No more E-Mods at OSW

[Boneman]

The "Idiot Cup" would be a riot and I'd buy a ticket to see it!

Palmbayer is right, the entry level class needs to be stronger. It is what gets new racers hooked and hopefully feeds them to higher classes. I'm not sure why the Speedworld Bombers don't have a ton of cars. There were problems in recent years with racecars in the class; maybe it scared a bunch of others off.

I used an open trailer for 20+ years, and have just recently switched to an enclosed. Yep, I feel a little guilty too, but there is just no match for the security and convenience, especially when traveling.

[dd38]

Let me clarify myself about "Junker" cars. What I meant was the appearance of the majority of them are unrecognizable. Some of them seem to run the same body for several seasons. You need a tetnus shot just to walk by them in fear you might hit a jagged piece of metal sticking out. Some of them never even attempt to even try and straighten them out. A few years ago there was a car at Orlando that was beat up so bad the track told him not to bring it back until he did something with the body. Talk about the cars representing the track? That car was far from a example of how I want my track represented. I mean there is a point to which you must draw a line. And some of the lettering! Shessh!!! I guess I just take too much Pride in my cars. Probably too much.

[kendo]

I know a LOT of race fans around the state, and around the country...... Not ONE of them is wondering where the next Bomber or Strictly Stock race is gonna be.

To say that those 'entry level' classes are "what the crowd comes to see" is a ridiculous statement.

I realize that this forum leans toward asphalt racing and I am always amused by the broad brush statements

That's totally true about the asphalt tracks/fans...Not the dirt tracks/fans...The asphalt tracks do not promote the supporting classes and drivers and the result is exactly what you have today,0 excitement/interest.

Volusia just had a $1250 to win thunder stock race,28 starters and took 4 heats to run them...2 weeks ago,NFS had a $2500 to win thunder stock race with 50+ cars entering.Some of these racers move back and forth between upper classes based on budget/economic times and the equipment is top notch,not junk.

You are not going to attract entry level drivers to spend $ on tires and fuel for only a trophy when 12 year olds are walking around with I-Phones....Time to get with the times before it is to late.

Heck,a few weeks ago a super stock thread was started on this forum...1st one I have seen here in 2 years

What will save asphalt tracks is to build them back from the bottom up,not hoping that the economy may some day improve and a few more rich kids in super late models will fall out of the sky.Until then,asphalt tracks will continue to run 6-8 car features and be thrilled that there is a battle for the lead.

[cake]

So if the high top dollar fast cars (late models) are what the people come to see then why are the stands not packed at every Friday/Saturday night weekly super late model race? I'd rather go to Speedworld and watch a 15-20car bomber race then New Smyrna for the 7-10 car late model feature.

But all the problems would be solved with 2 feet of dirt on top..............

[cake]

Let me clarify myself about "Junker" cars. What I meant was the appearance of the majority of them are unrecognizable. Some of them seem to run the same body for several seasons. You need a tetnus shot just to walk by them in fear you might hit a jagged piece of metal sticking out. Some of them never even attempt to even try and straighten them out. A few years ago there was a car at Orlando that was beat up so bad the track told him not to bring it back until he did something with the body. Talk about the cars representing the track? That car was far from a example of how I want my track represented. I mean there is a point to which you must draw a line. And some of the lettering! Shessh!!! I guess I just take too much Pride in my cars. Probably too much.

False. The speedworld super late model race a few weeks back. No offense toward the Hester clan but the entire field of bombers looked better then all of their super late models.

And why not call the super stocks Junkers some of them are pretty bad too.

[FlaShortTrackFan]

Hialeah speedway

I can remember the dying days of Hialeah and up to the point of the final night the cyclones and pure stocks ( which ultimately were the same class) were bringing 15-25 cars each week. And every month they ran a " Limited Late Model 50 lapper" which entitled them to combine the street stocks and limited late models to make a 12 car field. Pure stock/hobby stock/bomber/road warrior is where the action is. You know what would put butts in the seats... A stock enduro class that collects points but only runs once a month. Bone stock just like Bubba is running in a month. Give the racers time to fix and prep their car. Correct if I'm wrong but didn't sunshine run a stop/go enduro class every week?

[Edm]

Two cars I distinctly remember as a child at Shasta Speedway in California, a sprint car driver named George Bragg who always won and a pure stock that never won painted like the General Lee.

George was awesome to watch and all around good guy, always put on a show and the General Lee driver Bob (can't remember his last name) was a family friend but he drove a really cool car. I don't think it's so much the class of cars as it is what you do with them. As a child I always picked the best looking cars as my favorite drivers. When I was racing I wanted that child in the stands to pick me as their favorite driver.

[kendo]

So if the high top dollar fast cars (late models) are what the people come to see then why are the stands not packed at every Friday/Saturday night weekly super late model race? I'd rather go to Speedworld and watch a 15-20car bomber race then New Smyrna for the 7-10 car late model feature.

But all the problems would be solved with 2 feet of dirt on top..............

Exactly...

I have seen e-mods in the classifieds dirt cheap.Simple fact is that a fan isn't going to come out of the stands and decide to race one.Whether you like the support classes or not,this is where the future drivers come from that eventually move up to the elite classes.

[dd38]

2 feet of dirt on top would make the wall too short at orlando

[Boneman]

There is no reason to believe that going to dirt would change anything at all at Speedworld. What it would do is insure that the track require continual maintenance during the week to keep the surface groomed. If you haven't noticed, the maintenance capacity at Speedworld is very, very small, so adding a large, never ending task makes no sense.

Do you think that all dirt tracks are successful? Ask the guys who started the year at Putnam, it has since closed. Or ask the people at Bubba's, which is a modern, well-funded facility that appears to be spiraling downward for some reason.

Excuses get us no where. BS artists will run their mouths from the sidelines and contribute nothing. More central Florida racers need to start showing up and running at Orlando, or it will disappear. I don't care if you have some minor complaint; sorry everything won't be perfect for you. Don't you realize that you have a much louder voice if your car is actually in the field?

The last time I was out there I was amazed, and disgusted, at how a few guys love to complain. The dedicated Speedworld racers deserve better competitors.

[kendo]

There is no reason to believe that going to dirt would change anything .

I think that the dirt guys are being a little sarcastic

Fact is I have been to 2 different dirt tracks this past year with 80+ cars in the pits and they too are struggling to put fans in the stands on a consistent basis.

[Boneman]

Going to dirt has been a persistent belief from many guys who think it will fix things. Fix it just like going to Saturday night was supposed to do.

It is a fact that the Volusia dirt track has blossomed this year. East Bay is consistently good, and from reading the reports, NFS is also strong.

The dirt people are not being sarcastic, but they are not being helpful or realistic either. The best way to save racing at Orlando? Get out there and race.

[palmbayer]

I was a " lets put dirt on it" guy too..... Until I raced there again.
It was a damn blast last week !!! I'd forgotten how much fun speedworld is to race on.

[dd38]

Part of the reason for speed worlds problems are Butch and Barb are not there. They are Racers and know the struggles. That's when everything started to circle the drain.

[Frasson118]

The drain was circling looooong before Butch & Barbara were even involved.

Two people cannot plug the hole in the side of the Titanic....

OSW's problems go a long way back..... it's not a 3-4 year problem, its at least a decade old.