Ponca City national moving

kzizok
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kzizok
Edited Date/Time 1/26/2012 9:04pm
I heard a rumor today that a new contract for NMA's Ponca City national race will be moved starting this year to a facility in Norman, OK. I know it sounds crazy but I would not have posted this without confirming with reliable sources.
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TripleFive 12/9/2011 10:39am
12/9/2011 10:39am
That would be very unfortunate. I'm sure the city of Ponca is lobbying hard against this, that race means a lot to that town.
kzizok
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kzizok 12/9/2011 10:59am
12/9/2011 10:59am
TripleFive wrote:
That would be very unfortunate. I'm sure the city of Ponca is lobbying hard against this, that race means a lot to that town.
My understanding was that Ponca did not try hard to re-up this time around. Surprising, I know, because that race brings a lot to that town.

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dboivin
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dboivin 12/9/2011 11:09am
12/9/2011 11:09am
i got a lot of miles in that town on a moped...lol
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kzizok 12/9/2011 1:49pm
12/9/2011 1:49pm
No longer a rumor. It is a done deal.
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Spinner 12/9/2011 2:51pm
12/9/2011 2:51pm
How much influence does Kawasaki have in the deal?
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dak446 12/9/2011 3:00pm
12/9/2011 3:00pm
So what's it called now? The Norman National? That sounds...wrong
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motokawi818 12/9/2011 3:08pm
12/9/2011 3:08pm
Nooooooo!!! I wont be able to see dream girl at water park anymore. :,(
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kyle450rider 12/9/2011 4:05pm
12/9/2011 4:05pm
Thats surprising that its moving since its been in ponca for so long. What people don't know is that the city doesn't do squat with that track when the national isn't in town.
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Hank_Thrill 12/9/2011 4:11pm
12/9/2011 4:11pm
Awesome, that's only an hour away from my house so I might go and watch. I haven't ridden the Norman track. I hear it is rough, but that was back when it first opened. It's an awesome facility, and should be easy for people to find.
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newmann 12/9/2011 4:13pm
12/9/2011 4:13pm
Anything to do with the deaths of riders?
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jmar 12/9/2011 4:15pm
12/9/2011 4:15pm
It's all about the infrastructure. Hotels, restaurants etc.

Now if the outdoor nats would take notice.
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yzmatt 12/9/2011 4:40pm
12/9/2011 4:40pm
Oh man, what a bummer to hear. Ponca is my home town. :-(
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lostboy819 12/9/2011 4:45pm
12/9/2011 4:45pm
jmar wrote:
It's all about the infrastructure. Hotels, restaurants etc.

Now if the outdoor nats would take notice.
Wrong as usual Jim. But dont let that stop you.
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lostboy819 12/9/2011 4:50pm
12/9/2011 4:50pm
newmann wrote:
Anything to do with the deaths of riders?
Not rider deaths but when Jack Blevins died so did a lot of the handshake and wink deals, now that he is gone all of the deals are above table . Jack did a hell of a lot for the race but now everything is out in the open and even though the NMA race is gone don't be surprised if another big race happenes there.
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stackman17 12/9/2011 9:00pm
12/9/2011 9:00pm
Ponca was to be our National this year since the neither the Freestone nor the Oakhill race fall on our spring break. I was curious why the nma websight had not posted anything for next years race yet. Now, I know. Thanks, see you in Norman?

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bigborefan 12/9/2011 9:08pm
12/9/2011 9:08pm Edited Date/Time 12/9/2011 9:09pm
jmar wrote:
It's all about the infrastructure. Hotels, restaurants etc.

Now if the outdoor nats would take notice.
F&*K infrastructure, MX is supposed out be out in the boonies, sleep in the truck or in a tent. This sport is getting so watered down these days. And Loretta Lynns is not exactly in suburbia.

What is the story on the Norman track? Sand track down by the river? That would be nice.
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kzizok 12/10/2011 11:08am
12/10/2011 11:08am Edited Date/Time 12/10/2011 11:11am
jmar wrote:
It's all about the infrastructure. Hotels, restaurants etc.

Now if the outdoor nats would take notice.
bigborefan wrote:
F&*K infrastructure, MX is supposed out be out in the boonies, sleep in the truck or in a tent. This sport is getting so watered down...
F&*K infrastructure, MX is supposed out be out in the boonies, sleep in the truck or in a tent. This sport is getting so watered down these days. And Loretta Lynns is not exactly in suburbia.

What is the story on the Norman track? Sand track down by the river? That would be nice.
The track is right by the river. However, it is my understanding the the river is managed by the Army Coprs of engineers. Therefore, no sand to be taken from the river. The place is an excellent facility with an owner who is willing to do anything to improve the experience. The dirt was all brought in and was suspect at first but it is getting better. The facility has a karting track that holds a national event as well. The track had a lot to be desired at first but the owner is working non-stop to improve not only the track and dirt but the faclity itself. If anyone can put an amatuer national on in only 7 months it's this guy. FYI, I know Jim and he is not wrong. This track has a great infrastructure(hotels, eating establishments, casino, etc.) around it and am sure that that had influence on it's relocation.
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DL 12/10/2011 11:19am
12/10/2011 11:19am
Sure would like to see NMA go away completely and MX Sports compete for those dates and locals........ might be the start of a real amateur championship series....... Ron Henricksen is an arrogant sum bitch imho.
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PFitzG38 12/10/2011 11:31am
12/10/2011 11:31am
TripleFive wrote:
That would be very unfortunate. I'm sure the city of Ponca is lobbying hard against this, that race means a lot to that town.
Yea it does. The first year I raced it in 1978 the town had a parade where they blocked off all the streets and had all us racers just ride our bikes through town. They would all motion us to roost in thier front yard, there was footage of it in On Any Sunday 2 that my friend saw that was cut out by the time I saw it. During the week I got pulled over by the meanest looking Bueford T Justice sheriff for offroading the hell outa our second rental car in some field by the track (I blew the tranny in the first one) as soon as I told him I was here to race he was nice as could be wished me luck and drove away. This was all before the town could have known how big and long lasting the race would be. What a bummer goodbye Ponca.
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CamP 12/10/2011 11:50am
12/10/2011 11:50am
They should have moved it to Oak Hill.
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GrapeApe 12/10/2011 12:23pm
12/10/2011 12:23pm
newmann wrote:
Anything to do with the deaths of riders?
My first thought too, but it probably would have been easier to just change the first corner instead of changing venues
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lostboy819 12/10/2011 12:41pm
12/10/2011 12:41pm
I will post some details next week as things get sorted out.
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sandtl 12/10/2011 1:04pm
12/10/2011 1:04pm
DL wrote:
Sure would like to see NMA go away completely and MX Sports compete for those dates and locals........ might be the start of a real amateur...
Sure would like to see NMA go away completely and MX Sports compete for those dates and locals........ might be the start of a real amateur championship series....... Ron Henricksen is an arrogant sum bitch imho.
I would like to see MX Sports go away too. It would be nice to have a promoter that cared about the longevity of the sport and all the riders not just the RICH ones.
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lostboy819 12/10/2011 1:31pm
12/10/2011 1:31pm
newmann wrote:
Anything to do with the deaths of riders?
GrapeApe wrote:
My first thought too, but it probably would have been easier to just change the first corner instead of changing venues
Ron Hendricksen wanted it chaged back in 1982 so they would flow on to the track better but all it did was make for some high speed crashes. I liked the old left hand turn better because it slowed everyone down so much to make the turn that even if you did get a bad jump off the gate you could make it all back up in the corner.
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jmar 12/10/2011 5:02pm
12/10/2011 5:02pm
jmar wrote:
It's all about the infrastructure. Hotels, restaurants etc.

Now if the outdoor nats would take notice.
bigborefan wrote:
F&*K infrastructure, MX is supposed out be out in the boonies, sleep in the truck or in a tent. This sport is getting so watered down...
F&*K infrastructure, MX is supposed out be out in the boonies, sleep in the truck or in a tent. This sport is getting so watered down these days. And Loretta Lynns is not exactly in suburbia.

What is the story on the Norman track? Sand track down by the river? That would be nice.
The last thing armature racing is getting is "watered down". The kids are better prepared, and faster than ever. If you want to go camping, go fucking camping, but that has absolutely nothing to do with racing at the highest level of the sport.

As far as infrastructure? If you want to sport to grow, or even survive for that matter, pro level outdoor races need to be held closer to more densely populated area's where there is infrastructure. As far as Loretta's, we always stayed in Dixon, because you can only eat at Cat Fish Cabin so many times. The other few restaurants were shit holes.

Maybe you should have been a boy scout if you really are in to the camping thing.
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jmar 12/10/2011 5:09pm
12/10/2011 5:09pm
jmar wrote:
It's all about the infrastructure. Hotels, restaurants etc.

Now if the outdoor nats would take notice.
lostboy819 wrote:
Wrong as usual Jim. But dont let that stop you.
Even if that wasn't the reason, it good that the race is being moved to a place that you don't have to book a room a year in advance. OKC is just 20 mins away from Norman, and options for the rest of the family that isn't racing is plentiful.

Your local ponca guys don't have to worry about their girlfriends now. Laughing
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Hank_Thrill 12/10/2011 5:18pm
12/10/2011 5:18pm
Back in 2003 I drove by there and saw a guy on a supermoto bike running laps around the kart track. Later that night I logged in to RonRonMX.com and saw some photos John Craft had posted. Turns out it was Doug Henry. Does anybody know what John Craft is up to? I think that was his name.

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