Being a Willow local and working and racing many days a year there I was very interested in the policy change that preempted CCS to cancel the Streets race in December so I went and talked to the track management to find out what had occurred. I was told that no change in policy had occurred and what CCS had asked for was all the gate money and that without it they would not come.
The question I have now is this, what is PR? I have always gone by the definition of an acceptable truth, maybe not the whole truth but certainly not an untruth.
I have raced with CCS the last three years and the attendance of Pacific has gone down, why? In the face of competition from WERA canceling races will not bring riders back, neither will maligning race track management.
Will Eikenberry Pacific EX #63
Unfortunately this is just one of many examples of CCS deficiencies...especially in the SW/Pacific regions. I personally have taken the past year off to reassess after racing with CCS in 2001 & 2002 in the SW region. I felt that this was the only way to effectively show my displeasure with the way things are run...voting with my pocket book!
There's always two sides to every story....
Each contract is negotiated with the track and with all negotiations, there is two sides and two different view points. I'm not saying that I know all the answers, but here's some scenerios....
Some tracks offer a lower track rental, but then ask for the gate fees.
Some tracks have a higher track rental, but CCS keeps the gate fees.
Call CCS and ask them why it was cancelled. That way you would have all the information.
FYI--Dawn hit the nail on the head. The story you have recited an inaccurate depiction of what actually took place.
What is this, Judge Wapner's court? How come both sides can never have the same story?
I'm a little curious to hear what the real story was.
I'm even more curious if one side or the other burned the bridges and we might not have any SoW races next year...would make the Pac schedule look awfully similar to the SW schedule with the loss of T-hill this year.
-z.
I don't know why SOW was cancelled, but I am glad that our double points final for the SW region will be in Phoenix as a SW race, separate from the Pacific final in Buttonwillow. I for one am happy that we have CCS in Arizona. :)
The reason for why the SW and Pacific regions are run ecomically is the turnout at each event. If you look at the size of the grids back east, then you could understand why we are treated differently. I would rather have CCS than have nothing. I'll pay for the Saturday practice and not complain. I think we should only have one region out here, though. Mostly the same people show up in both regions, anyway. :-/
For those of you that still need to ride in December, there are several track days in southern California, and SOCAL track days has an event at Pahrump, NV. 8)
so, where did you hear the last round in SW was going to be double points? I know SOW was going to be, but I've not seen anything that says they're making Firebird East double for the 2nd time this season.
The first and last races of the year are always double points. RoadracingWorld Magazine mentions that the Buttonwillow race is double points race for the Pacific region, and also mentions that the East track race in November is the last race for the SW region.
QuoteI'm even more curious if one side or the other burned the bridges and we might not have any SoW races next year...would make the Pac schedule look awfully similar to the SW schedule with the loss of T-hill this year.
Zac, at least you're not losing the final round (double points) at your "home" track. :)
Last week before Vegas I talked to management at Willow and then to Kevin in Vegas...the stories were similar, but two different sides, with each having a different purpose....like 2 sides of a coin.
-Brian
Hey Will, Alexa here. Email me. Thanks.
QuoteFYI--Dawn hit the nail on the head. The story you have recited an inaccurate depiction of what actually took place.
OK Ladies
I'll bite, if the press release in RRW isn't in fact what CCS's side is then what is it? I have just stated the facts put forth in the official press VS what I was told by folk's I have worked with for many years.
No matter what the real story is my local track was maligned and the race is cancelled, neither of these actions will help stop the bleeding in Pacific.
I have no data about any of the other races cancelled but I suspect Clear Channel putting it's foot down on less profitable races. If that's the deal then say it, don't make excuses or try to shed responsibility. In that way PR becomes BS.
Will
I am not going to fuel the fire of the original debate here with speculation, but being and announcer, I love controversy and Kevin I am sure cringes when he sees my name on the board! ;D Sorry Kev, here we go. There is lots of politics in racing. You have the cars guys trying to secore race dates against the motorcycle guys. You have multiple organizations in the MC ranks competing for the racers dollars and of course every organization feels that its procedures and rules are right and the others are dumb. All this revolves around money. It is expensive to rent a track and expensive to keep one up. Some groups get better treatment and rates than others and this can create troubles during contract times and further increases competition between groups. CCS is always looking to find new tracks to race- Kevin has lots of them coming to him and unfortunatley those mostly are not ready for racing of bikes and some just are too cost prohibitive to run. It would be nice if all the MC organizations could band together and get some real buying power to negotiate better deals from the tracks and put on a better show for the racers, but unfortunately- I don't see that ever happening :(
QuoteFYI--Dawn hit the nail on the head. The story you have recited an inaccurate depiction of what actually took place.
So you posted here - why didn't you just continue on and post your side of the story? What was the point in even replying to Dawn?
QuoteThere's always two sides to every story....
Call CCS and ask them why it was cancelled. That way you would have all the information.
This is the post on RRW, Looks like I got the data that CCS was putting out correct.
8/27/2004
Two CCS Events Cancelled, Third Questionable
Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Two CCS regional race events, one at the Streets of Willow in California and another at Heartland Park on Kansas, have been cancelled and an October event at Summit Point Raceway's Shenandoah Circuit may have to be canceled, according to a CCS mailer to racers e-mailed to Roadracingworld.com August 27.
The December 11-12 Pacific/Southwest Regional event (a double-points event) at the Streets of Willow in Rosamond, California has been cancelled "due to changes instituted by track management," according to the CCS mailer.
Will, in the CCS newsletter it was stated, IMHO, a least a bit less caustically.
Though I love RRW, it's still "the press"... :-/ Obviously you know that, as you are checking the "facts", which is a refreshing thing to see these days. (not directing that at you, BTW, just in general)
-Brian
rental of a track and profit that the renter antipates/needs to survive are where the point is if the rental is pretty high and the allure of the track is not very high then the gate monies need to offset the rental cost. if the track sets a high rent and takes the gate (all, part, is fixed below norm, or needed revenue)it is hard to make ends meet. the PR does not say it happened mid year (I don't think it did looking at PRs from Willow on RRW website)
Quoterental of a track and profit that the renter antipates/needs to survive are where the point is if the rental is pretty high and the allure of the track is not very high then the gate monies need to offset the rental cost. if the track sets a high rent and takes the gate (all, part, is fixed below norm, or needed revenue)it is hard to make ends meet. the PR does not say it happened mid year (I don't think it did looking at PRs from Willow on RRW website)
A lot has been said here but the fact still remains that weather or not the Streets race is in the red or black there was no change in the Willow Springs policy and that is my beef about this.
CCS blamed ( maligned) track management for a policy change that in fact didn't occur ( CCS wanted the gate) and it is that they didn't change their policy that is the reason not that they did. Words mean things and blaming the track for the race being cancelled is out in left field as far as responsibility goes.
Three years ago when I started back with CCS Streets was so full you couldn't find a spot to pit, now it's not even in the black? Why? Who? What will be done to remedy the situation?
Instead of placing blame, how about looking at how to recover the lost attendance before WERA takes over the entire area, and there is no Pacific region.
I have spoken to what I think some of the problems were and are to management, I went public with this because I took offence at my track being made responsible for CCS not running. If it were true I wouldn't have said a word, but it wasn't and that is why I am here.
Will
QuoteWill, in the CCS newsletter it was stated, IMHO, a least a bit less caustically.
Though I love RRW, it's still "the press"... :-/ Obviously you know that, as you are checking the "facts", which is a refreshing thing to see these days. (not directing that at you, BTW, just in general
-Brian
Hi Brian
Take notice that no one has disputed the facts here. only attempted to defend the post and decision without putting forth any NEW data as to how what I was told by the track is incorrect.
Will
What's wrong with WERA taking over? That's what I am waiting for! If CCS can't do it then someone else will...let things run their course!
QuoteCall CCS and ask them why it was cancelled.
Yea .. I've got 4 hours to kill being put on hold each time. !!!
Emails never gonna get returned, so that no route.
SO were just gonna bash them here on a public forum instead ..
Topeka's an easy one.
Hey, it's probably gonna snow there by then.
SoW?
It's California. You might be hit by the molten lava from Mt St Helens as it rolls down the fault lines.
QuoteWhat's wrong with WERA taking over? That's what I am waiting for! If CCS can't do it then someone else will...let things run their course!
Your point is well taken. I will probably have another license next year myself. The point of my post was just fair warning of the products of the present management strategy.
Will
Quoteso, where did you hear the last round in SW was going to be double points? I know SOW was going to be, but I've not seen anything that says they're making Firebird East double for the 2nd time this season.
The Firebird Main schedule is now posted, and at the bottom of the page it indicates that the November 14 race at Firebird East is in fact a double points race. ;D