In Preparation: Building the Freestone National
Tuesday, June 7, 2011 | 4:30 PM
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Print“Between Thursday morning and Saturday night of the national, I think I got five hours of sleep,” explains Tom Shields, Director of Marketing for Freestone MX and the Rockstar Energy Drink Freestone National, which wrapped last weekend. “I had a heck of a headache for the next few days!”
Ever since Freestone opened in 2000, Shields has been known as track owner Tony Miller’s right hand man. And when you’re preparing for a round of the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship—which this track has hosted since 2007—the track owner, his right hand man, and a whole bunch of people are going to put in the work.
For the national weekend, Shields says the track usually uses anywhere from 400-500 employees. About 50 of them put in the kind of crazy hours like Shields did, forgoing sleep for days to make sure the facility is ready for the big race. “We’ve got so many different staffs that are needed to make this a professional-level event,” explains Shields. “You have someone in charge of the gate and that staff, someone in charge of the flaggers and that staff, the track and that staff, and you have to trust those people because you can’t be there to decide on every decision that comes up. I know it goes with the whole Texas image that we’re egotistical and want to do it ourselves, but we all take pride in what we do, and everyone had to take charge and carry out all the plans we have made.”
When all the hard work is complete, this pristine track is produced.
Photo: Simon Cudby
The planning starts well in advance. Shields says the goal is to lock in the sponsors for the event eight to twelve months out, then work on maximizing the investment for those sponsors by tying them into the media buys (advertisements). Then it’s onto the nitty gritty—making sure the event runs the right way. The crew is already looking at notes and feedback from this year’s race to figure out how to improve things for 2012, and Shields admits you have to look at the negative stuff to improve your event. “It’s already all about next year—already—taking in feedback from the public, the fans, VIPs, riders, teams, and it’s not about what we did good, it’s about what we didn’t do good and what we can do better next year.”
Based on that information, they will then host big meetings with the larger staff four and then three months before the race takes place. As always, they learn something new each year. “We’ve found that getting the plan together is easy,” Shields explains. “It’s communicating those plans to all of that staff, making sure everyone knows what the plan is and how to carry it out, that’s what you work so hard on.
While Rattray and the 250 podium boys were celebrating, Tom Shields (left) was looking back on a year's worth of work.
Photo: Simon Cudby
This year the team ran into a problem on Friday night. They posted revamped directions on the www.freestonemx.com website, figuring some folks would come in the old way and some would come in the new way. But the website directions were actually too effective, because just about everyone used the new entrance. On Friday night, riders were coming in for the Amateur night race, and fans were coming in for the Saturday National, all using the same gate. Traffic piled up quickly, so the crew made a quick decision to open another gate, separate the crowds, and alleviate the problem. Next year, they’ll be ready from the start. It’s just all part of the learning process (and by the way, on Sunday after the pro national, the track hosted four different races on three tracks—an off-road race in the woods, a vintage race on the vet track, and a women’s cup and an amateur race on the national track.) As Shields explains, “We have to do a lot of planning with parking and access and things like that to avoid a logistical nightmare.”
Altogether, it’s a lot of hours and a lot of work to get ready for a National, and instead of celebrating when it’s over, the crew usually just moves right back onto planning the next race. So what, then, drives them to work this hard?
Deep in the heart of Texas.
Photo: Simon Cudby
“That’s a good question,” says Shields. “And I think it all boils down to the one thing that’s true—it’s the love of the sport. If you’re ridden motorcycles or raced motorcycles, you know it. A lot of sports, maybe they get jaded, maybe they take things for granted. Bu in our sport, you see kids who come through the ranks, and how hard they work, how much they sacrifice, you do it for them. They’re the next generation, and we need to give them the best possible event and facility, so they can take it forward to the next set and keep the sport growing.
“You’re working all these hours and not getting much sleep, and you’re doing it in the Texas heat, but you never really get tired,” Shields continues. “You’re running on adrenaline, I guess. But that’s the way it is for anyone in motocross. Working seven days a week, it’s the common denominator. Our sport is all about the want, and if the want fails in any way whatsoever, you’re going to see it on the track.”
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One terrific looking & well prepared race track.
Nice: To bad it a week to late. We are at HIGH POINT this weekend
400-500 employees. That's doing it right. Tony Miller is almost singlehandedly saving Texas from the horrors of Obamanomics.
I say wait until 2012 for the rest of us to go to work to turn this economy around.
I worked the event this year and Tony does a great job. I have worked at every track on the circuit except Pala, and Freestone is one of the best overall parks on the circuit. Tony's biggest issue, it's in the middle of nowhere, it doesn't have the history that say Dilla has and it's hot every year. But he/they are doing everything in their power to make it work for everbody.
Hats off to the Freestone crew.
obama is what stewart is to motocross...A DISGRACE!!!!
OBAMA is a straight UP waste of a president....J.s 7 had a hiccup as a racer..Your mr. perfect, not even close....
This is not a political message board.
But....
It seems like everyone but Americans know that Obama is the best thing that the USA could ask for. Your previous government made you the laughing stock of the world and gave world power status over to China. Your last government put your economy in the toilet - your current government is not trying to polish the 'turd' that Bush left behind.
Obama is doing a great job trying to turn the tide.
The US will be in recession for 50 plus years. Obama can not fix it in turn, but he can and is setting the foundation for the cogs to start turning in the right direction for the right people.
Bush should be locked up. He is a political criminal (among many other things).
Go Reedy!
Cmac:
You don't know crap about the stuff you speak regarding our political system.
Some people (like you) just don't get it.
@ Cmac- wow you seem really educated...... you sound like an 18 year old liberal arts major that just figured out what politics are- what else did your lefty professor teach you in your first semester?
VinRacer and Wrench.
You two are the ones lacking education, apparently you think a president has all the power to magically fix an economy that's in the crapper. Why didn't they elect you two as president? You'd have this mess cleaned up in no time.
Nice track! On Obamo, he has lied over and over...I'm sure he's a nice guy but so are serial killers...Obamo promised to pull the troops out and he has been increasing the number of troops going over...He lets drug companies make laws to suit themselves without public consultation...He's just a puppet,no more...America has deep issues in world politics and money, the root of all evil prevails...
I'll leave the politics alone other that to say that W. put us in two wars, squandered the surplus, lost more jobs than any president INCLUDING HOOVER and created a bigger deficit than any previous president. No one can fix that in the first half of a first term. It would be like getting a Honda 450F that had no maintenance, no oil, been crashed numerous times and asking your mechanic to fix in twenty minutes and then start complaining because he spent money to do it. But on to Motocross.
I know the people at Freestone are doing the best they can. But really, a national track with it's biggest obstacle being the heat and humidity? Only man made elevation changes, flat boring turns that are just like the one previous, except maybe a left instead of a right? There must be a track in the south that has a large city nearby for fans and more than 20 foot elevation change. BRING BACK GLEN HELEN!!!!!!!
Cmac...you are a complete fool. You sound smarter when you say nothing at all, so shut up before you embarass yourself further. It has been reported that the economy has gotten worse since Obama and his trillion dollars of spending. It has also been stated that as of April, the fall of the economy lies strictly on the decisions the dumb@ss has made. Your opinion reflects your intellegence level and I am not impressed.
Wait a sec.., WTF? I thought this was a website about Motocross...
Once again Jairtime proves himself to be the class(less) clown he is by regurgitating an unwanted political 'shot' and setting this blog on fire.
Can always count on you to be the @sshole in the crowd can't we?
And the rest of you with your opinions that were 'stated' by God-only-knows-who..., You guys are making this into RACER-foX News. Most of you wouldn't even know the right questions to ask much less have the facts straight if this 'were' a forum for real political discourse..., but it ain't.
By many of your comments its clear & easy to see where you get your sound- bytes and extreme opinions about the current political landscape in this country.
When you don't bother to search for factual information, your heart & soul get corrupted by the very people who are already bought & sold(out) by big business & insurance.
The Fix'd News/Limbaugh/Beck/Palin/Tea-bagger train has many of you right where they want you. Angry, confused and willing to point your finger at whoever & wherever they tell you to point it.
Those of you fitting nicely into this demographic can be summed up in one stinking word: L A Z Y. Some of you may train & ride hard but you're slackers when it comes to knowing the first thing about politics.
But keep it up, wise-@sses. The noisiest ones are praying you don't wake up and educate yourselves to the real truths out there. If you did, it would start the 'end' of their mob-mentality outrage and move us, en masse, towards really healing our country's problems.
How about those of you with half-a-brain shut-up already about your political opinions? Grow up..., stop being haters of people who want this country to move ahead now, rather than 2 or 6 years from now.
Stop slamming people who want this country to succeed with the current administration, stop pretending you are smarter than the other guy and stop pretending any of you have the answers. You don't- and your opinions are SH!T.
Lets get on to HI-POINT and some Moto action!
Will CR22 make it 3 for 3 or will somebody else have some luck (RD1)...? Can another rider (RV2?) step up their game and keep Reed in check...? What about Metty... and of course, K-DUB?
And then there's the 250 class? Still seems wide open. Rattray, Wilson, Baggett, Barcia, Tomac... which one of these guys will hold the biggest trophy on the podium on Saturday afternoon..., or will it be a new face?
All I know is it's gonna be a great SATURDAY! OUTDOORS is KING!!!
Good for them, Good for Texas, whatever? the place is flat as a pancake! real National motocross tracks coming up folks starting this weekend.
undergroung mx is a very nice track with huge jumps and elevation changes including many other obstacles...it is closer to dallas than freestones...good candidate for a national...
I rest my case.
Glad the Freestone National is over,that track has to be the flatest boring track on the circuit,and to think this track is what replaced Broome-Tioga.
@danrad & @kram -
I think you're right. I'm from Ohio and I used to go to Kenworthy's every year and race the amateur days. Besides the flooding that ultimately shut the track down, it was pretty much exactly what Freestone is - 100+ degree weather, flat, manmade obstacles.
I think that's the biggest beef people have with Freesone (and Kenworthy's before it).
yeah, Kenworthy's had some cool obstacles but you can't compare that to a place like Dilla, Southwick, High Point or even the defunct Binghamtom tracks for elevation change and character.
...MXA listed this track as one of the most nat'l-worthy tracks in AMERICA.
But to get an "AMA" nat'l, u gotta fondle, lick, and suck the right orbs, and Clingfost just ain't that kinda guy.
Sad in a way, b/c this track is absolutely first-class. Long laps with huge elevation changes, tons of massive safe tables, tunnels into the infield, showers, bike wash, lots of shady pecan trees to pit under, kid's playground in the infield, located 8mins off Interstate 20, Tyler has plenty of hotels along the I-20 exit, track is near DFW/East TX and lots of riders/fans, etc...sheesh. I am glad for Freeston, no doubt, but it is truly a boring track, imho...nowhere NEAR Swan's caliber.
AMA, u suck. We need a 2nd "sanctioning" body, for pete's sake. Badly.
Tony Miller and the staff here at Freestone works every year to make things better. Every track owner in the US (amateur or pro) works very hard for little or no return. Most of the time we make gains each year and sometimes we take a step back in trying making things better for everyone. It takes more than just a track to make a national come about. The track is located on land that is flat ..... oh well. That's not what this article is about.
To move the earth the way we need to give more viewing is something that is costly and necessary but we in Texas went 19 years without a national and we have had 5 years experience at it now. Come to us after Freestone has been on the tour for 20 years and see how much has changed. Improvements come every year but as Ben Townley said last year, Freestone is one of the best overall facilities on the tour. We hope that being on Memorial weekend will only give families more of a reason to plan an annual trip to Freestone.
@ motoxer, you are right. Kenworthys was also very flat and all man-made, and Freestone is just a newer incarciration of this. It was prepped beautifully, and looks grerat, but myself, I prefer real elevation changes and less man-made supercrossy stuff in my outdoors. I know the promoters want big air, and a ton of bleachers were you can see 80% or more of the track so they can make more money, but that isnt what the Nationals are supposed to be about. Save that crap for the less die-hard fans for supercross.
Freestone is making big strides and will only get better because of dedicated people behind it.
As far as the presidential/ economy issues my suggestion to understand and improve it is to
FOLLOW THE MONEY!!!!! Those that control the money control the US. Doesn't matter what the president or congress says or does. Educate yourself here http://www.webofdebt.com/articles/ .
Central Banks control the world. The Federal Reserve System is NOT part of the US government. It is privately owned & controlled by mainly European banking families.
The FED creates money out of thin air, and has made us all slaves to its system of DEBT.
All recessions and boom times (bubbles) have been created by either increasing the money supply = prosperity & growth or decreasing the money supply = recession, depression, unemployment.
Wake up and educate yourself - it is our only hope for a bright future.
http://deanhenderson.wordpress.com/
http://vidrebel.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/the-lies-reach-critical-mass/
http://loveforlife.com.au/category/main/banks
The whole recession, unemployment & foreclosure crisis is Artificial, created to steal our wealth.
If we wake up and take back control of our money, then we could all afford to buy new four strokes and maintain them while having time to ride and race. That's my hope for the future
TEXAS IS FLAT!? these guys do a fantastic job at putting on a first class national and folks drive from all over the south to see it close to home.
I have been coming to Freestone National (with my entire family) for all 5 years and every year it gets better. I think including this on the circuit is critical to keep exposure of the greatness of motocross to as much of the nation as possible. This is a NATIONAL, so constraining it to the east and west coast because they have more elevation kinda bites for the rest of us.
Freestone loads up the fans and Texans really appreciate being including. We have a lot of good up and coming racers (Cunnigham, Lemoine, Wharton), so instead of complaining, just come check it out!
Freestone is most certainly NOT in the middle of nowhere. It is in the country yes like most all tracks, but it is only an hour drive from the 4th largest metropolitain area in the United States. There are only a few tracks on the tour that could maybe top that. Spectating is indeed hard as you can only see very small part of the track from most places. But this places gets better every single year it has been going. And who cares if it is mostly flat. Hills dont make a track 'true' motocross. What makes a true national motocross is the ruts, the hundreds of rollers and braking bumps. The multiple lines in most corners. The full on 3rd and 4th gear throttle sections. Deep good dirt. And Freestone has all of these in abundance. Come race the Texas State Championship there in November and you can see this track is way meaner and tougher, than a 'flat looking bland track' you might think you see.
Dont forget you die-hard Republicans that the Republicans have a stronghold on Congress. Obama cannot do anything without thier approval. And after 8 years of Bush/Cheney in control WITH a Republican Congress, what kind of economical shape was our Nation in?? Be truthful to yourself, the Republicans destroyed our economy during the Bush years. It was very slow to recover, and after only 18 months, the idiots in this country voted back in the same big business Republicans that they voted out prior. And now we are headed straight to where we were when Bush was in place. Think about it. And get off your high horse. Republicans dont care about moto, so dont use that as an excuse.
LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER
Comments like: LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER are put in all caps because the originators of these types of comments believe 'all caps' conveys their point more loudly to the reader.
Recent studies from the Mayo Clinic, as reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, now confirm such on-line communications to be typical of persons with severe mental depression, self-esteem deficiencies and abnormally low intelligence quotients.
The Journal goes on to say that the manifestation of such responses and detection of such inappropriate placement into unrelated oral & written conversations with complete strangers is growing at an alarming rate.
Dr. Hugo Von Rightzen writes,"The zero correlation of baseless statements within conversations and/or subject matter of a completely different nature
[ie: inserted into a Motocross blog] further underscore the severity of a condition that is, in over 99% of all cases, undetectable to the person suffering from these cerebral malfunctions."
Further studies at the Mayo Clinic have shown that electro-shock therapy, acute hypersensitivity medication and disciplinary psychiatric intervention have been ineffective in reversing this disorder, usually found in conservative, right-wing establishment individuals.
"On the positive side", writes Von Rightzen, "there have been a few cases of short-term success in returning such afflicted individuals to real world scenarios".
Von Rightzen concludes, "However, due to the inherent instability of the compound '3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine [dopamine] in the human body, further baseline testing is needed before truly effective measures are to be discovered and hopefully one day implemented".
In other words..., UPSMAN16..., you're retarded.
HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAA "KG" that was awesome
Thanx. Just trying to help the helpless.
KG you wouldnt happen to have a tiny wiener would you?- seems like your pissed off all the time- ya you definitely have a small wiener..... Is it hard to get a woman to be with you? your waay to pissed of to be getting layed...... maybe jack it more..... maybe make a friend or two...... you know that if you don't agree with some one you don't have to express your opinion every time...... anyways, we care about you ol' KG..... I guess I should expect a ten paragraph retort now.......PS> I dont care about politics- just think your an ass
Hiding behind another alias and spewing all your own physical shortcomings must really puff-up your ego, eh Under Paid Slave? Awfully grown up there, little fella.
Sure seem to spend a lot of energy there on one subject. You must get over to the Walmart at least three/four times a week to restock the tissue paper you probably use up every couple of days.
Guys..., sorry 'boys' like you always seem to drop down to the level of 'speak' you're at when they don't have 'game' and can't come back with anything reasonably funny or intelligent to put on the page.
What is it? An 8th grade education holding you back? Head injury? Bet you manage to get in a lot of bar fights with that salient brain of yours.
Not pissed off at all here, bud. Just like laughin' at guys like you who can't... seem... to... put... down... anything... worth... reading... in... their... reply.
Apparently You don't like being wrong and can't stand it when someone calls you on a comment like yours that has no place here on a Moto-blog.
And what have you got besides your juvenile little reply? Nothin'..., nothin' but a grade-school-playground mentality to fall back on. You're a clown, son. Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
You make me laugh. You amuse me. You're entertaining the way a chicken is entertaining running around minus it's head. Thanks for being such a joke.
Damn..., about 2 paragraphs short. Sorry to disappoint.
KG nice comments.
For a minute I thought I was the only person on here with more that 50% brain capacity.
All you anti Obama crew, you're right. You should re-elect Bush, he did you well.
UPSMAN16 - you are kidding yourself. This is not the site to be talking about other guys "wieners". I think your alias says it all. You like getting UP MEN and you must be no older that 16 yo. Spare me champ -
GO REEDY !!! BRAaaP !!
UM, Cmac Im pretty sure my only comment here was LIBERALISM IS A MENTAL DISORDER you might want to scroll back through the posts and see that I had nothing to do with the with the talk of wieners, more than 50% brain capacity? yeah, sure when you cannot even bash the right person, and KG if Im not mistaking I do believe your racerx name is in CAPS so I guess we have something in common? I happen to be a ups driver and had 16 for a race number hence the name as for being a retard, the hourly rate we get is very high 5 wks paid vacation 5 sick days 5 paid personal days and no student loans to pay back til Im 50? Im not thinking Im the retard......
@UPSMAN16
The Caps remark had only to do with your uninformed, blanket-Liberalism comment; not your Racer-X blog name or mine. Split hairs if that floats your boat & makes you feel vindicated too.
As for my earlier response to your "Lib" jab- the whole thing was for humor's sake, written as comedic piece, to be interpreted as entertainment. However, being the liberal you are, perhaps it went over your head.
Yeah, we have something in common: We both make a lot of money but it stops there. You work for the brown box company and I own my own company with more employees than are leaving your hub each morning.
I know all about UPS so spare me your gloating; not as great a company to work for as you want everyone to believe- though I do have to deal with them on a daily basis and do appreciate having a decent route guy.
And despite the current Conservative agenda which includes more cutting of student aid and further increases in defense spending, I paid off my student loans (including grad school) before I turned 30. Curiosity suppressed?
As for the "...is a retard" blogger; if it wasn't you under another alias, I owe you an apology for the wrongly-attributed reply. Apparently he's too immature & self-involved to respond in an intelligent manner.
Thanks for helping to clear everything up.