Caprway Rovers / Middleboro NESC Races

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To all Newengland Riders: Capeway Rovers / Middleboro WILL be running as usual on Sunday, July 9th 2000, championship points will be awarded as usual.

I would like to answer Ms. Treadwell's July 5th, 2000 letter. There have been many threats to me and the Capeway Rovers employees, and riders. I can prove this. At the expert recall there were threats to riders. This I can prove. Jack Camelio did try to sabotage the track so the little riders could be hurt. This I can prove. Jack was told by a person that was working on the computers to get off the track and quit trying to sabotage it. There were several people that observed Jack trying to sabotage the track. I can prove this also. I asked Mike Treadwell why he was involved with Jack Camelio and his boys. He said he knew the track was safe but because he was a rider rep. he felt his obligation was to the riders. I said "If the riders were right you should be in their corner, but if their wrong you should support the track. As a matter of fact 516 entries rode the rest of the day and the ambulance did not have to make any runs. Does this sound like an unsafe track? Capeway Rovers track is the safest track in New England. I can prove this also. I checked with Roger Davis and my own lawyer before I sent out the registered letters. They told me I had all the right in the world to do this. Capeway has all the necessary permits for the entire 2000 season.

Capeway Rovers / Middleboro Norman Collins

-- Norman Collins (walt@gis.net), July 08, 2000

Answers

I was at Middleboro the day of the event where the riders protested, but I have heard many different sides to the whole issue, and have some questions of my own I'd like to see answered. The first thing is what proof do you have of threats being made? I'm very curious as to how you can prove (positively, not heresay) that threats were made. As for Jack "sabotaging" the track, that is something that he should hold responsibility for...IF he was truly doing that. I don't know, like I said, I wasn't there. As for Treadwell's involvement, I don't blame him for siding with the riders. It's about time we had a rider rep that will actually listen to the riders. Also, why are the riders wrong for wanting a change in the organization for which we race??? As many others have mentioned, the NESC has seen a decrease in tracks, riding time, etc...and the only thing increasing is entry fees. The open class lost it's championship points this year to make the day not as long. That's a great theory, but now anyone who's 18- 29 years old must have two bikes to have the chance to race two championship classes...and maybe get some real track time. Maybe the answer is to go back to running a 125, 250 and Open class for Novice's, Amatuer's and Expert's...have a vet class or two, and some youth classes (not 125, but 50, 60 and 80). Give the classes full length motos all day long. This would eliminate the need to have to ride multiple classes to get a fair amount of track time. I don't really know what the answer is there. As for the 516 entries, and noone getting hurt, I had heard (and I do not know this for fact), that in one of the first motos of the day (maybe even the first moto), someone went over the bars and broke one of their legs. The ambulance may not have left, but it doesn't mean people didn't get hurt. Please prove that your track is the safest in New England, and again, I'm talking about something positive and factual...not just someone saying it is...PROOF!!! One more thing I'm curious about, why is that Wally Silva and Pat Barton are allowed back there for the simple fact they didn't forward their entries to another event??? If you're not allowing people back due to threats being made, that should be all-inclusive. Otherwise, let people pay their additional days entries (the money you would have made if they raced, or didn't forward their entries) and welcome them back...since that's basically what you did for them. Again, please prove what you say you can...otherwise you sound like a kid saying "I know what the answer is, but I don't have to tell you." The riders have the right to decide if we feel the track is safe. Until you're out there every weekend racing, you should just sit back and listen to what we have to say. Shane Anderson NESC Am #699

-- Shane Anderson (shane_699@yahoo.com), July 08, 2000.

The first line of that post should have read "I was not at Middleboro..." I apologize for the typo. Shane

-- Shane Anderson (shane_699@yahoo.com), July 08, 2000.

Norman.... as a member of the motocross industry I understand "customer service" very well. The credibility that has been lost by the unwillingness to listen to your customers is what this is ALL about.

Why can't you sit down and have a face to face meeting with your "customers?" Listen to them.... talk with them...don't argue with them. The track owners have to understand the very essence of this entire situation.... and that is that these riders are your customers and they deserve respect.

This is not your problem entirely. It is also the NESC's problem as well. The President of NESC should address this situation in the same manner.

Do I have a vested interest in what happens here? No. Would I like to see the NESC continue forward with a more progressive attitude? Of course. We all have to change with the times. We all have to grow. Continueous Improvement is a "buzz" word that workers in the U.S. have been living by for the last 15 years. The idea that we are not "resting on our laurels" is very important to our customers. True.. the rest rooms have been improved... you may very well have the "safest" track in New England...but why not accept the help (free of charge) of expert riders in re-designing and refining the track (the very reason they come to race).

I think the fact that you posted to this bulletin board is a positive step.

1. Will you be doing this regularly? 2. Will you accept help from the riders?

-- Jeff Brown (SalesAgent@aol.com), July 08, 2000.


YOU DRUNKEN BUM ,WHO CALLED AND THREATEND YOU ? THE LAST TIME I CHECKED THE GUTTER DIDNT HAVE PHONES.I WOULD NEVER EVER JEAPORDIZE KIDS RIDING YOU PIECE OF SHIT NORMAN.AND U CAN BLAME ME FOR THIS WHOLE UPRISING IF U LIKE, ID BE PROUD.

-- JACK CAMELIO (jack camelio@aol.com), July 08, 2000.

Norman, i have been around, racing Middleboro since the late 60's always ben helpful to the track's in someway or another , wether it's been a pep talk about somthing someone doesn't like on the track, or physically helping ( like grabbing a water hose to water). i'm skipping all the crap thats been going on, here is a small list what i would like to see happen, i know, and it is pure common sence, this is what many would like to see happen, as a start, . the cource redesigned, it's gotten too fast, way too fast, it's a dragway from one turn to another. wider sections in the mddle . reshape the jumps, remove ALL the rocks lying around ON and OFF the track, LOAM all the areas in between the turns , straights, junps and other areas, hydroseed for GRASS to grow (it looks nice) , remove all the piles of dirt the loader operator leaves behind , ( dress up the place, it makes a better impression ) . not only for the rider , but spectator too. i think the dust control gets out of hand on occation, and that may lead to an unsafe "CONDITION" not an unsafe track. An unsafe condition doesn't mean the whole place. A better and broader pa system ( for Dale ). these are a few good suggestions that i think would make a big, big difference for a start. You and me both know these thing's don't happen over nite, but these suggestions are for the better all around. ... You have been around for a long time , remember the 60's, and 70's when spectators used to sit on the grassy infield during those day's ! Maybe later on dowm the road pave the entrance road and pit roads for road bikes and seectator's . I know i wouldn't ride a $ 12,000 gold wing down the present dirt road ! I am not trying to be in any way insulting to the club, the progress has been great with what has happened (new building), , by directing attention to these areas are the answer in some way.. please respond........

-- BOB PICHE (MX31VET@AOL.COM), July 08, 2000.


Norman,

I think it is extremely unfortunate that things have come to the place that they are now. The one and only thing thing you do need to prove to my son and I (who represent a typical racing family) is that you are willing to listen to the riders and accept the help offered. We do appreciate the new bathrooms, and other improvements.

My son is 11, and has raced at Middleboro for 5 years now. He has had many good times at your track, and enjoys racing there. We did both preseason races this year. He has told me that last year and in partiqular this year, the track has gotten very boring and unchallenging. He is 11 and finds it boring! If he and the rest of his generation are going to be able to compete outside new england ownwrs must improve the technical aspects of the tracks.

It sounds to me like people have been falling over each other to offer suggestions and help, equipment etc. In the interest of all riders, young and old, beginner to expert, accept the offers of those who DO have the knowledge and skill to improve your track. Most riders practice on tracks with better jumps, berms and whoops. As for experts not faring well outside of the district its because most of the tracks up here BLOW, not because they do. If they cant do? 20 +2 its because they cut their teeth on 3 lap motos. These are NESC and track owner issues, not rider issues. do what you can to help, not be part of the problem. As for being the safest track, of course it is, there arent any jumps! Maybe that lawyer you cant stop mentioning designed it?

One thing is sure, tracks that dont improve will be overshadowed and replaced. We'd like to be racing Capeway when he makes expert someday.

Be part of the solution

Jon

-- jon vanderzee #431's dad (jon5@mix-net.net), July 08, 2000.


i just have to ask is it that hard to change the track layout ? i went today and it was the same as it has ever been. not to add that is was very much like a ghost town there with no experts or all the fans and family they bring! i dont know what it will take for the capeway rovers and nesc to figure out that the tracks need to be changed (and not just middleboro)all the tracks need some changes to keep their customers happy and believe me it will bring more people racing every week

-- (randygrapes218@aol.com), July 09, 2000.

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