What Happened To The Broome-Tioga National?

Comeback? 

This came across my Gram feed today. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DeF2l56Nm2v/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&st…

Someone get Phil on the horn

Tornado did some damage to that place as well. The layout was cool but if the rocks are that visible via pictures video, they're a nightmare in person.

The Skutniks did a great job when they had the place. Tommy Hurd bought it from them in the 1990's or so, and it seemed like he didnt want to invest too much money into it.  In 2006 (or so), the AMA wanted to expand the foot print for the nationals but were contractually obliged to only have 12 races. With Broome being so close to Unadilla, it didnt make sense having two races so close to each other. The AMA basically struck / forced a deal between Tommy Hurd and the Miller family in Texas who owned Freestone. 

I think Hurd sold his "rights" for the national for around 3mm, or so, and thus he made it out pretty well on the loss of the race. I dont know that for a fact, but that was the number I heard at the time. Then a few years later there were some tax issues and the property almost was seized or went to auction, I dont remember.  

But I am just glad its still there.  It needed alot of work, but i think the new owners are investing some money into it?

And it was Scott Sheak who lit the pond on fire in 1992.   

I raced Brooke-Tioga many times as a kid..

I remember A LOT of rocks…

Crazy how they wanted more nationals and held it to 12 but now in 2026 we only get 11. The older I get the more I enjoy watching the outdoors over sx.

The new owner of Broome has making improvements and investing in the property. Based on his actions so far, he seems to understand that it’s a rehab process and not an overnight success. On social media, he’s been very transparent with the shortcomings and visions of where he sees it. If you follow Broome on Facebook, they’ve built a new track across the road for a vet track and the main track is going to be reverted back to the 2004 national layout and opening back up the national hill. Excited to see what the finished product will be either way

The new owners just opened a newly built track across the street they call Broome South. They are also restoring the 2004 national track and putting in a lot of work to the place, which is awesome because the layout used to be super fun with the national hills. The layout and rocks were incredibly bad the last handful of years so hopefully it comes back to being a premier track in the northeast. 

I can remember racing there in 1983 on a KX80 in the NEMA/MAMA challenge race and seeing nothing but blue sky when climbing the uphill sections, man were they steep. Apparently the rock situation got real bad toward the end and they tried many different approaches to remedy it, all to no avail.

I loved that track. Some great memories.  RC and Stewart skimmed those whoops by the road in practice one time.  I wish I had been closer to it but it was crazy to see from across the track.  It was one of my favorite tracks to take photos at.   

There was a rut that would develop about mid moto and Windham would drag his bars if he caught it at just the right time. They flattened it for the start of each moto  so it always developed around the same point and then started to be too deep to drag the bars on.  Even though this photo is not very good. I love how he is so close to dragging his bars. The lap before and lap after it wasn't as good. But almost every time he was out on the    track , 15 or so minutes into the session he would rail this that rut as it redeveloped.

Reinvest in it. Make it a national again or possibly an SMX Playoff round???

I miss that track. Had some good times there.  Helping friends get to the National, going to the go kart track  on the days that got rained out.  One of my friends dads was into eating exotic meats and he had given us what I thought was burgers and steaks and some pork chops. Turned out to be Bear , and I still have no idea what the others were.  Jimmy Decotis was doing the am day and pitted way across from us and he and his friends were starving and had run out of food. I gave them the meat and they were so thank full and told me that it was some of the best they had ever had. Jimmy's mechanic at the time got their funmover stuck in the mud and ripped the front bumper off of it when they pulled it out.  I think he was fired after that. If not right after it was very soon after. And Broome was one of the first races he went to with Jimmy.  Jimmy was still on an 85 at that time.  And funny thing, his Mechinic would end up becoming a truck driver years later and get fired for taking a detour to look at the Broome track with a buddy that was traveling with him.  So that place was bad luck for him. 

So many great memories and fun times.  

I don't know if there is enough space there. But the shape of the hillside  could make for a great spectating area and it would be so cool to have an SMX round on the east coast. 

I think the dirt is pretty rocky now though so it might not work out that well without a lot of fresh dirt.  I like that idea though. Stel city would be another National track that could work for SMX with the big hillside they had there too. But its no longer a track so it might be harder to do.  Lighting on a national track can be tricky though. 

 I would love to see an SMX round on the east coast though.  Would be cool if they could do an east coast, mid and west coast. And work their way from north to south or south to north. Find venues that  would near the same places that do well for MX or SX race attendances and give them an SMX round.  

He was. RC was my favorite rider forever but he is a little bitch in reality. He might be the worst commentator in history too. Needs to walk away and go spend time with his wife and kids.