OSW Closed 5/11 and 5/18

[ancrdave]

Rusty... interesting you should bring up the cheese factor... I remember a former FASCAR employee who got called on the carpet because he had eaten a couple of pieces of cheese to be used in making cheeseburgers... This was when Dolly Hart was in charge of the kitchen at New Smyrna... She would know exactly how many cheeseburgers were sold that night and that was exactly how many pieces of cheese should have been used... True story...
By the way, it wasn't me... I hate cheese!

[UREZ2PASS]

It's about being honest with what is told to your customers. Racers are customers these days. We can handle the truth. I don't know who fabricated the story about a scheduling conflict but until somebody explains it, I'll consider it completely dishonest. Respect is hard earned and easily lost.

[dd38]

AHHHH, Cheese!!!!! YUM......

.

[UREZ2PASS]

[QUOTE=Rusty the 50/50 Guy;104202]

The Hart family has given and given and given and all anyone seems to notice is when they finally take a stand and say we have to look at this!

Really ! That's not what was written. They said they closed due to scheduling conflicts. Do you know something we don't or are you guessing like the rest of us ?

[Boneman]

A fictional letter written by me regarding another way to handle this.
"An open letter to all FASCAR drivers, car owners and race fans.

Its no secret that business at Orlando Speedworld has been suffering for the past several years. The car count has dropped slowly but steadily, and the fan count is has nearly bottomed out. Of course this is a vicious cycle that drives the over-all speedway business into a downward spiral.

I hope it is clear to all that the track owners have been extremely generous, out of their love for our sport, by supporting this money losing business for the past several years. Although the well may be deep, it does have a bottom.

At this point, speedway ownership is at last forced to evaluate the future of business at Speedworld. Is there enough participation from the local racing community to keep the track afloat? Is there a chance at winning back enough loyal fans to keep the money flowing in? We have always assumed the answer to these questions was "yes", but now we have to ask the question again, 'does anyone care enough to keep the track open?'

To find the answer, FASCAR is going to hit the "reset" button on the 2012 season. We will take a break from the weekly racing schedule until our grand re-opening on (fill in a date). During the time off, we at FASCAR pledge to re-organize our team where necessary, set goals for short-term performance, and put in motion several new and aggressive projects to promote the track to everyone in central Florida. In addition, we will mount an unprecidented effort to contact, persuade and win over racers to get off the sidelines and get their equipment into the line-up at Orlando Speedworld.

Meanwhile, interested race team owners, drivers and mechanics must take the initiative to support the re-building process. Since the turn-out of cars in the first few weeks will determine in part the future direction of the track, now is the time to leave past conflicts in the dust. We can argue about tires, payouts and rules when the business is healthy again. There has to be a show to sell to our customers. If not, then everyone including car owners and drivers, will lose.

This situation CAN be fixed! Orlando Speedworld has the best racing surface in Florida, and we are surrounded by millions of potential new fans. There is every reason to believe that we can rebuild this into a successful business, but of course there is no guarantee. All of us at FASCAR are dedicated to fixing it. We love racing, and just like any good racer or business person, we can't tolerate the idea of losing.

So now we extend our hand to our members, former members and all participants past and present, and ask for your support and participation. If you are unable to assist us in the re-building effort, and insist on continuing discord, then we wish you well and ask that you please step aside so we can try to build a future at Orlando Speedworld."

[backrow]

Well said and all of it is accurate... I just wish it would be adopted....I live in Orlando and I would love to drive 20 minutes instead of 2 hours for my racing fix.

[UREZ2PASS]

My fictional reply to the fictional letter. During this short break, We hope you will take a hard look at all the positive information that has been given to you by the experienced and informed people on this website. We know some suggestions are not very well thought out but many are easy to implement and proven successful at other racetracks. Many years ago, the Japanese car manufacturers went to total quality leadership. This was taking the advise and input of employees in search of ways to save revenue and provide a better product. The car manufacturers were very successful and the United States of America military even followed with their own version of total quality leadership.

Advise and suggestions are free, use it to your advantage because in the end, for any one of us to succeed, we must all succeed.

We will have our cars ready to be on track after the break. Let us know what we can do to assist in rebuilding racing in Central Florida.

[Boneman]

FYI, I don't like drama and uncertainty. Lets race.

[UREZ2PASS]

FYI, I don't like drama and uncertainty. Lets race.

FYI, I don't like fiction, it causes drama and uncertainty. I agree, let's race.

[scottgarrity07]

I don't know about drama, uncertainty or fiction but what I do know is the Orlando is one of the most fun racetracks I have ever driven on and to lose it would be a crying shame. I'm guessing the first date after the "schedule conflicts" is June 1st. Night of the rescheduled Sportsman 50. I live all the way over here in West Pasco and I will be there to support Orlando Speedworld. I suggest anyone that has a car in any of those divisions scheduled for that night then do your best to show up and bring people. If you think your car is outside the rules then call Wayne the tech man. HE WILL WORK WITH YOU. It would be nice to see a full pit area and some great racing. It's $1000 to win for Sportsman that night, so there's no excuse not to be there.

[Hired Gun]

Two weeks off then Crash a rama sounds good to me!!

[TEDHEAD9292]

If june 1st is the date I will be there. You dont give up on what you love, Lets Race.

[DPRacecars]

Schedule conflict?? Hahahaha

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

You know...OSW is a GREAT place! I love that little track! It has taken a beating for years! If it were to close I would completely understand! I know that it has struggled for years. The answers that I would have for it would be of course..The ones that love it need to support it..it is just like a relationship...if you do not pay attention to it..it goes away. The other is to get it more mainstream...I know some do not agree but it MUST MUST MUST go to Saturday night! Butch and Barbara LOVE that place...I know they would do what ever it takes to make it work!
Just for the record...OSW on Saturday night will NOT hurt NSS!!! There are only a handfull of cars that run both..Terry and I had a plan that would alternate the cars and it would be just FINE! Do I think OSW is going to close...NO! But you never know in these times what may happen!

GET OUT THERE AND SUPPORT "YOUR" HOMETRACK!!! Be it OSW NSS PGS Auburndale DSS etc etc! JUST DO IT! Stop worrying about politics(race track) and have fun!

[UREZ2PASS]

Saturday night with alternating classes is a good plan and one that should be tried before closing the doors.

Crash-A -Rama packs the house because people like crashing and destruction. Most don't care who wins, they leave talking about the destruction. Once they see it, a weekly racing program is boring. The way to get their interest is recognition of drivers and the behind the scene racing drama. They need something to make them want to go to the track. Something to get their mind thinking about what will happen next week, who is going to payback who, and how will their favorite driver finish. Bowman Gray packs the stands for a reason. The fans are aware of the good guys and the villians. They thrive on the drama and the racing. I think the drama gets them there.

Drivers need fans, the more fans, the better chance of sponsorship. Get out there and meet people, sell some driver tshirts, let them know who you are. It's work, but nothing comes without some sweat unless your rich like them damn daddies boys we all wish we were.