Orlando Speed World: Update

[racer55]

pay out alittle more then nss and hold a few big money races for the lower class strickly stock super stock sportsman emods mini stock people love them class cause they rub bump and bang hand out some free tickets try finding people that never been to the races go into the city of orlando and surrounding area and hand out some free tickets for one night and put on a good show with the classes listed above

[Lurkin]

It does seem, to me, like you're insinuating that the internet (us?) is a big part of their problem. I haven't said anything bad about them ever, nobody else did either on here yet. You come across, in my opinion, as if you're wanting to say more and as if you're trying to head off something that you perceive may be coming and consequently you have gotten the ball rolling. You get what you give, and you jumped right out there and gave us a ration. So congrats on making me feel like I could give two shits what happens.

I think kids these days view much of what they read on social media as we did the shit that was written on the bathroom walls.

[dd38]

Whoever has it now or in the future is going to have to SPEND/LOSE a ton of money to bring it around. I have been going there since the day it opened and remember when the place was packed. But they advertised a lot. Now I know Orlando has grown and the demographics have changed a lot, but in the last couple decades and more there has been very little advertising done. I remember seeing T.V. spots, add's in the Orlando Sentinal (and reports and results), Radio spots and so on. You could walk downtown on Orange Ave. and ask everyone if they have ever heard of Orlando Speed World and you would get 99.9% of the people would go HUH!!!! Same thing west, south and north. Only time you see it now is for Crash-A-Rama. Nothing past Alafaya Trail if that. I know it costs $$$$$, but that is what it is going to take. To Ozzy this is like a start up business. Most start-up businesses operate in the RED for a year or 2, or even longer, before they even start to even get close to operating in the black even then. And that's if they are operated properly. No I hear Butch Carr is gone(how many managers does that make now?) there is another black eye. I had my own perersonal issues with him, but he did all he could do for what he was permitted to do to rally everyone around to support the track. And I commend him for that. I really would love to see it thrive because it is close to home for me. Sure wish I had the the money/funding.

[Phil Jacques]

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.

They tried a show where it was $5 per person to get in... They tried promotions where it was 40 bux for 4 people with a free hotdog and soda... it didn't work... Don't want to hear anything about gate prices lol

[Phil Jacques]

It does seem, to me, like you're insinuating that the internet (us?) is a big part of their problem. I haven't said anything bad about them ever, nobody else did either on here yet. You come across, in my opinion, as if you're wanting to say more and as if you're trying to head off something that you perceive may be coming and consequently you have gotten the ball rolling. You get what you give, and you jumped right out there and gave us a ration. So congrats on making me feel like I could give two shits what happens.

I think kids these days view much of what they read on social media as we did the shit that was written on the bathroom walls.

I'm stopping short of calling people idiots because I don't believe that anyone is, I just believe that people need to forget about what happend 2 or 3 years ago and focus on what they are trying to do now and be supportive and thankful that someone who gives a fuck is in charge of that track.

And Lurkin, you have been here plenty long enough to see all the other falling sky posts by OSW bashers, It was coming. You know it was, and I know it was. I simply jumped in front of it cause no one else has the balls to do so.

No one here scares me, and I will tell you what I think. 99% of what I tell you guys is from personal experience. I watched Thompson decline over the past 3-5 years because of this kind of crap on FB. The track didn't care to deal with it so they slowly started phasing out the "shit" as they see it and brought in a brand new shiny road course with SCCA NASA and other clubs that won't complain about the facility every time something doesn't go exactly how they wanted it to.

Social Media and Forums DO create problems. Yes, it gives us a place to voice opinions but unfortunately the tracks who do watch these do take it personal. Donny is watching this post right now texting back and fourth with me with his mind blown by how hard headed everyone is... HE JUST WANTS A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF but when nobody shows up, the place just continues to look bad... So how can he prove anything with 20 people in the stands and 45-50 people in the pits?

As far as losing money... They have lost a ton already... And are continuing to spend out with promotional stuff for the remainder of the season, purses etc. They haven't made money one night yet this year, yet they continue to push on to try and make it better. But once again... They don't care about oval guys...

Look at me, someone who doesn't have a dog in the fight down there other than being friends with the manager who doesn't even make money working for the track he has a side business paying his bills so really, if he fails it won't hurt him either.

Ever been to the website Lost Speedways? If everyone doesn't show some support, OSW will be on there very soon. And then what? You can't bring it back once it's gone most of the time... Do you really want it to go away? Think about it.

Let the Phil bashing begin... I am heading to the shop for the night to clear out space for my FL Sportsman's arrival Sunday Afternoon

Everyone have a great night! I hate none of you... And I respect all of your opinions... I am just trying to get you to support this track before it disappears...

[shorttrackcar1]

Ever since ozzy took over osw has had the lowest car counts ever. like it or not its true the new manager talk a big game of what he's going to do well we are still waiting I think he's finding out not the same as drifting.

[kendo]

Most start-up businesses operate in the RED for a year or 2, or even longer, before they even start to even get close to operating in the black even then. And that's if they are operated properly. .

Exactly,,,,Said it before and will say it again.Takes tons of capital,not only good intensions.

1st step should be to fix the "weeping" problem so that the show everyone looks forward to all week is not cancelled when there isn't a cloud in the sky.This kinda stuff makes blood shoot out of people eyeballs

[scottgarrity07]

Phil, while I believe your heart is in the right place and there's no denying your passion for local short track racing, I think you're not that informed about what has happened at Speedworld within the last two years. Most of it has happened before you started posting here. For the long of it, search "Orlando Speedworld" and "Ozzy Moya" on this message board. Ever since Ozzy took over Speedworld it has been nothing short of a sh*tstorm and a soap opera. Managers hired and fired before even having races, schedules were put up on short notice, rules not listed, website not updated for months. All of these things were true. I hated it because Iove racing at Speedworld. Not much attention was paid to the oval track while Ozzy pumped money hand over fist into the dragstrip and it flourished. Most of us had written OSW off, at least while Ozzy was in charge. Then a glimmer of hope. Donny was hired and reports of the drainage and infield paving came out. A lot of people, me included, felt that Ozzy took year one to build up the dragstrip and would now focus on the oval. Hooray! Unfortunately it was not to be. In the spring an anonymous donor put up some extra cash for the Sportsman race and a bunch of us headed over to race. Old School was there that night. I pushed hard on here for everyone to come out. Although everyone working there was real nice and we had a fun time, the state of affairs were not good. There were no lights working in turn two at all and the scoreboard was still not working. The crowd, well it was no crowd. To make matters worse, all the drivers who finished outside the top ten got no payout, nothing, nada, zip. To not get even your pit pass money back (when you probably brought four people or more) was a kick in the balls. Even though we had a descent Sportsman field that night, none of those guys outside the top 10 will ever be back. Paying just the top ten tells racers that you only want ten car fields. I know Donny is a great guy with all the best intentions but his hands are tied by Ozzy. The feeling that "they don't care about the oval" comes from Ozzy's actions (or lack thereof), not Donny's. You can have the best deals at the front gate ( like the $5 and $40 family deals), but if you don't advertise who's gonna know about them? Your trying to rebuild a fan base, people have to be informed in some way. On the other hand you can't expect fans to get excited about a show comprised of 5-8 car fields of support divisions with lights that don't work and no scoreboard. The bottom line is this. Ozzy seems to have the money to fix up the track, pay better and bring in some bigger divisions from time to time and PROMOTE THE EVENTS. He just doesn't seem to want to take the risk. Only money will fix this situation. Look at Desoto. It was in even worse shape. No cars, no fans, place falling apart. The right people came in and got it done. Now it is one of the best tracks in the state on every level. Demographically OSW has even more potential than Desoto but Ozzy has to spend the bucks. If not, lease it to someone who will. Nobody hates on OSW but you can't blame people for their pessimism. We've all heard this tune before. But I do wish that Donny can get it all worked out. He is a real good dude and OSW is probably the best surface to race on in FL.

[Lurkin]

Thank you Scott. It needed to be said and you said it well.

Phil, I know all too well what it's like to lose your lifelong home track, and then after that another and another so I know all too well once they're gone they never ever come back. I think I've raced at more tracks that are gone in Fla than are left, as have many here. It's like you wanna bust in the saloon door swinging before you even come in and try having a drink with us. Where did this come from? I'm gonna guess your buddy that runs the track...ease up pal :-)

[katlizy]

Sigh... Poor Donnie. I do give him credit. And I have a lot of suggestions being a professional spectator.. Traveling to all the tracks... But alas.. This is not the place to put it.


This forum will never ADD to the spectator as it is just a beeotchfest for the cranky drivers...

I call it karnac.... As the wheel turns.

[Lurkin]

I just went over to their FB page. OMG!!!!!! Not one shitty comment. A lot of "that sux" and such but nothing bad at ALL. I just don't understand why he felt the need to come on here with both barrels blazing :shrug:

Also how do you sign up to be a professional spectator? You get paid?

[katlizy]

I just went over to their FB page. OMG!!!!!! Not one shitty comment. A lot of "that sux" and such but nothing bad at ALL. I just don't understand why he felt the need to come on here with both barrels blazing :shrug:

Also how do you sign up to be a professional spectator? You get paid?

Every week

[OldSchool+]

Scott, thank you for the "rest of the story".

Man, when I hear about "heart" and "money" and then the guys don't get paid...I just don't know how anyone could expect a field for a second week.

A question, though, were they promised a payout or did they just sort of expect it?

And before the feature, were they aware they were racing for free?

Public service announcement: If your Saturday night date goes well and you would like to have a nice time next Saturday night, by all means take her to breakfast on Sunday morning (& church, if she is a keeper).

[Cara]

I do wish them all the best since this is the first race track I went to as a kid. Also my first track I raced at weekly when we first started. I went to the website a few months ago and sent a message saying that we had a Super Stock, that we use to race there years ago and had hoped to have new car ready when the track reopened. My question was what tire this class was running and the response I got back made me feel not wanted. I was told because we were not out there running and low car count in that class, it would be probably dropped. Not the answer I had been hoping to hear especially if they want cars out there. And my question was still never answered. The way to get drivers back would of been to say we would love to have you back, we would be reopening on this date and oh by the way this is the tire we are running. Guess they feel that you have left the sport for a while which we had to do to the cost and health issues, then it is all our fault for the track not doing well. And during all this time no one has ever contacted us to see why we have not been racing and we left in 2008.

No ill feels towards anyone and as I said I still wish them the best. If things work out for us we will be back.

[OldSchool+]

"So congrats on making me feel like I could give two [doggieloggs] what happens."--Lurkin

For your (& our avid racing audience's) review:

Don't ever let that happen again. It is all a choice. Whenever in your (that is, our) head you think "it" (like, the broken off head bolt) or "they" (friends, spouse, whomever) is "making" me feel thus and so just stop right there.

We are all big boys & girls, you can choose how you feel.

It is an illusion, and if you buy the illusion, then you are not responsible for your feelings and relegate yourself to "victim" status. And you are banking on the other party to "make" you feel better. They rarely do. Ever.

It seems like a loss of control to "own it", but really it is a huge gain.

For instance, regardless of what someone (anyone) I love says or does, if I am angry, the sooner I own it in my head and preferably out loud, the better.

The next question is "Do I want to feel this way (angry, depressed, whatever)?" The answer is of course no.

So I work through it and move on.

Hope this is taken in the correct light--that is, a hard earned lesson given as a gift.

Race on, sir.