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Show 6 SALT FLAT NEWS, AUGUST-SEPTEMBE- R, 1971 Before the interview that took place in Los Angeles , The News discussed the present economic status of racing with Burke LeSage, past president of Bonneville Nationals , in a telephone interview. Mr. LeSage pointed out that in most places throughout the nation the interest in racing has declined sharply the last few years due to, in his opinion, not only the economic recession , but to the recreational vehicle craze that has allowed the individual opportunity to participate in speed activities that before were only available as spectator sports. This is evidenced by the enormous number of motorcycles, snowmobiles, and the like. (Left) Burke Lesage (Right) Emil Grisotti Whatever the cause of the sharp decline in audience participation, one fact remains: Racing in most places is in serious trouble. There is thought of closing some major tracks in California, one of which is almost new, if economic conditions persist. There has been much talk of exploitation of the Bonneville Raceway by promoters on a large scale. The News wonders, at this point in time, if such a move is anymore than dreaming by those state officials listening to the promoters. In light of economics, specifically the fact that huge spectator racing events are no longer supported in even highly populated, speed oriented areas like Southern California, The News wonders if, at this time, the State of Utah has really considered what they are doing. The Air Force controls a vast amount of land and airspace which would severely limit the projected air races. Besides, if Utah were to get any part of NASA, s spaceport, greater restrictions and security measures would be instituted by the Federal Government. The News also wonders if at some time in the future the State of Utah will end up in a position of having to repurchase at an enormous cost the rights to the land or land use that will be given away to the promoters for their promises. The state has already had to repurchase a portion of the Flats once at a huge profit to the holders. The News is more inclined to look favorably at something like the Bonneville Nationals which has had a steady increase in entrants over the past years, even during the economic recession. Why can't the state expand on that, and take an active role in promotion and leadership so the complete control stays with the state? With so many more people participating in speed activities rather than watching them, it stands to reason that many of these new people will have an interest in competing on the Flats against the Emil Grisotti points out to Burke LeSage newly painted timing stand. existing records, thereby insuring a higher increase per year of competitors at the Bonne- Stand is located in the rear of Grisotti's Muffler Shop, Fullerton, ville Nationals. California. News: What is the future of the Bonneville Nationals? Grisotti: The future of the Bonneville Nationals today is probably better than it has been for a long time. Thats a personal viewpoint. News: What would you say are the objectives of the Bonneville Nationals from die viewpoint of die public? Grisotti: Theres not too much public there. This is sort of a, what you call a self interest, or a racers deal. It's not like (bag racing where you're going to get 500,000 people out there to see any one given race. LeSage: The present objectives, I believe, are the same today as they were the last two decades. The situation could change as we can evidence by this proposal we don't know all the details that Mr. Breedlove made. News: How did the Bonneville Nationals start? Grisotti: Well, Mr. LeSage has a better idea there because he was with it, I didnt get affiliated with it until about 1954. LeSage: In 1947 or '48 right after the war, the Southern California Timing Association was at the El Mirage Dry Lake up here in the Mojave Desert. It became obvious at that time that the population growth of Southern California was making that lake unsuitable because there were more people using the lake bed for different types of sporting activities, sport car races airplanes, gliders, and the like. The lake bed was being chewed ' tip and wasn't able to handle the amount of horsepower that I was available and was being developed by these race cars. Our I SCTA president and business manager made several trips to the I state of Utah to talk to the Chamber of Commerce head, who was Mr. Gus Backman at that time, and convinced him that the f were a qualified group of enthusiasts that could very capably put on a speed trial event on the Salt. Prior to that, the only people who ever used the Bonneville Salt Flats were the British Racers, and a few others that were controlled by the American Automobile Association News: Do you feel that the Bonneville Nationals should be covered by the net works tike the Wide World of Sports? Grisotti: I see no reason why they shouldnt. It would be a big boom to Utah in particular. I know it would help us. I see no reason why this should exclude us. News: Do you feel that there is adequate communication between the Bonneville sports enthusiasts within the United States? LeSage: Do you mean people dont know enough about it? Really I don't think we do . . . This is one of the purposes of our reorganizing into what we have today Bonneville National Inc. But unfortunately, we havent been able to make the accom- we would have liked to have made in the past year, Elishment maybe we were hoping for too much too quickly. I don't know. News: We look at this question of your future in the way of accomplishments. Mr. Grisotti; how would you look at that ? Grisotti: We have started on the right, track if we can just progressively get a little bit better and take care of the news media, for one thing. I think we've lacked there. News: Do you think the press coverage hass been basically poor, that the national press tends to neglect Bonneville? Grisotti: Oh, definitely. . 0. News: Whyh thdlso? 1 hot-rodde- rs - LeSage: Well, they don't know anything about it. We are not adequately stained to get the press releases out and distribute information about what the heck is going on. In fact, the Hot ,4, Rfd Motor Sporting magazines do not get enough information themselves unless they go out and dig it up. Fortunately, this year weve got a few that are worth while . . . News: Do the Utah Daily newspapers cover the races better than most dailys? , LeSage: No, they have not. This is partly their fault and partly our fault. i News: Mr. Breedlove came up with some unusual proposals about competitive drag racing Do you have any comments on that? Grisotti: Well, I imagine he is trying to go on a professional status, which we are not. We are basically volunteers and that's one of the reasons we failed to give you guys enough information. And every year we passed a resolution, like on New' Years what we're going to do better that year. But by the end of that December we start talkiiw about it and one guy will say did you take care of it? No, I thought you were going to." And this goes on year after year. News: There were reports about mud seepages on the salt flats. Grisotti: About what? News: Mud seepages mud was coming up and the salt was a problem? Is still that buckling. LeSage: I believe so. That was covered in Rod and Custom feature of last year. Weve had people within our sport run ttiese types of editorials ... News: Bradbury Associates of Lbs Altos, California did a study of buckling on the Salt Flats. Do you have a copy of that study? LeSage: Not to my knowledge, no. News: Does the Bonneville Nationals work closely with the Governor or the state in planning the Bonneville? Grisotti: Mr. Backman only. We have no other contacts up there. News: Do you find the state is actively interested in Bonneville? Grisotti: I would say so. Through all the years youll find theyre johnny on the spot" right out there with graders. Those are day and night to get the course ready. So Sys mustworking have some interest In it. News: There is a circular track out there, is there not? LeSage: Yes there is. But it is no longer a ten mile circle. News: What happened to it? LeSage: The softness of the salt on the northwest 'and southeast end prohibited it. I was there until 1968 when we had to develop a ten mile oval. News: Do you foresee that the Bonneville Salt Flats will ever become a national park or a national monument? Would the Federal Government have any jurisdiction? Grisotti: I understand they have part jurisdiction now. B.L M. owns some of the land. News: Does Bonneville National promote any other activities or any other types of racing other than speed racing, tike sail car racing Grisotti: No. Bill Crow from Elsinore, California painted timing stand "all except the legs that is. News: What about the possibil- ity of a speed museum out in Wendover? Grisotti: I think it would be a tremendous asset to the state of Utah. LeSage: I think it would definitely be the way to go. It would be a year-'rountourist attraction in Wendover. I think it would help everybody. - nunniw ED PIKE 14612 RAYMER STREET VAN NUYSj CALIFORNIA 91406 AREA CODE 213 87&-346- or -- 785-674- 0 Catalogs, Coma In Pink 1 i . J I. . j ;l .1 . - ill It I |