Desoto name change

[Karnac]

How do you feel about the name change for DeSoto Speedway?

[tom77hmstd]

Good question I was there the night it opened with Robert Hamke I think it was Desoto then till now? It will be Desoto to me forever but if you buy it you can call it whatever you want I guess.

[Don Nerone]

Desota speedway forever..
go back to the logo that Margi had in the 80s.
It is still the best track in florida. It doesent need a name change. If u got to change then SARAMANA

dn62

[VeaseyRacing]

I like Desoto Speedway better just because I am old fashioned. But "Full Throttle" adds some excitement that may be good for bringing new fans in. I would not use Full Throttle just because it seems like you copied it off the TV series.

I don't mind a name change, but come up with something original.

[Boneman]

I like the name "Showtime", and I'm all for "Full Throttle". New ownership means a new direction and a new image. Just because 50 years ago tracks were named after their cities or counties is no reason to continue that way in the future.

If you buy into a place with an esteemed brand, "Golden Gate Speedway" for example, then you would be nuts to change it. However, if you are buying damaged goods, then you better gid rid of all links to the recent past.

How are you going to win back a fan who has an ax to grind with De Soto Speedway? Don't you think you'll have a better chance if you can say that those days are gone, there is new management and new ownership in place?

Go "Full Throttle!"

[Frasson118]

Totally agree with Rex. They HAVE to get rid of the name that has been damaged beyond repair. If not, they will have a lot of 'splainin' to do to convince the general public that this is an all new venture. A new name will make people think "what's this place all about... never heard of it".

I'm not real crazy about 'Full Throttle', but like Rex said, just naming it after the town or county is lame and used up.

[Osmosis Jones]

That's because....

...you're one of those simpletons who enjoys nicknames like Fireball or Speedy or Bonem........well, you get the picture. lol

BUT!

I do think you're on to something though, Rex....let's do away with all the history and old foundations which the sport was built on. Out with the old and feeble and in with the new and short-lived! Isn't that the way of the future? Everyone and everything will have their 15 minutes in the sun and then just dry up and wait for the next "Big Thing" to come along for another 1/4 hour thrill ride.

I guess that's just the way it is anymore. I mean, look at the NEXT BIG THING from a few years ago. Drifting. Gone like the tire smoke in the wind. Rice burning, Fast and Furious little wind up toys. The kids seem to have gotten tired of that fad pretty quick.


MY ACTUAL TAKE ON THINGS
The best thing I can say about Sunshine being back open is that it is indeed, open. Lot's of people on here doubted it would ever happen. Even more wish Jimmy C. would have been the one to take over the reigns. Instead they got the clown prince. BUT....at least it is open. You say you worry about people having a distaste for a track enough to let it taint their attendance. It's not the track that screws up the Racer/Promoter relationship. It's the people. I'm not going to bash John but it doesn't take a genius to figure out he pissed a lot of people off. They didn't leave saying I hate that racing complex. They left saying they hated John.

In the end, Kevin is the one who spent the money and signed the papers. He CAN call it anything he wants.
It's HIS track.
I just hope he remembers what happened to the last guy who blew into town, bought a race track and never listened to anybody else's advice.


I just really wish he wouldn't call it Full Throttle Speedway. I think it smacks of reality TV and a projects a short-termed vision for the future.
The name Desoto Speedway DOES hold iconic status (the same as Sunshine Speedway did in St. Pete).
One got renamed based on someone's ego. The other is just a bad marketing decision.

Anyways, that's my humble opinion.

[Osmosis Jones]

Fyi

Desoto was not named after the "town" or "county"

Named after Hernando Desoto.

I also think you're smoking crack, Jerry....lol....the people who are going to be competing at Desoto are the people who have known all too well for far too long about the problems with the previous owner. THEY will be the ones coming back to race. THEY will be the ones to spread the word for Kevin that there is a new sheriff in town. THEY will be the ones who will get more people involved and interested in racing.

Joe blow on the street knows nothing about John S., Kevin W. or even KARNAC. What would anyone have explain to the general public? It's the RACERS who need to be shown that this is not the King John Desoto Superspeedway but the King Kevin Desoto Speedway

The track's name hasn't been damaged. The owner/promoters reputation has. And now there is a new owner/promoter.

But it's the same old great track.

[Boneman]

nicknames like Fireball or Speedy or Bonem

Bonem? Isn't that the lead singer for U2?

Reminder, Mr. Williams is not "blowing into town". He is long established in this area and has proven himself successful over the past several years. Its a good day for Florida racing; between Full Throttle's rescue and the new life at Orlando and New Smyrna, I think we can all agree that it is a very different landscape than just a few months ago.

Osmo, lets just assume that you agree with me and we'll go from here.

[Osmosis Jones]

Never assume....

It just makes an ASS out of u....and me?....well I just laugh at your ass.

How do you come by the statement that Mr. Williams is "well-established" in this area? Didn't he just get control over Punta Gorda a couple of short years ago? Did he own or operate a track before PGS that I don't know about? I'm serious, because I'd never heard of him before he took over down south. I'm not knocking him or his abilities as a track owner. I'm just questioning the substance of your argument.
Also, I didn't say he was the one who "blew into town". Just that he should use that guy's previous example as the antithesis for a successful business model.

What we can agree on is the fact that, yes, there is a new day dawning for mid-Florida asphalt racing. Hopefully, it's a start to something great. I just wish my youthful enthusiasm hadn't been run-off by my experienced cynicism.

Full Throttle Speedway - great name for a Go-Kart track in Titusville

Desoto Speedway - Great name for the South's Fastest Short Track.

[Osmosis Jones]

And Bonem (Bonham).......

....was the drummer for Led Zeppelin.

[Jimmy McKinley]

You wanna bring back "tradition"? How 'bout back to DeSoto *Memorial* Speedway, as it was originally, and before Stimus took it over?

We ran there the first two years the track was open ('79 and '80). Hard to believe the place has been there *thirty-four* years now.

SeaFest 150. Coca-Cola 200. Icebreaker 100. All Sunday-afternoon shows. Bring 'em back

[Winger]

I agree with Rex and Jerry. It needs a new name. I don't have anything against Full Throttle, although when I first heard it I was reminded of Sturgis. The name change won't mean much for the competitors but it may bring in new fans, who don't follow the racing boards. They may hear or read a new name and say to themselves that it must be under new management. Let's try it again.

[scottgarrity07]

Full Throttle Speedway IS a go kart track. It's not in Titusville, it's in Nags Head NC on the Outer Banks. Fun for the kiddies on vacation. My only hope here is that they got naming rights money from the "Full Throttle" energy drink brand, i.e. "Lowe's Motor Speedway". Otherwise it's a bad idea,IMHO.

[Jimmy McKinley]

My only hope here is that they got naming rights money from the "Full Throttle" energy drink brand, i.e. "Lowe's Motor Speedway". Otherwise it's a bad idea,IMHO.

I didn't even think of that. Full Throttle is a Coca-Cola brand, if I recall.

"Full Throttle is an energy drink brand produced by The Coca-Cola Company (through its Fuze Beverage subsidiary). It debuted in late 2004 in North America. It is known for its sponsorship of National Hot Rod Association competitions from 2008 to 2012."