How would you fix AMA dirt track racing?

[stroker]

Personally, I'd love to see a mix of machinery again, with the rules focused to the privateers. There have been abortive attempts to use motocross bikes and other street bike twins (e.g. 650 Ninja). I think a rules package favoring near-sotck 650 twins/singles and modified 450 four-stroke singles and (unlimited?) two-stroke singles. It just seems like whatever they try nothing does the trick. Is it something bigger than the rules--an organizational problem? Promotion? Do they need a "Days of Thunder" to get back into public awareness?

[Napoleon]

Well the most important factor is whatever you do you have to cater to only people who live in Marion County Indiana, whether that means dropping a Silver Crown engine into the bike or something similar.

Just my two cents.

[oddlycalm]

Back in it's heyday AMA pro worked because of brand identification with the street iron folks arrived on. The BSA, Triumph pushrod and H-D engines flathead engines were rorty, sounded great but didn't make too much power. They had the right torque characteristics for flat track racing and the AMA managed to keep enough parity that the racing was competitive. There was a full schedule of races including three mile events (Sacramento, Springfield, San Jose) and a bunch of good 1/2 miles. There was a big field of name riders led by large factory teams. Price at the gate was affordable to pretty much everyone as was the price of participation.

With the rule change to allow the overhead valve H-D XLR coming just as BSA and Triumph were fading away was the beginning of the end. The failures by the Japanese factories to come up with competitive iron meant it was a one brand show. The loss of some top events to the real estate developers was another chip.

IMO the failure to address safety issues also hurt AMA flat track. We see seasons come and go in MotoGP and SBK without serious injury or fatality with bikes that go 200mph yet in AMA flat track the list of fatalities is pages long, big names and unknowns alike. FIM Speedway runs similar events without the carnage. An unprotected fence post took out former champion Steve Eklund. For hall of fame rider Ted Boody it was an unprotected wall. Eleven riders lost since 2000. WTF??? In 2009 nobody real race fans don't want to see people getting killed.

The engine formula is important but it may be the least of the issues.

oc

[opinionated ow]

Just turn it into speedway solos...

[DagoFast]

Back in it's heyday AMA pro worked because of brand identification with the street iron folks arrived on. The BSA, Triumph pushrod and H-D engines flathead engines were rorty, sounded great but didn't make too much power. They had the right torque characteristics for flat track racing and the AMA managed to keep enough parity that the racing was competitive. There was a full schedule of races including three mile events (Sacramento, Springfield, San Jose) and a bunch of good 1/2 miles. There was a big field of name riders led by large factory teams. Price at the gate was affordable to pretty much everyone as was the price of participation.

With the rule change to allow the overhead valve H-D XLR coming just as BSA and Triumph were fading away was the beginning of the end. The failures by the Japanese factories to come up with competitive iron meant it was a one brand show. The loss of some top events to the real estate developers was another chip.

IMO the failure to address safety issues also hurt AMA flat track. We see seasons come and go in MotoGP and SBK without serious injury or fatality with bikes that go 200mph yet in AMA flat track the list of fatalities is pages long, big names and unknowns alike. FIM Speedway runs similar events without the carnage. An unprotected fence post took out former champion Steve Eklund. For hall of fame rider Ted Boody it was an unprotected wall. Eleven riders lost since 2000. WTF??? In 2009 nobody real race fans don't want to see people getting killed.

The engine formula is important but it may be the least of the issues.

oc

The only thing I'll disagree with you on is the single sentence that I changed to bold. First, in 1975 Yamaha and Kenny Roberts brought out the fearsome 2 stroke TZ 750 flat tracker and kicked Harley's tail for a few races until it was banned. About a decade later, Honda developed a flat track bike based on their 4 stroke CX500 V twin. It was not immediately successful, but a later clean sheet version was. You can guess who cried to the AMA until the Honda too was banned.

Your first and final paragraphs are spot on! :thumbup: