Thoughts on the BCM Closing

The biggest news this week is undeniably the closing of Butler County Motorplex. After three years, Jacy and Paula Todd have called it quits, citing physical and financial reasons; closing the doors effective immediately.

I have to give them credit - BCM is a racy place but suffers two big handicaps: an out of the way location and very limited seating. The grandstands are just too small to support the front gate revenue needed to make privately-owned facilities survive (as I said here). Fairgrounds tracks are paid for, and unless the upkeep exceeds revenue (profit margin isn’t as big a deal) or the land is more profitable if re-purposed, such as Nebraska State Fair Park - the going is a little easier especially with so many “suitcase promoters” running the show.

BCM was put up for sale in 2006 - the asking price was $550,000 at the time. The Todd’s took it over for the 2007 season and had an impressive run. We’ll see what the future holds.

Some of the regulars are trying to mount a grassroots effort to finish out the season offering to race for trophies and no purse money. Pit fees would remain, in order to pay for the show (but I’m unaware if there’s any outstanding debt).

I understand the sentiment, and I’m in the minority - but running for free is setting a dangerous precedent when one of the complaints I hear most often is purses just aren’t large enough to maintain race-to-race expenses. I’ve said before that purses aren’t the only reason for lower car counts, but lowering purses further isn’t going to help.

Maybe running one “last blast” show for free would be OK, but I will guarantee that the willingness to run for free will be used by any promoter against them when the issue of raising the purse comes up. It’s one of the beefs I have with sprint cars willing to travel two hours northwest to run for a portion of the front gate - which in many cases is much less than what Eagle and ASCS are paying.

Racing is as much an emotional investment as anything - I’ve been there. But I’ve also been part of the other side from the local level to national series and the “you were willing to run at ____ for less!” argument does happen. It will happen. Think of the long term, people.

“We would race for nothing!” Really? When the check is zero and the stands are full?

"Hey, we don't race for much anyway!" OK...how about less than that?

Be careful that the knee-jerk reaction doesn’t come up and smack you in the face later. Consider taking all that pit fee money and having a last season ending banquet instead.

It’s an unceremonious end to a place that seems to be dear to people’s hearts. But with racetracks, those kind of endings are the norm.