Before I get into the 2005 season information, Margaret and I would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2004 season for their sincere and dedicated commitment. Although the numbers were down, the competition was superb!! Our season finale would have been undoubtedly one of the largest participated events with the addition of the Scooters, and a fairly large contingency of pocket bikes. One problem---Rain-Rain-Rain! When we finally decided to run in the rain, the Scooters had to withdraw, as they could not keep their bikes up on the slick surface, plus we lost a few pocket bikes, as they had prior experience running in the rain at another facility, and they just did not feel their bikes would handle the rain. Despite some rather hard rain in the first heat, it started to clear up, and we finished under fairly decent weather conditions. Again, thank you all for your tremendous support for the entire 2004 season.

We had our banquet at a new location this year, Mark and Monica’s Sports Bar and Pizza. We had our private room, with everyone ordering off their menu. The food and atmosphere was excellent, and by my observation, everyone really seemed to really enjoy themselves! Everyone also seemed to enjoy their rewards for a hard fought season, as their were a few comments such as, "wow-these trophies are better than AMA Awards!"

Congratulations to our Top 10 finishers, starting with your new 2004 Grand Champion-Jim Tufts!!! Jim earned the top season recognition by winning the F-80 Class, took 2^nd in the XR-100 Class, and 3^rd in the XR-Pipe Class! In these classes combined Jim had 5 First place finishes, one 2^nd place finish, and Four 3^rd place finishes. Jim moved all the way up from 10^th in the Top 10 in the 2003 season, to take the Grand Championship win by 677 points over 2^nd place!! What a great accomplishment!! Rounding out the top 10 honors were:

Also recognized at the banquet were the 2004 class champions as follows:

Capping off the awards is always my favorite time of the banquet, as it affords me the opportunity to give out special recognition to individuals for how I saw them perform over the season! These special award recipients were as follows:

PRESIDENT’S AWARD- RANDY LOGAN

Thank you all for the extra hard work you put into the season to earn these special awards given to special individuals!!

A couple other comments on the Awards banquet—Thank you Darryl Warren for making the trip back from Texas, to be with the old gang at the banquet. We wish you and Brandon a lot of success in Texas. You took enough hardware back to remember your experience with the Golden State Mini Bikes forever!

Thank you Josh Serne for you special presentation on your sponsorships. It was real neat and professional from a very young up and coming racer!

Thank you Paul Kellogg for your efforts in obtaining Big Gun Exhaust Systems as a major sponsor to the 2004 Season!

A disastrous blow was delivered to me this past Monday from Gary Lovotti, the new promoter at Prairie City. At our January 8^th banquet, I passed out a schedule of 5 event dates requested from Mr. Lovotti. I had been working with Gary for a year, as the individual to take over the track due to my frustration with the State over the past 3 years. One of the plans was for him to submit a bid, with me submitting a backup bid, to assure that we would get the track over any other individual. If the bid was awarded to me, I would turn the track over to him, with me retaining 10 race dates for the 2005 season. 7 races were to be bike events, and 3 kart events. The original bid date was to take place in late February, early March. This date was continually deferred by the State until it finally took place in August. Prior to the final bid date, I informed Gary that I would not be submitting a bid, subject to me getting the 10 race weekends. All seemed to be fine until one day in October, shortly after he was informed the bid was awarded to him, when he advised me that when he looked at his financial estimates, he could not give up 10 weekends. I informed him that I would revise by schedule to 8 dates, with 5 bikes and 3 karts, with the first kart date to be in April to include the Vintage Karts, as I had made a commitment to them to run our 5^th Annual Reunion Event during the running of our Fall Classic in September! Now remember, Gary could not commit to the actual dates until after our November 20^th Nor-Cal annual kart meeting, as this is the date that all central valley tracks organize their race dates around IKF events, and avoid overlapping club events amongst Stockton, Dixon, and Davis. During the meeting, I specifically asked that the April 23-24 date be set aside for the Vintage Karts, and we would set the balance of the dates later. Since Margaret and I planned on being away until Dec. 16, we assumed everything was ok, and did not concern ourselves with the balance of the dates until we returned. When Gary would not make the time available for a physical meeting to set the dates, he asked that I e-mail him my preferred dates. I looked at his calendar of committed dates and scheduled all my dates on top of IKF dates for the bikes, and Sears dates for the karts, as these dates would have the least impact on his operation. These are the dates I referred to at our banquet with the e-mail being sent out on 1/12/05. I also requested that he get back right away, as I wanted to announce the dates to the karters at our 1/15/05 banquet. With no response, another e-mail was sent on 1/19/05, suggesting that if the dates previously sent were not workable, maybe he could give me some alternative dates. I just needed to know where I stood.

Finally, on 1/24/05 I received an e-mail from Gary that basically said, with track improvements scheduled, which could lead to a track closure to allow the asphalt to cure, he was unable to commit to any schedule other than his own.

This lead to my 3 page response that informed him that I scheduled around 11-13 kart events per season, 10 bike events, plus 32 dirt oval events for 7 years. In other words, I scheduled 55 events vs his 12. Additionally, he would not have had the $390,000+ in funds available to do the improvements where it not for my 3 years effort to get the State funding commitment. As I had advised both the karters and bikes, I had received approval for funding:

1. A complete asphalt overlay of the track, plus additional widening

2. A permanent structure covering the entire grid area

3. New grandstands

4. Additional asphalt pads in the pit area to expand trailer parking

5. Asphalt in the pits to level out the areas that allowed water to stand during rain

6. Additional plastic safety barriers, which would allow us to remove many of the tires

Also included in the request is an additional $100,000+ to install lighting in phase two.

In addition to obtaining the funding, I fought for 2+ years to save the back pit area, which was to be taken away from the karters/ bikes and given to the BMX and Skateboard operation. Were this to happen, the karting facility would not have had sufficient pit area to even promote a kart event.

I know I have rambled on, but I wanted to give you all an idea of just what has gone into my not only attempting to preserve the track, but secure dates previously agreed to.

The short of it is, when I received no response to my 1/30/05 letter, I approached Gary at the track on Feb. 14, while removing some of my equipment. I was rather rudely responded to, that not only was I not getting any dates for bikes, I would get no kart dates, or the April Vintage Kart event! Since Gary raced with us for a few years, was my race director with the karts for 2 years, his wife worked with Margaret in the tower for 4 years, and was our President’s Award recipient on two separate seasons, one would expect he would be good for his word. You have no idea how sick a feeling Margaret and I have in our stomachs, that what we felt was a genuine friendship, has put us into a position to now preserve our reputation, that we felt we tried to build over the past 11 years.

I have since been scrambling to secure a location for the previously committed April Vintage Kart event. I will be advised on March 2 weather I have a home for the running of this event.

As of this date, I am sad to say I have no home for the running of the Golden State Mini Motorcycle Road Racing Club. After nailing down the Vintage Kart event, I will attempt to either find a home, or travel to different locations. Irregardless, at this late date, it would appear we will not be able to put together a championship season at this point, but possibly a couple stand alone events. I truly want to keep our organization and great people together. I am sorry for not advising everyone earlier, but felt something could be worked out, until I received the manner of response on Feb. 14. I do know the State is quite disappointed that all bikes, including the pocket bikes, will not be given a place to go within the State Park. Please keep the faith! I will keep you apprised as I receive feedback.

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOMEWHERE!!

E-mail address: amp@cncnet.com

Web page: www.ahrensmotorsports.com

Last Updated

Monday, April 16, 2007