25$ on Tues and occasional Thurs. Just plugging Ralph because he bought the place a few years ago, he is cool and I didn't have to drive 45 min out of town to ride.
RandyS
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RandyS 1/22/2014 9:41pm
1/22/2014 9:41pm
whiskeythrottle101 1/22/2014 10:07pm
1/22/2014 10:07pm Edited Date/Time 1/22/2014 10:29pm
Big Lenny wrote:
Driving around LA you see very large lots that can easily be made into practice tracks right in the city..They sell all these bikes to us...
Driving around LA you see very large lots that can easily be made into practice tracks right in the city..They sell all these bikes to us but you have to go at least 60-100 miles to ride them makes no sense...
I was hoping that Irwindale Speedway would build a motocross track. How about building a track in one of those gravel pits in Irwindale where they planned to build the football stadium.

Maybe you should buy a speedway bike and race at Industry Hills.

I drove 2 hours to The Ranch this weekend and it was spectacular. Well worth the drive. It's so peaceful out there..no city noise...and the view of the valley from the pits is beautiful. No city track could match The Ranch.

Sometimes you need to get the hell out of the city and take that 2 hour drive and camp for two days. I love to go camping in Gorman and it's only 1 hour from los angeles.
OW38B
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OW38B 1/23/2014 10:24am
1/23/2014 10:24am Edited Date/Time 1/23/2014 10:24am
About 10 years ago they were trying to get a MX facility going in Burbank area.

"It started out slow and then fizzled out all together......"

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