Oxley Is Working to Get Speedway Back on Track

The racing helmet is gone and Brad Oxley is wearing a new hat--full-time race promoter.

And so far, so good.

Oxley, whose father, Harry, brought speedway motorcycle racing to the Orange County Fairgrounds in the late 1960s, has his first month as a retired rider behind him.

Overseeing San Clemente-based International Speedway has meant more than just taking over the weekly racing program on the one-eighth mile oval. Amid rumblings that the 2000 season would be the last at the fairgrounds, Oxley, 41, managed to complete a working agreement with the fair’s board of directors.

“I’ve really enjoyed it so far, taking the responsibility of it all,” said Oxley, who runs the operation with his sister, Laurie. “We have to really do it now. That’s the only way we’re going to exist in the future.”

That determination led International Speedway to refurbish or replace about 75% of the wood in the bleachers.

Fans have noticed other improvements as well. The fairgrounds created a new entrance, upgraded many of the restroom facilities and provided automated ticketing. It also incorporated a blues restaurant and bar into the stadium area.

Next up for Oxley is securing a long-term agreement with the fairgrounds.

“We would really like to have a three- to five-year contract, but we’ll take what we can get right now,” Oxley said. “It’s a family business, and we’re blindly going forward. It’s really neat to see the things that have been done.”

Oxley hopes the changes will help Speedway, now in its 33rd season, step up as an entertainment venue.

“We’re creating more potential to be successful,” he said.

But it has come at a personal cost to Oxley.

At the April 21 season opener, attended by 3,500 paying spectators, Oxley wasn’t wearing racing leathers like old-guard riders Bobby Schwartz of Costa Mesa or Shawn McConnell of Brea. He was instead wearing blue jeans.

“As much as I enjoyed the competition and camaraderie of racing, we only have so many real showmen who have the big picture in mind,” Oxley said. “There’s not a lot of those guys around, but there are even fewer race promoters.

“If I could do as good at race promotion as racing, we’d be in a lot better position. It will be difficult to take Speedway to the next level, but if we don’t do it, we’re going to be left behind.

“We’re the Lone Rangers right now. I need to have one big task and go for it 100%.”

Through four events this season, Speedway has averaged about 3,000 paid attendance, about 200 fewer than last year. But the season has been affected by cold weather.

There is no racing on May 26, but two of the bigger nights of the season take place over the next three weeks.

About 400 motorcycles could be displayed Saturday on Harley Night. On June 2, the Free-Ride Motocross show, featuring daredevil jumps, accompanies the racing.

Oxley hasn’t completely put racing behind him.

He said he will probably race June 2 for the Jack Milne Cup, one of the few titles he has never won. It was Milne, the 1937 World Champion, who helped Harry Oxley build Speedway into a Friday night happening in the 1970s.

Oxley introduced the Milne Cup as a title race two seasons ago; the trophy is one that Milne pulled out of his closet and gave to Oxley in his youth.

“I really saw the writing on the wall the last two years with the business aspect of Speedway being so close to ending,” Oxley said. “I want to make sure the sport continues. I think it could be left behind if I don’t step it up to the next level.”

Banged Up

Oxley says the racing at the track has “almost been too good,” despite an injury on Saturday.

Bobby Simons of Simi Valley suffered a hairline fracture of his wrist and ankle, and compressed two vertebrae in his lower back when he crashed with Ryan Fisher of Norco. Simons hopes to return June 2.

Third-division rider Kerry Conner of Hesperia is in Hogue Hospital after getting fluid in his lungs and developing an infection. Conner went down on the track and broke his clavicle. He walked off the track, but experienced difficulty breathing once in the pits. Doctors are waiting for the lungs to clear before operating on his clavicle.

Simons had returned to racing after a layoff of more than a decade. He had already established himself in some handicap main events. Fisher was given a citation for dangerous riding, and could face penalties if he gets three in a season.

Hot Wheels

Chris Manchester of Reno has been the speedway’s hottest rider. He has won a main event in each of the four meetings this season, including the last three scratch main events. . . . Dave Reed Racing of Rancho Santa Margarita picked up its first win of the season in the Featherlite Southwest Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Reed’s driver, Craig Raudman, tries to duplicate that performance Sunday in the Sunstate Equipment Company 100 at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colo.

If you have an item or idea for the motor racing report, you can fax us at (714)966-5663 or e-mail us at martin.henderson@latimes.com

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ON TRACK

Orange County Speedway

Standings

Speedway motorcycles

1. Chris Manchester, Reno170

2. Gary Hicks, Corona109

3. Josh Larsen, Monrovia101

4. Shawn McConnell, Brea95

5. Dukie Ermolenko, Cypress94

6. Randy DiFrancesco, Bakersfield91

7. Ryan Fisher, Norco89

8. Bobby Schwartz, Costa Mesa82

9. Eddie Castro, Ojai69

10. Mike Faria, Reno58

Schedule

Saturday--Orange County Harley Night, speedway, sidecars, Harley races; 26--No racing.

June 2--Freestyle motorcycle jumping, speedway; 9--Jack Milne Cup, speedway; 16--Fathers Day, speedway, p.w. 50s, junior speedway; 23--Olympique of Speedway earned handicap championship; 30--Fan Appreciation Night, speedway, sidecars, p.w. 50s, junior speedway.