This isn't good

[fastwin]

Well that's not good news either. Sounds like a classic head banging contest where no one wins. Feel sorry for the riders and teams who have put so much into the season only to be left hanging out in the breeze as far as their championship plans go. I had hopes that DMG/AMA was not at fault and they acted like the contract for this event was a done deal as of late 2010, therefore it made it onto the schedule like all the other races.

It will be interesting to see what comes forward in the next few days and weeks. I am sure the spin doctors will have their way with this. As others have said VIR management can be difficult to deal with and I haven't seen this kind of problem regarding DMG/AMA with other venues. Guess time will tell. But for damn sure this race ain't happening. Sad.

[zooom]

  As others have said VIR management can be difficult to deal with and I haven't seen this kind of problem regarding DMG/AMA with other venues. Guess time will tell. 

well, I can personally say from dealing with VIR for our club track dates thru Conerspeed, VIR isn't all THAT hard to deal with really. They are up front about laying out schedules and terms of contract and fees with us, and there has always been a specific timeframe for which to make all conditions and provisions and so forth to be dealt with. It sounds to me, based on my knowledge, they bent over backwards to help AMA/DMG out, because they locked in our April and September dates down back in early January. I can't seem to necessarily fault VIR as being "difficult" in this case.

[gm2]

if you request a contract in December but receive it in June.. and there is always (a month or two of) back and forth once you actually lay hands on the document.. that's just not enough time.

[fastwin]

Either way, regardless who is actually at fault, I feel bad for the riders and teams. There are some really close championship races going on and I am sure they all were counting on the full schedule of races to be run. And yes, there are two sides to every story. Now it's just a matter of who is telling the truth and who takes who to court. Sad.

[zooom]

if you request a contract in December but receive it in June.. and there is always (a month or two of) back and forth once you actually lay hands on the document.. that's just not enough time.

 I am sure DMG requested a contract before then, or at least, if they are smart in terms of promoting and so forth, they would normally have asked for a contract at the closure of the previous season with attendance numbers and so forth to help dictate the grounds or negotiations in that contract. VIR does their best to accomodate sanctioned racing bodies with the scheduling of their events 1st, before farming the remainder of open dates out to schools and track orgs, hence why we have to wait until January for to formally recieve our dates. Ask on the WERA or CCS or NASA or SCCA forums of any of the other event racing series that are hosted there repeatedly if they have issues.

also, FWIW, AMA/DMG did themselves no good service or favors in this issue by not following up with VIR and yet promoting and scheduling an event that was not confirmed or contracted.

[gm2]

I am sure DMG requested a contract before then, or at least, if they are smart in terms of promoting and so forth, they would normally have asked for a contract at the closure of the previous season with attendance numbers and so forth to help dictate the grounds or negotiations in that contract. VIR does their best to accomodate sanctioned racing bodies with the scheduling of their events 1st, before farming the remainder of open dates out to schools and track orgs, hence why we have to wait until January for to formally recieve our dates. Ask on the WERA or CCS or NASA or SCCA forums of any of the other event racing series that are hosted there repeatedly if they have issues.

also, FWIW, AMA/DMG did themselves no good service or favors in this issue by not following up with VIR and yet promoting and scheduling an event that was not confirmed or contracted.

it was VIR that requested the contract in December, not DMG

[Speeddog]

FWIW, Ulrich gives his personal opinion:
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=45288

[ducpainter]

There's a saying about opinions.

[derby]

There's a saying about opinions.

indeed, but there is a history here...

m1 promoted a successful event for years at road atlanta. the track took promotions in house, attendance declined, and now there's no event at road atlanta.

when road atlanta non-renewed m1's contract, they took they're show (the big kahuna nationals) to vir. after years of profitable events, vir non-renewed m1's contract and took promotions in house. now there's no event at vir.

[bdfinally]

Ahhh, they found a place holder for the canceled event. It reads like this was a scheduled event, but I've never seen them there that weekend.

The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association will still be at Virginia International Raceway the weekend of Aug. 12-14 although the AMA Pro Racing event was canceled.

This year, the vintage motorcycle racing organization expects to have more than 100 competitors with both vintage and modern motorcycles and sidecars, according to a news release.

The association invites motorcycle enthusiasts, clubs and spectators to watch a full round of practice Friday followed by racing Saturday and Sunday that weekend.

http://www2.godanriver.com/sports/2011/jul/14/vintage-motorcycle-racing-welcomes-fans-vir-ar-1173755/

$30 for 3 days

[bdfinally]

That didn't take long, in fact suit was filed by VIR on July 5th

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=45303

[ducatiz]

That didn't take long, in fact suit was filed by VIR on July 5th

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=45303

Does someone have a copy of the filing?  Very interesting...

[ducpainter]

indeed, but there is a history here...

m1 promoted a successful event for years at road atlanta. the track took promotions in house, attendance declined, and now there's no event at road atlanta.

when road atlanta non-renewed m1's contract, they took they're show (the big kahuna nationals) to vir. after years of profitable events, vir non-renewed m1's contract and took promotions in house. now there's no event at vir.

The history doesn't pertain to contracts not being tendered as agreed. Only the promotion of the event, and as Mr. Ulrich states...greed.

If in fact DMG didn't make a contract available until June, and the terms were markedly different as stated in the linked article...http://www.gazettevirginian.com/index.php/news/34-news/3536-vir-files-lawsuit-over-contract
It's all on DMG IMO.

In the end it's all about money...always is.