Something is happening across the country to short track racing and it’s not good, not good at all. In some quarters race tracks are under attack more and more from local politicians, local homeowners and the courts. It’s not rare anymore, but it is getting a bit more prevalent. And it’s scary as hell for many in the industry and if you are reading this, no matter where your interests are in dirt Late Model racing, you damn well better be either scared, or very, very concerned.
Sometimes precedence is everything.
The short track industry faces some challenging and perhaps some perilous times throughout the country. It’s happening in my home state of Ohio and it’s happening elsewhere and in some quarters short track racing is almost under siege. Back in April more than two-dozen Ohio speedway representatives gathered together in Bellville, OH to discuss the need for a statewide organization of motor sports promoters and operators.
Hosted and moderated by Eldora Speedway’s Larry Boos, the group cited the chief objective of such an organization to be “create an awareness of legislative and environmental issues that affect motor sports in the state of Ohio, and seek methods to resolve them”, with a secondary goal of “exchanging information and ideas to promote a positive presence of auto racing in the State and to strengthen the industry”.
That first objective was immediately addressed as Ernie Coffman (Wayne County Speedway), Kay Miller (Deerfield Raceway) and Tony Boetcher (35 Raceway Park) updated the assemblage about governmental decisions currently affecting their operations with updates and timetables for future action.
Each of them advised the gathering that the final decision would not affect only their particular speedway, but ultimately, every track in the State. A second meeting was called for May 22 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, OH and the featured keynote speaker was attorney Don Anspaugh from the Columbus, OH law firm Isaac, Brant, Ledman and Teetor.
So why an Ohio Motorsports Council and why form it now?
“I think there is no better time than now,” replied Boos, whom I consider one of the hardest working persons in racing. I have followed Boos’ career for decades and have seen in him action many times at many venues and he is someone whom I have the utmost respect for. No one knows the inner workings of this industry any better than Eldora’s dynamo.
Believe me, Larry Boos gets the job done.
“It’s needed to show the unity of the sport because of all of the impending issues whether it be legislative, environmental or whatever. It’s time the industry comes together and join forces together.”
Boos was asked if there was a crisis in the racing industry in Ohio what with reports of various lawsuits from homeowners, potential local and state imposed restrictions and all the other aggravating components that may follow.
“It’s becoming more and more prevalent,” responded Boos. “Is it a crisis? No, but it’s a wake up call and I don’t think speedway promoters can say that’s Joe Blow’s problem because once a precedent is set and is recorded in the law books, all it take is one attorney to go through the books and say here is this and that’s what was used to shut that track down so let’s apply it here. Crisis? No yet. Wake up call? Definitely.”
Has Boos found favorable support? “Yes it’s been very favorable,” confirmed Boos. “We got started kind of late. Our first meeting was when most promoters were just opening the beginning of April and then we had another meeting midweek in May and we had 11 tracks represented there. We had 14 tracks at the first one. But we had encouraging emails from those that could not attend and being aware that it’s not an organization who will tell you how to run your race track.”
“That’s the biggest fear of promoters that you will get in a room and they will tell you how to run your race or this is how you should write your rules. The biggest thing we emphasize when they come into the room is this is not about your track surface, this is not about size, it’s about Motorsports in the state of Ohio whether it’s blacktop or dirt or a 1/5th mile or Mid Ohio, it’s all about Motorsports.”
Boos was asked whether all of the state promoters would come together for the greater good. “I think you will have the typical sit back and wait and see what’s in it for me type, but the time is now,” said Boos. “The alarm clock went off and this is a wake up call. The problems are real. You have Wayne County, you have Deerfield, you have US 35 Raceway, they all have impending legal action against them and we just cannot afford to have precedence set at any of these facilities.”
(And, it appears as this is being written the new Moler Raceway Park here in Ohio has come under the gun by local residents with threats of possible legislation and lawsuits being tossed around.)
So what are the new organization’s goals for 2007 and beyond?
“Our goal in the future is to create not necessary a lobbying force but a contingency that can be aware of impending issues and then making our voice heard and to just create a show of unity of Motorsports throughout the state of Ohio. And I think we’ll implement the name that was voted on, to make it more encompassing to the Ohio Motorsports Council.”
“And then our long range plans are obviously strength in numbers. The business end will be handled by the track operators’ representatives and the plan is to create some associate programs where race fans can join as well and let the legislatures know we are for real.”
“Another goal and I think is an important one, is an economic impact study and a lot of tracks are already doing that and the numbers are staggering. You put that together with 30 or 40 motorsports operations throughout the state I think it will definitely going to wake up legislators.”
As stated previously, many problems facing race tracks aren’t exclusive to the Buckeye state and to that end Boos and the other members are quite willing to share information with other promoters across the country who may be interested in forming their own organization.
“Oh definitely because the problems aren’t only statewide but nationwide,” commented Boos. “Ronnie Drager is the representative of the Michigan Speedway Promoters Association and they have already forwarded to us copies of their guidelines and of their last meeting and things they have done and what their goals are.”
“I think the overall goals are to create first, from state organization, to a regional and a national council as well. The days of going out to the field of dreams into the cornfield or backyard and building a racetrack and expecting people to come on Saturday, it is no longer going to happen. NFL didn’t get strong without organization. The NBA, golf, anything successful is organized. And again, no one is going to try and tell anyone how to run their business, that is the last thing we want to do.”
Might want to look over your shoulder, you never know who may be coming after your local track next.
NOTE: For additional information on the Ohio Motorsports Council contact Boos at: (mail@eldoraspeedway.com)
Tags: Wayne County Speedway, Sprint Cars, Ernie Coffman, Ohio Motorsports Council, Larry Boos, Eldora Speedway, Moler Raceway Park, Ohio dirt track racing, dirt late Models, street stocks
