Orlando Speed World: Update

[Jimmy McKinley]

From FaceBook:

I just wanted to give you all an update on weekly racing at the Oval Track. At this time we have decided to push back the September 5th start date. We do not feel that we are ready to resume weekly racing at the time. We are currently working with local businesses, radio, and other promotional outlets to try and get some new and exciting things happening, but, until we are 100% confident that we can put on the best show for our fans and drivers, we feel this is the best decision.

When the time comes for additional announcements, we will let everyone know.

Thanks.

[AB195]

Not holding my breath, for anything like this.

[Phil Jacques]

THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING...

Look people, I am friendly with the track manager at OSW... Talk to him on a regular basis... He wants OSW to succeed more than I can even tell you... Talking to him right this very second, he told me he knew the second he posted on FB about pushing back the rest of the season, everyone would start flipping out.

Here is the bottom line. Tracks are a Business... They need to make money, and it's hard to make any money when you have 35-40 cars and sometimes even less fans show up weekly. They are trying to come up with a solution to this. They have tried running Friday nights so not to conflict with any other tracks, They have tried cool promotions (4 people for 40 bux plus free hotdog, soda etc) They have been trying. All you naysayers sit there and bash them cause that's the easiest thing to do and the trendy thing to do. In reality, you are hurting the existence of Oval Track in Florida.

I am fully aware of how far downhill OSW went before current management took over. I watched it from afar for too many years. And I also understand regardless of this post, I will get bashed and the track will because everyone is brainwashed into believing that (without even giving them a chance to prove themselves) the current management at OSW "doesn't care about oval racing"... Like I said, no track will make money if they have no support so why should they keep trying? OSW could have easily posted and said the season is cancelled and racing is suspended indefinitely, but they didn't They said they want to make sure it's the best it can be for everyone.

Here is my suggestion... Instead of hopping on your keyboard, and running your mouth why doesn't everyone get off their couch and start supporting OSW before it's too late... I constantly hear, "OSW use to be such a great place"... Well, guess what... It is what you make it. Trust me when I say, THEY DO CARE and if you don't believe me, give the track a call or better yet stop down there in person and you will see the truth. They have an open ear and WILL listen to YOU... Amazing thought, isn't it??

/rant

[OldSchool+]

It is a sad deal, for sure.

Looks like the track manager's heart is in the right spot, but...it takes money to run these things.

I wish him and Speed World well, and will hope for a "grande" reopening.

Phil, I just like to "bash" you for no good reason, Speed World or no!

[Phil Jacques]

They have the money to spend, but if you spend more than you make, eventually it will fail. It's basic economics... That's not what they want. I just really wish people would give Ozzy and Donnie a chance to show them that they aren't the "old management". Unfortunately the past reputation follows them and overshadows any good they try to do and people can't even try to look past that.

[OldSchool+]

Phil,

Is it not rather a moot point?

I consider myself a decent guy too, but the doors are closed.

Hopefully their efforts will be productive. It sounds like they have appropriate goals.

If a Series Sponsor (think Hooters Cup-like) could be found, and the whole deal promoted on the radio and other media, and a decent purse with a decent field could be gathered, it should be successful.

[OldSchool+]

Additional Challenges:

>The shows have been sub par there for years. It leaves an impression that then has to be overcome.

>>An oddity...it could very well be my perception, but somehow the Orlando area in general has just never seemed to generate the passion for racing that the Tampa Bay or other areas have. In other words, regardless of the efforts of the Track Manager(s), it may be a tough row to hoe.

Still, a shame. It is a nice track, and I would prefer the Governor's Cup be run there rather than New Smyrna if possible (which it isn't).

[Phil Jacques]

Here's the big problem...

The invention of the internet has done some bad things. It's allowed a platform for people to come voice their personal opinion which at times causes more bad than good... How so?

Think of it this way... If 10 people come on FB and blab and rant about how bad their personal experience at a particular place was, and they have 100 friends on FB lets say... How many people base their decision not to go somewhere based on one persons experience, even though there are many variables involved in one persons experience. 1, the misery could have been self inflicted... 2, it could have been an honest mistake by the place of business which will be dealt with and corrected internally, 3, this person could have a personal agenda already and was looking for ammo to shoot a place down and the list goes on and on... See what I mean here? So how many potential OSW Drivers and Fans have decided NOT to go, based on heresay and he said she said? Starting to understand me here?

It's sad... it really is... Technology is a double edge sword... My advice to ANYONE is give everything an unbiased chance, regardless of what you heard because what you have heard, may not be 100% true. Remember there are two sides to everything and if more drivers and fans would give OSW a chance, things might get better

[OldSchool+]

Gotcha, but I believe you are giving it too much credit.

Peel off $7500 to win, $5k for second, and so forth, and I think the cars would be there.

If "Friday, Friday, Friday, Bithlo Inaugural Statewide D Cup Championship Event" was blaring over the country radio station 2x/hour, I would suggest the naysayers talking to each other would be a non or very minor issue.

[Phil Jacques]

Gotcha, but I believe you are giving it too much credit.

Peel off $7500 to win, $5k for second, and so forth, and I think the cars would be there.

If "Friday, Friday, Friday, Bithlo Inaugural Statewide D Cup Championship Event" was blaring over the country radio station 2x/hour, I would suggest the naysayers talking to each other would be a non or very minor issue.

People have their minds made up and until people stop being so headstrong and give the place another chance. Nothing will change. Not for $10000 not for anything.

People need to look at them as if they were a brand new facility right now. Give them a chance and if you go and still don't like it then at least you gave them a chance. Thats all anyone has been asking for. How many times have you gone this year?

[OldSchool+]

Once.

Got to see Mr. Garrity race.

Went with my Son & Dad.

Had lots of time to catch up in the stands in between events.

Great evening, fair racing. I was not prejudiced by the evil internet...actually attended because of the internet.

[OldSchool+]

One thing that I do know is...people generally will NOT do anything because you tell them they "should"--even with the best of intentions.

For instance, suppose I told you to paint your car in Green, told everyone here, held a poll and the majority agreed... I am guessing you would not paint the car.

And I don't blame you.

If someone wants to rant about something, I say, more power to them, and I am a big boy, and can nonetheless make up my own mind.

Katlizy does not like a certain driver. Fair enough. I saw the "bad guy" run and he looked fairly impressive to me. But to tell her to not speak her mind would be both inappropriate and...do you think it would change her behavior?

[Phil Jacques]

Once.

Got to see Mr. Garrity race.

Went with my Son & Dad.

Had lots of time to catch up in the stands in between events.

Great evening, fair racing. I was not prejudiced by the evil internet...actually attended because of the internet.

Consider yourself part of the minority... You seem to be of the age where you are not influenced by heresay on the internet... MY generation unfortunately sees everything typed on the web as pure facts and truth.

[Frasson118]

I believe it's up to the Promoter to show the customers that there is something different going on there, not our job to view the same old stuff with a brand new outlook.
I'd love to give the place another chance.... but they have to give me reasons to come. Tiny fields of entry level divisions isn't gonna do it for me. They can't just swing open the gates to a turd of a show and expect people to flock through the injectors.

Create a show WORTH attending, and people will show up. But I haven't seen any moves in that direction yet, and it doesn't sound like there is any real plan about how to accomplish that.

[Matt Albee]

THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING...

Look people, I am friendly with the track manager at OSW... Talk to him on a regular basis... He wants OSW to succeed more than I can even tell you... Talking to him right this very second, he told me he knew the second he posted on FB about pushing back the rest of the season, everyone would start flipping out.

Here is the bottom line. Tracks are a Business... They need to make money, and it's hard to make any money when you have 35-40 cars and sometimes even less fans show up weekly. They are trying to come up with a solution to this. They have tried running Friday nights so not to conflict with any other tracks, They have tried cool promotions (4 people for 40 bux plus free hotdog, soda etc) They have been trying. All you naysayers sit there and bash them cause that's the easiest thing to do and the trendy thing to do. In reality, you are hurting the existence of Oval Track in Florida.

I am fully aware of how far downhill OSW went before current management took over. I watched it from afar for too many years. And I also understand regardless of this post, I will get bashed and the track will because everyone is brainwashed into believing that (without even giving them a chance to prove themselves) the current management at OSW "doesn't care about oval racing"... Like I said, no track will make money if they have no support so why should they keep trying? OSW could have easily posted and said the season is cancelled and racing is suspended indefinitely, but they didn't They said they want to make sure it's the best it can be for everyone.

Here is my suggestion... Instead of hopping on your keyboard, and running your mouth why doesn't everyone get off their couch and start supporting OSW before it's too late... I constantly hear, "OSW use to be such a great place"... Well, guess what... It is what you make it. Trust me when I say, THEY DO CARE and if you don't believe me, give the track a call or better yet stop down there in person and you will see the truth. They have an open ear and WILL listen to YOU... Amazing thought, isn't it??

/rant

I've decided to hop on my keyboard and run my mouth. LOL. But this is an internet forum, and internet forums exist for only one reason. A place for people to run their mouths.
OSW deserves all of the " bashing " it gets. They've been fumbling the ball for several years now. And part of the current management is also the former management, that being Ozzy. The track personnel have changed, many times, ,but the lessee/owner is still Ozzy. Other tracks have been run into the ground and have made a big comeback, Desoto, Showtime, and NSS come to mind. I jhaven't been to OSW for a while, it's a pretty good drive from over here, but i do remember when it was full of cars and fans.
I think when you have a town the size of Orlando to draw from, for both cars and fans, you need to stop making excuses, spend the money for a top marketing person, put up some purses worth coming there for, and finish updating the place if it isn't already done.