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Hey Rob:
Only two - four riders from So. Cal make the journey up north on Friday. There are 50 or 60 others down here who do not want to make the near 500 mile drive to Auburn, but still want to race on Friday. Even the one who make that trip are glad San Bernardino is open so they can race closer to home.
Likewise, there are only a few riders who make the long drive from up North to Costa Mesa on Saturday. Most of them will be staying up north this year to race at Charlie's (Venegas) new track in Vallejo.
I have posted the press release the promoter at San Bernardino sent out. It has most of the details.
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Well, it has been five years or more in the making but I am very pleased to announce that Shawn McConnell and I have agreed to a five-year exclusive contract to promote speedway motorcycle racing at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino, CA. Together, Shawn and I will be re-opening Inland Motorcycle Speedway. It is our goal bring speedway back to the Inland Empire and restore this famous facility to it's former glory!
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> We are now 5 days into constructing the racetrack which will sit approx. 300 feet from the site of the original location and in the same area that Charlie Venegas used for his track in 2001 and 2002. We would like to express our respect and thanks to Charlie for his efforts in promoting speedway in San Berdoo which helped open the doors for this opportunity. Our respect and thanks also go out to the Oxley family who helped continue with several races in 2003, to the different promoters of Glen Helen Raceway who helped keep the IMS banner going and most importantly, to John LaDouceur and family who created and built IMS into one of the most well-respected speedway tracks in the world!
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> The new IMS will officially be known as Inland Motorsport Speedway but we are sure it will be affectionately referred to by most as IMS which will help catch the attention of some of the old fans in the area.
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> Our priority with this project is to provide a fun, fair, AFFORDABLE AND ENTERTAINING venue while doing our best to bring back past history and create many more years of new history for our great sport. IMS will be for people of all ages but not for people who can't have fun! We also want to see the other tracks be successful!
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> At this time we would like to release some information listed below...
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> IMS can and will be used as a full-time practice facility to help replace the void left when Maely's closed. Speedway rentals and instruction will be available at IMS.
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> We are building it as close to a replica of the old IMS as possible and there will be seating on both sides to begin with.
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> The racing surface will be slightly longer and wider than Costa Mesa and Industry and will have LOTS OF DIRT which is why IMS was regarded as one of the best tracks in the world.
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> Opening night is tentatively set for June, 19th. We will be racing mostly on Fridays at 8pm. We have a midnight curfew so no races will be cut short although we plan to run a timely program that should conclude before 11. We may have a couple Thursday night specials and possibly a Saturday or two when CM is dark late in season.
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> We will not be AMA sanctioned.
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> All current approved speedway mufflers will be welcome.
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> Any first division riders who wear motocross gear will be strongly encouraged to wear proper speedway suits but will have to wear a speedway race jacket with your number on the back should you choose to wear moto equipment. Shawn says this will be strictly enforced. If you need a race jacket see Trish Wells at Kiwi Covers or Kelcey Gordon at NJK Leathers ASAP.
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> Our staff will consist of some of the best people in speedway...Bruce Flanders, Steve Lucero, Ryan Evans, Mike Reed, Carrie Hancock and Jean Fink are just some of the people who have already joined the team!
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> Our souvenir stand will be second to none. Watch for some exciting announcements!
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> Several big name riders who have not raced recently have indicated they will be coming out of retirement to race IMS. Several young talented racers who have not been racing regularly have said they will be racing IMS consistently. Fans may be pleasantly surprised at who a few of these riders are!
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> We are working on pricing but want to assure people that front gate admissions will be LESS than $15.00 for reg events and back gate prices will not exceed $30.00 per rider and will be LESS than $20.00 for mechanics.
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> We are looking into other fun events for the track on non-speedway nights like super-moto, mini-bike races, TT, John Aden's karts, microds, ATV's, etc.
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> We plan to have some special events at IMS including the Ken Maely Shoe championship and some old IMS favorite big Championships that we will announce soon.
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> We will be launching a new website soon that will be created by Dennis Preston who has done an awesome job with the new CM site.
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> There will be lots of other developments but we will leave you hanging on those for now!
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> Shawn and I would like to thank our wife's and families for being so supportive and although we are certain to forget someone, we want to especially thank TYR Construction, the Orange Show, Ken Niehart, Gary Gomez, Ryan Evans, the Oxley's, Dennis Preston, Fred Facchini, Joker Machine, Scot Daloisio, Team Swollen, Kelly Inman, Cary Cotterman, Donny Odom, etc. for special assistance and Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill and Steve Evans amongst many who have went out of their way to offer support. Sorry to anyone who we may have left out.
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> We want to point out that this in no way will have any negative effect on the tracks in NY. We plan a full season there and have some great things happening.
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> In closing, we NEED HELP!!! If anyone has any contacts or interest in helping with sponsorship or construction, we would love to hear from you! We really could use a hand with electrical, chain-link fencing, crashwall materials and constructing, etc. Please feel free to contact [email protected] or [email protected].
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> Thank you very much, let's put speedway back on the map!
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> Jason Bonsignore and Shawn McConnell
> Inland Motorsport Speedway
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