Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

back in 10 days . The worst thing that could happen is that you ge t a disgruntled customer. This year at the Coliseum our cost for the race track went from $140 .000 to just under $200 .000 . just because we decided we needed a new track for the first time in nine years . The sta rting line always used to be near the tunnel; we have flipped the whole thing over. The starting line is up on the north side . near the peristyle. which does a couple of things . Last year there was a 22 minute delay between motos ; there was some beer throwing. But there's a lot of families that go to our event - you know that 46 percent of our attendees come with a t least one family member? - some families may not have enjoyed that. And the people who threw the beer did it because they didn't want the delay . So we flipped the course and b uilt a ramp from the pits down to the starting line, so we can have th e riders on the starting line when the last guy goes off the track. We'll cut our staging time from five m inu tes to two mi nutes. If I'm willing to spend between $50.000 and $80 ,000 to change something like th a t , it's d iscouraging to me to hear that the riders don't like it. I know it's not a u niversal opinion. because I've ta lked to a number of the key riders. Bob Hannah says that our track looks like the toughest and fastest one he's ever seen . That's good. because look how close the racing was (last year)? We had four lead changes in the last four laps - my God! That's the kind of thing we need! That's what we have to have to bring these fans back. I mean , for the high ticket prices we have to charge, you've got to give 'em a good show. When somebody buys a $15 ticket from me , I want them to leave with $25 worth of entertainment. This year I've doubled my budget for fireworks . When people come, there's going to be a magnificent fire works display! Let me go through the trac k, first ; I get excited about this : We moved the track over to this end , we build everything so it can be easily reversed so we can run the track backwards Saturday and Su nd ay, so the people who go bot h days will have something d ifferent offered to them. The track is widened beyond 20 feet, the straight aways a re 32 feet now for passing. The T orn ado, you kn ow how successfu l th a t was las t year? It is really something to m ake you feel good to bu ild a track the first time and have it wor k rig ht . In an outdoor event you get to test it; every week you evolve and somet hing ch a nges . Well, I bett er have it right t he first night. or I'm screwed. To see a ll the passing that went into the Tornado, I went "Whew'" Let m e tell you something: That was originally bid at $8 ,500 , to build the T orn ad o - ca me in last year a t $30,00011 It would've been easy to cut corners not to d o it , wouldn't it? I'm doing it! and it's u p by 20 pe rcent inflation! The thing is going to cost m e 135, 000 to do this yearl Bu t it was such a grea t cr owd pleaser that we want 10 do it , beca use our greatest adv ertisemen t for the sati sfaction ratio like this is by word of mouth. Peop le say: ''jesusl You gotta go to this thing!" Kids love it for thei r parents to take them . Mot orcycling needs a comraderie, and I thi nk the Superbowl can join these people toge ther. Fra nkly, if I were in it for the money, I'd get out of Su perc ross. I _ have to admit that th ere a re some egoes here to be stroked , beca use I like ha ving deve loped the spo rt that I feel could be the num ber one motor racing sport in the country. In fact, I pledged thi s to myself that I'd qu it when I was 30. How old are you now ? 35 - and I'm not going to qu it! I love it, J work a lot. I stil] gc:t the ~~er~~,.r .. 4 • • I . '. ' . L. to . " .." . ~ .. . ~ .. . . . • "t" . u 10 EN IINNER I Dade Cates 191Kl 125cc Women's National Motocross Champion Lisa Akin- 2nd Women's 125cc MX Champ ionship ~~~ n g si Hi-Point Racing Equipment Women motocrossers are tough customers. And championship racing turns these beaut ies into beasts. They bang bars and kick ruts just as hard as the pros. "" Dede Cates beat the best at Carlsbad '\ fo r the second year in a row. She and runner-up Lisa Akin picked HiPoint boots and gloves for professional caliber protection. Hi-Point Racing Products - the -. Choice of Champions ! See the complete line of all Hi-Point Racing Products including jerseys, pants, gloves and boots at your dealer. Dede (left) and Lisa (above) agtee on the best Hi-Point Racing Products. The Choice of J Champions * --_IIIIIIII Hi-Point Racing Products PO 80x 2327. Amanllo. TX 79705 3709 W. Erte Ave .. Lorain. OH 44053 9604 Oates Dr . Sacramento. CA 95827 "All Your Competition Needs Are As Close As Your Hi-Point Dealer" @It@OO~1'f~[L~ lt~OO~ c ...,~'" ,~~ ztr~O" KNOBBY SALE 460 x 18 Cheng Shin $33.95 500 x 18 Cheng Shin $35.95 C7036 ply 5JO• 18 Cheng Shin C7036 ply $39 95 Cl 83D 6ply OVER 1000 TIRES IN STOCK cY

• Cover