Good Article on Road America

[Dov]

Nabbed from another forum...

By DAVE KALLMANN
dkallmann@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 3, 2004

Yes, it's true that Road America has struggled in recent years with its Champ Car World Series weekend, once one of the most popular sporting events in the state.

And yes, it's true that there is no contract in place between the track and sanctioning body beyond the Grand Prix of Road America on Sunday.

But general manager George Bruggenthies bristles at anyone who would doom the event to failure.

He wouldn't have spent a half-million dollars on promotion if he didn't think there was a future for Champ Car at the scenic Elkhart Lake course.

"When you read this stuff and it's inaccurate information, it's really disappointing because it's hard to combat," Bruggenthies said, referring to Internet reports.

"Instead of supporting the event and saying, 'This is the final year of the existing contract at Road America; make sure you show your support and go out and check out the race' . . . they're trying to downplay the event."

Road America is among many tracks on the circuit that have suffered because of the split in open-wheel racing and diminished visibility of the Champ Car World Series. But there are other factors that have contributed to its trouble, as well.

The track went through a series of lawsuits with CART, the company that formerly owned the series, and the race was taken off the 2003 schedule for a time, leaving fans confused and angry.

The event also has been hindered by rain in recent years as well as a confusing decision last year to halt and then restart the race that had some fans leaving the track and missing the action.

Another challenge for Road America, Bruggenthies conceded, is the changing taste of the American racing fan.

As NASCAR popularity booms, fewer fans seem willing to travel to a venue where they can see only part of the racetrack at any given time.

But Bruggenthies sells the experience of Road America as one different from almost any other in sports, with the sights and sounds of racing, the smells of grilling and a special camaraderie among fans who gather year after year at the same place along the fence.

"You've got your cooler and your barbecue in the back and you've brought along a couple other friends that have never been there, who maybe when you told them you were going to a race, they weren't really interested," he said.

"When they get here, they've got their lawn chairs out, they've got their grill going, they see the color and the excitement of the cars and the people around them. Now they've experienced Road America."

It's also a value, he said, pointing to the four support series running this weekend, free admission for children 12 and under, the absence of a parking fee and the fact that carry-in food and beverages are permitted.

Among those visiting the track for the first time this weekend will be Champ Car CEO Dick Eidswick, who joined the series in December.

"Everyone I've talked to says it's . . . really an interesting course and it's a great place to have a race," he said Tuesday from Indianapolis. "I have a good attitude going into it. It's been an important race for Champ Car in the past, and I can see no reason why we're not going to keep going."

Champ Car hopes to put out its schedule by the end of summer. The lack of a contract at this point does not exclude Road America, Eidswick said, because deals can be wrapped up quickly.

Bruggenthies and his staff have heard from a number of hard-core fans concerned about the future of the race. Some said they were angry to read of plans to replace Champ Car with an Indy Racing League event, but Bruggenthies said he had not spoken to the IRL in about six months.

Road America has encouraged e-mailers to spread the word about the track and the Champ Car weekend.

After drawing race-day crowds estimated at 60,000 and 70,000 a decade ago, the event now brings in less than half as many. Sponsorships have dwindled, and the track has lost close to $500,000 the past two or three years, Bruggenthies said.

Changing the nature of the contract to limit Road America's risk of loss would be the key to a deal to keep Road America as part of the Champ Car schedule, as it has been since 1982.

"The simple math is that in order to put on the show, we really have to be paid for it, and that's going to determine where we race in the long term," Eidswick said. "But in the short term, especially with something that has tradition like this one, we're willing to make sure both the promoter and Champ Car do all right with the thing."

In other words, the race set for 2 p.m. Sunday could go a long way toward determining what future the series and track might have together.

"Our focus is on producing a good event this weekend," Bruggenthies said. "If everything is successful and we're both smiling, we'll be talking. It's as easy as that."




From the Aug. 4, 2004, editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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