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Rumors Laid To Rest, Facts Are LGR Will Close
by Dale Erdmann
Twin Lakes, WI. January 29th. A crowd of nearly 250 heard the words they never
wanted to hear. Lake Geneva Raceway a one third mile paved banked oval in the
city of Lake Geneva, a resort town of some 5500 permanent residents would
close it’s gates at the end of the 2008 season.
Current owner Kevin Dawson told the crowd at the annual awards banquet the
news. “We are going to accept the offer to purchase soon and with about 24
months of preparation with the city, the raceway will probably not go past the
2008 season”, Dawson said in his emotional story.
The raceway started off as a drag strip back in the early 1960’s, then in
1966 the flat quarter mile oval was born, three nights a week stock car racing
ensued. Dawson purchased the facility in 1984. In 1990 a state of the art oval
would give race fans the best racing in the Midwest. But the city is creeping
out around us and the writing is on the wall.
Some 50 years ago over 5000 race car tracks were around the United States. Now
there are less than 900. Racing on TV and with a “die hard” base of less
than 30 % of the total nightly crowd, it’s hard to make it in the racing
business. 2004 was the worse season for ovals across the country. The weather
was part of the factor, but families don’t have money for fun and racing
suffers.
The 2005 weekly Saturday night program will begin on April 2nd. Originally the
season was to begin on April 9th. The BARS’ "Let’s Go Racing”
motorsports show is on hold. Promoter Mike Babicz, who has come on board to
replace zany Dave Kamholtz as one of the Saturday night announcers, found out
Thursday January 27th. that the original Outlet Mall was sold and the new
owners don’t want the show in the suffering facility that has lost most of
their stores since last year. Race fans are urged to call the mall and let the
know that the 10,000 people the show brings in, is worth their own interest
too. The phone number is 262-857-7961 and management is there 9am. until
5pm. Monday through Friday.
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