Cycle Racing Expected Back at Fairgrounds

With only three dates remaining in what was promoted as its last season at the Orange County Fairgrounds, speedway motorcycle racing gained a reprieve when Brad Oxley, owner of International Speedway Inc., on Monday reached an oral agreement with fair management.

The contract will go before the O.C. Fair Board on Wednesday for final approval.

“I figured under the previous terms, I would be sitting $30,000-40,000 in the red,” Oxley said. “What I didn’t count on was making some serious and difficult changes, and those changes offset the difference. I hate to say the fairgrounds was right because I wish I could pay what I was paying before, but the fairgrounds forced me to be profitable.”

Oxley said there were cuts in salaries and staff, rider purses were reduced, and there was a $1 increase in ticket prices.

“There were a lot of hard decisions,” Oxley said. “Because we’re a sport, and not just a business, a lot of people stepped up--sponsors shelled out a few extra bucks to make this year happen. My riders took a pay cut to make this year happen. My employees took a pay cut and a cut in hours to make this year happen. It was a group effort.”