Racing in the "Winter" vs the Summer in Florida

[Phil Jacques]

Hmmm. Apple Ale. What shall we call that? SUDS North!

SUDS North will be in full effect at Stafford tonight!

[OldSchool+]

Idaho Branch: Spuds with Suds

Phil's Posse = Yankee Ciderheads?

Man, that has a sour ring to it...

[shorttrackcar1]

From what I have seen over the past few races when its cold out . less fans are willing to come out. and the fans that do come out leave early as the night gets colder and they can"t take it any longer. and as soon as the upper class are done and the lower classes hit the track strictley stock and 4 cylinders the stands are cleared out . is there any tracks that have a dome or inclosed ?

[scottgarrity07]

Hey Phil, just don't have too many SUDS and forget those Hoosier 800's we need! Lol.

Man, I kinda miss Stafford. Yeah, the racing was great but the post race parties in the lot behind the pits were legendary. Boy, the stories I could tell (nothing really immoral just funny as hell). One year we had an associate sponsorship with Mike's Hard Lemonade. No $, just two cases delivered right to the race shop EVERY WEEK! I think I was the most popular driver with my competitors that year. I'll bet if you go back by the woods there's still empties there. Man, was it tough getting up for work Saturday mornings back then!

[Matt Albee]

Here's another idea. Instead of only racing in the "winter" months, why not race once a month, year round? Give the racers time to repair the cars between races, keep the fans from getting burned out, give the tracks more time for maintenance and/or upgrades. The heat wouldn't be a big problem if you only had to endure it one night per summer month. The stands at Daytona were always completely sold out for the daytime July race, and that was about as hot as you'd ever get.
Also, once a month would give the tracks plenty of time to promote the next months' show.

[Lurkin]

Not how they do it up north, but down south Hendry County has done a split Spring- then Summer Break-Fall Schedule for, I think, 2 years. Though they are not flourishing they are surviving and I think the break in the summer months works well. I believe it's setup like 2 separate points champs per year. They may need improvement in other areas but this is one thing that they jumped on and I think the racers embrace as well.

http://hendryracing.com/schedule

[turnleft]

Closed

I like the winter racing idea. But let's at least just keep all tracks in florida closed June, July, and August, it is just to hot. Race all the other months with a three week brake for Christmas. Vince

[dd38]

Maybe it's just me but back in the 60's, 70's and 80's I just don't remember it ever getting this HOT down here, although I am in Tennessee as of now! It too has had it's hot days. Coming back a week from Saturday to face the heat.

[Don Nerone]

A smart old man told me never race a regular show after the 3rd week of Nov and don't start before the 2nd week of march.
He told me when its hot they might think it will cool of after dark. When its raining it might stop before race time. But if its cold its only going to get colder than it is now and they wont come buy a ticket.

Per Dan Jones
for those of you who know who he was

don62

[Phil Jacques]

A smart old man told me never race a regular show after the 3rd week of Nov and don't start before the 2nd week of march.
He told me when its hot they might think it will cool of after dark. When its raining it might stop before race time. But if its cold its only going to get colder than it is now and they wont come buy a ticket.

Per Dan Jones
for those of you who know who he was

don62

I guess my perception of cold compared to what you life long floridians see as "cold" is, might be a little difference since cold to me is -5 lol!!!

[Lurkin]

Most Northerners think it doesn't get cold down here until they spend a summer or two. It's like your core temp changes or something. Also moisture in the air from the Ocean or Gulf makes it feel much colder. I've been to Bridgport, NJ to a Sprint Show at 9 degrees and snow on the ground, but the coldest I've ever been in my life is 28 degrees at Volusia one year.

[Phil Jacques]

Most Northerners think it doesn't get cold down here until they spend a summer or two. It's like your core temp changes or something. Also moisture in the air from the Ocean or Gulf makes it feel much colder. I've been to Bridgport, NJ to a Sprint Show at 9 degrees and snow on the ground, but the coldest I've ever been in my life is 28 degrees at Volusia one year.

I lived in Florida 14 years. I understand it get's "cold" but to me, 45 is still Shorts weather lol

[zerofor]

I think Hendry Countys idea is a wise one

when you consider the fact its a dirt track avoiding the rainy season in Florida.Now if they could just use the time off to figure out how to get more cars to that place.

[Don Nerone]

I guess my perception of cold compared to what you life long floridians see as "cold" is, might be a little difference since cold to me is -5 lol!!!

One of the promoters years ago had a full winter season. The rule was if the forcast was below 50 the races were canceled.

Iv been to races in the north when it was showing. How much rum does it take to do that.

[Phil Jacques]

One of the promoters years ago had a full winter season. The rule was if the forcast was below 50 the races were canceled.

Iv been to races in the north when it was showing. How much rum does it take to do that.

I was pacing down the back straight at the World Series during the final feature of Saturday Night at Thompson 2 years ago cleaning my tires getting ready for a restart, and it started to snow a little... Most unsettling feeling in the world sending it off into turn 1 not knowing if the tires were sticking, or the snow was lol

No rum involved, but lots of hoping and praying lol