[IndyBound]

DO YOUR PART!

Is your favorite speedway closing soon?

In the '50's and '60's, traffic often backed up for miles as fans headed for Saturday night races at the quarter-mile Pines Speedway near where I live. As time went on, for many reasons the crowds became smaller and as they did, the track fell into despair. It closed over 20 years ago. More people showed up on the property for a recent reunion
than attended some of the final races at the Pines.

People who packed stands during those glory days would never imagine what has happend to the place. If they could talk to some of today's track operators they'd understand how difficult keeping a short track alive has become and how trecherous an enterprise operating a speedway can be.

In the '50's and '60's, a guy could earn a living racing three or four nights each week, even after paying all of the expenses of his race operations with nothing but prize money. Sponsors or personal wealth keep todays racers financially fit because it cost more to race than a guy (or gal) can win.

Plenty is being done to cut racers' costs. But, not much is happening
to benefit track operators who are struggling to break even running weekly or lower level tour events.

These are the hardest of timesfor many of America's short track operators. In today's America, local speedways compete with so much other entertainment, putting butts on the boards is more challenging now than ever before.

In California, Cajon Speedway didn't open for racing in '05. Mesa Marin, Watsonville and Kings Speedways closed potentially for good, at the end of the '05 season. In Pennsylvania, the once strong Big Diamond Speedway cancelled it's year-end super show and track operators announced that they were throwing in the towel. In New York, Chemung and Shangri-La concluded operations. In Nebraska, the owner/operator of Eagle Raceway decided to not continue. In August Florida's Hialeah Speedway closed after 51 years.

Track operator all over America have told me how tough it is out there.
To fix a problem, it's first necessary to realize there is a problem. Houston, we have a problem.

The biggest issue local-level racers face today is not the the high cost of engines, gear rules, or their tire bill. It's that the track where they (you?) race may not be around much longer. The brutal reality is that your local track just might become a shopping mall or a condo complex. It could happen in 2006 (07, 08 ....?)

I'm not ready to give up on track operators even though they have for decades been their own worst enemies. I explain to them that the current fad of building the back gate while ignoring the show produces an inevitable and well documented downward economic spiral. In speeches at track operator conventions, in one on one conversations and in these pages I've complained to them about draggy shows, too many classes, announcers who don't know what is going on, inaudible PA systems, and the rest of what needs to be fixed.

I'm doing my best, but I need you to help.

First and most important, if you're a racer, air your tracks dirty laundry in private. An especially sore point are web site postings that attack local tracks. Irwindale, California track manager Bob DeFazio had told his competitors that ulgy postings can cost them sponsors.

It's winter, car show time. When your track needs cars for a show, do your part and participate. Help promote your speedway.

It'll be tempting to draw a yellow when you want one next summer, but given fans' lack of tolerance for delays it's better to sacifice your night for the greater good.

When they call your division to line up, roll that machine because fans won't tolerate delay.

Understand this: the special interest of any individual competitor are less important than the interests of the fans in the stands. The fans are more important than you because without them the party ends. The party can go on without even the track's champion.

So, the most important job of every local level racer is to helo keep their track open. That means ending the war with the promoter. Join him/her in the effort to make the speedway a viable business.

We are in this together. We need to help keep race tracks racing. Neither you nor I need another shopping mall or property that was once a speedway.

Dick Berggren

My reasons for sharing this:

1. Felt this was a well wrote article that applies to todays state of auto racing even more than when it was wrote several years ago. All divisions, all parts of the country are effected.

2. I learned yesterday that Jennerstown Speedway in Pa. has cancelled the upcoming July 5th ISMA supermodified race due to financial state of the race track. They hope to have ISMA back next year.

3. I personally question how long before Oswego Speedway in N. Y. will become a shopping center or housing complex. They ran a special show to start their season, good crowd and car count, the next week was their regular opener, 13 supers in the pits, 11 started the feature, 400 people were reported in the stands. Last week the races were cancelled before 8 A. M. on Saturday morning, it cleared an they probably could have run. To see this track disappear will saded me more than any thing, it was always my home track before going to Az.

4. Indiana seems to have both good car counts and crowds at your short tracks, keep supporting your local track.

Patti

[cecil98]

Hey Indybound, are you talking about the Pines Speedway up in New England? I went there often as a youngster. My Uncle and cousins lived in a northern suburb of Boston and I vacationed up there in the summers. We used to go to Pines and later, Star Speedway. Used to watch a guy by the name of Ollie Silva at the Pines (1960's).

[IndyBound]

Originally Posted by cecil98 Hey Indybound, are you talking about the Pines Speedway up in New England? I went there often as a youngster. My Uncle and cousins lived in a northern suburb of Boston and I vacationed up there in the summers. We used to go to Pines and later, Star Speedway. Used to watch a guy by the name of Ollie Silva at the Pines (1960's).

Yes cecil, Dick was talking about the Pines Speedway in New England. Dick Berggren is from Ipswich, Ma.. I never made it to the Pines Speedway but, have made more trips to Star & Lee Speedways in N. H. than I can count. Ollie Silva was a great racer in his day.

Patti

[cecil98]

I appreciate the memory jog! I had kinda forgotten about those days!

[grinch]

cecil....try this website for old time sake......thepinesspeedway.com enjoy

[cecil98]

Thank you, Grinch!!!!

[IndyBound]

Grinch, WoW!!!! I took a trip down memory lane on the Pines Speedway website, it was great. I forgot how many people I have known over the years that raced there, yourself, Bently Warren, Gene Trask, Jim Cheney, Howard Brown, Paul Richardson, Charlie & Art Rousseau, Ed West, Don McLaren, and Red Sequin.

How is the retoration on your car coming?

Looking at all of that history from the Pines Speedway website just made Dick Berggren's article come to life. Let's hope that no historic race track running today is lost to todays current economy.

Patti