A public meeting and press conference was held last night in Boonville. This is the statement that was read and questions and comments were heard afterwards.
As you all may or may not know, the Boonville Adirondack Cup racing is the premiere snowmobile racing event in the eastern United States! It is also a large contributor to the economy of Boonville and Oneida County alike.
The Boonville Snow Festival is a not for profit corporation that redistributes proceeds to other not for profit organizations as well as various other community groups. Boonville Snow Festival has ALWAYS been focused on the community, our sponsors, and supporters and last but not least, the continuation of quality, competitive and safe snowmobile racing. We had, up to this date, used the services of the Circuit Pro Tour (CPT) from Canada to attract racers and to handle some of the administrative functions of the event.
Some rumors about the Boonville event, as well as an event on the same weekend just north of here in New Bremen, have been circulating for some time.
The following is a chronological order [2015] of what has transpired regarding the Boonville Snow Festival as it relates to the running of that event in New Bremen by the Northern New York Vintage Snowsled Racing group, also based in Boonville.
On March 21st 2015, Boonville Snow Festival held an appreciation dinner. At the dinner a local racer and volunteer, approached board members to discuss why Boonville doesn't go on its own. (minus the service of CPT but welcoming their racers) It would reduce expenses and create a bigger and better event. Again the notion is discussed that Boonville should try to run the event in similar fashion as Eagle River, WI. If Boonville agrees to do so, the individual pledged to be a major sponsor.
On March 28th 2015-Boonville snow festival Representatives attended the CPT meeting in Cornwall, Canada, and selected February 5th, 6th, and 7th 2016, the week prior to the Gran Prix de Valcourt, a major Canadian event, as is traditionally done.
April 14th 2015-At the regular board meeting the selected date of February 5th-7th is discussed. A board member of both the local vintage club and the Boonville snow festival board states that Lancaster NH has already selected that date and it cannot be changed. After discussion the board moves to change the date to January 29-31st so as not to interfere with the Lancaster, N.H. weekend. Further discussions about Boonville possibly going on its own for its tenth year anniversary were ongoing. The vintage group had, in the past, stated it was very upset with the Boonville program regarding how the CPT influences the event. If the Boonville Snow Festival were to run the entire event we could then address these issues and a better event for all would materialize. Both CPT, vintage and all racers would be invited. It would be asked of VSIR and CPT to leave that weekend open and score points in regular fashion. An extraordinary and largest purse in the Eastern United States would be developed to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Boonville Snow Festival and make the event even bigger. Naturally, the Vintage group would be consulted regarding extra prize monies. Although Boonville would be running the event, any and all classes of each group would be recognized and able to compete or combined in some fashion to create a better show for the spectators. The Boonville Snow Festival board expressed specifically at that meeting, the need for confidentiality until a final decision is made. The basic format for the weekend wouldn’t change.
April 25th 2016- The Boonville Snow Festival representatives attended the annual ISR (International Snowmobile Racing) meeting in Milwaukee. ISR is the national rules and governing body annual meeting. All seemed well and the date of January 29th-31st for Boonville is well known
May 12th 2015- board meeting- all aspects of the possible changes are discussed. Other discussions included the cost of insurance for the racers. Nothing can be determined until the new ISR insurances are in place
June 9th 2015- At the Boonville Snow Festival board meetings, all aspects of the possible changes are discussed. No motions approved as there wasn’t a quorum
Sometime in later June or July a call was received from the CPT asking about rumors that the CPT would not be racing in Boonville in 2016. There were multiple calls to the CPT regarding that possibility. The discussion followed that yes, the board was considering running the event on its own for its 10th anniversary. Boonville has had this same discussion for many years due to the cost of administration fees, hotel rooms, and points fund contributions. If it were officially approved at the next board meeting the CPT would be informed immediately.
On July 14 2015, a Boonville Snow Festival board meeting was held. The board approved the change and Boonville Snow Festival planned to run its 10th anniversary race on its own. No attendance from the local Vintage organization. The following day, the CPT was called and a message was left regarding the change, no return phone call from the CPT was received. Other discussions were in regards to racer insurances, as many complaints came from the vintage group regarding the cost of $25 per racer for insurance. At that time no confirmation from ISR regarding the cost of insurance for the 2016 season was available. However, it was discussed that the Boonville Snow Festival could cover the cost of the insurance in some way.
On August 11th a representative from the VISR (Vintage Ice Snowmobile Racing, the current vintage sanctioning body) was asked to attend the Boonville Snow Festival board meeting as many rumors were about and clarification was needed. No representation from the VISR was at the board meeting. The last meeting at which a VISR member was present was the April meeting. Rumors that another race was going to take place the same weekend as Boonville at the Adirondack Speedway in New Bremen were becoming wide spread. The track is approximately 30 miles from the Boonville Oneida County Fairgrounds.
On September 29th, discussions were held regarding the unconfirmed information that the VISR had teamed up with the CPT and was planning a race at the Adirondack speedway the same weekend as the Boonville race. Boonville Snow Festival decided to send members to the VISR meeting on October 24th.
During the time in between the September 29th meeting and the forth coming meeting on October 24th, the VISR owner expressed his displeasure with the running of an event against Boonville and basically "shelved" the organization and informed the current management group that they would need to reorganize the "shelved" NNYVSR if they wanted to do anything on that weekend.
On October 24th 2015, 4 representatives from the Boonville Snow Festival attended the Vintage VSIR meeting now run by the NNYVSR organization. The situation was discussed professionally and brief meeting held afterwards. The possibility of the NNYVSR changing its date was discussed. Specifically to select a date that would not conflict with the Boonville race date, especially since Boonville Snow Festival changed their original date at the April meeting so as not to conflict with their race in Lancaster, NH!
On October 25th 2015, a call was received stating the NNYVSR could not change their date and would be running a race on January 29th-31st at the Adirondack speedway. Would Boonville consider moving their date to January 21st-24th?
On October 26th 2015, the Lancaster group was contacted by a Boonville Snow Festival representative. They were told that Boonville had a meeting on the 27th and was considering moving its weekend date back to their original date of Feb 6th-8th. There was no intention of competing on the same date. But the NNYVSR had teamed up with CPT and scheduled a race on the same weekend knowing that the New Bremen event is in close proximity to the Oneida county fairgrounds. The Lancaster group stated it would be very hard for them to change the date now as there were other facets in place for their weekend event. They certainly would like to work with Boonville in the future.
On October 27th 2015, the Boonville Snow Festival held a board meeting to discuss all possibilities. Changing the date back to the original date would harm the Lancaster NH event. This would be detrimental to racing as well as the Lancaster event. It was voted not to do so! After careful consideration Boonville could run the event as planned with the largest purse in its 10 year history, but there certainly would be less racers attending as there is a competing event that same weekend. In that situation no one would win, especially our sponsors, spectators and all involved. The weekend prior was discussed, January 24-26th. The board agreed this would not be workable based on past experience building the track.
The only choices left were to postpone the event or have the NNYVSR change their date as they were well aware of what was already scheduled with the Boonville Snow Festival. Other discussions included ISR having placed their new insurance plan with new lower rates which would allow Boonville to significantly reduce the rates for racers this coming year.
On October 28th 2015, a message was left with the Lancaster NH group that Boonville would not be changing its date as they felt it would be unfair to Lancaster to do so.
November 9th-Confirmation from the NNYVSSR that they could not change their date, consequently Boonville is forced to make the following decision.
Unfortunately, the Boonville Snow Festival will be postponing the upcoming 2016 event until January 27th - 29th, 2017. Financially the group is as strong as it has ever been and had plans to distribute prize monies of $30,000.00. The financial stability was accomplished with savings realized from eliminating fees from the CPT and from additional efforts by the Boonville Snow Festival group's fund raising efforts. It is our position it is in the best interest of the sport, sponsors and spectators not to compete directly with another race in close proximity on the same date. This will help insure a successful, enjoyable and entertaining event for all involved. It will also eliminate a detrimental effect on snowmobile racing.
The Boonville snow festival will be back bigger and better in 2017! Watch our website!
www.boonvillesnowfestival.com
Corrected 9:17 am
Corrected - final 9:41 am
