06/23/2007  by Rod Cowell

What's going on with USA Speedway? It's like Bill went on vacation, when speedway needs leadership the most. I'm really disappointed in USA Speedway and the AMA's involvement in speedway, especially in the Mid-West. They have done more harm than good and we had to pay them to do it. It's like the AMA does not want Speedway to exist. They were at the helm in the 80's when Speedway declined to near extinction. They have done nothing for the majority of riders (except run many of them off) and I'm sure very little for the promoters. The marginal success and growth, seen on the west cost, is in spite of the AMA, USA Speedway involvement. I'm already hearing rumblings of disappointment from west coast speedway supporters. I do not believe Speedways lack of success is poor management on their part, they are much to smart and experienced. I think things are going as planed for them. They will never make big money off of speedway. Real speedway events run for 2 - 2.5 hrs (to attract spectators) so the back gate will always be limited. As speedway grows more popular, as it did in the Seventies, It will attract riders from other disciplines of motorcycling and take away from there back gate and popularity. The Mid-West has been a test ground to try and increase the back gate. The AMA, USA Speedway has condoned or endorsed running flat trackers (and all their related classes), and four wheelers on the programs. Needles to say the crowds that were growing are now gone, our most successful track is closed and most of the riders have gone on to other things.

With the AMA, USA Speedway it seems to be about the money not the sport.
What speedway needs is a strong not for profit riders union. (like the old SRA)
Just my thoughts as I set here with 5 speedway bikes in the garage and know place to ride.
The few races left are AMA, USA SPEEDWAY. and as you might guess I'm am not currently supporting them. Supporting them seems to be supporting the demise of speedway again.
Rod Cowell

 

03/25/2007  by Rod Cowell

I'm really concerned about USA Speedway's statement that, the Mid West speedway scene  is unique, (they call it Nontraditional)  and different from the rest of the world. Because the current Mid West promoters don't really know or care how to promote speedway is not a reason to change things. We have lost what makes speedway unique. The fans will never come back until they are presented with a true professional speedway program. USA Speedway should encourage this, not support the current demise of speedway in the Mid West.  I believe this is a paragraph that should have been left out of there last news letter. LINK TO NEWS LETTER (page 17). We would be better off if both Mid West promoters walked away from the sport and opened the door for someone with a true understanding or desire to learn the formula  to run a speedway program. The sanctioning body should not change our sport to meet the needs of a couple of promoters who only care about how they can make money from the riders. Bring back the fans, bring back the level of professionalism from the riders. Then and only then will we be able to send our top riders and compete with the best at the US Nationals. By now I'm sure, even the riders that have kept  quite and watched speedway fade away just so they could have a place to ride their speedway bikes, see the total demise around the corner unless things change soon.  One of the Mid West Tracks is bragging about all the truck loads of dirt they are hauling to the Moto Cross Track. Good for the Motocross kids. This same track claims it is to expensive to haul a new surface to a 1/8 mile oval, that has needed it for 3 years. I wonder who is financing the new Moto Cross Track. Could it be the guys and gals that go round and round on the 1/8 mile? If there is anyone in the speedway community I haven't pissed off with this post. let me know, because we are all in this together and are all responsible for the current state of Mid West Speedway.

 

This site is not International or even National in scope. It is directed toward the riders in the Mid-West.

I started this web site to give speedway in the Midwest a little recognition.  After Jon Ard left the sport, it left a tremendous void in the publicity department (and many other areas too).  Which still remain today. This site originally focused on any and all aspects of speedway in the Midwest.  It had a forum with sections for Indy,  the riders and a for sale section.  When Valpo opened,  the forum added a section for them also. The forum was going along fine, we were all communicating and things looked bright. There were some heated discussions as the riders realized  that speedway, after Jon Ard, was going in a different direction and being guided by forces that didn't have a clue about speedway. Two things happened that changed the direction of this site. (It is now, and has been for some time, geared towards Speedway Riders.)  #1 After a few failed attempts at a web site by Indy, Jim Terchila stepped up and developed a good web site that is updated on a regular basis.  #2 Lets just say the other promoter in Indiana, made it clear his intentions lean towards controlling  speedway not helping build it.  Indy has focused on the back gate for their revenue and opened the doors for all types of competition.

Most of the riders that fought for speedway have found other things to do with their time. The few that are left are being replaced by four wheelers one by one. Sure you will always have a few dedicated souls that will show  up with a speedway bike just for the thrill of riding one, but speedway as a competitive sport, can not compete with the other forms of racing, in a BACK GATE environment. Speedway is a very unique discipline in the world of  motorcycling. It needs to be guided by a force that understands what speedway is and is passionate about it. This guiding force needs to have an understanding of the history and traditions of the sport in order to guide it into the future.

I think one of the misconceptions about this site is that it is being negative and critical of Midwest speedway. Not so. This site is trying to help speedway get back on track. It's not trying to control or divide speedway, it's trying to get the promoters and riders to work together. But first we need to be honest about the state of affairs.

The riders need to unite and communicate with the promoters. The riders need to understand the promoter at Indy is not the bad guy. Dean Knipp has done what he was asked to do by Brian Gains. That's to get Indy back on it's feet after the previous  promoter made a shambles of the track. Can't remember his name I'll call him Blondie. Blondie almost single handedly took down the whole facility.  Dean now has control of the track and continues to explore ways to make the track profitable. I don't ever remember Dean trying to take over speedway. Control over our sport was thrust upon him by us, the riders. That may have worked for speedway with Jon Ard, but Dean doesn't have a background with speedway. I believe Dean cares about speedway but he is not passionate about it. Dean needs his revenue from the back gate. He doesn't care if it comes from speedway riders, flat trackers or four wheelers. We need to understand that, and without fans to support speedway, our clout is only as big as the back gate we generate minus the purse we take home. Dean has always listened  to ideas on how to improve the program. As a group, we need to communicate to the promoters ways to improve our show while trying to improve the revenue for the track.

As speedway riders, we can't depend on others to guide speedway. Promoters and sanctioning bodies come and go. The riders are the one constant that needs to guide speedway into the future. We can work with the current promoters. We've worked with the past promoters and will work with the future promoters. Same goes for the sanctioning bodies.

This article contains my thoughts, it's not written in stone and I might be off base on a few points. You might have some better ideas or improve on my ideas. I just want to get back to racing speedway and I miss a lot of the guys that have recently stopped racing. I got back into speedway after a 28 yr. layoff  because after talking to Jon Ard and hearing his dream and seeing his enthusiasm I couldn't help myself. I brought my old 2 valve back to Indiana from New Mexico. I got it running and went up to Indy and entered in 3rd Div. with 12 other guys and finished 2nd to Barry Benkert, Jr. I was rehooked. Unfortunately that was one of the last races Jon promoted at Indy. Even though Speedway is still a part of the program, it has  been demoted to just another class of racers, and not been promoted since Jon left and the track has not seen any major updates to improve the speedway racing surface.

Good luck to you all.

Rod Cowell #19

             Fantasy Program by Rod                                                 Jon Ard Program "03                

                 

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Open Letter to Midwest Speedway Riders
 
It's time to take a long hard look at the state of affairs of speedway in our area. Ask yourself, is there a bright future for speedway? Do you believe the future of Midwest speedway is in good hands? If you answered yes then read no further. Things are good for you. But if you answered no, HELL NO, or I'm not sure, then read on. This is not meant to bash anyone or any organization. But to explore some realistic options to salvage speedway before it becomes something we don't even recognize. I believe for speedway to go forward it is going to have to be guided by a non-profit group of speedway riders. As in Mid-West Speedway Racers Association. (MSRA)? Do you really see the AMA or USA Speedway ever doing anything for the Mid-West Speedway scene? What have they done for you lately? Besides collect your money to help out the riders racing in Europe. Don't get me wrong, I support these guy 100%. But is that really helping us here in the Mid-west?  As a riders organization wouldn't we want what is best for speedway? We would want the promoters to be successful, wouldn't we? Because they are an important  part of speedway. We can work with USA Speedway if we decide they can enhance and benefit our program  We would also make sure the fans had a great time and got their money's worth and more. We would also make sure that riders were compensated for their entertainment value. That's every rider, every time he performs. As Speedway riders we need to join together for the good of speedway. Promoters in our area have their own agendas, as does the sanctioning bodies. They are concerned with their bottom lines, as they should be. We need more input on controlling the show. We need to classify the riders, set purses, approve track conditions, have a say about safety issues and who races with us as support. If scratch, Handicap, match or team racing works we need to make sure we have the right program or mix it up, whatever works for the fans. The current promoters main concern is the back gate or selling bikes. The current promoters would love to see anyone who ever lived in the world of real speedway to just go away, so they can make speedway their own. As a group we can change that. We have what is probably the most exciting show on two wheels. If we collectively presented this show as a package to the promoters, it would make it easier and more inviting for promoters that wanted to make some money and share the profits with the riders it could be a win, win situation. More tracks will spring up at fair grounds and go kart tracks, etc. The MSRA? would make it easy for new promoters to have a quality speedway show without having to figure out what speedway is really about. The prompters would have time to do their job, which is promote, fill the stands and make sure the fans are comfortable. We will make sure they are entertained.
Think about it.
Rod Cowell #19 
Check this out from a track in Cleveland from the 70's    with inflation where should we be now?
 

 

  

What is Speedway?

There are three basic elements to a speedway show. 1 The Riders. 2 The Fans & 3 The Track (promoter, concessions, track workers, etc.) These three groups must work as a team to make a speedway show successful.

To me, speedway is all centered around the track. It is the stage where the riders perform. The fans are seated around the track and focus on it for there entertainment. The promoter provides a track so the riders can perform in a manner that entertains the fans.

 *  The riders or performers *

This is a special breed of motorcycle racer. It is more than just winning a race to these guys. It is about the show, the fans appreciation during and after the races. A speedway rider is a bit of a Prima-Donna. He is a showman and requires a professional attitude. I believe all speedway racers that pull up to a starting line should be doing it for money. Not just the four that make the main. Just because the AMA says were sportsman does not make it so. It is about pitting there skills (not just speed) against other riders and the track. They ride arguable the most specialized bikes in the world. They must be ridden in a very specialized way on a very special surface, one that allows them to slide under different weather conditions.

*  The fans or supporters *

Speedway fans are also a special breed. They like there adrenalin to hit hard from the release of the first gate until the wave of checker in the last main. They do not like it diluted with slow moving or boring races. Have you ever heard the term ,Speedway is a rush? They want to be entertained, they want to visit the riders while calming  down before they leave the track while still excited about the last 2-3 hours.   For intermission while eating there burgers and hot dogs and drinking a cold

 

 

beverage with track surface at the bottom they want to see a match race that gets them involved and excited about the outcome. It is really simple fans do not ask for much, 2 hours of an adrenalin rush, it is quit addictive you know. And it is healthy entertainment.

*  The Track *

I think most of us know that the promoter is the hart of the track. He organizes the event and brings the team together. The job of promoting is a tough one. Its take a lot of business sense, organizational skills and the ability to delegate duties. He needs a broad view and understanding of all the elements of a speedway show. He needs to provide a stage for the performers to but on a show. He needs to stroke the egos and motivate the showmen. He also has to get the word out and entice  the paying fans to attend  this great family entertainment. In this day and age with expenses the way they are he must also be creative to get the word out.

In a nut shell. Great track = great show = Large fan base = lots of prize money and profit for the track.

Any thing less and all you have is a bunch of riders going around in a circle for hours and hours, empty seats and a promoter that feels unappreciated. 

Let us all do our part and work together. It is not always easy to do things right, but that is what it takes to make things work.

This is just my point of view if someone can explain how  mixing speedway and flat track and pee-wees and powder puffs and four wheelers and etc. on a clay track with little equipment to prepare it with and virtually know promotion is a key to success please do so.

Rod Cowell