From MXA

oldx wrote:

I don't think Jody is as important as he thinks he is. I know for a fact he is not and has never been as fast...

I don't think Jody is as important as he thinks he is. I know for a fact he is not and has never been as fast as he thinks he is or was.

RACERX69 wrote:

Un-fu$#ing believable. My opinion of DC and MX Sports has just been confirmed!!! Sounds to me as if MX Sports was intentionally trying to piss off...

Un-fu$#ing believable. My opinion of DC and MX Sports has just been confirmed!!!
Sounds to me as if MX Sports was intentionally trying to piss off Feldcamp with that 1 year contract, slap in the face. MX Sports knew Feldcamp would have no other choice than to pull out, which is ultimatley what DC and his henchmen hoped he would do. It would then allow them to get what they ultimately wanted.....a new, more TV friendly venue.

I tell you what Davey Coombs, I hope your decision along with your quest to dumb down the sport of MX, bites you squarely in the ass. Not having Glen FUCKING Helen on the outdoor schedule is equatable to the PGA dropping Augusta from the tour.

This whole thing is a travesty.
.

Pdub wrote:

Ah, yeah. The internet is merely a communication medium, it doesn't confer some magical status or "power" on those that use it. What Jody is doing...

Ah, yeah. The internet is merely a communication medium, it doesn't confer some magical status or "power" on those that use it. What Jody is doing, like many in the "mainstream motocross media" does, is insulting motocross enthusiasts who discuss the sport on bulletin boards such as this one.

"Clued in?" Hell, he's right in the middle of it all! Too bad he doesn't want to lay it all out there for us to argue over for days, instead he tells us what he wants us to know... and/or what he's free to say. That still doesn't call for insulting the people who buy the magazines and tickets...

slomoto wrote:

isnt Pala all flat? so it will become a supercross track.......lame!

2Smoke wrote:

Pala is mostly flat right now with a big step-up and a couple of small downhills. They have plenty of land out there where they could...

Pala is mostly flat right now with a big step-up and a couple of small downhills. They have plenty of land out there where they could probably put together a solid outdoor track, but the bigger issue is accessibility. it is a single lane winding country road that takes 20-25 minutes from the freeway with no traffic. it will be a nightmare trying to get all the teams and spectators to the venue and there is no way around it. unless pala wanted to fork up 10's of millions to widen the road. i'd rather sit and watch it at home then be in traffic for 4-5 hours trying to get to the track.

ML512 wrote:

They are expanding the road in plus there is the temecula route in, and they have plenty of land to work with the track for the...

They are expanding the road in plus there is the temecula route in, and they have plenty of land to work with the track for the national will be up above the main track that there already more in the hillside i bleieve adn they were claming 3min+ lap times for that track. Alost for all the whiners CHANGE HAPPENS i have gone to glen helen since i was 6 years old for the national. Will I miss it? Yes, but there are bigger and better things waiting just trust DC.

Masonry wrote:

automobile track races? Come on. That is pathetic. I just hope we aren't going in the same direction of the GP's

Crisp BRAAAP! wrote:

Finally a few people that have been there and know the area. The road won't be done this year. Stay at the hotel and gamble to...

Finally a few people that have been there and know the area. The road won't be done this year. Stay at the hotel and gamble to miss the traffic. You can walk to and from the track. It could become an outdoor version of the US Open of Supercross. It will be bigger and better.

HuskyEd wrote:

Copied from MXA: By Jody Weisel Although many people have an urge to make the story about Glen Helen dropping off of the AMA National schedule...

Copied from MXA:

By Jody Weisel

Although many people have an urge to make the story about Glen Helen dropping off of the AMA National schedule into a classic tale of good and evil—it was for the most part a business deal that didn’t work out (and, yes, there were a lot of different points of disagreement that would have had to have been worked out).

Yet, in its simplest terms, Glen Helen wanted a long-term contract before they would commit to holding another National. You can’t blame them. It is a big investment, much larger than what the cellar dwellers on the internet could ever comprehend, and without a guarantee that he will be holding a race the following year, a promoter could lose his shirt if there was a rain storm, earthquake, tornado, wind event or other crowd killing catastrophe. If you don’t believe that, ask the promoters who held AMA Nationals in 2009 during major thunderstorms. There is even one East Coast National that failed to pay the money they owed on time.

As for facility upgrades at the track: Glen Helen has added immensely to its facility in the last few years; including a two-story sign-up building (that the AMA uses at the National); there are three separate permanent restrooms at Glen Helen (one in each of the towers and the original one near the starting gate, plus Glen Helen brings in 200 port-cans on race weekend and meets all the MX Sports requirements for water bibs and porta-cans in the pits), Glen Helen also built an elevated viewing platform, separate announcer’s tower and added a second paved road into the track from the back (which comes from a massive parking lot with free parking). Glen Helen also has eight acres of flat pits and a separate, air-conditioned building for timing and scoring. Glen Helen was also the only track to comply with MX Sports’ request to build a bike washing area for all the bikes at the National (after it was built, MX Sports said that since no one else built one that it wouldn’t be used). Glen Helen was also the only race track in the USA to donate to the Danny "Magoo" Chandler Van Fund. Did everyone forget that Glen Helen opened it pits up for free in 2009? Other tracks charged up to $20 for a pit pass! Additionally, Glen Helen builds a new racetrack every year and fences it on both sides to allow the fans to get as close to the action as possible (this costs Glen Helen $50,000 and few if any tracks on the National circuit redesign their tracks every year).



What is true is that Glen Helen fought hard not to knuckle under to the AMA’s Steve Whitelock’s or MX Sports’ John Ayers’ “smooth track” concept (and every AMA National track owner should continue to fight against this stupid idea). And although harsh words were spoken every year, especially last year when John Ayers, and John Ayers alone, decided to put a Monster Arch on the landing ramp of a jump, the track was not a factor in the contract talks. Davey Coombs said on Thursday, “It had nothing to do with the track– Jody builds a very dynamic, spectacular track, and I asked him before about building some more in the future. Losing the race course itself is the most regrettable part of this development.”

So, the real issues on the demise of Glen Helen’s National program really boiled down to the length of the contract. Many other AMA National tracks had four-year deals. Glen Helen only had a deal for 2010, with no guarantee for 2011 or beyond. With another SoCal racetrack telling everyone who would listen that they were getting the Glen Helen date in 2011, it became obvious to Glen Helen owner Dr. Bud Feldkamp that MX Sports had no intention of renewing the contract after May 29th, 2010. Thus, Glen Helen pushed for a long-term deal. As an AMA National and FIM Grand Prix track (and the track that donated its use to save what was left of the ill-fated Competition Park MXDN in San Jacinto; honoring every MXDN ticket and holding the World Cup event so that teams that were stranded in America could have a race), Glen Helen felt that being the only National on the circuit not to have a long-term contract was a slap in the face.

Davey Coombs said on Thursday, in answering an email, “...for what it's worth, the one-year extension was the same one that a track in Pennsylvania got.” This is true, but actually false. MX Sports runs the track in Pennsylvania in question (Mt. Morris) and has already decided to drop Mt. Morris off the 2011 schedule because of disputes with the land owner. Thus, the one-year extension at Mt. Morris is not comparable to the one-year extension at Glen Helen.

So, when MX Sports refused to extend Glen Helen’s National contract, Glen Helen assumed that MX Sports had already committed, at least in principle, to the other track in question for 2011 (Pala).

"This was a difficult decision, but ultimately, we simply were not able to come to contractual terms with Glen Helen Raceway," said Davey Coombs. "By moving the date to September 11, we will have time to find a suitable venue. Riders, teams and fans are making travel plans now and we want them to feel secure that we will have an exceptional venue ready in Southern California. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this change."

Leading up to the eventual outcome, Glen Helen, Hangtown and Washougal sought legal counsel (together) to resolve issues with MX Sports. The Hangtown group is not a favorite of MX Sports (nor vice versa), but it is reported that they got some of what they were asking for. Washougal, on the other hand, felt that they were on the chopping block for 2011—thus, they joined with Glen Helen and Hangtown as a group. Hangtown, for its part, did not stick with the group, but instead took the MX Sports compromise deal and dropped out of their “one-for-all” agreement with the other two tracks. It wasn’t the bravura move that you would expect from the Dirt Digger MC, but it happened. As for Washougal, that deal hasn't been decided yet. But Washougal feels that its days are numbered with MX Sports (and with talk of more Nationals at automobile tracks in the future), they wanted to fight now instead of getting the axe later (and alone). Perhaps, Glen Helen dropping out will get them a contract extension. We'll see.

As Davey Coombs said, “Change is never easy. Glen Helen's decision to cancel their 2010 National over the length of their new contract is as surprising as it is disappointing. It leaves us no choice but to move forward and find a new facility in Southern California. I feel bad for the fans of Glen Helen, as well as the ones who have already made travels plans for Memorial Day weekend.”

The reason that few people heard about what was transpiring was because contract talks are private until a resolution of some kind is reached. There was always the possibility of some kind of agreement. And, if the media had reported on this issue a week ago, it would have said that Hangtown, Glen Helen and Washougal were all going to pullout of the 2010 AMA Nationals. That would have been inaccurate—because negotiation take many twists and turns. Thus, nobody involved said anything in hopes that it would all work out. It should be noted that several leaks caused rumors to spread that actually impacted the contract talks—it is obvious that the rumors tainted the opinion of Glen Helen against the true intent of MX Sports’ position.

No one conspired to ruin the sport. MX Sports and Glen Helen had a difference of opinion, and based on the available evidence, they negotiated with their ultimate goals in mind. It didn’t work out.

This is also not about a battle between MXA and Racer X. Apart from the fact that I design the Glen Helen National track and have for 15 years, MXA has nothing to do with the management of Glen Helen (although we do race there all the time). Davey and I meet often to discuss issues of interest about the Nationals (we just had lunch two months ago). I am often at odds with Davey (particularly on the smooth track concept, moto length, track length, timed qualifying and limiting pro rider entries), but we normally state our opinions, agree to meet again when he’s in town and move forward. I don’t see how either magazine benefits from the AMA National series getting a black-eye.

On a side note: It is refreshing that neither Glen Helen nor MX Sports are attempting to trash each other in their press releases. The Nationals will continue and Glen Helen will most likely find another high-profile event for their facility.

HuskyEd wrote:

Which track/area seems more suited for a National? For me, Glen Helen all the way!!

HuskyEd wrote:

I guess we'll all know the answer pretty soon when the people that ride there and post here start reporting on the heavy equipment that has...

I guess we'll all know the answer pretty soon when the people that ride there and post here start reporting on the heavy equipment that has started carving out the hillsides, etc. in preparation for "something" soon.

HuskyEd wrote:

Which track/area seems more suited for a National? For me, Glen Helen all the way!!