Orlando Speed World: Update

[OldSchool+]

Um, the horse is down, probably no reason to kick it...(unless, of course, you are trying to jack Phil up, that is a horse of an entirely different color).

The announcement included "[We are trying to] get some new and exciting things happening".

Nothing to do but wait and see what happens next.

If it looks promising, I will attend.

The track lends itself to good racing. That is something many of the Cup tracks DO NOT. So, the potential has been, and will continue to be there.

[Phil Jacques]

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.

I won't discourage anyone from coming on an voicing an opinion ever. I am voicing my own right now so if I did, I would be a hypocrite now wouldn't I?

However, your perception of a show "worth attending" and another's are most likely going to be different. Some guys like grassroots racing, some like big time SLM and TBARA stuff. Everyone is different.

If everyone keeps having the "they have to prove this and that to me first" mentality such as you display your post here, nothing will change which proves my point exactly. So thank you for offering yourself as an example.

As for their "PLAN"... Does Lowe's share their business plan with Home Depot? No, they don't... So why should any track publicly share their plan of attack? Unfortunately with 7 tracks around, everyone has to have their own approach.

[kendo]

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

.

Exactly...After all,Phil says that they have the money.

As usual,I predict that this OSW thread will get alot of comments and 1,000+ views,so the interest in the track is there.Put up some big money and promote,promote,promote...Blaming a businesses failures on the customer is simply ridiculous.

[Phil Jacques]

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.

Please run your mouth. I welcome it as that IS what forums are for. I agree.

Here is how I see it... It's easy to say what the track "SHOULD" do when it's not your money. How about you go down and offer suggestions Try that approach and try to be part of the solution... Not the problem.





And OldSchool... No one gonna jack me up lol

[kendo]

As for their "PLAN"... Does Lowe's share their business plan with Home Depot? No, they don't... So why should any track publicly share their plan of attack? .

Failure to post the schedule,rules,payout,updates,etc until last minute,if any,and expect racers/fans to just show up,is a plan for failure.

There are countless threads/complaints about OSW related to this just on this forum alone

[OldSchool+]

So, am fairly certain that SpeedWorld mgmt probably reads this stuff.

Per PJ's comment regarding what a "show worth attending" is, here is my take:

Cars in a pack. V8's. Not sickly, weak V8's but a good crackle to the note. Two wide racing, preferably at least 4 cars deep. Sideways racing. Bumpers involved.

Give me two classes: Late Model-ish cars, and Modifieds.

Seems like the Sportsman are close to delivering, maybe with Scott's new tire they will be closer.

Figure out how to get the job done with cheap motors and tires. If either pops, it won't break the competitor's bank. Call them late models and modifieds.

If you want to round it out, have V8 street stocks and 4 cylinder bombers. Make sure there are 8 cars per class or run them at the end of the evening after telling the crowd that the "official" show is over.

Actually, and I am serious here, get Gary Balough into a car, even if you have to subsidize it. Make him start in the back in a black number "112" just because. I would show up to watch that, period.

[Phil Jacques]

Failure to post the schedule,rules,payout,updates,etc until last minute,if any,and expect racers/fans to just show up,is a plan for failure.

There are countless threads/complaints about OSW related to this just on this forum alone

Great example of seeing what you want to see... I remember very strongly the Schedule being up weeks before racing, as were the purses right on the MAIN WEBSITE!!! So difficult to find that it was on the FRONT PAGE lol!!!

Never looked for rules myself personally but I do remember a bunch of pictures of different updates such as the new pavement, paint being done etc as well as them letting people know what classes they would be running on Facebook...

Try again

[Phil Jacques]

It sure would be a shame of OSW would close... People would have nothing to cry about anymore Or would everyone move to bashing another track...

[OldSchool+]

Phil,

Wake up and smell the burnt differential grease.

It has closed before, it is closed now.

But like yourself, I am hoping for better days to come.

[Phil Jacques]

The bottom line is simple... If you are a REAL racer that is... Support your local short tracks... No matter what... There aren't many left. Think of how many tracks there use to be and now what is left?

I can tell you the new england area at one point pushed well over 300 tracks... Now? 15-20 max... I am sure a similar trend is happening... Thompson Speedway scaled way back to a 7 race schedule this year because of the constant bashing in favor of the club racing of scca and nasa... It'll happen soon enough down there if things continue. Tracks will phase out oval track in favor of AutoX, Drifting etc. Hold on to what you have before it's too late people...

[Phil Jacques]

Phil,

Wake up and smell the burnt differential grease.

It has closed before, it is closed now.

But like yourself, I am hoping for better days to come.

Who said it's "closed"? They took a summer break to avoid the rainy season, and decided they need a little more time to properly build a schedule and promotions that will get people into the stands... But I guess they just aren't trying according to everyone else... $5 grandstand prices, Talks of big price cuts in the pit area for drivers, bigger shows etc.

Like I said, the offer stands from Donny. Call the track or go see him. Talk to him and help him understand what YOU want so he can make it better... I bet no one has done that yet... It just seems easier to come on here and complain about everything being so terrible.

[Frasson118]

I guess the 3 months that have gone by, and no planned re-opening for at least another month, isn't enough time to even have a PLAN yet?

Stating when they WONT be opening tells us noting about when it WILL open.... or what night, which divisions, etc.

Being patient is one thing...... being kept in the dark while asking for our support, is another.

Phil does have a point about the "show worth attending" angle, as that is very subjective. Myself, I doubt I'd cross the street for a show featuring 5 car fields of support classes.

Melbourne Motorsports is a good example of the other side of the coin. Its scrappy little track carved out of a junkyard, running nothing but 4 cylinder bombers...... yet, the 30 racers were having a blast, as we're the hundreds of fans that came to watch. Not my cup of tea at all, but it worked out great for close to 1000 people. I was definitely in the minority.

[Phil Jacques]

I guess the 3 months that have gone by, and no planned re-opening for at least another month, isn't enough time to even have a PLAN yet?

Stating when they WONT be opening tells us noting about when it WILL open.... or what night, which divisions, etc.

Being patient is one thing...... being kept in the dark while asking for our support, is another.

Phil does have a point about the "show worth attending" angle, as that is very subjective. Myself, I doubt I'd cross the street for a show featuring 5 car fields of support classes.

Melbourne Motorsports is a good example of the other side of the coin. Its scrappy little track carved out of a junkyard, running nothing but 4 cylinder bombers...... yet, the 30 racers were having a blast, as we're the hundreds of fans that came to watch. Not my cup of tea at all, but it worked out great for close to 1000 people. I was definitely in the minority.

They had a full schedule earlier this season that showed classes etc they planned to run. However, for whatever reason all the hard work they did put in earlier this year did not work so they are trying to come up with a different plan to bring something unique... I can't fault them. If something doesn't work... Why continue? Should be proof positive that they are actually trying to figure something out and not just sitting around waiting for the year to end so they can shut it down completely.

People just need to give them the benefit of the doubt here... Donny isn't like the others... He will NOT give up without a fight because he truly believes in it...

[OldSchool+]

Phil,

The suggestions are in post #21.

It is Friday night, to be followed by Saturday.

The lights are off.

Re: Support no matter what.
Just cannot agree. If it is not a good show, I have better things to do.

I did Bithlo & NS for years in the pits, now drive to Showtime a rediculous distance to see a kick ace show rather than a .

Another way to keep me home: Get the prices about about $15, or above $20 for a big show. Sorry about the costs, but as a consumer, I ain't consumin' if it isn't worth it. I used to go to Daytona, excepting the incredibly boring 24 hour sports car race, skip that these days too.

[racer55]

If i had the right gear i would take my car out i got a super stock im about ready to take to nss in a few weeks but dont have a 373 to run there