Ontario Motor Speedway's Demise!

[DG]

Big Business has no soul:

http://www.competitionplus.com/comp...ontario-motor-speedway-death-of-a-super-track

 

[glofria]

Alas, OMS has somewhat since been reincarnated as The Auto Club Speedway. Both locations are very close to each other.

http://www.autoclubspeedway.com/

 

[ironpony]

the same magazine published Englishtown is slated to close, demolition equipment onsite, total BS

 

[Randy]

As I recall it was bleeding money. We had an awards banquet there shortly before they closed and the place was a mess.

 

[Bobby Bennett]

the same magazine published Englishtown is slated to close, demolition equipment onsite, total BS

which magazine said that?

 

[ironpony]

Competition Plus and it is true E Town is CLOSED

 

[Bobby Bennett]

CompetitionPlus.com never reported there was demolition equipment onsite. CP said in its rumors section, for years there has been the same talk of closing, over and over. This time where there is smoke, there is fire.

 

[Nunz]

E-town isn't closing, JUST the drag racing operations. Did I miss why only the drag racing is shutting down?

 

[.]

E-town isn't closing, JUST the drag racing operations. Did I miss why only the drag racing is shutting down?

Because Copart is leasing space for storage.

 

[ironpony]

Because Copart is leasing space for storage.

Actually IAA is leasing it for 15 years at 5 mil. a year 75 mil total, pretty easy "business" decision I would say.

 

[Old Man]

ONE was so far ahead of it's time it couldn't suceed. Built with public bond money at a tremendous cost it had a debt load that couldn't be sustained. The only events that made money were Rick concerts and they caused so many problems that they were cancelled. If tv had been around then like now it would still be running. It was a fantastic facility, just ahead of it's time.

 

[SundayNiagara]

Do ya know who was at OMS when it went under? Hint: His initials are 'DG.'

 

[mick]

was looking at stories and history of OMS the other day and stumbled across the 1974 CA Jam concert.....worth googling it.
pretty interesting the size and scope of that event.

 

[vegasnitro]

ONE was so far ahead of it's time it couldn't suceed. Built with public bond money at a tremendous cost it had a debt load that couldn't be sustained. The only events that made money were Rick concerts and they caused so many problems that they were cancelled. If tv had been around then like now it would still be running. It was a fantastic facility, just ahead of it's time.

Nahhh ... if what is in the article is true, it was always doomed. The land there is just too valuable and the bond holders were just too exposed. Chevron was able to buy up all the bonds for 20 million and sell the place for 120 million in 1980. A 100 million dollar profit in 1980 is like a billion dollar profit today ... no corporation is going to walk away from that, no matter how much they like the facility/events/fans. ESPECIALLY when it is straight cash going to the bottom line.

 

[Draw 3D]

I lived within a few miles of OMS and it was sold as having many large events throughout the years but never materialized. Also, I crewed on a car that ran at the first Supernationals and we didn't qualify so on Sunday, I was in the stands and the seats were way too far away, I ended up on top of the garages and that was a little better, did not like the track.

 

[Cliff]

That's true about the seats. I remember being up in the top rows and it was like the track was waaaay out there. I actually took binoculars one year so I could see the cars better. There was a grandstand on the pit side and you could see a lot better from there. Went there one year for the Hangover Nats, & T/F, F/C, etc. Like a mini national event. Couldn't think of a better way to spend New Years Day.

 

[Old Man]

I went to every racing event they had, from diesel truck races to Grand Am to all the drag races. I remember watching Danny Ongais going down the back straight on his lid. True the seats were far away but it was a big track.

 

[Sherman, Sherm, & Sherm Gun]

This video is from four years ago. I have watched it several times. Lots of neat info.

 

[Cliff]

If you have ever been to the Indy 500 track, that is a BIG track. Went there once & went to the museum in the infield. The track is so big that you don't realize it from the museum grounds. Took a bus tour around the track. Didn't let us get off but opened the doors so could photograph the bricks. I think I shot 4 rolls of film that day & really treasure the experience. The place has a sense of history there that you can feel.

 

[stitcherbob]

when I was a kid, I didn't give much thought to OMS...after all it was in Canada, eh?