New to MotoGP and AMA Superbike-question about venues

[wczimmerman]

Can someone please tell me why at least the AMA circuit does not come to Texas at any point? Do we not have any tracks that can support the racers? Are there any in the works? I, for one, would love to attend but I would rather not travel to Georgia or Californication to see it.

[mlinkibikr]

I think it's about the attendance. I went to an AMA race at Texas World Speedway (? the one in Aggieland?) - it must have been in the 80's ... anyway it was poorly attended. Poorly promoted. Undersponsored. Never had a chance.

It helps to have a scenic track in a place that has lots of good roads. Like the Rockies, California, BRP, etc. You can go there, see a race, ride some beautiful twisty roads, and make a vacation out of it. We have Nascar bowls with infield tracks - we need a good road course with terrain.

That's not a huge argument - look at Daytona for instance! But how many people are we going to draw from across the region to ride 500 - 1000 miles to sit in a concrete bowl in the heat of our infamous summers? No disrespect to College Station or Ft. Worth - but ... will they draw people from Arkansas, Louisiana, even Austin? Compare to Daytona - they have a Nascar bowl - but they also have the tradition, the variety of races, the attendees themselves are a big part of the show, and it's the start of the season.

It takes a ton of money to promote a race and lots of BIG sponsors. We didn't even warrant a Cycle Gear store until a year ago - so we're not real big on the sportbike map. Of course Texans do buy a lot of trucks, so maybe the Chevy tie in would help.

I'd love to have a local race. I like AMA because you can get a pit pass and see the bikes up close. I also like seeing all the goodies for sale - tshirts, leathers, tank bags,etc. And, uh, well yeah - the umbrella girls too! It's really cool when they tie it in with a Vintage Days weekend and add a lot of supporting categories. But there's going to have to be a lot more of us, and possibly a real road course to even have a chance.

[wczimmerman]

Thanks for the detailed reply. It really is a shame, but I suppose there's always hope that maybe someday... :roll:

[mlinkibikr]

Keep talking it up! That's how things get started. Maybe we should all commit to introducing two other people to motorcycling in the next two years.

Next step is to support our local tracks by all attending at least one track day this year. It's one of those things I've always wanted to do, but just haven't stepped up and done yet.

Come to think of it, wouldn't Austin be an awesome spot for Colin Edwards, Lyle Lovett, and a few of their influential, connected motorcyclist buddies to spot a nice road track? Colin, Lyle, y'all listening up? Build it and we will come ...
:chug:

[Jack Giesecke]

There are no suitable tracks in Texas for the AMA. TWS sux. They won't let people in the stands anymore, too run down, liability thing. There is no parking. They had a USAC, I think, indy cars there back in the 70s, last major race ever held there. It rained that weekend and most of the parking in the grass people were stuck to the axles. People were parking back down the highway and having to walk to it a couple of miles. That wouldn't be a problem at an AMA race, of course, though who ever parked in the grass would still likely get stuck in event of rain. I don't think you'll EVER see any major race at that track again, won't happen. There are even less for facilities at any other possible venue they might hold a race. Cresson is packed to the gills on a friggin' CMRA weekend and there's no spectator seating and no way to get into the infield safely.

I'm just hoping the Red Bull series will come back and maybe Baytown will get a GNC series flat track. If you wanna see AMA road racing, you'll have to travel. The two years I was racing AMA, I drove to Daytona twice, Pocono, Penn. , Elkhart Lake, Ws, and Monterey, Cal. There were no closer races to me than Daytona! They didn't run Road Atlanta, not sure it even existed in 80 and 81. Barber is the place to go see an AMA race, trust me!

And, you'll NEVER see a motorcycle race, even a club race, at Texas Motor Speedway! I raced the only one ever held there. The place is a motorcycle racing safety nightmare! No way, not even AMA would run there. There is a new Nascrap bowl with a "road course" going in South of Houston near Rosharon. I have my doubts about that one, too, but it's the only hope for Texas getting anything along the lines of AMA pro racing in the near future. Just hope it's not another TMS.

[10-95]

I remember some races in the mid 90's at TWS. Can't remember what series, not really into race cars/trucks/etc.

TWS was going to be HUGE. That is until that Japanese company bought it and bailed, leaving the track in shambles and owing quite a few companies for work that was started.

It's a shame. That used to be the "fastest track in America". I still think it could be a success.