| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Unfortunately, one side of the story does a better job of passing the smell test and for the first I can think of, it's AMA Pro Racings. From what I have read elsewhere it is probably more complciated still. VIR used to employ and outside agency to do the promotion for and run their AMA superbike round. They decided to bring it 'in house' so that would have meant renegotiating their contracts with various racing bodies including the AMA (which other tracks wouldn't have had to do). Obviously neither side were happy with these negotiations so it fell apart. Another aspect is that spectator attendances at VIR had been steadily falling year on year, so maybe the final straw was that they couldn't find any way of making money from the event, and felt that the poor attendance figures didn't warrant their investment. I have had some dealings with promoters and organisers of race meetings over here, and I know that they have very tight margins that are based on the minimum numbers of competitors per race (in order to make money from entry fees) and potential audience figures (from either attending spectators or TV payments). If any one of these falls short then the track makes no money. If the AMA decided they wanted a larger cut of entrance money or spectator money it may have been the final straw for the track  | ||
| Aeholton |
The moment VIR posted the event on their website (started promoting) and began selling tickets, they obligated themselves to host the event. Sounds like the deal agreed to by VIR's previous GM, Josh Leif, was not good enough for ownership. However, VIR's representative made the deal and they should stick to it. Canceling 40 days before the event is crappy in my book. | ||
| Reepicheep |
We will probably never know the facts, but there is probably plenty of blame to go around. At the end of the day though, VIR said they were going to host it, and bailed. I would have had no beef with them if they said "we are loosing money, and won't do it next year". | ||
| Jumbo_petite |
I have been to the AMA races there for the last five years. Last year was the first year M1 Promotions was not involved and VIR was the promoter. A lot of things were different. No jumbotron between turns 3 and 4, reduced amount of vendors in the midway. I think there was no demo rides either. Talking to some of the vendors i found out that the dropping of M1 Promotions was the cause of why some of the vendors were absent. The only benefit was that ticket prices were reduced. It was like the beginning to an end of something good. (Message edited by jumbo petite on July 13, 2011) | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Jetbuilder Posted on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 - 09:21 pm: This means no more racing in the south...... Maybe you've heard of a little town in Florida called DAYTONA? | ||
| Svh |
Daytona... The race more racers wish would get taken off the schedule than any other. | ||
| Slaughter |
At least they got Superbike taken off Daytona before they killed anybody. VIR published a response to this. At this point, nothing is clear except the Series got a screwing. http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=4 5270 | ||
| Jetbuilder |
I mean the south central area something that can be driven to easily driven by us who call VIR home | ||
| Jumbo_petite |
Pat and Tim I haven't canceled my hotel reservation yet, so i may just ride out there to check out the action. Mike | ||
| Hughlysses |
AMA's news release on the subject:
http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid= 44011 | ||
| Hughlysses |
Woah! John Ulrich's take on the deal at Roadracing World: http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=45288 Highlight: it ain't the AMA's fault. | ||
| Aeholton |
Woah! John Ulrich's take on the deal at Roadracing World: http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=45288 Yep, VIR's fault. They put it in on the calendar, they started promoting, they pulled the plug. Bet they were hoping for more sympathetic view since they were up against DMG. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
VIR saw all the "rewards" from M1's hard promotion and work, but probably didn't see much of the behind the scenes work. Suck part is they saw the less-than-ideal results in 2010 and didn't 1) hire M1 back for 2011 or 2) work harder to make the event a success for for 2011. The topper, of course, being the decision to cancel the event 40-days out. FVIR. | ||
| Sv650tony |
John Ulrich's article was quite interesting. | ||
| Blake |
Sounds like VIR is fixin to be sued, big time. Note in the original article by RRW where an executive at AMA Pro Racing states "I am deeply troubled by the injuries that will be suffered by our athletes, our teams, sponsors and the series by this development." "Injuries" is legal lingo for "you owe us big and we're prepared to convince a judge to make you pay up." | ||
| Sparky |
I'd think that VIR should re-hire the M1 folk and save face, sad as it is, to put it back on the calendar. | ||
| Xb1125r |
what a shame I was planning on going to VIR and NJ. I guess it will be only NJ for me. they should have a race at Summit Point, it would attract alot of people sine is close to the city. when the heck is Maryland going to finish their Race track! | ||
| Smoke |
come out to the south track that weekend with Mike for the AHRMA races!! lots of cool stuff. and good pizza in the old building on the way in towards the track!! tim | ||
| Badlionsfan |
i love John Ulrich and the way he writes. VIR weaseled out, end of discussion situation situation! | ||
| Toona |
From the Gazette Virginian online: http://www.gazettevirginian.com/index.php/news/34- news/3536-vir-files-lawsuit-over-contract VIR files lawsuit over contract PDF Print E-mail Written by Doug Ford 12:00 am 07/15/11 AddThis Social Bookmark Button Virginia International Raceway has filed a “complaint for declaratory judgment” against Daytona Motorsports Group, LLC, doing business as AMA Pro Racing, as the result of an ongoing contract dispute. In the suit, filed July 5 in Halifax County Circuit Court, VIR is asking the court for a declaratory judgment stating no contract exists between VIR and AMA that obligates VIR to conduct an event with AMA at VIR’s facility in August 2011, and one stating no contract exists between VIR and AMA that obligates VIR to conduct an event with AMA at VIR’s facility at any time in the future. Earlier this month, VIR officials pulled the plug on the Suzuki White Lightning Nationals AMA Pro Superbike motorcycle-racing event scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 12-14. The national AMA event has annually been one of the largest racing events in the region and has been telecast nationally both live on a tape-delay basis. The suit states that in September 2009, AMA and VIR considered a letter of intent regarding the proposed use by AMA of the track [at VIR] in August 2010, August 2011 and August 2012. That letter, according to VIR, set forth only the proposed event dates and sanction fee, but did not prescribe the vast majority of material terms necessary to form a binding, enforceable contract. “AMA never signed the letter of intent,” VIR stated in its action. When considering that letter of intent, both VIR and AMA fully intended that, if an actual contract were to be entered into for any year’s event, it would consist of a comprehensive written agreement that specified all the material terms essential to the contract, according to VIR. The letter of intent referred to a sanction package that later would be provided to VIR, and a sanction agreement was signed by both parties in August 2010. The 2010 agreement contained numerous terms essential to such an undertaking, none of which was present in the letter of intent, according to the complaint filed by VIR. The August 2010 event took place pursuant to that agreement. In its complaint, VIR contends the 2010 agreement pertained only to the 2010 event, and by its explicit term, it expired on Dec. 31, 2010. VIR contends after AMA expressed its desire to conduct an AMA event at the track in August 2011, it “repeatedly requested that AMA provide the 2011 contract that it wished VIR to consider for the 2011 event. “In response, AMA confirmed that a contract would, in fact, be tendered and that, while its terms would be similar to the 2010 agreement, the 2011 version would contain differences.” VIR contends that despite repeated requests dating back to late 2010 that AMA send its 2011 contract for VIR’s consideration, AMA failed to send that proposed contract until June 2, 2011. The 2011 proposed agreement contained more than 24 terms that were starkly different from the 2010 agreement, including many critical terms, the complaint reads. The judgment states that in the late 2010 to mid-2011 time frame, VIR experienced significant difficulties in receiving requested information and even return phone calls and correspondence from AMA. VIR contends it has not signed the 2011 proposed agreement and has informed AMA that it does not wish to conduct an event with AMA in 2011. Although AMA claims that it and VIR entered into a binding contract by which VIR agreed to provide use of the track to AMA and pay a fee to AMA which would permit AMA to hold its event at the track in 2011, VIR denies that it and AMA entered into any contract that obligates VIR to allow AMA to use the track or pay AMA any fee in 2011 or any other time in the future. The existence of an enforceable contract pertaining to AMA’s use of the VIR track is at the heart of the disagreement between the two parties, with AMA informing VIR that VIR’s refusal to permit AMA to use the track in August 2011 would cause AMA and its participants significant damage. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Reeks of sue before they sue you, cuz vir knows it's coming. | ||
| Reepicheep |
If there are 24 "stark terms", and the contract isn't covered under some kind of NDA, publish 'em. | ||
| Davegess |
Everything will come out if there is a trial. | ||
| Toona |
The letter of intent referred to a sanction package that later would be provided to VIR, and a sanction agreement was signed by both parties in August 2010. Hmm, from the news article, it sounds like the contract for 2010 was signed at the last minute. Which was the first year that VIR was "running the show" instead of M1. The suit states that in September 2009, AMA and VIR considered a letter of intent regarding the proposed use by AMA of the track [at VIR] in August 2010, August 2011 and August 2012. Do you think VIR is going to try to say that since the letter of intent for '10, '11, and '12 was signed in 2009 that they are going to say it was and agreement between M1 and AMA/DMG and not VIR? | ||
| Smoke4ndmears |
what a shame I was planning on going to VIR and NJ. I guess it will be only NJ for me. they should have a race at Summit Point, it would attract alot of people sine is close to the city. when the heck is Maryland going to finish their Race track! unfortunately the Baltimore GP is the same weekend -going to put a hurting on any plans for alot of race fans going that far for AMA. Very bummed about the VIR cancellation. | ||
| Hughlysses |
This story gets screwier by the day. According to the last thing posted by Road Racing World on Friday, VIR has apparently not filed the lawsuit against the AMA: http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=45321 If VIR had put half as much effort into trying to actually hold the race as they're apparently putting into trying NOT to hold the race, there wouldn't be a problem. | ||
| Svh |
They have filed it but are not pursuing it. Right now. The last page of that filing is the letter to the judge and the last line is "Please note that we are not requesting service at this time." It was preemptive posturing thats all. | ||
| Americanmadexb |
Lets just move the race to the weekend before MotoGp at Indy!!! The XR1200 already has a practice session that weekend, which means the track is ready and prepped. Let's just make a race weekend out of it! | ||
| Hughlysses |
No replacement race/venue for VIR either: http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=45375 | ||
| Toona |
I got an email from NESBA today stating that they secured the AMA weekend at VIR for an extended track day weekend.... |
