100 lap super race at citrus?

[egspeedway]

Mike has stated the issue quite well. In 2005 we ran a dirt modified almost a full season on one set of American racers. Today if you are trying to run up front in almost any class you have to have at least a new right rear tire and in the upper classes two or more new tires each night, On top of that you usually have to treat the tires to be on top or near it. On top of that we had a 250 mile round trip tow. This simply means the sport is beyond anyone without deep pockets, multiple sponsors and more than just the family. Yes, the boys and toys is completely out of hand.

[Matt Albee]

No, the expenses aren't the problem. Not to say the situation couldn't be improved. Bombers on race tires? Fine. As long as those race tires are take-offs that can be purchased only from the track tire supplier at $60 each. The same take-offs that the racers sold back to the track tire supplier for $50 each. Race take-offs should last a long time on a bomber, and street legal tires are more than $60 each.
Desoto Speedway is going to be the key to all of this. Those guys know race cars, all classes of race cars. I think Jimmy even builds race engines so he knows that side as well. I think there's going to be some very good rules packages coming from those guys over time.
But back to the idea that expenses/rules are what's keeping racers away. Some of the long time racers are hanging it up because of family or work. But that's always been the case. That isn't the problem. There has been NO concentrated effort to bring new racers in. What 17 year old is going to get excited about racing a 79 Monte Carlo Street Stock or an ancient Mustang 2 Mini Stocker? Their 5 year old Mitsubishi street car could easily give either of those a very good run for their money. The tracks have made every effort to keep the younger racers out by dictating carbs and no electronics. So now they're reaping what they sowed. As the long time or hard core racers leave the sport, there's no one to take their place.

[cfontfan]

For someone who hasn't heard a thing about this race, you seem very well informed about this race. By the way, where did you read about Johanna Long running. You posted before the announcement was made. Interesting to say the least.

Facebook is where i got my info. Figured this topic would make for a good discussion and might help give some people a heads up about the race. Cant say that i agree with running it against Desoto. Doesnt matter who had what schedule out first its just not good for business

[Darren]

What makes you people think that the promoters need to agree on things when you all can't agree on issues of why racing is going down the tubes.

[Lurkin]

Mike B nailed it overall.

But I don't understand how you can expect Citrus who had their schedule out before the year started to cancel their show now. What about their racers and fans who have made plans early to attend? Not saying I agree with everything the current management does but they DID get the schedule out early and are sticking to it, and from what I can tell they've paid the advertised purses all year.

I hope both tracks do well. I don't think either is doing a damn thing wrong in this case.

[modmini55]

Maybe if Citrus steps up there purse to match the other tracks they might sway people of which track to race at.

[scottgarrity07]

Well said, Mike. You make some great points.

[tom77hmstd]

Let's compare this. Went deep sea fishing today. $125.00 boat gas, $25.00 bait, $12.00 ramp charge. Payoff was a 100 pounds of mahi filets not bad.

Race car, $640.00 tires, $450.00 truck fuel, $100.00 entry fee, $10.00 slab fee $120.00 pit passes for 4 people, $120.00 race car fuel. Do the math Mike's got it right. 77 will be in Homestead covered up.
We want to race as bad as the next guy but it is just getting too damn expensive.

[Lurkin]

Starvin! Anybody know where I can get some fresh Mahi Filets?

[rick knecht]

O.k. lets compare ,75 laps at desoto 3000.oo to win.1500.00 for 2nd steady droppin from there. you need a pretty good motor and car to compete there .Where all the locals are kickin your a$$.and you need a major crash clause for the last 74 laps of racing. Citrus 100 laps 2000.00 to win,1200.00 2nd.,not to good from there., Maybe not much better but you can be competative with not alot of motor or car.. Wrecks are common but usaully not as costly.Mike and tom are right .If your not loaded,better stay home,cause you cant make your money back if you dont finish top 3. I like desoto and N.S but it really cost double to run them. Just wish for all of us Promoters would work together. .Bigger shows could have Bigger pay offs. And what everyone wants Better Racing....The future of racing is not looking good.

[andre]

Makes you wonder why East Bay and Volusia management never comes in here and write and they seems to b the 2 tracks doing the best in Fla, with regular local weekly racing featuring regular weekly classes, with a greater event once in a while. Does that sound familiar? Sounds like the way it use to b.........when the sport was in good shape.

[Matt Albee]

O.k. lets compare ,75 laps at desoto 3000.oo to win.1500.00 for 2nd steady droppin from there. you need a pretty good motor and car to compete there .Where all the locals are kickin your a$$.and you need a major crash clause for the last 74 laps of racing. Citrus 100 laps 2000.00 to win,1200.00 2nd.,not to good from there., Maybe not much better but you can be competative with not alot of motor or car.. Wrecks are common but usaully not as costly.Mike and tom are right .If your not loaded,better stay home,cause you cant make your money back if you dont finish top 3. I like desoto and N.S but it really cost double to run them. Just wish for all of us Promoters would work together. .Bigger shows could have Bigger pay offs. And what everyone wants Better Racing....The future of racing is not looking good.

That might make a good track slogan .."Citrus, where you don't need a lot of motor or car".
Mike and Tom aren't right, they're just pretending that short track racing is a money maker for racers who do it the right way. I'll say it again...if you can't afford to race, then don't race. The guy from Homestead knows he lives in the middle of nowhere, is he really shocked that it costs him more money than everyone else to go racing? So his solution is to keep the car parked.
From a fan's point of view, we want to see good racing. And common wisdom aside, we're not even that worried about paying $15 per ticket instead of $10 per ticket as long as we're getting our monies worth. If someone wants to stay parked because ___________ then i'd say they're helping to sink racing.
Now i know many racers DON't feel they have to have a special reason or big enough pay-out to bother showing up. And i know there are still a lot of racers that really don't care if they have a chance to win, they'll scrape the money together somehow every week and go to the track because they love racing and want to race every chance they get. And it's those racers i go to watch. And it's those racers that will keep short track racing alive. I don't know Mr. Bresnehan though i sure know the name. But i'd like to see you at Desoto, even if it means you might have to go out of your way to get there.

[tom77hmstd]

I don't know how long all these experts have been owning or running this stuff, but I have been in this sport 50 years and it has become cost prohibitive for the regular working man.
I have lived in Homestead for 46 years all my stuff is mine not the banks and I like the weather. The keys are 20 miles away and you can do or attend any major sports event in a 30 mile radius. I know that there are places closer to racing but when I moved here we could race Hialeah 45 weeks a year and West Palm at least 30. We have 2 turnkey cars you all can buy 1 and show us how to do it.

[Matt Albee]

I don't know how long all these experts have been owning or running this stuff, but I have been in this sport 50 years and it has become cost prohibitive for the regular working man.
I have lived in Homestead for 46 years all my stuff is mine not the banks and I like the weather. The keys are 20 miles away and you can do or attend any major sports event in a 30 mile radius. I know that there are places closer to racing but when I moved here we could race Hialeah 45 weeks a year and West Palm at least 30. We have 2 turnkey cars you all can buy 1 and show us how to do it.

Some of these experts have been in racing longer than you have. And being in anything for 50 years doesn't necessarily make you an expert.
An old timer like you should remember that racing has ALWAYS been cost prohibitive for the regular working man. When tires for the race car were $40 each, the average racers paycheck was $300 per week or less. So it's a;ll relative.
Sounds like you're in the perfect spot to not have to go racing. Good. But i hope you bring your car out from time to time, the fans would like to see it.
I can show you how to do it without buying your car. So can anyone who really wants to race. Here's how it goes, i put myself wildly into debt to go racing, i balance the rent and food vs the racing but every week i and my buddies and whatever sponsors i have come up with enough money to go racing. We don't eat at the track because we spent everything to get in the gate. We do the very best we can, then we go home and spend the next 6 days working on the car getting ready for Saturday night ( or Friday in some cases ) when we can do it again. And we keep working to go faster and make the car more reliable. Doesn't take an expert to show you how to race.

[Mike Bresnahan]

Matt I don't know you either, but I have seen your posts on here and I usually agree with you... Matt, I have been around racing my entire life. My dad was a great racer that started from the bottom and went to the top local levels. My father in law is one of the most famous short track racers ever and made it all the way to the big show. If there's one thing I know, it's that racing is not "money maker".

However, I can tell you 100% without doubt local racing (all classes) is in decline due to the expense of it... In the past 20 years not only have the cost of tires increased by over 50%, now the compounds are softer and wear out faster than ever. Arm bands have doubled. Race Fuel has tripled. Those are just some of the weekly expenses... Shocks went from $95 to $695. Bodies went from $1200 to $3500, the list is never ending... But everything else we buy at home has gone up too. Gas, Food, Rent/Mortgage, Insurance etc...
You know what hasn't gone up much in 20 yrs? Wages and Race Purses!!

I'm sure you realize it's $150 just for a family of 5 to walk into the back gate? $450 a month if their class is racing 3 times a month. That's a Truck payment. Or grocery bill...

Again, I'm not by any means under the illusion racing is a profitable endeavor as you stated. But as a fan you can't expect a racer to mortgage his house so you have entertainment either. I know dozens of racers, hardcore racers, people who bleed it, and love it to the bone that just cannot afford it anymore. Or they're like me have realized we can have just as much fun for a fraction of the cost. We won't be at Desoto this weekend because of that exact reason. Country concert in Jacksonville with a large group of friends, staying all weekend, tailgating, corn hole, pools, music, etc.. all in cost: less than $500

Know what else? I don't have to mount and dismount tires 2 sets of tires, shouldn't have to worry about getting wrecked by a 14 yr old kid trying to make it to Sprint Cup, and if I don't have a good time there is no one to blame but myself... So for those reasons I race now when I feel like it. Now it's a hobby not so much a way of life, like it used to be.

Matt you are obviously a huge race fan, I bet you would enjoy it a lot more if you were a car owner. You should give it a shot. Heck I'll come drive for you if you're paying for everything, expense isn't an issue, right?