INDUSTRY INSIDER
Author: Megan Blackburn	Features | Friday, 18 September 2009 07:08

Photography: Andrew Campo/Jason Reed

 

We’ve taken our Industry Insider to the world of Off-Road! One of the most successful race promoters in the industry, Sean Reddish took time before one of the biggest races in the series to sit down for a little one on one with Vurb. Owner of the World Off-Road Championship Series (WORCS), Sean gave us the run down of where it all began, where it’s going, defines what the “Fastest Racers on the Planet,” are and what it really takes to provide thousands of racers a fully functioning professional off-road/motocross racing series. Check it…

 

Hey, Sean! You have always been an avid rider and racer in the past, as well as now. What attracted you to the off-road industry in comparison to motocross, and what brought you to the WORCS series before your ownership?

My beginning is more in the history of riding with my father and spending weekends with him and friends. I enjoyed racing WORCS because I liked the ability to race longer vs. a 20-minute moto. (Laughs) The real reason I came to WORCS was that looking for more competition than what was offered in Texas and outside of my region. So I asked around and I liked the combination format of motocross and off-road together. The format of WORCS is what really kept me as well as the precision and how the weekend was put together.

 

After racing the series for some times, you came to learn the series was up for sale and your wife Pepper and you made the life changing decision to purchase the World Off Road Championship Series. Tell us from a business aspect what the process entailed and what sacrifices were needed in order to fully start and obtain the series?

After racing the series for a while, I got more involved with Dave Hamel, on the possibility of promoting back east (meaning Texas). We worked out an arrangement for me to work a few events in 2004, which was the beginning. Late in 2004 I purchased the series. The business aspect was that I was a full time firefighter and paramedic in Irving, Texas and to purchase the series I had to leave a good career after 10 years. I pulled out my retirement and borrowed money and went for it!

 

Rigs, banners, water trucks, employees, track rental, websites, etc, can get extraordinarily expensive! As a promoter it is a part of your job to promote and urge product companies to jump on board and sponsor the series. Once you have substantial income it contributes to hosting a great race. What type dollar figure does it require from sponsors and yourself to put on not only a great weekend race but also nearly 20 rounds of racing between motorcycles and ATV’s each year?

All I can say is expenses at this level are top rate. We pay each and every person that works, no volunteers, and we payout the highest pro purse in this industry period.

 

This year you picked up the Western Hare Scrambles to not only expand the series but to improve the rider count for Western Hare Scrambles and WORCS. Though other desert racing associations disagree with the change of program, how has this year gone for you personally and what are your plans for the series in 2010?

The Western Hare Scrambles as a stand-alone series was dead at the end of 2008. So for me personally it was nice to get behind it and try to push it. However, it was extremely difficult because the sense of entitlement the clubs had to the program, although it was poorly ran. They felt they earned the right to hold those events. Picking up the series was a big factor in our AMA plan. We didn’t do it or the financial aspect; we did it to see a professional run Western Hare Scrambles program. So in this case I measure the success by the quality of events, and in that regard I think we succeeded. As for 2010 it is currently up in the air whether the program will continue. One of the toughest things WHS had to face, and it’s ironic, was the fact that WORCS is here. The manufactures’, even in a good economy, didn’t want another program to race on the west and felt that WORCS was the place that they wanted to be. And they’ve reaffirmed that in the future.

 

Races such as the GNCC, Best in the Desert and District 36 are relatively in your competitive genre. As a promoter what do you do to keep on top of the game and attract and maintain racers and fans?

District 36 races as well as all other District races are club and volunteer ran programs, not professionally run. So as far as those programs or GNCC being in competition doesn’t wash. Best in the Desert is a different format and different commitment. GNCC enjoys great success on the east coast; it’s really just a different package for the same type of product that WORCS has. To really answer the question, just running professional events that run on time, that are safe and fun and that the manufacturers want to see their factory riders’ race in is how we stay on top.

 

More recently motocross racers are making the crossover to off-road. Riders such as Mike and Jeff Alessi, Gavin Gracyk, Damon Huffman, Mike Brown, Eli Tomac and Jessica Patterson have all competed in your series. Even GNCC riders have made the journey west to try out WORCS. In the variety you’ve seen participate in the World Off Road Championship Series, what do you find appeals to these riders and what do you offer to racers, spectators, and families that they can’t find anywhere else?

At a pro level its just sheer competition. Fast riders place in the top 10, extremely fast riders place in the top 5, and to win? Everyone knows your one of the fastest riders period. What I offer racers is an efficient program that is consistently ran on time and racers know what they’re going to get each time at our events. For spectators, they have access to some of the elite professional motocross and off-road athletes in the world that they wouldn’t get at their local programs and just the overall show.

 

A prime motocross track, pristine off-road section, endurocross addition, accurate scoring chute, chaotic parking lot layout, banner set-up, equipment hauling and sweep-bike maintenance are just a few tasks required for a single race weekend. Tell us the type of manpower you find required to conduct these tasks efficiently?

The total WORCS staff for a weekend is average 14 staffers, plus all flaggers and track crew. There are really three of us that set the track up ahead of time, coming a week early…a lot of people think we show up on Thursday!

 

Rumor has it that you’re planning to have a strictly motocross racing program next year… Any truth to that rumor?
Yes! Initially in 2010 we will be racing a motorcycle and ATV motocross program. It will be called the U.S. GP Motocross Series and we’re going to concentrate on an extremely well run, prepped, bannered motocross race. Not just like showing up at a local motocross race. It will be a real series with real reward. Once we have the details on it we’ll deliver it to the industry.