Forgotten But Not Gone : Status of Encino Velodrome Hits Bottom Despite Its Top Condition and the Efforts of Directors

The Encino Velodrome should have been featured in the movie “Encino Man.” It would have provided an ironic counterpoint to the film’s story about a caveman who gets defrosted and turns into a Valley dude. In the last 20 years, the once-prominent velodrome has become a dinosaur in the world of cycling, a Valley dud.

Site of the 1968 Olympic trials, the 32-year-old velodrome was once important enough to hold international events that were televised on “Wide World of Sports.” But its status and reputation have hit bottom, reaching the depths in 1990 when velodrome officials were unable to raise financing and had to withdraw as hosts of the Junior Nationals, forcing the U.S. Cycling Federation to scramble to find a last-minute replacement site.

The problems with the velodrome have nothing to do with neglect. A nonprofit operation, it is run by a seven-member board of directors, all dedicated, idealistic and unpaid, who have lovingly cared for the facility. In fact, the 250-meter track is probably in better condition now than it was in its heyday.

But while the board has been well-meaning, it has not come close to igniting community support or interest for two decades, resulting in a constant money crunch. Years ago, the velodrome achieved prominence almost by default--it was the only outdoor track in California and one of only three or four in the country--but today it faces competition from 14 tracks, some of which are first-class organizations run by full-time paid staffs.

“Encino,” said USCF executive Chuck Quast, “has just fallen behind the times.”

It seems unusual for anything in L.A.--the land of hip, the home of movie stars and designer pizza restaurants--to go out of style, but the velodrome has fallen prey to another L.A. phenomenon: the small fish in the big pond.

“The city has so many sports, we get lost here,” said Alex Baum, velodrome board member. “We’re treated like a stepchild. Nobody helps.”

At L.A. City Hall, the velodrome is just one of “hundreds of organizations” with its hand out, Baum said. Seeking a connection with the community of Encino didn’t pan out for the velodrome--Encino has no government and can’t float bond issues. Baum tried to get money from the Encino Chamber of Commerce and said all he got “was lip service.”

But Chamber of Commerce executive director Jan Sobel said: “We don’t have funds to give to anybody.” Sobel said she would have helped the velodrome find sponsors but nobody has asked her, adding a caveat: “It’s an uphill battle for them to compete for local dollars. What’s unique in Encino, there are not a lot of big corporations with (big) dollars to spend.”

The velodrome has fallen far short of its fund-raising goal of $700,000 for resurfacing the track, building a flat speed-skating oval, lowering the infield for roller hockey and installing broadcast-quality lights.

More than a year ago, velodrome officials thought they were on their way when the Amateur Athletic Foundation gave them a grant of $158,000, which was earmarked specifically for the lights. According to Baum, the lights are the key to resuscitating the velodrome. If the lights go up, TV deals can be made, which in turn gives the track credibility and leads to corporate sponsorships.

But the AAF funds were inadequate--lighting will cost as much as $400,000--and velodrome officials have gone about 15 months without raising another cent.

“We’re disappointed and frustrated,” Baum said. “Things are tough. We’re in a recession. I’ve been pounding the pavement, but it’s hard to get financial help.”

The velodrome couldn’t even drum up funds or enthusiasm to stage something as prestigious as the Olympic trials. The only 250-meter track in the country--and the same size as the oval in Barcelona--the velodrome seemed to be the logical choice for this year’s trials. But when the bids were let two years ago, velodrome officials didn’t even apply, even though a seemingly meager $10,000 probably would have won the rights from the USCF.

Velodrome officials feared that their expenses would have exceeded revenue from TV, live gate and sponsorship. “It would have been tough to get a hotel to pay for lodging 100 athletes,” Baum said.

The National Sports Center in Minneapolis, which was awarded the trials, had no such problem. Built in 1990 for $15 million in state funds, the center has a residence hall with 170 beds along with a full-time staff of 10, a soccer and track stadium, 15 soccer fields and an indoor arena.

Unlike Encino, money is not a problem in Minneapolis. Last year, its second in operation, the center made a profit of $505,000. The official training center for five Olympic sports, it plays host to national-caliber events. To get the trials, the center hired Barclay Kruse, who ran cycling at the 1990 Goodwill Games; built a wooden replica of the 250-meter Barcelona track, and promised to spend another $100,000 on the event.

Kruse will have more than 300 volunteers at his disposal for the June 23-28 trials. In Minneapolis--and Altoona, Pa., where locals are spending about $1 million on the road trials--anything associated with the Olympics is a major happening, a community ego booster.

“We have no trouble getting volunteers,” Kruse said. “People come out of the woodwork. It’s an honor to work at an Olympic event.”

But not in L.A. People are jaded, Baum says. Anything less than the Super Bowl is no big deal. “The ’84 Olympics was the best ever,” said Baum, who was on the board of directors of the L.A. Olympic Organizing Committee. “So now, the magic is gone. But in those other cities, they’re so thrilled to get something like the trials. The city gets behind it.”

Baum does see hope for the velodrome. He says “a company” is willing to put up $200,000 for improvements at the facility on the condition that velodrome officials first sign a TV contract. Of course, new lighting has to be installed before an event can be televised.

“It’s like Catch-22,” Baum said.

TV exposure would restore a little luster to the velodrome, but it wouldn’t provide much, if any, money. “TV is not a gold mine at all for the promoter,” Kruse said. “You have to practically give (the network) the broadcast rights and even help them get advertising.”

With little expertise in promotion--regular weekend velodrome events average about 300 spectators--track officials have tried to hire an outside promoter to work for a percentage of the take.

“But most want seed money,” Baum said. “Maybe five to $10,000 in advance. They don’t want to take that initial chance.”

If all the pieces are ever put together, there’s little doubt that the velodrome will return to its glory days. Even today, despite its low standing in the cycling pecking order, the track itself continues to be a magnet for elite riders who live in Southern California.

“Between 1960 and 1972, 60% of our Olympians came out of here,” said Baum, a 69-year-old French native who has lived in North Hollywood for most of his 45 years in this country. He expects Janie Eichoff, a two-time Junior World champion in sprint and pursuit, to make this year’s Olympic team.

Even with all their talk about TV contracts and major events, velodrome officials have a more altruistic reason for wanting to put the facility on secure financial footing. Its highly regarded junior program, which has introduced hundreds of youngsters to cycling, is the heart of the organization.

“Cycling is tremendous for the youth,” Baum said. “We take kids from our gang intervention program in Pacoima, high-risk kids, and when we put them on the track, their new heroes become the racers. Cycling is great for character. A good cyclist has to be dedicated and organized, and if you are, you do well in school.

“If this velodrome is put in shape,” Baum added, “it will benefit the community and the sport.”

But that seems like a big if.