About this time last year we started hearing about the OMA expansion. At that time there was a group of people standing in a trailer at a race discussing what the future held. Each and every person agreed that this whole deal was at best a 2 year plan. We may have been a little too optimistic.
Anytime you have an organization run by owner / operators there will ALWAYS be doubt on how and who gets what. Someone, if not most will fell slighted by the others. Did you really expect all the track owners to get along and support each other?
The original idea of the OMA was a good one. Trying to make it better for the racers through prep, publicity and removing the red tape of a non-existent AMA. Since then it has seemed to switch direction. Now it looks like nothing but a way to put other competing tracks out of business and then squeeze every penny out of the patrons that supported it. Of course I am ever the pessimist but I am not close to the only one that feels this way.
I also believe that to the average rider, they don't give a crap about the organization running the races. They just want to show up at a nice track. Pay $5 to race and get home by 3pm. You will never get the $5, but you can get home by 3pm if you live close. BUT, having an organization that is coving 41,000 square miles, makes it impossible to hit all the races so you can get points and still be home before dark.
District 11 and 12 knew this and that was one of the driving forces that created two areas.
Bring back track championships. Forget about winning points over and extended series. Since the beginning of motocross in this state those do not matter, and for sure are not always won by the best racer. Have an organization for the racers, by the racers.
Remember when the IRL and Cart split? That was over rich team owners vs. mega rich track owners. And who did it hurt worst? The racers and the fans.
Now we have so many organizations in this state you need a three ring binder to hold all the "sanctioning" cards. And who is it helping?
I personally don't care who is holding a practice against another practice. In the words of the hood Alan Iverson "man, we talkin bout practice ?" I HATE open practice against races. Does it hurt the race promoter? You bet your ass it is. I am proof. I wanted to go to The Fork this week but the boss put her foot down and stopped that by saying "you can go to DMC and get stuff done around the house" If DMC would not have been open, then I would have went to the Fork. Plain and simple. A practice hurt a race.
Now, you can spin that in whatever direction makes you feel good, but Practice is KILLING moto.
If you are going to have a racing organization, then have a RACING organization. Not open practice before every damn race. And not practice on top of a different tracks race at is even remotely close by. If you want to do that then just keep it outlaw and don't take $20 from me and claim it is for the betterment of the sport. OMA and AMA in the same boat on that one.
Is that better?
