Well, it's taken me awhile to get time to read and digest everything that has been said here and I think the thread has settled down a bit.
I can find agreement with most of what has been stated on here, and I think everybody has good intentions and mean no ill-will to anyone.
Mosher was right in that people will practice ride and people will race, where they want.
If BC wasn't scheduled on the same weekend as Rt62, it was no guarantee that it would of improved Rt62's turnout.
Briarcliff was a successful practice track before it became a race track. Some folks will forever be loyal practice riders to BC. That's just how it goes.
There are pro's and cons to running an open practice at a track and then racing that track on Sunday. But it's not a terrible thing to do it. I can tell you that if I plan to race that track on Sunday, you can bet your bippy that I am very interested in riding open practice at that track on the day before if it will help me.
A bunch of years back I wanted to race COCR, but was uncomfortable about the idea because I had never ridden there, and they never offered an Open-to-the-public day. But then they changed. They began holding open practices on Saturday, followed by a Sunday race. Guess what........... My son and I went to the Saturday practice, and then returned the next day and raced. It helped us. And I still look forward to that to this day. It's a positive thing. .........After all, we aren't Pro racers, we are weekend amateurs!
I also thinks it's a bit harsh that Jeremy O is taking so much heat on this for being a track owner.
More than just a track owner, Jeremy is a real motocross RACER, and respectable Pitracer personality. Jeremy has always brought a lot to this forum from the beginning of Briarcliff, up to this day. He has a lot of very good and interesting insight and has been a major source of growth for not only this website, but also for the central Ohio dirt bike scene. And I say Dirt Bike Scene because the Briarcliff facility offers more than just motocross RACING.
The man has always worked his ass off tirelessly and followed through on what he schedules to the absolute best of his ability. And just like every other track owner, he has bills that must be paid, and it takes revenue to do that.
Jeremy has also went and helped other tracks when there was absolutely nothing in it for him to gain. ( COCR? )
Lonnie is also a guy worthy of considerable respect. He has a really fun track, and a great future ahead of him if we can see past all of this.
Rt62 offers up characteristics that you won't find at Briarcliff, or any other tracks for that matter. The facility has great potential, and a good operator/owner and I'm glad he's part of our community now. Lonnie is a really good guy! There is also room for untapped growth potential if Lonnie continues pursuits in areas that others tracks won't go, such as Vintage/Post Vintage/Noncurrent-Classic/ and Dacade class racing. (There is also a lot of potential for a track and facility that caters to the 50's and mini riders.)
Competition between tracks doesn't have to be all negative. It can be a very positive element that helps spur growth and creativity, and there is a sizeable market of patrons to serve them all. We just have to learn how to work through this POSITIVELY.
A little cooling off period is OK here. Clear your heads and then let's all talk some more ( JO ). It is vitally important to this site, and central Ohio, for all of our track owners, and our riders/racers to keep moving forward successfully.