100 lap super race at citrus?

[zerofor]

The problem with that idea is

Please,oh please help us. Don't leave us with New Smyrna Speedway, can someone build a few houses there, or a Walmart? The track could be a nice place,if someone ran it the way that a track should be ran. I dont live far away from it,but I would drive to Ga. before spending my money there. Sure miss the OLD MR. HART, you know, the one that cared about racing

There is already a Wal-Mart close by that isnt that old and if you plow down New Smyrna that leaves Pensacola as the only half mile blacktop still operating in Florida.I recently drove by the track north of Valdosta Georgia.(I couldnt go in as the gates were locked tight)way too nice a track to sit idle if it still is as I was told earlier this spring.Ive been told north Florida and there is dirt country but damn,that place looks like a hell of a facility from the track gates into the parking lot.

[egspeedway]

There is already a Wal-Mart close by that isnt that old and if you plow down New Smyrna that leaves Pensacola as the only half mile blacktop still operating in Florida.I recently drove by the track north of Valdosta Georgia.(I couldnt go in as the gates were locked tight)way too nice a track to sit idle if it still is as I was told earlier this spring.Ive been told north Florida and there is dirt country but damn,that place looks like a hell of a facility from the track gates into the parking lot.

It is a hell of a place. They opened with a sold out Hooters race and it has all been down hill since. Georgia is not the state for pavement racing. They have a traveling series between Cordele and Jefferson but as for weekly racing good luck. Albany wisely went dirt but with one of the smallest tracks(like small quartermile) have a good car count and put on a good show even with full late models. Alabama has Mobile Opp and recently reopened Montgomery so pavement is not much better there. Bottom line Florida should be proud of what they have and work to keep it growing.

[Frasson118]

I've been to South Georgia Motorsports Park 3 times. An ASA race won by Landon Cassil, a USCS Sprint show won by Wayne Reutimann, and a one-off CRA South 300 lapper (the day after the Governors Cup.... 500 laps in 24 hours..!).

The first 2 shows were very well attended, and the place was ROCKING.

The 3rd one (CRA race) was a ghost town. Great race, but NOBODY there to see it.

No clue how it went down so far, so fast. It may have been that their weekly show didn't pull any kind of car counts.... and the owners may have been scared of the beating they took booking a big show that nobody came to.

Either way, between there and St. Augustine, 2 beautiful tracks sit empty and collecting cobwebs.

[Frasson118]

I've been to South Georgia Motorsports Park 3 times. An ASA race won by Landon Cassil, a USCS Sprint show won by Wayne Reutimann, and a one-off CRA South 300 lapper (the day after the Governors Cup.... 500 laps in 24 hours..!).

The first 2 shows were very well attended, and the place was ROCKING.

The 3rd one (CRA race) was a ghost town. Great race, but NOBODY there to see it.

No clue how it went down so far, so fast. It may have been that their weekly show didn't pull any kind of car counts.... and the owners may have been scared of the beating they took booking a big show that nobody came to.

Either way, between there and St. Augustine, 2 beautiful tracks sit empty and collecting cobwebs.

[ScottPrentice]

There is already a Wal-Mart close by that isnt that old and if you plow down New Smyrna that leaves Pensacola as the only half mile blacktop still operating in Florida.I recently drove by the track north of Valdosta Georgia.(I couldnt go in as the gates were locked tight)way too nice a track to sit idle if it still is as I was told earlier this spring.Ive been told north Florida and there is dirt country but damn,that place looks like a hell of a facility from the track gates into the parking lot.

not to mention Columbia sitting idle...
yeah SGMP is a nice facility and they seem to do well with the dragstrip. Wonder how the oval would do covered in dirt???
It definitely is dirt country up here as the track in Moultrie (Needmore Speedway) opened just 2 years ago and is doing fine along with Albany and North Florida Speedway also sailing along- actually all the dirt tracks in the panhandle (and from Columbus to Waycross for that matter) seem to be doing OK.

[egspeedway]

SGMP would do better as a dirt track, however, I believe these dirt tracks do well because there is a proper distribution of competitors and fans and the cooperation in scheduling the various premium classes pretty much assures a decent field for most races, Another plus for this area is the number of participants in the support classes. They pay the same fees as the upper classes so they are of equal importance to the health of a track. Promoter cooperation is very strong in this arena.

[Lurkin]

Glad to hear Needmore is doing well, I heard it was closed for awhile due to noise complaints which is kind of funny because it seems so far out in the sticks. I was there on opening day and it was INSANE! 300 cars, fans out the arse, didn't get out of there until 0430 in the morning and they still had the Main Event to run yet. It was crazy. Very nice track.

[dave41]

fun

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.

I will say MATT knows it all. hotshot, the fun has been priced out of racing. buy you one ,spend 4 to 500.00.a week on hot as hell nites. fun is gone. Dave41 O'steen

[Boneman]

fun is gone

These are the good ole' days, at least for me. I hope you can get that feeling back too.

[OldSchool+]

Remember, the Horse should be in front of the cart

This has been happening for ages.

For whatever reason, the promoters allow the cost to go up. At first, it is okay, and as a fan, I love the sound of a $20k 14:1 motor at full song, but it is not long before there are three of them running 2 (or 22) car lengths apart.

Optimally, you would think that promotors would get together and come up with cost effective rules and then everybody is on the same page. Figure out how to alternate who is running modifieds, late models, sprints, and sportsman cars. I know the last effort was a "FUP", but today is a new day, and the first day of our/your future.

Also--promoters listen up--the paying fans show up to see car count. If you let that get away from you, due to low purse, high entry fee, expensive tires--WHATEVER, we will not show up. The racers are your SHOW, not your beeches.

By hook or crook, keep expenses down, pay decent deep into the field--the track expenses should be a break even or close, and give the hard luck guys a little money to get home.

Your business will thrive and you will sleep well at night.