Race is on for Orland track promoter
The 2009 season was a successful one for the Orland Speedway and promoter Dan Ochs says he is ready to do it again next year.
“I am going to give them an offer and see where it goes,” Ochs said Tuesday of his plans to submit another proposal to the Glenn County Fair Board.
He said the track did well and got a lot of cars on Saturday nights from May through Oct. 24.
“The track is better than they’ve ever seen it,” said Ochs, citing feedback he has received from competitors.
His last event this year is the “Eve of Destruction” on Nov. 7, when old clunkers will vie for first place in a destruction derby, he said.
Ochs said the track had seven or eight different classes in 2009 including mini-stock cars and trucks, non-winged sprint cars, a modified vehicle class and the “Hornet” class for four-cylinder stock cars that are not modified in any way.
If he is awarded another contract, Ochs said he will try to expand on the races and do more improvements to the track that sat unused through 2008 because no bidder was found that year.
The fairgrounds is going out to bid for 2010 as part of its legal requirement to allow anyone interested a chance to apply, according to interim Chief Executive Officer Jake Walgenbach.
“We are required to send out a request for proposals,” Walgenbach said.
Ochs’ contract expires Nov. 21.
Walgenbach added the fairgrounds sent out RFPs in November 2008 as well, but did not get any response until Ochs came forward with a proposal in January 2009 and negotiated a contract with the board.
“This is a legal requirement,” Walgenbach said. “There is nothing to infer we are unhappy with Dan’s performance.”
Anyone interested in applying for the track promotion may request a packet from the Glenn County Fairgrounds Office, P.O. Box 667, Orland CA 95963 or by e-mailing glenncountyfair@orland.net.
The deadline is Nov. 13, and all completed packets must be in the fair office by that date.
Walgenbach said he hopes to announce the successful bidder by Nov. 17.
Fair staff reminds applicants the office is closed on Mondays and some Fridays for state furlough days, so people should call first before making a trip to 221 Yolo St.
For more information, call 865-1168. To get information on the destruction derby, call 510-5250.
