Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

don't own Aggie's track - but they can't figure out how he got in. The truth is that the dictatorship is tagged on me because I'm not afraid to speak out. And when it comes to the sport of speedway where I'm so totally involved, I do speak up! If something is wrong, I scream about it until it is right. And if it doesn't get right I keep on screaming about it. So, they figure, 'Well. Oxley gets his own way in everything he does .' "Bu t if you look back over the yea rs at what I've wanted when I've wanted my own way - the majority of the times (people out there in readership land will probably doubt this) - but it has been for the good of the spo rt . When I've screamed about something, it has been for something which would increase crowds or increase safety. Of course , when you examine that statement, when you are helping the sport out you're helping Oxley out. He is one of the promoters of the sport. Sure. that's ture: but we are also helping the riders and the State of Cal ifornia out as they own the Costa Mesa fairgrounds. So any increase is doing a lot of people gcod. " Well, perhaps you're the most visible penon involved with speedway. "That's probably true. A lot of times I wish 1 d idn't make myself the most visib le because I'm th e one who gets all th e fla ck for the whole deal. That's where the 'fa c t' that I 'm the 'godfa the r' or th e 'czar' or whatever comes from. "Well, those people normally say that I've done a lot for myself. " You made the comment not too long ago that the reason speedway hasn't grown in this country is due to the lack of promoters willing to make an investment in the sport. "T ha t's true. I think probably the speedway garden spot of the country is Atlanta , Georgia , but no one has made an effort in that area. A little effort has been made in Florida and some in New York which is doing well. You see so many people in this country who so badly want to be entertained. They will go once a year to see the 'big motorcycle race' in their area , and then they just go home. They don't have any type of weekly show to go to . To get that to work , to get it started takes a promoter who will put out the effort. Sacramento is a good example. Al Lauer ramrodded the whole operation into being. "Speedway is an outdoor sport, so , anywhere you can run cars for several "... I get upset. But I try and do my yelling inside my own home." There are even some of your critics who would say you have done a lot for the sport of speedway racing in this country. mARDI-[ROS ENIR UAIiAnZA I JUNE 1,2 New Orleans also has the best hotel facilifies in the South for accommodating "WFO" race crowds. Call toll free for room reservations: HYATT REGENCY 1-800-228-9000; HILTON 1-800-562 -9045 For additional info call 504 -866-4563. ",q. 80NUS! See Practice Free! Get a $2 ea rly entry pass with ea ch $15 or $10,50 ticket (Adults or kids ), Offer good for mail orders only. ' llCKET L OC AlI O N ~ J 'z..:k 0$. ~ C'/- ,.,. I ~ TERRACE H ~ $ ....'.<. &)$ ''$ C'+. "'" AN D PRICES F $... c.~ ~&) ~ P ">~ ~~~~~~~~$", THE RIVER CRUISE PARTY The SUPERCROSS weekend officially beg ins Friday night. June 1, at 8 pm on the riverboat " PRESIDENT." There will be food , drinks, pit tootsies and a live New Orleans band . All the factory motocross team riders will be there. This is your chance to lock handlebars with' Hannah , Tripes . Smith, Weinert and all the "go fast " types. Find out from the factory race mechanics what they really do to their bikes that make them so "hyper-fast." Meet the pit tootsies that magazine editors spend so much time making pictures of . The boat leaves the dock at 8 pm sharp-so be on time, and be in shape because it is a 3 hour moto. Send for tickets now. THERE ARE ONLY 1500 AVAILABLE . SUPERCROSS CUSTOM VAN SHOW Your Supercross ticket also enabl es you to attend FRE the E finest Custom Van Show in the south, 50 of the c ountry's most outrageo us va ns will be in the Superdom e for exhib ition Saturd ay (3 p.m.-? p.m.) and Sunday (noon-6 o.rn) , II 7~O Gen. Adm . J .75 Kids A B Ticket s Track Area (A, 8 . C, etc J Price Total 650 Handling ~ Total Mail money order, ce rtified, or cashier's check to : TURNSTI LE PROMOTIONS INC, 7840 MAPLE ST. NEW ORLEANS. LA, 70118 Orders received afte r May 19 or without 5011: handling will be held in your na me at Superdorne WILL-CALL. NAME PHONE _ -'_ ADDRESS CITY STATE _ VISA/MC II EX, DATE _ ZIP CYCLE NEWS RIVER CRUISE PARTY (only 1500 tic kets) e N 17 ----------------------- Enjoy m,.PiBB <• • .,. . .... .!l I~~I!I JMJ HONDA SCO T T U-::A weeks out of the year you can have speedway racing. But you do have to work at it. We have had about 115 promoters over the past 10 years in southern California . Some weren't successful because they didn't want to put up with the headaches and expense for two or three years to make it work. They come to Costa Mesa and see the set up and think, 'Oh boy . I'm going to go make a $100,000 this year.' That's the figure in their mind because that's what Oxley makes; hell everyone knowsthatl" But if you really want to be a speedway promoter and make the investment, who do you ask? How do you find out about speedway? Through the AMA? "W ell. that's where I'm going to be just a little critical, in a constructive way, because'the only person at the AMA who knows is Bill Boyce . And he is not that up to date as he has so much work to do he is buried in everything else. I feel the AMA should have a speedway specialist, someone who can devote some time to the sport." Do you look for that, now that southern California speedway is AMA sanctioned? ''I'm optimistic. I feel that national organization and affiliation will be good so long as we aren't regarded as 'poor relation. ' " I'm also optimistic about our future since the redevelopment master plans for the fairgrounds include plans for a stadium. One of its major functions is to accommodate speedway racing, so it will probably be one of the finest speedway tracks in the world when it is completed, about 200 yards long. I do feel that our tracks, which are shoner than the English tracks, give excellent spectator entertainment. What are your feelings on the American World Championship quaIifien? "Well, we know they can't continue the way they have been. Some of the criteria I feel that is important is that the qualifier must be held on a track similar to the one the winners will be competing on in Great Britain. That _ means it has to be 300 yards long at the least. I feel the event should be held on a track which is used only on e or two times a year. A truly neutral track. "W ha t 1 would reall y like to see in the futur e is a combinati o n of Australia , New Zealand and the Unit ed States rid ers co m pe ting together in a real Blu e Ribbon event held every third yea r in America , New Zeal and and Australia. T he winners could still qu alify for the inter continental or, best yet, go directly to th e World Final. All the Europeans would have their qualifer on their sid e of the world and we have ours and meet at the World event. "We do have some of the best riders in the world. Scott Autrey proved that with his third place finish in last year's Championship. American riders don't have to take a back seat to anyone. Perhaps in the near future that will happen just as you see it. If so, we're sure you will stilI be around and involved. You've been around this long, so you must be doing something right. "I've been lucky. Actually, I must give a lot of credit to my wife Marilyn. I , told the British promoters they have it all wrong; the way we do it in California is you get your WIfe to do all the work and you take all the credit! "In closing, if anyone is seriously reading this who wants to be a speed, way promoter, get to workl If you want to be a promoter and a controversial figure and have people write nasty letters to Cycle News about you , that's exactly what you should do . Just get to work and it will all happenl • 19

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