From Today's Orlando Sentinel Sports Section

[Edm]

First to Steve, sir I in my previous post I thanked you for what you have done for the race track, I just stated it was a bad time for a negative article, I agree you need to write the truth, I certainly agree with that. The headline while I know you did not put on it was, a key bad point that has been brought up by many of the folks I have been working with. For now the two places are holding off, I am trying to keep the options open and do not want to risk further issues. I certainly call on you if I think it will help the situation and thans for the offer.

I was accused yesterday of patting myself on the back and blaming others for things, let me be clear all I have stated is that I am trying very hard out there and that is it, oviously I am not setting the world on fire. I also wanted to say when I mentioned the FASCAR List I was in now way directing that as a slap to anyone at Fascar, it just happened to be the list I was working with. Many at Fascar take a beating from many folks and people do not realize how much work is going on, so if I made it sound that way I apologize for that, that is not how it was meant.

I want to also say that I know economy is not all of it, but in talks with businesses, mom and pops places it is a huge hold back for them to spend money on sponsorships, advertising etc. I also he had many conversations with drivers and know that the economy is what many are not racing right now. I would also say if you watch car counts at these other tracks they have dropped and there is not as many divers from Orlando and New Smyrna racing at them as people say. Many have visited, but they for the most part do not run all the time there either. I think it is great for the new Needmore Track to have a great opening night, and of course hope it continues, but check it all out 6 week from now and see what the counts are then. You have to compare apples to apples.

There is things we need to do better, fix and try. And I think you will see some of that coming.

Next we need everyone, not just drivers, but writers, passionate fans, officials, owners and even critics. This can help to round things. But too much negative bickering will not help the situation.

I really, really want Speedworld to succeed and I am simply trying hard to bring some new people and businesses to the fight, if I am not helping then I will gladly step aside, because it succeeding is the most important thing.

Thanks

Just my opinion, not being negative or bashing but........... the tail is wagging the dog.

Who wants to sponsor a 2 car race? Who wants to watch a 2 car race? Who wants to race a 2 car race? I think first and foremost you have to get the car counts up no matter what it takes. If you get the cars to the track, fans will follow. Sponsors will follow the fans.

[ronabneysr]

i can't believe orlando speedworld ain't a gold mine

location ; location location . you could not ask for a better location . i don't care if million people get on here and tell me i'm wrong - i have been going to stock car races and racing for over fifty yes fifty years . the first problem orlando has and worst one is friday night racing

which leads to not having people in stands and no cars no people no cars no money no purse

who is going to race 20.000 car for free or 60.000 car .

so lets say you have a full field of latemodels or at least 15 . and you had at least 15 open wheel not some castrated 50 mph what ever you call a d-nutted racer /

then 15 real sportsman cars . then pure stock class 100% pure stock

now lets throw in safe figure eight class


come up with some money to last a few weeks to pay the purse you would get the drivers lot of drivers would take there cars out of garage

and people would tell other people man i went to orlando what a race they had trust me get the cars the people will come ...

sure the economy is bad but people are going to spend money to see something worth seeing

five drunk guys on a bachalor party ain't going to a nudie bar to watch two 600 pound fat woman try to climb a pole get mad if you want too but that's about what you got now

[Jane]

five drunk guys on a bachalor party ain't going to a nudie bar to watch two 600 pound fat woman try to climb a pole get mad if you want too but that's about what you got now


Ron - that is about the coolest way I have ever seen something put about racing and I guess you are right, 5 guys would not want to watch two 600 pound ladies climb a pole although that would be a sight to see for sure.

Alot of people love Orlando and that is the truth. And alot of people who raced there say four or five years ago are no longer there and some were Space Center workers who no longer have their jobs or even live here anymore. And if they do, they are struggling right now since the most unemployment anyone can get is $275.00 a week which is nothing compared to what they made.

Clyde once said, as I have been told, that as long as he had two cars, he had a race. And I have seen some great competetive two car races but that was when you could go to a Braves game in Atlanta and sit in the cheap seats for $2.00 and watch a game.

Everyone right now, at least most people, have to watch every cent they spend and yes, they love racing and are race fans but want more for their dollar than they are getting. Auburndale has done a complete turnaround and North Florida is doing great. Columbia is getting better. Nothing against Orlando but it is $15 this Friday to get in for a 50 lap Sportsman race and that is steep for alot of folks especially since they haven't had more than 5 or 6 of them to show up this year.

I am not saying give them free admission but maybe try $5.00 or $8.00 and $12.00 for big races like the 50 lappers. That way a family of 4 could come for less than $20.00 and at the most $24 if they have younger children who get in free. Don't know if that would help at all or not but it might bring a few more people out into the stands.

[oldyeller]

Rick, thanks, and know that the offer stands... if I can make a difference by calling a sponsor who is reluctant because of the track's future, I'll be glad to do it -- I can't formally as a writer for the newspaper, but I sure can as a racer and a fan.

Ands EZ2pass, do you really think there are people on here who want OSW to fold? Really? I can honestly say I've never met a genuine race fan who EVER wants a track to go under. They may not want to race there or watch, but they don't wish death on a facility. Rick and Mark are doing all they can -- the only person who can genuinely make a difference is Robert Hart, and the ball is definitely in his court.

[carolwicks]

old yeller...

wtg ... you said it! EZ... i have agreed with alot youve said in the past but "shut up" isnt one of them. everyone who comes to this board has a right to speak, to give their opinions. you dont have to agree but you should show respect. Jerry binner probably knows more about racing than anyone. and he doesnt just talk. he promotes and gets involved. thats what makes him a TRUE race fan... sometimes track owners and others get mad at him but its mostly because he is blatantly honest.
Rick Bristol and Mark Keeler work their butts off and they are doing everything within "their" power to promote not only OSW, but racing in general.
there are people who come to this board and bitch and complain about everything. and that is ALL they do. a TRUE fan of racing gets involved. doesnt have to be earth shattering but at least try to help.
the person you tell to "shut up" might just have a solution that will help! give them a chance.
carolwicks aka OZ

[Bigbuck]

How about this -

Shut the hell up people. Go race - Go watch - or just shut the hell up.

Oh, and have a nice day.

Urez.... Thats what i like/respect about you. Agree or not, you get to the point, say it and you're gone!! Keep it up!! I don't agree 100% but thats no reason to bash you!! Good man!

[carolwicks]

Jane

thank you. will check on that! ;-)
carol

[Winger]

At the risk of being told to shut up, I have to agree with Edm. You are putting the cart before the horse if you're trying to get sponsors to bring fans in. Forget the fans for now and concentrate on getting the show better. Maybe you can work on getting sponsors to up the purse, buy some tires, or help the racers. If you can get the cars back, the fans will come at a reasonable price.

Carol made a point about Jerry Biner probably knowing more about racing than anyone else. FYI UREZ2Pass, Jerry is Frasson118 and does plenty for racing. I won't begin to list them. For you to tell him to shut up is ignorant. He truly cares for OSW.

[Jane]

The majority of posters on this thread do love racing and don't want to lose yet another race track. But Steve is right, the ball is in Robert's court and no one else's. It is his track. Rick is doing the best he can do and so is Mark and that is all we can ask of anyone, do your best.

Tracks can come back, we have seen this before and know it can happen. And yes, you need both cars and fans to help make it work. I post race results every weekend but will pay more attention to see if any of the names that use to be at SpeedWorld are somewhere else and then maybe find out why. I know quite a few of them are not racing at all right now but I will pay better attention.

[ancrdave]

When Billy Herndon owned the track (1974-mid 1987) you never knew what might happen... Several promoters were very successful - ALL ON FRIDAY NIGHT - and just when they had things rockin' and rollin', old Billy would throw them a curve and the place would be closed for anywhere from a week to several months... Just ask dd38 and some of the others who ran there then or guys like Pete Keller, Don Nerone and others who were very successful with the track and had the rug pulled from under them...
At least Clyde and Robert have run the place steady since 1987 with a number of lean times from then to now... It's just that something isn't right and there are many factors contributing to the current woes... If Robert had 10 Rick Bristols working for him, I'm sure things would be much better...
If Robert has a serious offer to rent the place from someone with enough money to weather the current economic crisis and put the money into the place to fix it up, I would think he would rather rid himself of the headache and just show up and watch for fun... but maybe the tax write-off is more lucrative.

[ancrdave]

Let's take a trip back to 1976 and Old Yeller's good buddy Ed Hinton, writing for the Orlando Sentinel....

[UREZ2PASS]

Some of you people could not run a lemonade stand - and you have all these bright ideas about how to run a speedway -

For those that did not understand - I say "shut the hell up" if all you want to do is bash the speedway, good ideas are in no way bashing the speedway - I don't know how to say it anymore clear than that -

Karnac mommy, If you're gonna punish me for saying " shut the hell up" to the other kids, don't ground me, just spank me - haha !

[UREZ2PASS]

Tuna,

Help - I'm out here all alone - haha, just kidding, this is my battle -

Maybe I'll make me a shirt that say's "Shut the Hell up and Race Crybabies"

[Jane]

Who is karnac mommy?? I know you aren't saying I am because I am not. But if you want a spanking, I am sure we can arrange that somehow (just kidding of course).

Have a good night everyone and just remember, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TRACK.

[UREZ2PASS]

Jane,

Carol is Karnac mommy - to me anyway, because she is so caring of peoples feelings, a good quality for a mommy. I like her -

I think Aunt Karnac will fit you just fine - hope you like it !

Come to think of it - I was scared to death of my aunt when I was a kid, I knew she would whoop my bottom if I got out of line -