Over the past few days I have been doing quite a lot of thinking about the state of racing in the state of Florida. Why? First of all it interests me, and secondly, I’m quite worried how the current state of affairs here is dictating the future of local racing in this state.
And within the last few days it seems that the ugly side of the racing community is showing more than usual, and it has resulted in further deterioration of our sport and the well being of those who participate in it at various levels.
When I moved to Florida several years ago and began going to races here, it quickly became apparent that things here were not like they were back home in the upstate of South Carolina. And once I began frequenting racing message boards and other websites in the Florida racing community, it quickly became apparent that the main difference was in attitudes.
There were many tracks with weekly racing in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and northeast Georgia, all within a day’s drive of each other. So in a way all of these various race tracks were in competition with each other, and yes there was the usual boasting and bragging between fans and drivers as to which track was best.
But when I moved to Florida I was shocked to discover how racers, fans, and even promoters and track owners, would attack each other openly in the racing media. It seemed as if bashing and slamming were the norm here, and since that time I’ve learned that it never really stops.
I have no clue why there is this air of animosity here in Florida between everyone, but it was here when I got here and it shows no sign of ever going away. So when things began to heat up again toward the end of last week, I attempted to start some sort of a dialog between myself and some others in the community, mainly to try and be the voice of reason.
You see, when these things get heated it makes all of us look bad, and it only harms our sport.
But despite that, the fussing and fighting continues. So I talked to several people who have certain connections to racing here, and I discovered that the animosity runs quite deep.
I refuse to go into details here because I do not believe in repeating what was said to me in confidence, but I will say that I learned quite a bit and that a lot of it was unexpected.
I heard everything from outright lies, to half truths, to accusations of law breaking, to excuses as to why certain individuals cannot let stuff go. It was ugly, but it opened my eyes to how deep this attitude is here, and why it is next to impossible to get this practice stopped.
And after all of it ended and I thought about it for awhile, it seemed to me that the easiest way to end all of the fighting would be to agree to disagree. In other words, simply do your own thing and ignore what everyone else is doing. A simple case of mind your own business!
What’s so hard about that, right?
Well, it’s not that easy, mainly because some people simply cannot shut up. They have to stir the pot and fan the flames or they are unhappy, and therefore the negativity continues to fester. And the really sad part of it all is it is not a large number of people who are perpetuating this. It is a relatively small bunch but with big mouths, and believe me when I tell you that they make sure that they get heard! And others cannot help but get caught up in the mess, and I’ve discovered that even when you refuse to take sides, you get condemned for remaining neutral.
And this stuff is not just the domain of media people either. One huge problem we have currently in Florida is the deterioration of so many formerly excellent touring series in this state. Because we cannot agree to disagree and cooperate with each other, we are self destructing the backbone of our sport!
You have a touring series that normally fields about 20 cars at each appearance. Then someone gets upset or disagrees with how something is run, so they break away and form their own series, taking maybe half of the other teams with them. Now you have two competing series trying to get dates at the same tracks for the same money, but each only able to field maybe 9 or 10 cars.
What’s up with that? I’ve seen this process happen over and over in Florida, and right now there are very few decent touring series left because of it. Fewer than 15 cars doesn’t cut it, especially when 2 or 3 turn out to be noncompetitive too.
The same things are happening at tracks all over Florida. Drivers and fans develop beefs with certain promoters and owners and quit going to the track, then they make double sure to spread as much venom and negativity as possible about that promoter or track to anyone who will listen. Hey folks! If you don’t like the party, just leave!
But don’t bust up the party for those who choose to stay and don’t want to hear your bitching and moaning.
Believe me, most other people don’t give a hoot about what you’re angry about anyway. And trust me, we have lost so many race tracks here in Florida now it is downright embarrassing, and much of it can be traced back to this kind of negativity. Sorry, but in a state where land development is going ballistic the real estate many of these tracks are built on becomes worth far more than the facilities themselves or any profits that they can generate, so why should a owner or promoter stick it out and keep racing every weekend when he/she has to hear all of that crap too? I don’t blame them for selling!
So how do I begin the process of ending this negativity?
My plan of action is simple. From now on I refuse to participate in any website, radio show, publication, or whatever, that insists on continuing the calling out, name tossing, bashing, and spreading negativity. I don’t care who started it because that’s not important. What IS important is who is going to end it, and I’m taking the first step.
Sorry, but that’s how it is going to be. I’ll send out articles and results as my job requires, but don’t come calling me for an interview. If it isn’t something that directly promotes Ocala Speedway as my job requires, then count me out. I will NOT participate in what I see destroying our sport and our reputations, nor will I assist others in spreading even more negativity. And by the way, don’t dare go behind my back and badmouth me because you’re on ignore either. That way you only insure that I will never work with you again. Period.
And in addition, I will continue to refuse to say anything publicly about anyone or any thing that could possibly cause harm or hurt. If I don’t agree with what a particular person might be saying or doing, I’ll say that I don’t agree and might even offer suggestions as to how to do it correctly, but I won’t call them out, smear them, or bash them.
To do so only makes ME look bad, and it hurts the reputation and well being of the racing community at large. And why does anyone need me to call attention to something that is blatantly wrong anyway? I should think that the average racing fan here has the smarts to figure out things for themselves without me having to explain it to them, so why bother unless I’m simply looking to stir the pot?
I’m sure that as soon as this new attitude on my part gets out there more that I will be accused of taking sides. Well, so be it. The truth is that the only side I am taking is the side that resists the negativity, so naturally the guilty parties are going to get angry at me.
Sometimes if you simply ignore your detractors they will continually make you look even better than you did before, and that is how it will work in this case as well. And besides, I’ve had plenty of negative stuff said about me in the past and I’m still here and kicking. Sticks and stones, yanno?
When it comes down to it all of the owners and promoters, all of the drivers, fans and media people, and even the show hosts, writers, and announcers, all are doing their own thing in their own way in order to promote racing in Florida. Some of us have better ideas than others, but that is more of a matter of opinion anyway and the truth is that no idea is a bad idea if it helps our sport at the local level.
Certainly we all cannot agree on everything, but we can be adult enough to agree to disagree and refrain from mudslinging. Live and let live, worry about your own affairs, and focus on making short track local racing into what it can be and should be.
[Originally from South Carolina, BJ Cavin writes a blog on his MySpace site and also is the announcer and media writer for Ocala Speedway in Florida]
