Question:
How do tracks that are only open maybe a hand-full of times during the riding season stay open? Tracks that are club based around me might only hold 1 or 2 races and practices during the year. Also tracks such as Ironman raceway who are only open for major races and sit dormant most of the year always make me wonder how they manage to keep the property. I can't imagine there are enough club members to pay for the property taxes at some of these places. Even large tracks like Red Bud hold quite a few races and practices throughout the year outside of the major amatuer and pro nationals. Any insight? Seems like a waste of property to only let these types of tracks be open so few days out of the year. I know there are a few tracks I would go to more regularly if they were actually open more than once per year.
Most club tracks are designed to be a money making business. I believe most are non-profits. Hold enough events to pay the bills and be there for the members to use. I'm not sure how tracks like Ironman do it. Possibly a write off for a larger business.
Limited schedule tracks are a huge issue in MN and its really frustrating, especially with how short our riding season is already. Meadow Valley is the only one that is consistently open but its in the southern part of the state so a lot of the riders could only ride there on a Saturday/Sunday anyways.
I think only two district tracks in the state do any practices during the week and they cancel those as often as they hold them. Most of the district tracks only have a Saturday practice on a race weekend and besides that they are just closed.
Cycle Ranch MX in Floresville, Texas is open every single day, with lots of racing through out the year. They are working on getting an AM National out there soon.
Ironman has two GNCC's and a mx national, I have no idea what revenue those three generate but I'd imagine quite a bit.
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Yeah so does High Point or at least across the street from High point. GNCC races bring in a ton of money from just gate fees alone but certainly a little more work and fixing of property from so many vehicles and bikes in general in the pits and on the property.
95% sure tom’s marine(ironman landowners) have the land paid for. they’re main income is farming anyway.
Yeah that was my understanding that someone else owns the farm and let Jeff Russell build a trail to hold the Ironman GNCC. Somewhere along the way DC took a look at the property and said hey do you mind if we build an MX track over there and hold a national? The property owner does not rely on the tracks for income. I may have butchered that narrative, but it's something like that.
I own a track and host limited practices and AMA races. I would love to be open every day and be at the track. I think people underestimate the amount of work that goes into prep that is expected. I’ve put 8 hours of work in and had a handful of people show up. Ive also tried being open with minimal prep and received complaints. The practice income does not make enough to take time off my regular job. Not to mention the liability with the way insurance companies are.
Ironman is owned by Mx sports. Edit: looks like I may be incorrect here. I could of sworn MxSports owned one of the national tracks I thought it was Ironman
I thought the AMA was supposed to help with stuff like this.
If any facility wants AMA affiliation in any way, they should beholden to a certain number of minimum practice days per year.
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