American Speedway
American Speedway: Mcbride Brothers Back Racing Professional Speedway At Action Park And Champion Speedway.
By Admin
May 21, 2008, 21:35

Well-known local motorcycle racetracks, Action Park East in Greene and Champion Speedway in Owego are set to open their doors on May 24th and 25th and Windsor will be well represented by some huge names in speedway racing circles...

Over 40 Speedway riders have already signed up to compete at both venues, not including competitors for ATV and dirt bike  classes which will run prior to the scheduled start times. Included in the  40  rider  professional speedway field are Windsor residents, Tuff and Lenny McBride, a brother act  who were nearly unbeatable on the East Coast Speedway Racing circuit in the mid 80's and early 90's.

They were winning so much at one point that a money bounty was placed on their heads by local promoters  for any rider who could defeat them. They both got their start racing flat track motorcycles as kids at Square Deal Riders in Harpursville but were quickly lured into the local speedway scene by the huge crowds and big money that speedway was offering at the time.

Both brothers progressed to the point where they were regarded amongst the best in the Country and Tuff was able to race speedway full time for a living in California from 1986 to 89. Tuff, 44, the owner of McBride's Pub on Main St in Windsor resisted the temptation for 12 years after retiring in 1993 before finally agreeing to try a bike again  in 2005. For the past three seasons  he has shown up at nearly every race with a big grin on face, having a blast.  He has shown his skill has not eroded as  his form was so good at the end of last year that he earned an invite to represent New York in the US National

Championship at Costa Mesa, California. It was his 3rd appearance in the US Nationals. Lenny,40, has not raced since a brief comeback in 2005 was aborted due to business conflicts. He was the 1991 Canadian National Champion and won a prestigious US Title event during Daytona Bike week in 1993. He is tied with Hank Bassett and Tom Sephton of Vestal for most Track Championships at Champion Speedway with 4 Titles.  Joining the McBride's on the comeback trail is former Windsor resident, Warren Diem and current resident Craig Estelle. Diem,the 6-time NY State and US Open Champion, will be racing the whole season. Estelle will be doing selected events around his professional flat track schedule but has already been inked on to compete on June 14th at Champion in the Larry McBride Memorial race, an event to honor the McBride's father, Larry, who passed away last year after a battle with cancer.

The somewhat legendary, 1/8 mile dirt motorcycle track at Champion Speedway opened in 1975 and for nearly ten years attracted crowds of  up to  3,000 for its Sunday evening  speedway shows. The track became so popular at one time that they had to turn people away! The track reached its high point in 1982 when World Speedway Champion and Hollywood actor, Bruce Penhall, came to town for the US Open Championships and a record crowd of over 5,000 witnessed the races!

The venue went through some ownership  problems in the  late  80's and early 90's  and actually closed down for 4 years until 1997  when Rochester  area  Professional Hockey Player, Jason Bonsignore,  brought the track back from extinction quite successfully. Action Park opened in 1982 and until 1989 crowds of up to 2,000 jammed the place on Saturday summer nights for speedway. In 89 the lease ran out for the promoter and the property owner reverted it back to an asphalt go-kart track. Bonsignore purchased it in 2002 to bring back motorcycle racing. In heyday of both venues,  the McBride brothers and Diem were top performers  and had a legion of local fans.

Speedway Motorcycles have absolutely no brakes, go from 0 to 60mph in less than 3 seconds and slide totally sideways on the dirt oval. Crowds of 20,000 plus attend races overseas where speedway reigns supreme. The sport remains one of the most affordable forms of family fun in the area with adult tickets at Action Park and Champion costing only $10.00. Kids 6-12 are only $3.00 and there are many events on the schedule's offering discounted promotions. Parking and programs are free!

Bonsignore rebuilt both tracks and built the sport up again for nearly 10 years. Very good sized crowds began to attend the events again, National Championship races were hosted and top level racers were brought in at different times, including 1996 and 97 World Champions, Billy Hamill and Greg Hancock of California. Bonsignore had leased Action Park to different operators the last three years and had a shorter schedule at Champion last year due to having to run a facility near Rochester all summer. During that time the venues were stable but the tracks did not see any growth. That seems due to change this year...

Local racers and fans have lots to be excited about for 2008. The tracks have commitments from the largest group of competitors they have had since 2004 and have secured a large amount of advertising dollars from the I LOVE NY program and a private sponsor, ALL BALLS RACING from PA, a motorcycle bearing manufacturer.  Along with the McBride's, Diem and Estelle, other notable racers like Tom Burge of Port Crane, Craig Lane of Watkins Glen and Jeremy Parsons of Johnson City have all signed on for selected events after long layoffs.

The tracks will continue to host the US Open Championships, one of the premier events in North America, in July, but are looking to host their own  self-sanctioned  US NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS over labor day weekend which will feature 10 International stars. It is hoped  that former World Champion, Hamill, will be one of them.  The tracks have also come up with a more timely and organized program for fans and have restocked the souvenir stores. A TT style course has been added for ATV and dirt bike racers along with Motocross and BMX tracks. Go-kart amusement ride tracks may be built next month. Live bands and special promotions are being brought back for the first time in several years.

The 2008 season kicks off  this Saturday at 7pm at Action Park with the Southern Tier Spring Classic and Sunday at 6pm at Champion Speedway with the "Hurricane" Hank Bassett Cup Championship which pays tribute to former Eastern great Hank Bassett of Vestal, who has in recent years been stricken with MS. After week one both track will switch nights with Action Park going to Friday Nights and Champion to Saturdays with the exception of a special event or two. Both tracks will run a nearly bi-weekly schedule.