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Oklahoma scene: Enid Speedway goes out of business  

FROM STAFF REPORTS Oklahoman 0 Published: June 8, 2011

Another dirt car race track has gone out of business. The Enid News & Eagle reported Wednesday that a promoter has canceled the remainder of scheduled races this season at Enid Speedway.

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Beckley started promoting monthly races at Enid Speedway last summer.

"I knew I wanted to keep racing alive in Enid and submitted a proposal," Beckley said. "Right now, I know I can't do it fast enough or big enough. It's like someone started a birthday cake and then they left. Someone needs to come in and finish it off."

Enid Speedway joins Tulsa Speedway and State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City as dirt tracks that have closed in recent years. The city-owned State Fair Speedway was closed and then demolished due to structural safety concerns at the end of the 2009 season after 55 years. Enid Speedway, once known as Thunderbird Speedway, hosted races since 1948.

Several popular dirt tracks remain in Oklahoma: Lawton Speedway, Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada, Brill Motor Speedway in Meeker and Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa to name a few. But travel costs for fans and drivers using giant diesel tow rigs have affected participation. Some drivers have retired. Others choose scattered "big money" races instead of competing each Friday or Saturday night.

"We just cannot dedicate the funds or time to keep trying to make Enid Speedway successful, especially under this depressed economy," Beckley said. "We wish the racers good luck and say we are sorry this has happened, but we have no other choice

here is the link :

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-scene-enid-speedway-goes-out-of-business/article/3575448

Guess they are behind the times or don't keep up with tidbits concerning Creek County Speedway.

They don't cover nothing about racing until something non-positive and then it is post away. Would be interested in who searched the Enid story as I know Scott Munn is a very avid race fan - not as much as when he was covering but as he told me he still keeps up to date.

Thank you for the post....

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-scene-enid-speedway-goes-out-of-business/article/3575448

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

Previously known as Thunderbird speedway???? Jeez get the story before you report it

Actually, at one point during its tenure, it was known as "Thunderbird Speedway #2" per History of America's Speedway. But everybody that I know it is known as Enid Speedway.

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

here is an article thats way behind...lol

I figured after his one and only show this year that he would close the doors, which I'm glad cuz he couldve gotten someone seriously injured, even himself while he was standing at the orange tire in turn 4 for the first 3 races and stayed there each of the races. Just not very safe at all !!!

I'm really hoping for a miracle here but I know that it will take either the fairboard giving up concessions or hiring a track manager in order for Enid Speedway to be successful once again!!!

I can guarrantee this, I personally know of 3 people that will bid the track for weekly shows if the fairboard will give the concessions back to the promoter.... seems like the ball is truly in the fairboards corner now!!!

Jayson Ellis

I have always known Muskogee as Thunderbird, wasnt aware Enid was ever called that. My bad I guess.

Ya I wasn't aware either until I looked it up. Pretty interesting book...

David Smith Jr.
www.oklahomatidbits.com

The article in the daily oklahoman was in the enid paper on june 7th,2011, but here is another article in the enid paper i just found and its dated june 9th,2011

June 9, 2011

By Lee Coleman, Commentary Enid News & Eagle The Enid News and Eagle Thu Jun 09, 2011, 11:20 PM CDT

ENID — A few weeks ago, I wrote about the excitement of opening night at Enid Speedway. I was the new track announcer and was like a little kid anticipating Christmas morning.

That was then.

Today, I sit here as an unemployed part-time race track announcer after promoter Ed Beckley of Checkered Flag Productions pulled the proverbial plug on the speedway for the remainder of the season.

Just like that. Gone. A summer schedule of hot racing action wiped out.

Beckley cited the "depressed economy" and his reluctance to fund and devote the time needed to make the speedway successful as his reasons for bailing out after one race.

What is most bothersome is the ability of one man to change a whole group of peoples’ lives in a blink of an eye.

The track crew, the racers, the fans. Everyone.

After the News & Eagle broke the story Wednesday, the paper received numerous phone calls from local racers and fans alike expressing their displeasure at Beckley’s decision.

With the exception of a few small local tracks, the racers now will have to travel to Wichita, Kan., a distance of nearly 100 miles, to race at a decent and paying track.

The expenses to take a race team that far are enormous. Not to mention the added expenses if the race car gets torn up or a $20,000 engine blows up.

Based on the calls we have received, there are enough local drivers to put on a show every two weeks at the track with a new racing sanctioning body and a new points system.

One of the problems repeatedly expressed was the once-a-month show, held mostly on Sunday nights. Drivers that come into town for the race are faced with a very late night getting home and having to work on Monday morning.

Even though school is out, young children getting home so late can present a unique set of problems for parents.

The consensus would seem to indicate a consistent Saturday night show every two weeks would be a winning formula in Enid, especially if there is a points system in place with an opportunity for a good payday and return on investment for the drivers.

If promoted properly, the storied track, now 63 years old, could be the home of something very special.

But it would take a very special promoter with the financial wherewithal to make such a commitment. Given time and the ability to develop, the racing community would buy into the program.

And the fans would come out.

It is a shame such a great track like the one Enid has is going to waste again, leaving many questions still to be answered in the wake of Beckley’s abrupt departure.

It is a shame a promoter would think so little of the Enid racing community to pack up in the middle of the night and walk away.

Enid’s race fans deserve answers

"What is most bothersome is the ability of one man to change a whole group of peoples’ lives in a blink of an eye"

this is how Ed Beckley operates, he measures success by how many people are kissing his ass. I read on his checkered flag productions site where he takes 100% of credit for making DODGE CITY a nationally prominent track.... Really? Seriously? we are talking about someone who brags big on a monster truck show with 5 trucks and 3 of those are ones no one has ever heard of.... I feel that Ed Beckley knew 100% what he was getting into here at Enid. I know the track is closed for now but its better than him getting someone hurt! I hope all can tell when Ed Beckley was lying, his lips were moving... There are so many dark dealings by this guy behind the scenes that its almost criminal. I really hope that he didnt leave here owing a lot of folks many but I'm sure he left owing a few...

GOOD RIDDENS to Ed Beckley and now hopefully the fairboard will come to their senses and give up concessions.... Then we will be able to have a real multitude of ACTUAL PROMOTERS come and bid for the track!!!

Ed Beckley, if your reading this, your lower than chicken shit in my book!!!

Jayson Ellis

I think everyone knew this was gonna happen in the back of their mind... I also think A few of us from the start had Ol Ed pegged and what kind of individual he is.Now that is in the past, so its time to move on and hopefully the fairboard can get together with someone and make this a race track again?I dont know how a promotor can make money at Enid without at least a share of the concessions? I have to agree with jaydad37. Give up the food and beer, and you will have some very willing promotors step in and throw their hat in the ring for a chance to run the track.

I'm just not sure that the fairboard really wants a race track in Enid anymore. It seems as though they have been working against it for quite some time now, I'm Just Saying!!

In my opinion the Fair trust authority is not any better at promoting,look at that high dollar collesium they built that they never have anything in.that place is a joke.we would be a lot better off if the city of Enid ran the fairgrounds instead of the county. Maybe a new fairgrounds manager is what's needed to start with.

anyway i hope something happens before eveyone totally loses interest.i've been talking to my kid's about going drag racing instead.even though we were not going to race at Enid this year anyway.

They pissed me off over the winter, when they let my 11 year old race in the youth bombers last year(winning 2 races and the winternationals)then telling him he couldn't race there anymore till he was 14.but yet my 15 year old daughter was told she had to race with the adults (which she won 4 plus the winternationals )because she had too much experience.that kind of wishy washy rules as you go is whats killing the racing interest .

A promoter has to have the rights to the concessions. If it was some charitable organization running the concessions maybe a percentage of the sales. If it wasn't for the promoter promoting the races there wouldn't be no concession sales!

Warren Vincent
Cans 4 Kansas Heroes

Here we go again...

I honestly believe that Mr. Beckley had good intention without support of Enid city leaders to properly run and maintain a decent track. I for one do not blame Ed for backing out, and as Jaydad said, Ed is the only one person to blame. Wrong

Ed was the only one of our great Promoters that had the insight to see what needs to happen behind the scene to properly maintain and operate a Race Track. He did not get any help in that area.

We all want to blame Mick Cornett for the closing of SFS, but reallity is, it was all of use that did not back our sport enough to keep SFS alive. I know many of us tried, but there was many others that did not lift a finger.

If you wish to keep your track open ....STAND UP and speak your mind.

When I say that it doesn't mean Speak your mind here, but Speak your mind at the City Council meetings.

This is after all America...we all have the right to our opinion.

really uncle a?

this I will say, after his 5 shows last year I'm sure he knew exactly what support system was there and if it was such a bad deal of support then why would he even come and bid on the track this year? His way of maintaining and operating a track from behind the scenes was absolutely horrid at best, kind of like the way he pays his bills (not very well)! No, uncle a, I completely disagree with you this time. This man had an oppurtunity to walk a way from Enid in January and decided to bid on Enid Speedway for 2011. This is just how Ed Beckley is when he gets caught in a multitude of lies and everyone seen him for his true value, which was very little. I tried to speak to Ed Beckley about several different issues but he just got all butt hurt! I still yet to read just one post from any driver/owner that was supporting Ed Beckley for 2011. The biggest mistake made this year was by the fairboard when they chose Ed over CRay when they had identical bids.

uncle a I really like reading your posts, comments, and theories but the blame does go to directly to Ed Beckley!!!

Jayson Ellis

uncle a.....I have to say I agree with you about being able to speak your mind, but have to respectfully disagree with the rest.

Ed was the person that submitted the bid.....nobody forced him....so he is responsible. After all, s**t as they say rolls down hill.....where as responsibility lies at the top.

Ed got a lot of help behind the scenes DONATED by people wanting racing in Enid to succeed.

I don't know jaydad......but I was born in Enid and going to the races even back when they had a wooden fence for a wall around the track.........and he's right about several things he has discussed. Promoters need to realize they need to treat people right (drivers, fans, etc.) if they want to have a chance at succeeding. As for SFS......don't know enough about it....but do know a little about Enid.

Im going to have to agree with jaydad on this one, anyone who really kept up with this situation from the beginning of this year knows that Ed was ready to give up on this track until he heard C-Ray was going to submit a bid for the track.At that point, he stepped up and decided he would take it on, only after he was seriously challenged for the contract. Truth is, he dropped the ball and let a lot of people down.He had people coming out of the woodwork to help with the flood and different problems that arose.

Just cant sit here and let this subject die...

I say everyone bombard the fairboard with calls asking them to please give up concessions at the race track so we can get back to racing. I just know that Enid can be promoted successfully, for everyone, if the fairboard will give up concessions.

Plain and simple, the fairboard has to come on board for Enid Speedway to be successful!!!

I seen where there were 34 sportmods and 4,000 fans in Amarillo this past weekend... Heck Im thinking Enid could do that once a month for NCRA shows and have decent car counts on regular nights....

We have seen, first hand by Ed Beckley, how not to run a track!!!! Now lets get in a real promoter that truly cares about everyone and watch Enid get back to the awesome racing that we are used to seeing!!!!

JMO

Jayson Ellis