Is OSW *done* now...?

[scott bertram]

First fasson do you want to lease speedworld ? Lets face it VERY BAD YEAR for speedworld but Ozzy is looking to keep it open at least and maybe lease it out for next year. He is a drag guy first he has spent and done a lot of work at the drag strip and looks like that is working just like his track in Lakeland heard he made that place real nice. OK let's back up the opening night of speedworld this year he had less than a 75 people in the stands now some of you guys and girls might say not my problem. Well it is because with out the fans you can not make it, the back gate money will not keep a track open stock car racers pay a pit pass $25.00 for racing at the track very cheap if no fans show up. At the end of the day the place is a business and a racers hobby and needs to make money to stay open. NEXT POST

moe..... u got 1 thing right. it's not our problem. i'm curious...... who do you believe has the sole responsibility of getting and keeping fans in the stands? as a driver my job is to put on the best show I can. is it anyone's (other than the track owner/promoter) fault that no fans show up? do you think as a racer I like looking in the stands to see a whopping 25 people? this whole "Ozzy is a drag guy" shit doesn't wash with me either. the very basics haven't been met at all this year...... advertising, current website, track maintenance, communication........ these things do not change from a drag track to a oval, or any business for that matter. I understand your need to kiss ass to maintain a good standing for the crash a rama, but let it be known that you aren't scoring any points on here with the ones that are watching the track go to shit as you continue to try to make excuses for him

[MOE #15]

Katnip

Your right about one thing we are going to make a MESS. BE THERE COME BY AND SAY HI.

[MOE #15]

Scott

To answer your question it is the TRACKS job to promote along with the drivers to help get people there. That is what i think you may have a different view and that is fine. Next web site its Bad did hear they are working on it, yes i Know they have been saying that for a while you are right about that. Have you talked to Ozzy about the way you guys feel. Hope everything works out for you. And as far as kissing ass that's funny

[ancrdave]

Posted today:

Orlando Speedworld circle track racers and fans. 2013 was certainly a learning experience for us. Being new to this type of racing, we weren’t sure what to expect. We can tell you, we have learned a lot. We tried some things that were different than what you've been used to. Everyone tried their best to make this year the best that they could and we have nothing but praise and our heartfelt thanks for everyone's efforts. That being said, 2014 is going to be a fresh start at the circle track. We are going back to basics for what it will be our first step to a great future of racing in Orlando. We are going back to a Friday night schedule. I plan on continuing to learn and grow as an owner to help provide a great facility and the best racing and entertainment for your dollar. I appreciate the loyalty of both our racers and fans at the circle track and I am going to strive to make 2014 a great year of racing for all of you. Unfortunately, we will be cancelling the remaining two races of this season, with the exception of the Crash-a-Rama on Nov. 29th and WING SPRINTS on Dec. 7th which will go on as scheduled. I want to thank everyone for their continued support and know that 2014 is looking bright for Orlando Speedworld circle track. Thanks again Ozzy...

So there you go right from the owner hisself...

Looking forward to working with my buddy Moe at Crash-A-Rama and we'll see what's cooking next year... I hope Butch Carr stays involved... he absolutely loves SpeedWorld and can only bring good things with his involvement... He was racing there when I started in 1985... Supported the track every week...

[Matt Albee]

Somebody should ask Jimmy Cope if he wants another track. I'll bet he could take over the lease at OSW if he wanted it.

The only way OSW is going to survive, much less thrive, is if the lessee is willing to pay good people to run the place.

Drag racing survives almost entirely on the back gate along with sponsor money. Oval trackers might just have to start paying $100 or more per car and $35 or more per person at the back gate so the track doesn't have to rely on fans for the prize money.

Ozzy is actually fairly easy to get ahold of. And he's heard all the complaints and all of the solutions. But so far he doesn't feel the need to hire GOOD people, keep them on for at least a year so they have a chance to accomplish something, and pay them good money. And who can blame him for hesitating to spend money on the place.

[shorttrackcar1]

Your right about one thing we are going to make a MESS. BE THERE COME BY AND SAY HI.

Yea you think thats cute your going to make a mess. well I hope nobody shows up.

[katlizy]

Moe.. your dickish remarks is why I wont be spending my money at your events.. I cant believe ancrdave is friends with someone like u

[Racecar37]

Osw

I hope in a month of so we the racers can have a good sit lunch at the track with ozzy and voice a few things out and help him set it up right for the 2014 season. And any one can come And have your say in person. Then at that point we all as a group can help get this track up and running like it should. Because he even says that he is learning to run the oval track. Well lets help him out I for one want the track to go back to its glory days and it can happen if we all pull together and get off our butts and do it.

[wesnsf]

Wasn't too bad to start made a few mistakes (tire orders) plus the weather didn't help looked like rain every Friday night . Hope next year will be better and please go back to Friday nights And let's do some figure 8 racing

[dd38]

Somebody said Ozzy is easy to get a hold of? I know of a person still waiting to hear from him since Monday after a brief conversation (30 sec.) with him saying he would call them back shortly. Just glad they were not holding their breath waiting on that call!

[T Mack]

Tell the story !!!Lets go !!!

[Matt Albee]

The problem with inverting heat winners is you will get guys sandbagging. Might want to roll the dice and determine how many of the heat winners are inverted. No one knows how many are inverted going into the race.

Sandbagging isn't an issue, there are many tracks that use completely inverted races including the features. Bracket drag racing uses the same concept. Every car uses the fastest lap time they turned in on a given night, either in qualifying or heat races. During each race, cars are timed at random and anyone caught going quicker than their qualifying time by a certain amount is DQd and the time he was caught running is his new qualifying time for the night.
In fact, you could leave it up to the racers themselves like bracket racing does. Each car has to let the race director know what his fastest lap time was in practice, that's his benchmark for the night. The crew chief can subtract or add a little to that time if he knows the track and/or weather conditions are going to change so as to avoid getting caught with a much quicker time.. Then, as above, if the car is caught during random lap timing going 2 tenths quicker ( depending on the track length ) he is DQd, from that race.

[luke81]

Sandbagging isn't an issue, there are many tracks that use completely inverted races including the features. Bracket drag racing uses the same concept. Every car uses the fastest lap time they turned in on a given night, either in qualifying or heat races. During each race, cars are timed at random and anyone caught going quicker than their qualifying time by a certain amount is DQd and the time he was caught running is his new qualifying time for the night.
In fact, you could leave it up to the racers themselves like bracket racing does. Each car has to let the race director know what his fastest lap time was in practice, that's his benchmark for the night. The crew chief can subtract or add a little to that time if he knows the track and/or weather conditions are going to change so as to avoid getting caught with a much quicker time.. Then, as above, if the car is caught during random lap timing going 2 tenths quicker ( depending on the track length ) he is DQd, from that race.

Uh, no. That doesn't work in oval racing. Just no.

[Boneman]

if the car is caught during random lap timing going 2 tenths quicker ( depending on the track length ) he is DQd, from that race.

Matt, you are a thinker. Keep the ideas coming. But I gotta tell you that this one is probably the worse ever!

[Matt Albee]

Matt, you are a thinker. Keep the ideas coming. But I gotta tell you that this one is probably the worse ever!

Thanks for your critique. It works, it's been used all over the country. But it's not how we've done things before. And it might involve somebody actually having to break a sweat, or even worse, a racer being inconvenienced.
Yes, I will keep the ideas coming and I hope everyone else does as well, instead of just settling for minor changes to a sport that no longer works.