Should the AMA Outdoor National come back to Glen Helen?

Scanning this thread got me to thinking. 

Every form of motorsports leaves classic tracks behind in search of others.

F1, nascar, IndyCar, sports car/endurance racing, all have left great venues.

Sucks.

Don't hold back....tell us how you really feel........

I went to two of the races when I lived out there a few years back,...one of the best tracks in existance. The ups and downs and that bad ass jump on the far side....the best part to me were the fans,.....super chill, very cool, not idiots. Complete opposite of Red Bud and Unadilla,...bring it back, ill fly out for it!

This is absurd if true. The fuq kind of “facilities” are used the day of the National at Pala that would be be superior to GH. Crazy!  

This is not true. 

It just wouldn’t be the off season without a “bring back Glen Helen” thread…

A simple refresher: Bud Feldcamp walked away (both times) from renewal contracts to host a national at his track.

Each time, and within a few years of walking away, he, or his staff, seem to regret that decision and come back to the table. Both times the race went away, it was his choice to not renew, and the contract that he rejected was nothing out of the ordinary. I don’t think there was any facility investment requirement at all - although it was hoped he would continue to spruce up the facility, some of which is undeniably tired.

Worth noting is that none of the other national tracks have these reoccurring issues, and with several being around for over 50 years! And from my viewpoint, no other track in the history of American Motocross has played these games (yes Southwick went away and came back, but that was a different set of circumstances altogether). So what’s the variable? 

The first time it went away, Bud replaced it with MXGP. That didn’t work - and in doing so, it also seems to have burned a MXoN bridge as well. When discussions to bring back the GH race came back sometime around ~2015, Tom White, (RIP), was able to be the main conduit in the discussions, and was able to get the race back. Tom knew what he was doing, and and all was good as long as he was involved. But as soon as he very sadly passed (side note - what an amazing guy he was), and for lack of a better phrase, Bud lost his safety buffer. Ultimately, Feldcamp made the decision to not renew his contract for whatever year it was (2019?) and simply walked away, much like a kid who doesnt like to share his sandbox.

Unless some sort of sensible buffer can come in and manage contract discussions, as well as the day to day management leading up and during the event (for the track), I doubt a national return anytime soon.

I think the old saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us” comes into play at this point.  

I can't believe this is in yet another thread.  The story has been told a dozen times if you search.  Even Troy Lee and Peyton tried to get GH to play nice and they just won't.  The track is great, but they are incredibly hard to work with apparently.

This was never an issue when it was the NPG (National Promotors Group).

The AMA "whored" themselves out and "sold" the Nationals to the Daytona dudes and they in turn sold it to MxSports.

Just another day for AMA motocross and for that matter AMA Supercross. 

There were many of the same issues between AMA Pro Racing/AMA and GH in play before 2009, when the track operators collaborated through NPG.  

In fairness, I don't think any of the NPG track owners were happy about the AMA Pro Racing department when the AMA owned it, it was such a cluster the fighting between those groups and AMA Pro Racing was dropping the ball badly by 2008.

I concur.

The AMA is/was a big part of the problem. They always seem to go One step forward and then two steps back.

Never had a problem with fans at any Nationals. Maybe it's you

I’d unclog a truck stop toilet with my bare hand while drinking a bud light if that got Pala off the circuit.  

I am a Varner thread away from vital off-season bingo

I always wondered this, I watched RV his last year as an AM at Lake Whitney absolutely destroy everyone in 250B I believe it was, I wanna say he lapped up to 2nd or 3rd. Iirc it was 05. I never got to ride or race there unfortunately but the dirt looked absolutely perfect. 
 

Mosier I got to ride/race one time back in ‘02. Was my first day on a 65 learning the clutch. I hated it but remembering the track “the hill” man it was fun. Wish that place was still around. 
 

i live in Royse City on the east side of Dallas so thankfully I have Swan close by. Driving across the metroplex to go ride at some of the other semi-local tracks.

really wish Mosier and Lake Whitney were still around those tracks were special.

Glen Helen needs new ownership for a myriad of reasons. 

There used to be an absolute uniqueness to the sport whereby promotors worked under (much) looser parameters, yet the races still ran. legends were born & heroes emerged. It wasn't always perfect but the job was complete.  Our sport will always be niche and that is OK.   NPG/AMA then onto Daytona/MXSports have led to over polished, 1 day events (2 days was 10X better for core fans), promotors having to adhere to crazy new guidelines (one lap around Unadilla, easy to see - filled in start straight/manmade obstacles on what once was the premier outdoor circuit ever), Moto Tees and vending lockdown  etc etc.  Good on GH for standing their ground. They have the premier MX track on the west coast hands down.   It is beyond clear that the get in/get out,our way or the highway,  everything about $$$$$ grab is and has been in full force since MXSports took over.  Pala being on the schedule proves this beyond a reasonable doubt.  Track looks like an excellent practice and local race facility.  Has no business being on the national circuit

Wouldn't mind seeing it come back. For viewing it is one of the best. And it is an iconic track with those unique hills. Hopefully they can get some new blood involved on each side. More grandstands would not hurt either.

I like riding at Pala but the viewing is terrible. I don't even bother going any more. Staring at someone's back with the occasional glimpse of a bike is not my idea of a good time.

A fav shot (not mine) of the track - 

Always thought how cool a sky launch with the bikes sailing across the flag (pole) at the top the hill would have been.