Thoughts from Volusia

[Joe]

First time at the Volusia dirt track last night. Here's a compliment-criticism sandwich.

This is a top-notch facility. It's clean, the food prices are reasonable, the lighting is good and the show is run well.

That being said, the show ran well based on what the show was. And last night's show was dumb. There, I said it. An hour delay to walk in the track, then practice for all divisions, then qualifying 61 late models starting at 9:15. Given the delay (qualifying was supposed to start at 7:15), I don't know how anyone can justify two laps of qualifying to kill another hour when there was a grandstand full of fans.

Then, at 10:20, we start the first of 6 heat races for the late models, which wrap up just after 11... And then the local classes get heat races... That was enough for me.

I can't imagine why the UDLMS takes only 3 cars from each heat race and then runs 4 consilation races. Why not take 4 cars and then run 2? Then again, why not run features only for the local classes given the time constraints?

Apparently, they raced on past 1:30 a.m., which is 2 hours longer than any program should run. Gotta be able to make adjustments to the program to avoid killing the fan.

But back to the good: Got to meet Jerry (Frasson) and Roger (AB195). It was a pleasure, by the way. Hell of a brat, Jerry. Thanks for the hospitality.

[Stgbean54]

Joe, I wasn't going to say anything till you started it. What gripes me is the announcer keeps telling the folks about how much rain that got this week on the track. When I got there about 5, the 2 water trucks was already spreading water on the track and they kept going back filling up, if it was so wet why water the track? I went to Lavonia, Ga. a few years ago and got there early and the same thing happened. They was a brief shower, that may have lasted 5 minutes. The announcer kept telling the fans how the rain had flooded the track, about the same results as last night at Volusia. I left at 12:15 as the conci was starting. As I looking in the stands these weren't teenagers, they were a lot of middle aged folks, we can't stay up that long. We fall asleep watching Jeopardy.

[ocalasp76]

Yaaaawwwwwnnnnnn!!

Hey Bean. Speaking of bed time...My wife fell asleep during the Pepsi 400 a few years ago and it took the fireworks to wake her up. We went to the truck after the race, turned on the a/c, put the seat back and slept for 3 hours till the traffic was gone. Got home at 5:30am.
Back stretch seats at Daytona "SUCK".
At Ocala Friday night mike put off watering the track because a rain cloud was on the way. Sure enough a little rain fell and just enough. We started on time and finished before 11pm. Mike is getting good at managing water and track conditioning !!!! Great job Mike and crew( I had nuttin' to do with it though).
-----JIM----

[Joe]

Jeopardy has that effect on people, Bean. How many fans were still in the stands when you left? Were they sticking with it? For the record, I offered the promoters a chance to increase the winner's purse from $3800 to $3815 if they would've skipped qualifying. No dice.

[RSB]

Whew!

Damn, I dodged a bullet! I was real tempted to make the 2 hour drive down there. Now, I'm glad I didn't!

[backrow]

It was a good show, with lots of passing. I had enough at 2am, the stands were about 1/2 what they were at 9pm. The series has got to get a handle on time management. I will think twice about going again until they hit a track with a curfew.61 cars is great until you wear the fans out. Did they run the street stocks and the 4 cylinders?

[Stgbean54]

RSB, you missed a meal from Frasson. He stopped and raided somebody's hen house on the way to the track. I saw him slipping out before midnight. Do I need to throw away my 50/50 tickets?

Hey Jim, was it the real fireworks or the natural fireworks that woke your wife up?

[mocha2@dishmail.net]

Yeah somebody collected their 50/50 money.I left after late model race but it looked like they were bringing out the street stocks.

[flvideo]

Hey you old duffers, I'm older than all of you and my head hit the pillow at Holiday Inn about 4am up at 9am drove to Myakka City and changed cloths then went to my daughters for my grandsons Bitrhday, and who's complaining. I am wiped out. I ourghta sleep tonight. The show was good, a lot of good racing, and I mean good racing. we talked about the tracks having a shortened show last night, but we can't control how the different tracks run their show. I was glad to see all you guys last night, especially Frazz. I have missed him before when we were at the same track. ab195, stgbean, Joe, winger,and gcue. Sounds like the who's who of karnac. I missed Jerrys cooking, but I ain't complaining the food at the track was good.
Except for the late night, how'd you guys like our series? Kenny is making every effort to make the drivers #1 and that makes a #1 show for the fans.
Thanks Bob..........

[AB195]

The final checkered flag for the Mini-Stocks dropped at 3:05.
My eyelids dropped at 3:08.

[flvideo]

I heard than AB I was waiting on the outside of the track with my cart to get across and load up. We had a few things to do but we got out as quick as we could. I am glad some one thought to take our banners down a little early. That usually takes the good part of an hour. When we got to the hotel Kenny wanted to talk. He was wound up. Kip and I left him in the lobby eating tater chips. When Kip and I got up every one else was still asleep. Bob...

[fred23]

Bob,
maybe Kenny could fore worn the tracks that you have been averaging over 50 cars so they won't run so many local classes. There was also a suggestion in an earlier post about adding more cars to advance from the heats to the main. Makes sense. It is great to see that a series is getting so much support. I wish there was an asphalt series that could equal it.

I have one question though...Why qualify cars and then run heat races also? What if they just ran heat races. The consensus on this board at least, in the past has been negative towards qualifying.

[Joe]

Putting the drivers first is fine as far as rules are concerned, but fans have to come first when the program is concerned. And the two interests don't always intersect. Fans don't want to watch qualifying. Drivers want to qualify.

If you can't qualify at 6 p.m., don't qualify. You've got to make the format more fan friendly. Take a page from Ocala Speedway. No qualifying... ever. And only 2 consis with the same number of cars as Saturday.

[Winger]

Man, I'm so disappointed I missed most of you folks. Did say hello to Bob (flvideo), Kip (egoracing), and Denise (1wildfastgirl). Darn heat and delay got to me and I left before the heat races were over. That's one tough track to take pictures at. Next time I'll have to bring a stepladder.

In last nights case, I don't think we can blame the series for the delay. The track is the one that put water down and then let it sit until time for hot laps. I don't know why they didn't run it in after watering it, but they know their dirt better than I do. The management, that I dealt with, was very friendly and helpful. I can't comment on last nights racing because I could not see any of it from my position. And I left early. I wish I lived closer because I would definitely go more often, assuming that last nights delay was an aberration.

Suggestion for the series, IMO do away with the time trials. I liked the Ocala shows when it was heat races only.

Again, I really wanted to meet you guys. I tried going around the backside of the track, to find you all, but couldn't get through the fence there and never made it to try the front stretch.

[flvideo]

You guys are killing me here. I am trying to sleep and you keep posting. No seriously, I slept a bit in my recliner and am heading to bed. I'll tell you what. I'll take all your suggestions and concerns and show them to Kenny. Have patients with us we are having growing pains. I don't think any of us thought we would have such a response with the series. Kenny was saying last night that we may have to make a few adustments here and there. That said thats why I am where I am, well I love racing, if its too snails if they're competive, But Kenny is by far the best promoter I have ever been involved with and he is willing to make changes that will enhance our program. This series has me more excited about racing than I've been in years. I am really proud to be a part of racing history. Mark my words, we are changing the landscape of the racing community. The likes of which I've never seen. Just the fact that Ray Miller of the NLMS and Kenny of the UDLMCS can lay their own agendas aside and do whats the best for the racing community and work to make the best dirt Late Model racing this country has seen is enough to keep me on board for a long time to come. Ray and Kenny sat down in a meeting Sat for several hours and were still friends at the end of it. I'll get off my soap box but it was nice to see all you guys. I missed wildfastwoman, but I think I saw every one else that was there. I'll see you guys tomorrow. Bob.........