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Racing for the love of it
The past few years has seen the Midwest sportsman off-road racing scene go through various changes. The sanctioning body has gone from CORR to WSORR to TORC to USAC/TORC. During that time, the fees to enter a race have varied as well. The inaugural TORC season saw the organization concentrate its efforts on the PRO race program, while the Sportsman lacked the input needed to best represent the backbone of the sport.
This past fall an independent promoter came to Weyauwega, Wisconsin to create a Sportsman race weekend after the Midwest TORC series had concluded. Unfortunately, when the race weekend arrived, the promoter was not prepared to handle the nearly one hundred competitors that came to race. Undaunted, several racers and their crews, along with other volunteers stepped up to ensure an entire weekend of racing took place. When the weekend was completed, everyone looked back at the festivities and declared the race a success. The payback to the racers was another story, as the promoter paid only a handful of competitors their earnings.
Regardless of the payback issues, this is where the idea to create the Midwest Off Road Racing (MORR) organization began. The combination of high entry fees and minimal payback, combined with the experience of running a race weekend with an all volunteer work force was the impetus for getting people together to think about the future of Midwest off-road racing.
A group of off-road drivers and long time members of the off-road community, who saw the need for a unified voice in the decision making process of off-road racing came together. MORR was officially formed in late November 2009. The first order of business was creating a Board of Directors and a mission statement.
The first two meetings saw the initial goals met. The mission statement is as follows:
The goal of the Midwest Off Road Racing group is to insure affordable racing for the Midwest Sportsman Off Road Racer by uniting racers with a common voice. Maintaining affiliations with approved sanctioning bodies will allow the competitor and the enthusiast to enjoy off road racing now and in the future.
Then, seven board members were elected. The board members include: racers, businessmen and respected individuals within the off-road industry, as well as dedicated enthusiasts.
"A week after Weyauwega, several of us accidentally ran into each other at the Vegas TORC race and began a dialog with TORC officials," noted MORR president Dan Vanden Heuvel. "At first, everyone thought we were looking to start a separate series, which really isn't our agenda."
In December 2009, the MORR Board of Directors met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with representatives of TORC, USAC, Crandon, and Bark River to fully explain the purpose of MORR. Within a few minutes everyone in the room understood that the Sportsman racer is vital to the success of short-course off-road racing. Their needs are important if the sport is to grow and succeed.
During the Milwaukee meeting, TORC representatives Ricky Johnson and Mitch Covington agreed that a group such as MORR is needed to ensure the strength of the TORC Sportsman race program. Later that night during the TORC Midwest Sportsman banquet, Ricky Johnson and Dan Vanden Heuvel discussed on stage what had transpired earlier in the day. The positive response was so great that Cliff Flannery from Crandon Raceway announced their support of the Sportsman racer with a $5000 gift to the Sportsman point's fund.
Almost immediately, several key Sportsman concerns were reviewed and with MORR's recommendations, adopted for the 2010 season. The initial changes included lower entry and registration fees. All Sportsman fees are applied to only the Sportsman competitors, the creation of a year end points fund, separate sponsorship opportunities for the Sportsman race series, and the addition of an additional Sportsman only event in Antigo, Wisconsin.
In February of this year a public meeting was held in Abrams, Wisconsin and over 230 racers and enthusiasts attended the forum. The entire board members spoke about their background, and the goals of MORR were broadcast with PowerPoint presentation, and the Board answered any and all questions.
"By the end of the meeting, the vast majority of the crowd was really supportive of the group," remarked MORR vice-president Ross Hoek. "It was awesome the number of people that paid for their membership right after the meeting."
As of March 2010, the Sportsman contingency plan, thanks to MORR's efforts, has nearly $250,000 in cash and product posted for the 2010 TORC Midwest Sportsman series. MORR is also actively pursuing to fill the sponsorship opportunities for the two separate Sportsman only events as well.
At the time of this writing, the operation of TORC is the responsibility of USAC (United States Auto Club), and the relationship between the three organizations has become even stronger. With the Midwest TORC short course race season not beginning until June, MORR continues to work diligently to keep the Midwest Sportsman off-road racer a vital component of this industry.
The first event of the season on the MORR calendar is the "88 Miles from Heaven on Dirt" Seminar and Swap Meet in Abrams, Wisconsin. In 2009, this event was produced by MORR Board Member Don Demeny, and over two hundred racers attended the indoor event. This year the demand was so great, outdoor space is also available for swap meet vendors. One more point, the name refers the mileage from the event to all four race locations, eighty-eight miles.
For those interested in becoming a member of Midwest Off-Road Racing, the organization offers two types of membership; a non-voting enthusiast membership for $20 per year, and a competition voting membership for $40 per year. The MORR website, www.midwest-offroadracing.com has all the membership details.
If anyone is wondering if this just a group of people trying to promote their personal interests, think again. If the thousands of man hours spent on the phone and the thousands of travel miles the MORR Board has accumulated in the past five months is any indication, the future of Midwest Sportsman off-road racing is in good hands.
Craig Paiti signs autographs for his fans following a race in Crandon, WI
This past fall an independent promoter came to Weyauwega, Wisconsin to create a Sportsman race weekend after the Midwest TORC series had concluded. Unfortunately, when the race weekend arrived, the promoter was not prepared to handle the nearly one hundred competitors that came to race. Undaunted, several racers and their crews, along with other volunteers stepped up to ensure an entire weekend of racing took place. When the weekend was completed, everyone looked back at the festivities and declared the race a success. The payback to the racers was another story, as the promoter paid only a handful of competitors their earnings.
In the Classix class in MORR you will see a wide variety of vehicles racing, most are not traditional off road style machines. Here Justin Keehner pushes his... Chevy? Through a corner.
A group of off-road drivers and long time members of the off-road community, who saw the need for a unified voice in the decision making process of off-road racing came together. MORR was officially formed in late November 2009. The first order of business was creating a Board of Directors and a mission statement.
Jeeps are common place in off road but not so common in short course racing, Dave DeMaag and his Jeep compete in the Formula 4X4 class.
The goal of the Midwest Off Road Racing group is to insure affordable racing for the Midwest Sportsman Off Road Racer by uniting racers with a common voice. Maintaining affiliations with approved sanctioning bodies will allow the competitor and the enthusiast to enjoy off road racing now and in the future.
Then, seven board members were elected. The board members include: racers, businessmen and respected individuals within the off-road industry, as well as dedicated enthusiasts.
"A week after Weyauwega, several of us accidentally ran into each other at the Vegas TORC race and began a dialog with TORC officials," noted MORR president Dan Vanden Heuvel. "At first, everyone thought we were looking to start a separate series, which really isn't our agenda."
MORR offers a number of buggy classes, each offers great variety and competition at any budget level.
During the Milwaukee meeting, TORC representatives Ricky Johnson and Mitch Covington agreed that a group such as MORR is needed to ensure the strength of the TORC Sportsman race program. Later that night during the TORC Midwest Sportsman banquet, Ricky Johnson and Dan Vanden Heuvel discussed on stage what had transpired earlier in the day. The positive response was so great that Cliff Flannery from Crandon Raceway announced their support of the Sportsman racer with a $5000 gift to the Sportsman point's fund.
Almost immediately, several key Sportsman concerns were reviewed and with MORR's recommendations, adopted for the 2010 season. The initial changes included lower entry and registration fees. All Sportsman fees are applied to only the Sportsman competitors, the creation of a year end points fund, separate sponsorship opportunities for the Sportsman race series, and the addition of an additional Sportsman only event in Antigo, Wisconsin.
The Stock Truck class is one of the most popular classes with drivers and fans. The racers put on one of the best shows in off road racing pushing their near stock trucks as hard as the big time pro guys.
"By the end of the meeting, the vast majority of the crowd was really supportive of the group," remarked MORR vice-president Ross Hoek. "It was awesome the number of people that paid for their membership right after the meeting."
As of March 2010, the Sportsman contingency plan, thanks to MORR's efforts, has nearly $250,000 in cash and product posted for the 2010 TORC Midwest Sportsman series. MORR is also actively pursuing to fill the sponsorship opportunities for the two separate Sportsman only events as well.
At the time of this writing, the operation of TORC is the responsibility of USAC (United States Auto Club), and the relationship between the three organizations has become even stronger. With the Midwest TORC short course race season not beginning until June, MORR continues to work diligently to keep the Midwest Sportsman off-road racer a vital component of this industry.
Keeping budgets in check MORR created a limited 2WD class that requires use of "spec" parts.
For those interested in becoming a member of Midwest Off-Road Racing, the organization offers two types of membership; a non-voting enthusiast membership for $20 per year, and a competition voting membership for $40 per year. The MORR website, www.midwest-offroadracing.com has all the membership details.
If anyone is wondering if this just a group of people trying to promote their personal interests, think again. If the thousands of man hours spent on the phone and the thousands of travel miles the MORR Board has accumulated in the past five months is any indication, the future of Midwest Sportsman off-road racing is in good hands.