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[RacerGirl9]

No, you were trying to IMPLY it by saying such a stupid thing as someone was there to bid on it to build someplace to have concerts, not a race track...

there were other people there also, they were there to bid on the track to use for other then a racetrack.
AND the reply

did I say I was against it? I said that there was some people there that was checking it out for other then a racetrack. One person was someone thinking about using it for concerts, the motocross person was there, he would like to have it for something else.

What else was I supposed to think you meant? Thinking that through before posting it probably would have saved you some grief.

[Don Nerone]

So...if and when the place does reopen...

Y'all need to hear me out on this.

Just a few suggestions:

Try and run on Sunday afternoons - *TO START WITH*. It will save a little money to get lights put back up. Once the crowds start coming back, and the money is there, *then* put lights back up. Start at 1:00pm. Open the pit gates at 10am, grandstands at 12:00.

Bring in a decent concession company. Don't overprice it.

Clean, comfortable restrooms.

RUN THE SAME TRACK RULES AS THE OTHER LOCAL AREA TRACKS. It wouldn't make any sense to try and start up the "same" classes, and have different rules. This way, you can draw in cars that are already built, instead of making the car owners/crews spend more $$$ to "convert to your rules".

Five classes, with a couple special events: (Super) Late Models, Sportsman *OR* open-wheel Modifieds, Mini Stock, Strictly Stock, and bring back the Sunshine Figure 8's. Once in a while, bring in the TBARA Sprints, the wingless sprints, the DAARA group, etc.

NO TIME TRIALS. Run heat races for all divisions.

BRING BACK A 200-LAP SUNDAY AFTERNOON LATE MODEL SHOW. Run heat races with a last-chance race.

But hey...what do I know? :\

Jimmy there has not been a Sunday race at a short track that has made money in 30 years. other than that the rest wound be nice..
Sunshine hasent had a 200 lap race of there own that i can rember sence 1976. Bob Harmon had a all pro race there for 200 laps.
the triple crown races were 11 and one time they ran twin 100s.
Sure would be nice to see one of the old tracks come back and i hope Jimmy all the luck in the world with it..
Don 62

[Jimmy McKinley]

Sunshine hasn't had a 200 lap race of there own that i can remember since 1976.

Sure would be nice to see one of the old tracks come back and i hope Jimmy all the luck in the world with it..
Don 62

Who Don's referring to (I think) is that Jimmy Cope (yes, *the* Jimmy Cope) was one of the bidders at the meeting yesterday from what I've read.

Sunshine had a 200-lapper in 1985; at least, I have a picture of our car at a 200-lapper at St. Pete...and I know Bob (from Punta Gorda) posted the video a while back.

[palmbayer]

Sunday afternoon is a tough sell (in the south anyway ) 2 years ago, Frasson 118, Cake , and myself caught a sunday show at SGMP. All of the 75 fans that were there with us agreed it was a great show.

Sunday weekly shows sure work well at Eriez speedway (Erie,Pa.)
Been there a few times over the years. always packed.

[lmracer]

Don,

They had a Sunday Late Model show last week in FL that went over well !!!
"Snow Ball"

JSM two weeks ago at PGS ran a Sunday afternoon show and I like them
this time of year.

Also like Jimmy McKinley suggestions and what will happen to the track
just to the south?

[Alan]

I like the idea of afternoon races until they can get lights up. But, I say Saturday afternoon. I'd have a hard time making a Sunday show. I'll do my best to be there for opening night to watch (unless someone needs a driver!)!

[Darren]

RacerGirl9, has it now become wrong in this country to state a fact. Yes there was a person there that would use the speedway for concerts if he was rewarded the bid, yes the motocross people were there. I went back to the ad that was on the other thread. The ad does not read that you must use the track and dragstrip as a track or dragstrip or for racing. So maybe the person that was involved in the concerts plan did not know that. Maybe he did doesn't have the inside track infro that you have, however, he was there. Please prove to me and the world that he was not there.

[Jimmy McKinley]

I like the idea of afternoon races until they can get lights up. But, I say Saturday afternoon. I'd have a hard time making a Sunday show. I'll do my best to be there for opening night to watch (unless someone needs a driver!)!

Saturday afternoons...ehhh...kinda iffy.

You have to remember, 90% of the asphalt tracks in Florida run Saturday nights (I believe Orlando is the only non-Saturday track). You have to try something different - running on a different night/day - to draw cars/fans from those other Saturday night tracks. If you attempt to run Saturday afternoons, you're not gonna have time to re-set up the race car to get to another track to run on Saturday night. You'll only dilute the short fields even more that are currently racing.

what will happen to the track just to the south?

Haven't really seen or heard anything about DeSoto (if that's what you're referring to). Anybody got any info on Bradenton, post it elsewhere; don't hijack this thread

[RacerGirl9]

Maybe he did doesn't have the inside track infro that you have, however, he was there. Please prove to me and the world that he was not there.

Sure, Darren! It is entirely possible that someone would not know that it was a short term lease and that you counldnt build anything else... Not arguing that point. I am arguing the negativity you always seem to have toward anyone who want the track back open. If you dont beleive that it will happen, thats fine. But why crush the hopes of those who do and worked very hard to make this happen. You posted that these guys who were interested in the track for other purposees AFTER they would have found out that wasnt possible. So I can only assume you were trying to stir things up with it.

As for inside information, that was a jab that was wrong which was why I removed it. I have no more inside info than you do... But for the heck of it, tell me who the person is and I'm sure I can find out if he was there.
Now, Im done with this bickering. Good day to you sir and I wish you well.

[Frasson118]

RaceGirl.... Who exactly do you mean when refering to 'those people who have worked so hard to make this happen'? From what I can see, there isn't a single racing-related person who 'made this happen'.... it was politicians looking for a way to create income for the County, and they hope it spurs a few new businesses and jobs. They don't give a shit about racing, they are only interested in turning something they PAY for, into something they receive money from.

As for jumping on Darren, you need to re-read what he's been saying. Just because you didn't LIKE what he had to say, doesn't make it un-true. I believe he stated that he didn't fall for that "bring back the track" campaign, and neither did most of us. That was someones weak attempt at selling T-shirts, not an honest attempt to reopen Sunshine. You're a fool if you believe any different.

Lay off the guy. Seems to have a lot more knowledge and sincerity about this subject than you do. Your opinions are coming from the heart, his are coming from the brain. There are serious decisions to be made by anyone wanting to get involved, and truthfully, I think the language in the Lease proposal would make it almost Foolish to invest huge money into something the County can snatch from under your feet at any time.... taking ALL of your investments and improvements with them. The Government will not write a lease that favors you, only what will favor THEM.

Darren is being smart about this, while RaceGirl just wants to start shit with someone....

[RacerGirl9]

[exnyer]

sunshine

It is too bad that someone does not consider reopening USA Lakeland. That property is for sale, so there would be no lease from the county or any worry about the lease being broken after someones money was spent on it.
I am not hijacking the thread, just stating my opinion!

[VeaseyRacing]

It is too bad that someone does not consider reopening USA Lakeland. That property is for sale, so there would be no lease from the county or any worry about the lease being broken after someones money was spent on it.
I am not hijacking the thread, just stating my opinion!

Agreed, but I heard they were asking a fortune for it..

[gary laplant]

In the pre bid they asked for the people that was going to bid please be the only to take a bid. I was one of them that did with a few others . WHICH I AM VERY INTERESTED IN GETTING THE TRACK OPEN AGAIN FOR THE RACER.

In being a business man in Tampa for many years and bidding on many bids fover the years you learn to ask all the right question about a bid before bidding on it and bring up any problems with the bid before hand so the bid can not be rejected. .

In making some phone call since the pre bid and asking questions I have found out that at this time the Drag Strip was grand fathered in for zoning when is was sold to DOT an still can remain open as long as it has one event a year min to keep its zoning. The Race track has been closed with out any events on the race tracks. S0 what does this mean the race track has to be rezoned for it to become a race track again. Since the race track has a different address then the drag strip. The main question here is will Pinellas County or City of Pinellas Park re zone it again for a race track?????????

With the zoning question I have talked with the D.O.T office and the Sen office on this zoning matter I also had a conversation with Todd about this matter he also made a call to the zoning office and learned the same thing that I did about the zoning problem on the race track to his surprise too. It has to be re zoned by the person that owns the land which is the D.O.T. I am hoping to hear back from either office D.O.T or Sen office on Monday to see if the zoning problem can be worked out ro re open the track.

I am hoping this zoning problem can be worked out so the tack can be open again. I would love to be the winning bid to get the track up and running for the racing famlies again.

Gary Laplant
813 313 8741