An article today that makes a GREAT point...

[katlizy]

Hey.. Lets not forget...the drivers behavior say a lot too. If they act like a jerk on a reg basis.. It is a turn off. Fans stop coming. Be nice to the kids.... It makes the parents wanna spend their money to see u ! Rex has always been nice, he is a good example... As are others.

You all already know who I don't think is a good example!

[Frasson118]

You never miss a chance to remind us.

[OldSchool+]

semi off topic

Forgiveness is a wonderful thang.

Doesn't mean the offending party wasn't wrong.
Doesn't mean the offending party needs to say they're sorry.
Doesn't mean the offending party needs to stop being offensive.

Only means one gets the (pick one or more)-- dislike/hate/meaness/fill in the blank--out of their heart for the offensive party.

Ironically, if I allow someone to "make" me feel that way...who is really winning...?

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

[Phil Jacques]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DmYLrxR0Y8

[Groundpounder]

Oh I don't think she's been unfriendly...you guys just don't agree with her!

[Groundpounder]

Displaying at actual events would seem to be the more productive way of going about this.

Again, you go right ahead but you have no evidence it works...just a feel good feeling which sometimes in reality can be misleading...like pictures on milk cartons...

If I have a race car, I want to show up and race, period...like the drag racers do and the SCCA guys do...if somebody wants to make a buck off of me and really starts making a killing, then I'll worry about it.

[UREZ2PASS]

Whats with all this loyality to any particular racetrack ? They are a business and we (the guys that race and of course the fans) are customers of that business. This self ownership of any racetrack makes me upset to my stomach. If you guys ever figure out that you are customers, things will fall into place. You support the business (racetrack) that treats you fairly, has the best prices for tires and fuel, better purses, and etc. The better businesses (racetracks) will succeed. The businesses (racetracks) should be competing for your business. For christ sake, its economics 101 and due to your attachment to a round piece of asphalt, most racers and fans can't make a business decision due to their emotional attachment.

[OldSchool+]

GP is sort of supporting my earlier point.

UR--I would suggest the reason that there is "loyalty" is that the choices are all not so hot. That is, where do they treat me fairly well, where are the rules appropriate for my (lack of) budget, where is the competition good, where is a "decent" purse, in short, where is the most "fun"? Followed by a mental "I like that place".

Re: Economics. Racing is more about emotion than supply and demand for most.

Hence the old saying "How do you make a small fortune in racing? Start off with a large one".

Econ 101, chapter one: Racing? Run, Forrest, run!

And I agree, it is a mutual deal. I would suggest that the tracks need the racers more than the other way around.

[Phil Jacques]

Maybe I just haven't had enough time to become bitter about how we are treated by these tracks? lol!!!

You know it's always going to be a double edge sword with something like this.

I completely understand both sides and there are great points (in my eyes) from both sides of this without a doubt.

I guess I just have a different thought process than some but as I just said, I don't have a ton of time in this yet so I really haven't had a chance to see it all. Right now I am in balls out do whatever I can to help mode. I bet 20 years down the road or less I will have similar viewpoints (if this sport lasts that long) to others opposing my current view... Who knows?

I guess the way I currently look at it is it's a benefit for all. Personal Sponsor exposure, Track Exposure, Driver Exposure, Introducing new people to the sport in a more personal way. I do agree with the fact that tracks need to do more and should do more but unfortunately, they don't for the most part.

Tracks are always cutting back this and that saying "the demand isn't there anymore" but I do believe the demand is there, you just have to branch out more. I am just trying to think of different ways to do it. I still stand firm on my belief that Drivers and Tracks need to work together at this point. To what extent is to be determined however.

There is definitely a fair argument for either side.

[OldSchool+]

PJ--I believe that racing, and to a far greater extent--short track racing--is a "niche" sport, and borders on being a very pricey hobby.

Annnnnnnd it has always been this way. When I was a kid at the "Big O" (Orlando Speedway, 1/4 mile {lol}), the crowd was not your average cross section.

Mostly car guys, mostly country folk, and "rougher" than your average mall crowd by a country mile.

Not only was there fighting on the track, there was fighting in the stands. By women.

The trick, methinks, is to make it affordable, rather than focusing on growing it--particularly by the racer.

Still, not bad ideas, just ideas that I believe are secondary to cost control.

And I am not bitter, but Blessed, to be a race fan.

[OldSchool+]

ps--as long as they are making small block chevvies and econo-boxes, there will be racing.

Two basic classes--cheap, and fast.

[Phil Jacques]

PJ--I believe that racing, and to a far greater extent--short track racing--is a "niche" sport, and borders on being a very pricey hobby.

Annnnnnnd it has always been this way. When I was a kid at the "Big O" (Orlando Speedway, 1/4 mile {lol}), the crowd was not your average cross section.

Mostly car guys, mostly country folk, and "rougher" than your average mall crowd by a country mile.

Not only was there fighting on the track, there was fighting in the stands. By women.

The trick, methinks, is to make it affordable, rather than focusing on growing it--particularly by the racer.

Still, not bad ideas, just ideas that I believe are secondary to cost control.

And I am not bitter, but Blessed, to be a race fan.

I agree. It is a sport (really a hobby as you mentioned) that only appeals to a certain group. The affordability of racing has gone out the window over the years for many reasons stretching from band-aided and unintelligent rules to the simple fact that the costs of life in general has just gone up over the years. We will leave that for a different discussion lol

And I know you aren't bitter. I was referring to a lot of drivers I seem to meet that have become bitter over time for different reasons lol

[OldSchool+]

Phil,

Tentatively, when do you anticipate moving to Florida, and do you have an area picked out...?

(am north central, myself)

[Phil Jacques]

Phil,

Tentatively, when do you anticipate moving to Florida, and do you have an area picked out...?

(am north central, myself)

Well, that's tough to really say. I have 3 big interviews lined up while I am down from July 11 - 20. So we will see how that goes. I don't want to jump and fall on my face like I did when I moved up here haha plus I have 2 incomplete racecars and an entire apartment/1bay shop to move down. The logistics will be complicated as well.

I would love to be down asap but it will be more likely next year I think at this point.

As far as location, Vero Beach. It's what I know and is as close as I care to be to a major city and since I like NSS, provides the easiest access since it's literally straight up I95 so that's where I would end up.

[OldSchool+]

Best of luck with your day job search.

We'll keep the light on for ya.