Great News About Desota

[luke81]

I've watched full fields of sprint cars run features without carnage at Showtime, because those drivers undertand mostly how to NOT run into each other. Then I've watched half as many modifieds go out and have caution after caution because nobody can drive without hitting everything around them.

[scottgarrity07]

The bigger purses at Showtime don't necessarily translate into larger fields with all divisions that race there. The reason I have stayed away (even though it's the closest track to me) is because of, to put it nicely, the quirky way he has treated Sportsman there. As far as larger fields automatically resulting in wreckfests, I don't buy it. While one groove bullrings can lead to more contact, it doesn't have to degrade into "yellow fever". Respect is one factor but more importantly what is tolerated (or promoted) by track officials and management is more relevant. From what I have heard from other competitors, Yoho isn't really opposed to rough racing and a fistfight or two on the frontstretch. I think he feels that that drama sells tickets. I guess that's the difference between Sunshine and "Showtime". On the subject of larger fields, isn't that the whole point? As a racer, a top five against 30 cars of tough competition is usually more rewarding than a win against 7 cars, and no matter where you are in the pack you have someone to battle with. BTW, Desoto's purses are better than most tracks already, Yoho just has a lot of big money "specials" that pop up now and then (he also has been known to cut purses from time to time also).

[tccaz]

Kendo

I wanted to stay away from this one, BUT if you went short track racing not expecting to crash or have carnage as you put it you picked the wrong hobby. Not wanting to race where there maybe a large field of cars is selfish and an insult to the fans who also spend good money to attend these races, don't forget not everyone lives close to a race track.

[Matt Albee]

I wanted to stay away from this one, BUT if you went short track racing not expecting to crash or have carnage as you put it you picked the wrong hobby. Not wanting to race where there maybe a large field of cars is selfish and an insult to the fans who also spend good money to attend these races, don't forget not everyone lives close to a race track.

Notice how this thread keeps getting turned back to racers and tracks instead of the fans. Figure out how to give the fans a show, something worth driving to and spending money on. Or keep worrying about your class title or the poor track owner having to invest money. A movie theater that's been let go for years, only offers the worst popcorn, and shows the cheapest, least popular movies because that's all the owner can afford isn't going to bring in an audience ( not for long anyway ) by additional advertising. He's gonna have to step up and up date the place, bring in better popcorn, put in nicer seats, bring in movies people want to pay to see, and then advertise.
The race track owner needs to spend enough to up grade the facility, offer the fans value for their money, and bring in good races. You can only run a track on a shoestring when the track was pretty good to begin with. Otherwise, just like Showtime, the owner needs to spend the money to make a nice facility first.

[kendo]

I wanted to stay away from this one, BUT if you went short track racing not expecting to crash or have carnage as you put it you picked the wrong hobby. Not wanting to race where there maybe a large field of cars is selfish and an insult to the fans who also spend good money to attend these races, don't forget not everyone lives close to a race track.

IRONY-Fans who travel past race tracks because they want the best bang for their $12 bucks...Racers who sacrifice time with family/friends and spend thousands of dollars to do what they love,travel past a track based on their own situation are selfish and an insult to fans.

[scottgarrity07]

Notice how this thread keeps getting turned back to racers and tracks instead of the fans. Figure out how to give the fans a show, something worth driving to and spending money on. Or keep worrying about your class title or the poor track owner having to invest money. A movie theater that's been let go for years, only offers the worst popcorn, and shows the cheapest, least popular movies because that's all the owner can afford isn't going to bring in an audience ( not for long anyway ) by additional advertising. He's gonna have to step up and up date the place, bring in better popcorn, put in nicer seats, bring in movies people want to pay to see, and then advertise.
The race track owner needs to spend enough to up grade the facility, offer the fans value for their money, and bring in good races. You can only run a track on a shoestring when the track was pretty good to begin with. Otherwise, just like Showtime, the owner needs to spend the money to make a nice facility first.

That's because to realistically create a better show for the fans we have to draw more cars. Track owners don't have more money (Yoho was a startup with Showtime with BIG backing from Q Auto Injury going in), racers don't have more money to spend (creating a situation where we have to spend more will just make us race less), and sponsors are not going to invest in short track racing until they see full grandstands. The best way to fill the pits and put on a better show is to create a more favorable environment for the racer to make them want to race AND run heats, handicap the field and bury the fast cars in the field so that the fans can see passing. Those are real world solutions. Trying to force racers into an uncomfortable and unfavorable model "for the betterment of the sport" will make them stay home. Do you ever spend your "disposable" income on something you really don't want to do???

[andre]

Why do you think track rental is so popular today?????

They can go there, go fast, as fast as they can, for as long as they can or afford, without the danger of being involved in somebody else's shit. When they have their speed fix filled, they load up, go home, and come back when they feel like it's time to go feel like a Nascar Star for a while again.

[kendo]

OK,back to scottgarrity07's question which was:
What are they doing at the dirt tracks right that they are not doing at the asphalt tracks?????

1)So far we have learned that payoffs have nothing to do with it as some of you have stated,although dirt tracks consistently pay more...which if is the case,has nothing to do with good car counts at dirt tracks,which I can tell you is not true.
2)Full fields have nothing to do w/carnage because percentages simply do not come into play with 6 cars vs 21,and we can all cite instances of caution free racing,some of that among pros who race for a living,that none of us race against....Although slight contact on asphalt tracks can consistently lead to more damage resulting in a car in the garage for a month,,,all as stated by others.
3)Denial...unwillingness to agree that there is a problem at all.
4)Out of the 4 races that I attended at NSS,I have seen 4 cars that most likely went to the crusher...These were 6-8 car fields...dirt tracks seem to be easier on equipment,as stated by others.
5)Tires
6)Even though payouts don't matter as stated by others,asphalt tracks don't have the funds to pay equal purses because of lack of fans....sort of a catch 22 when you are short on capital.

[tccaz]

[QUOTE=kendo;139145]IRONY-Fans who travel past race tracks because they want the best bang for their $12 bucks...Racers who sacrifice time with family/friends and spend thousands of dollars to do what they love,travel past a track based on their own situation are selfish and an insult to fans.


Sure it may only cost $12 bucks to get into the race track, but the cost of getting there adds to the expense also. I have to travel at least 100 miles to get to the closest race track I can attend (certainly not my fault) guess I could move closer that would be cheap. By the way never said anything about driving past a track to see better racing. So I have to purchase fuel to get there food for the day not a 3 hour event we spend a good deal of time just to go to a race. So the last thing I want to do is see a race with 4 or 5 cars in it because the people participating don't want to compete against a large field of cars. As far as spending thousands of dollars on what you love to do I am pretty sure you had some idea of the cost when you decided to get into racing. My family also spent thousands of dollars on a truck and camper to get to these races and my only complaint is not getting to see a full field of cars there.

[scottgarrity07]

I never said that bigger purses don't draw more cars, just that, for me anyways, it's not the sole reason how I choose where to race or how often. Look, we all have a skin in this game, fan, racer, and track owner alike. Putting the burden of "saving the sport" on one group is kinda unfair and unrealistic. I have raced for a long, long time building, maintaining, owning and racing cars from Enduros all the way up to Super Late Models. I don't feel like I owe the sport or anybody anything. We ALL spend a lot of money, but we all enjoy this sport so we must do as much as we can to help support it so that we can continue to enjoy our "adrenaline fix". If we all work together we can achieve this goal without having to spend more money that we don't have or force us into doing things that we really don't want to do.

[Old Sunshine Fan]

The best way to fill the pits and put on a better show is to create a more favorable environment for the racer to make them want to race AND run heats, handicap the field and bury the fast cars in the field so that the fans can see passing.

AND run heats.... been saying that all along.... if all asphalt tracks would run heats instead of Qualifying... it would be much more interesting for fan's... and it might just give the underdogs a chance once in a while to WIN... I sure hope to see that at Desota for the upcoming Brighthouse Race. Sure wish everyone would request that to those in position to make it happen.... it would make a 100 lapper much more enjoyable watching the fast cars coming up through the pack....

Jimmy Cope knows what I'm talking about... he grew up at Sunshine and had to run heats before the features.... NO QUALIFYING back then... and great crowds EVERY week...no such thing as "Follow the Leader"... you had to work to get up front...

OSF

[scottgarrity07]

Amen, OSF, Amen.

[hnh#26]

Didnt see it mentioned that the meeting held by Desoto was positive in my view as everyone there had the chance to speak up and ask for what they wanted. Each issue was discussed and a decision was made on the spot. Not all got everything they wanted and I am not sure that there is any larger differences in the classes. I do not have the experience in Florida of many who have posted on this topic so my views are simply that from my limited experience. The tech issues and the tire costs are the biggest issues I have seen. If we are all running the same rules I am baffled at how some can be so much faster. So many variables I understand and drivers ability is a major factor. Driving ability usually shows up in cornering and passing but straight away speed differences are hard to explain if we are all running stock internals and the same rules. We started with a Pro4 and quickly found that for the money it took to be competitive we would be better moving up. I understand and appreciate pushing the rules but it seems to me it is a never ending cycle of some pushing and the rest trying to figure out how to keep up. I have yet to be checked at either track for safety or tech in 3 different cars.
I dont think fans want to sit through 8 to 10 classes of cars some with only 3 cars and not get home until 1 am or after. Fans also want to see door to door racing where many cars have a chance to finish up front. Families just dont want to deal with trying to haul sleeping kids to their cars if there is nothing exciting to watch. Heat races and features with the same 3-5 cars is a waste of time if less than 10 run a feature and be done. I would like to see every other week for the backbone classes alternating SS and PS with other classes also alternated but no more than 4 or 5 classes per night get the fans out of there before 11 pm. The crash and bash drew a full house and adding a enduro class once a month would bring in some new drivers and fans who just might move up or at least tell their friends and families. From what I saw no reason to separate them on the track run them all together but maybe offer trophies or payouts for 4, 6 or 8's.
Thanks Desoto staff for listening to the drivers and we will continue to make the long trip to Desoto to support the track. Three Palms is still aways off and are trying to figure out their rules so not sure what will happen there.