1st Annual Am-Can Nationals at I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre, MN

[benoyracing]

The Oval Racers Alliance is very happy to announce the 1st Annual Am-Can Nationals Ice Oval Race at I-94 Speedway in Sauk Centre, MN February 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2010.  This organization was formed to help promote the sport of Ice Oval Racing and bring it back where it belongs as the premier form of Snowmobile Racing.  Although the ORA was formed primarily by late model racers and crew members, we knew early on that including the Vintage Racing community was going to be essential to gain the membership and fan base that we would like to attain.  We will have more details on the event itself in the next week or so, but as of last evening, the date is set and the race is ON!

I would like to give a big Thank You to Mike Meagher for having the vision and passion that he has for Oval Racing and the willingness to work with us to create something that could very well be the single biggest Ice Oval Racing event in the Midwest.  The racetrack in Sauk Centre is absolutely fabulous for both racers and fans.

Also, there are a lot of people from the late model side of things who have worked hard on this, especially Doug Fontaine, Bryan Timmer, and Robert Hoglund. 

For anyone who doesn't know me, my name is Mike Benoy.  I am currently the President of the International Watercross Association.  We sanction snowmobile watercross races in the Summertime.  The IWA is a driver owned, driver run, and driver promoted race circuit that, thanks to a lot of dedication and forward thinking over the past 21 years, has built an extremely strong organization.  I also own a Champ 440 sled that we race in the Winter.  I met Doug Fontaine several years ago and we have worked together on sleds and racing quite a bit over the past few years.  I asked Doug to come and work for the IWA this Summer as a Race Official so he could see how we operate the "business" end of things and how we might be able to parallel some of the ways we have been successful into the ORA.  When we started to really get serious about putting this idea onto a racetrack, I offered to serve as their Vice President to help make this dream we both share a reality.

I sincerly hope all of you are as excited about this as we are

Mike Benoy - Vice President
Oval Racer's Alliance

[maxiracer]

Mike,

Can you explain more of what the ORA is about and how it could benefit vintage oval racing to be a part of it?

Maxi

[crwdog]

I'm getting excited..... Its going to be hard to wait for all the details!  Hopes are high 

[Racer #9]

I can defiantly see the benefit to vintage races, higher purses, more exposure etc, etc, but I can also see all of the positives turning around and becoming the exact opposite of the original intention.

As the old saying goes "be carefull what you wish for because it might come true"

I just hope some good true vintage guys are involved to when the vintage rules and classes are laid out and how the new organization lays out the running order of the day and all of the important things like that.

Not trying to be Debbie Downer here at all, I'm just very cautious in approaching these kinds of things based on experience.

Lets hear more

[articjunkie]

Maxi and Matt,

I am a member of the ORA and I sit on the board. We have our rules for vintage in place. They are the same as Wolflake and Sleds. The goal of the ORA is just not to grow Vintage Racing. We have been very successful at that already, as you already know. Our goal is to grow ice ovals together Vintage and late models. This group is drivers for the drivers!

For those of you that know me and about the races that I have help set up. Know I am watching out for the Vintage racers. I always have and always will. The purse will be the same, the entry fees will be the same. The SHOW will be much larger. In the ORA we are all equals, Vintage and Late Model. We are all Ice oval racers.

I have spent a lot of time lately talking with Doug Fontaine, Bryan Timmer, Mike Benoy, and Robert Hoglund.  I can tell you their priorties are in the right order. They understand racers, racing, and promoting. I am very excited to be a part of the ORA.


If anyone has more questions please post, email me, or give me a call at 320-285-7066. I will do my best to get the answers you need.



Matt, you can buy me a Chicken dinner!

Mike Meagher

[Larry Preston]

Okay boys you got my attention! This could be very, very, very cool. Seems like yes, there could be a lot of hurdles to overcome, but it sure sounds to me like the best way to get modern oval racing back on track! 

[benoyracing]

Just to answer a few questions and re-iterate what Mike said.  The ORA is all about maintaining the proper balance between racers, promoters, and the organizing body.  It is the opinion of those of us who are taking on this new venture that there simply isn't room for a single profiteer when it comes to snowmobile racing.  From the financial standpoint we have to make sure of 3 things:

1 - The racers who show up and put on the show get paid, the same day as the race, and are compensated in a fair way. 
2 - The race promoter/venue needs to operate under a business model which makes it affordable for them to host an event and rewards them for good marketing and promotion
3 - The organization, which will consist of and be run by the racers themselves needs to maintain an operating income.

As this develops, it is our full intention to have a season points championship, sell souvenirs, etc.

As for the balance between late model and vintage, I think we need to keep the entities seperate.  Vintage racers will make vintage rules and will handle vintage entry fees and such.  Late model racers will make late model rules and will deal with our entry fees and such.  Guaranteed purse money will also be split and payouts will be published.  We are certainly not in this to try to take purse money away from the vintage racers.  You all have done a fantastic job of building your sport.

The biggest reason that I think we need to work together is so that we can offer the best possible show for the fans to watch.  In the end, we all have to focus on one thing:  It's all about giving the fan a good show for their dollars

[Racing Elvis]

hi mike, bill stull here, sounds like you have a great thing started and  i am very interested in it. with mike meagher at the healm for the vintage i know things will be run smooth. i also run the vinatge sno-pro series and i think that it might be a huge attraction to your show. something  to think and talk about thats for sure. i am sure i will be talking to mike meagher about this. good luck and talk to you soon,. b.s. 171

[benoyracing]

Bill, I'm not sure how your class structure is and how any of it fits with what Mike is already doing?  Our vision is to put on the BEST show possible and I'd sure like to see those Rupps there!

Also, for the guys who race at Wolf Lake on Sundays, we are only planning on running our vintage classes on Friday night and Saturday so as not to interfere with Wolf Lake

[snopro78]

 Bills class structure is the best of any association out there, he runs about 13 classes in vintage and thats plenty and most all are mod. Scott has a few different classes that should be figured into the structure of things.  Most associations have way too many uneeded vintage classes.

[kelly andersen]

This is exciting!! I thought Rock Rapids was cool with the modern sleds there also. I hope it will be sucessful.

[snopro78]

 Vintage has too many classes. Like kurt said, they ran 32 classes at Mole Lake. I think that  is unnecessary at any race venue. The show drags on too long and the racers only get a final.
 Also, if this is going to be ran the same way as SLEDS and we go out for a 3 lap final, then the ORA event wont be any different than any other vintage venue.
 I hope it all works out for the late model and vintage, but Mike, try to make sure ya just dont herd the vintage guys thru the gate like a bunch of sheep and run 3 laps so you can fit as many classes in as possible.
 Make it unique and different for the fans and racers.

                                         my .02

[Motoski250]

Hey Devin, At Hayward this last year I seem to remember that you got 10 laps on your cat and all you did is complain when you got back into the pits.  Are you ever happy and satisfied???  LOL
Kriegs

[Racer #9]

It's good to have Mike running the vintage portion of this thing....

Mike,
What two side would you like with your chicken? 

[snopro78]

 Well I remember saying that my left forearm was about ready to fall off. That wasnt necessarly because of too many laps, thats called old(er) age and a sled thats not handling well...as of yet.
 That was the funnest final all year!
 I'll take the 10 lap final and complain long before I'll take the 3 lap and complain! :) so......does that answer your question? :)