osw is it true

[Lurkin]

These were tracks that "I" raced at that are gone. You got my point, they be gone now and it had nothing to do with payouts! The payout stunk then and they really stink now. How I wish I could enjoy those shitty payouts at Palm Beach one more time.

[kletus]

WOW, You guys are ruthless. Not one person at OSW races to MAKE $$$. We only seek to offset our expenses or help compensate for our losses (wrecked cars, blown motors etc...) The fact that race cars have evolved over the past 10 years or so has made the costs multiply. Years ago if a driver in a lower class "mini-stock, Super stock, street stock dominated year after year he was forced to move up a class. Now the mini stock champ has a $15000 car that was built on a jig for racing only and beats the old grocery getter mini stocks by a mile year after year. In the old days all the cars were grocery getters with modified motors and suspensions. Now you can buy 3 nice cars for the price of one mini-stock. The fact that the race track is closed is a management /promotional issue. Racers will always want to race. We will just have to spend more $$$ to get there. Therefore the extra costs will keep some of us "lower class guys" from competing. Cheaper to stay home and watch NASCRAP. Lets do the math.

1. Tires $100 1 a week at least
2. Fuel $ 60 Race car and tow minimum
3. track $ 25
TOTAL $ 185 per week not counting initial cost of car, safety equipment, repairs

NASCRAP at home 12 pack good beer $15 PRICELESS

[Hired Gun]

Well said Keltus, your exactly right. The payout is to off set what were all spending, not to necessarily make money. And about the mini stock your 100% right. Ive got the only real mini STOCK that shows up at OSW. (Red Pinto #69) My father races it just for fun. Stock body stock motor but header and 4412. Its close to what a mini should still be. We've got about 2,800in whole car thats including the brand new motor from racer walsh.

[Edm]

WOW, You guys are ruthless. Not one person at OSW races to MAKE $$$. We only seek to offset our expenses or help compensate for our losses (wrecked cars, blown motors etc...) The fact that race cars have evolved over the past 10 years or so has made the costs multiply. Years ago if a driver in a lower class "mini-stock, Super stock, street stock dominated year after year he was forced to move up a class. Now the mini stock champ has a $15000 car that was built on a jig for racing only and beats the old grocery getter mini stocks by a mile year after year. In the old days all the cars were grocery getters with modified motors and suspensions. Now you can buy 3 nice cars for the price of one mini-stock. The fact that the race track is closed is a management /promotional issue. Racers will always want to race. We will just have to spend more $$$ to get there. Therefore the extra costs will keep some of us "lower class guys" from competing. Cheaper to stay home and watch NASCRAP. Lets do the math.

1. Tires $100 1 a week at least
2. Fuel $ 60 Race car and tow minimum
3. track $ 25
TOTAL $ 185 per week not counting initial cost of car, safety equipment, repairs

NASCRAP at home 12 pack good beer $15 PRICELESS

Might be ruthless but my posts are not directed towards the little guy. Offsetting the cost of racing with better payouts is only a crutch for a larger problem. You proved my point, 15k for a mini stock? Big money is spending too much and the tracks are not doing enough to keep costs down.

[katlizy]

None of you will have a place to show off your expensive crap without us..the fans... Instead of bitching about payouts.. Why not help your home track promote??? I can't do that anymore for osw, because no one believes me that the unicorn exists..... It is cancelled each time.

[Cara]

When my husband and I built our first car for OSW we took turns racing each week. After a while he decided I was the better driver and turned the wheel over to me to race. We got into racing for the FUN of it because you don't get rich racing at the local tracks. The fun stopped when I lost Homer and I parked my car for several years. Finally I wanted to go and have fun again and knew Homer would want that for me so we got the car going again. Except it was short lived because of the changing of tires half way through the season and trying to have fun when competing against others in Super Stock with high dollar cars.

As I said before we got into it for fun. I grew up going to race tracks since talking my Dad into taking me when I was 7 and the first track I went to was OSW. I have not only raced at the track I have helped promote it, flagged during practice session, ticket sells, cooked at the concession stand, tech inspector/weighter, worked pit office and yes, even cleaned the bathrooms.

Never once during the times I raced did I ever complain about the payouts because finishing at the back you did not get much. Only once did I get back what I paid to get in. For all of those years of racing we never did have a sponsor to help pay for the expenses on the car. We have several help us out with tires that were used but everything came out of our pockets.

I would love to see OSW stay open with someone who has the desire to make it work and I hope it does happen.

[dd38]

Payouts are a added bonus, but they have not kept up with inflation. It helps support what money the car owner/driver still puts out of his pocket. It's the sponsor that helps support the racer on race nite. But the problem is the track being closed and no attendance when it is open. I race because I love it. Yea I need the payout money now because I lost my sponsor of many years a little over 6 years ago (passed away and wished to remain nameless when he was alive) because I pay 100% of everything now.

Yea the more you win is a extra plus (put that in my war chest for major issues). I haven't raced personally much lately because of health issues and lack of funds (have another driver but he has a lot of commitments on race nites). I figured up it costs me at least $300 to $350 a regular race night and that's if nothing gets tore up or breaks (Yea we are talking SLM and OWM). The money I do spend (on the car maintaining it) I figured is money I don't spend on other things such as partying, drinking, smoking, and so forth.

I went to Sunshine back in the mid 90"s to race for a couple reasons. Yes the payout was way much better. First time I (ME) run 2nd I went to the pay window and was handed $600 (actually $650. $50 for the heat race)! I didn't even know what the payoff was. At Orlando you were basically racing for 2nd at that time because they had a guy that dominated and out classed everyone and could get away with anything. But the main reason's I went over there was that and the place was packed and there was a T.V. program at the time where they would film each week and played it a few days later.

I had a friend that lived in Wisconsin and he called me one nite and said he was watching me race at Sunshine. I thought it was way cool (racing in front of people, on T.V.)! I only quit running the OWM because of the stupid ass APT's! No that everyone is back on Slicks when I get back from Summer break I'll be running somewhere. when my driver can.

Maybe if Ozzie would communicate on here with us and keep us up to date at least once a week. And get out and visit the racers at their shops and the repair shops he would understand more (the expense). Remember first and foremost Ozzie is a DRAG (Bow and Arrow) Racer. They only go at the most 1320 feet, at the most, and then sit around and B.S. and eat until the next round. Usually their cars sit in the trailer or garage until the next week except for a little maintence. They aren't thrashing on their cars all week to race 1 or 2 nites.

[Don Nerone]

Agin ill say is any home or is it over at OSW??

don62

[floridanajoe]

Any body wants to look at where I used to race , check out Colorado National speedway . stands are full , 20 plus cars per class, they all have sponsers to help off set the cost of racing , payouts are good, it still works in other places in the country. One thing we had there was a SEASON. Not race 40 to 50 weeks a year . ran 16 to 20 shows, then had time to work on our cars, rest , get ready for the next year. When Ozzie talked about running 52 weeks a year I knew he was doomed. the web site like this Bigwest racing .com

[dd38]

Racers and Spectators cannot afford year round racing anymore. I remember FASCAR would run points year round plus Speedweeks also counted towards the Drivers points. So what's that add up to? 60+ racer a year? Then they acquired Speedworld and you had to run both to collect any point money. It was called Combined Points. Individual tracks you got $0.00. Sure it paid good I think like $8000, But do the math.

[pintodave]

Hell how about trying two short seasons, avoid the couple of crappy winter months for the cold and so people can do the holiday thing, then take off last 1/2 June thru first 1/2 Aug because it is frikking hot and plus you'll lose a few nights to bad weather anyways...

[Jimmy McKinley]

So, I'm gonna go out a limb here and be serious for minute - and, yes, I'm being serious.

*Is* this Bob Watson guy coming back?

*Does* Orlando Speedworld really need some actual help to get the place going again?

It's something I've thought about doing for a *long*, *LONG* time.

*IF* I could...I would.

Seriously.

[Don Nerone]

Bob is a great guy and the right guy for the job but its going to be tough for anyone to do.
Iys not a job for a new promoter. Bob does have some experance in florida racing and u wont find a greater guy.
Its going to be a tough hard ride back to being a track to go to .
I think the present mng has already run it corst in just a few races.
Jim for president....You could not do any worst than they did and im not kidding either.
Jerry might even come help you.Now did u get a smile out of that..

don62

[katlizy]

holy crap

Payouts are a added bonus, but they have not kept up with inflation. It helps support what money the car owner/driver still puts out of his pocket. It's the sponsor that helps support the racer on race nite. But the problem is the track being closed and no attendance when it is open. I race because I love it. Yea I need the payout money now because I lost my sponsor of many years a little over 6 years ago (passed away and wished to remain nameless when he was alive) because I pay 100% of everything now. Yea the more you win is a extra plus (put that in my war chest for major issues). I haven't raced personally much lately because of health issues and lack of funds (have another driver but he has a lot of commitments on race nites). I figured up it costs me at least $300 to $350 a regular race night and that's if nothing gets tore up or breaks (Yea we are talking SLM and OWM). The money I do spend (on the car maintaining it) I figured is money I don't spend on other things such as partying, drinking, smoking, and so forth. I went to Sunshine back in the mid 90"s to race for a couple reasons. Yes the payout was way much better. First time I (ME) run 2nd I went to the pay window and was handed $600 (actually $650. $50 for the heat race)! I didn't even know what the payoff was. At Orlando you were basically racing for 2nd at that time because they had a guy that dominated and out classed everyone and could get away with anything. But the main reason's I went over there was that and the place was packed and there was a T.V. program at the time where they would film each week and played it a few days later. I had a friend that lived in Wisconsin and he called me one nite and said he was watching me race at Sunshine. I thought it was way cool (racing in front of people, on T.V.)! I only quit running the OWM because of the stupid ass APT's! No that everyone is back on Slicks when I get back from Summer break I'll be running somewhere. when my driver can. Maybe if Ozzie would communicate on here with us and keep us up to date at least once a week. And get out and visit the racers at their shops and the repair shops he would understand more (the expense). Remember first and foremost Ozzie is a DRAG (Bow and Arrow) Racer. They only go at the most 1320 feet, at the most, and then sit around and B.S. and eat until the next round. Usually their cars sit in the trailer or garage until the next week except for a little maintence. They aren't thrashing on their cars all week to race 1 or 2 nites.

Holy no paragraph man... Did you hold your breath when typing this??? BTW I didn't read it.. My ADHD wouldn't allow it

[katlizy]

Bob is a great guy and the right guy for the job but its going to be tough for anyone to do.
Iys not a job for a new promoter. Bob does have some experance in florida racing and u wont find a greater guy.
Its going to be a tough hard ride back to being a track to go to .
I think the present mng has already run it corst in just a few races.
Jim for president....You could not do any worst than they did and im not kidding either.
Jerry might even come help you.Now did u get a smile out of that..

don62

Down, wish we could see what a great person Bob is. Do you think we will get a chance???