Southwick coming to an end!

[Foxx4Beaver]

I had an interesting phone coversation with a good friend that's helped run and maintain Southwick for the past 21 years this morning.Seems as though over the last 2-3 years,there's been alot of theft going on,in terms of the financial end of it.From what I've been told,just this year there's $32,000 missing/unaccounted for from the budget.
I'm not going to mention names for the sake of privacy,but the owner of the track has been talking about shutting it down for years,but now with this B.S. going on...he and his wife are apparently calling it quits after this years National....to the point of bringing in heavy equipment and leveling the place and never having another dirtbike on the property!.
My riding buddy talked with JoJo Keller yesterday,who is an all time legend at Southwick(and my Avatar pic)...and said he's just sick to his stomach,and can't/does'nt even want to talk about it....and I feel his pain,as I grew up racing/riding there for nearly 35 years.

That's all the info I have as of now,when I hear more,I'll post it....but I'm willing to bet it'll be out in the media soon.

[riproost]

 :-(sad

[weymouth399]

This is the worst news a true dirtbiker in New England can here. It's very sad, that the actions of a few can effect so many.

Hope I can make it this year, and poss have a meet and greet.

Bob very sad W

[Foxx4Beaver]

It's very sad, that the actions of a few can effect so many.

yup...that's what I said...only in friggin Massachusetts does this kinda s**t happen to our sport.
I don't know if you remember,but the reason they(Southwick)had put an end to overnight camping at the track,was because some scumbag(s) thought it would be cool to steal the license plates off the Factory Big Rigs...this was almost 10 years ago.Unfortunately it's been an issue for quite awhile.

Another thing that was mentioned,was that the owner normally gets $36K from the AMA to rent the track for the National....but with all the B.S. going on,the owner wanted $100K...in hopes the AMA would NOT agree to pay that,and cancel the National.The president of the AMA was not happy at all,but negotiated an agreement to at least still have the National,but said that was it,that the AMA was'nt going to pay that much again.
So it was a combined decision between the owners and the AMA to end it after this year. 

[weymouth399]

One of my fondest moments in motocross was at a southwick amt national, a long time ago. We were partying in the pits, end of the day.

JoJo wadels up to my buddys bike, asks if it's Jimmy M's bike, we said yes, he TINKLES on it. About 30 seconds later another buddy grabs it for the last moto. JoJo's face drops, thought you said it's, it is, just he's not racing it. Now that was a kodak moment.

Bob W

[Polar-Bus]

Been reading the same "he said, she said" type negitive gossip between both the 338 owners and the AMA . Bitter negotiations have gotten downright ugly over the past years. It's VERY unfortunately , inevitable.... The 'wick is like family being shot in the head. 

[weymouth399]

So how many of us are going? hate to miss it. Missed to many since they thought saturday was a better day to race a national.

Bob W

[Foxx4Beaver]

I'll be there....I'm not gonna miss John Dowd finish his career where he started it...I heard Doug Henry was gonna be there,we're also making JoJo go....we told him we'd cover all his expenses if he'd just go,alot of people would love to see him.

[weymouth399]

I'm one of them, love to see the junk yard dog and the #19 Doug Henry too. Oh ya there will be a great race to watch too.

Trying to justify throwing my point race season away and go, or pray for rain in maine. lol
My first southwick was 1977.

Bob W

[Foxx4Beaver]

dragging this one back up from the dead...but for anyone that was bummed out that Southwick was deleted from the National series....it's looking like the new owner wants to change that.

http://www.racerxonline.com/2014/01/11/southwick-news

[Goat]

That's great news. Thanks for posting.

[Foxx4Beaver]

That's great news. Thanks for posting.

keepin my fingers crossed, it's not etched in stone yet, but it looks good so far.