Lots of promotion, not much discussion

[Boneman]

I can't blame the track promoters and their staff, they are using the reach of this board to advertise their upcoming events, and its a good approach. Its just odd how the old racing discussion has dropped off around here while the promotion has picked up. It certainly looks a little different.

I've been volunteering on "the Dark Side", so I know I've been on my good behavior for a few years. I never thought I'd miss Old Mrs. Jones, and the former cast of characters. We had some good laughs over the years!

[Osmosis Jones]

Well....

I still check the asylum once in awhile just to see what the inmates are up to....but it got kinda boring.
Too many eggheads who think they know more than me.

And we both know that's just impossible. (do I have to put "lol" after that?)

Also, it's hunting season. Never thought I'd have a hobby that gave me as much satisfaction as racing but....I love it and this time of year I can't wait to get up a tree in my climber with my bow.


The old days around here were pretty fun, though....but, like with racing itself, people tend to get burnt out after a time. Lots of the old gang have moved on or have found other outlets, like Facebook and it's many "fan" and "discussion" pages.

But, lest I make a post and not say anything about some of what I think has contributed to racing's current state of demise, I'll offer this: While there may seem to be an inexhaustible supply of daddies and mommies with way too much money in their pockets to finance their budding 12 year old prodigy with double stackers and Super Duper Late Models (and Sprint Cars).....there is an all too finite supply of hard-working, spare time/spare money racers that is quickly drying up. You just don't see the families and "career" short track teams that you know will be there at your local track week in and week out. Hell, these days you can't depend on your local track even being there week in and week out. It's getting pretty sketchy.

Something's gotta change before it's too late.

It may already be.

From the Far Side
Osmosis Jones


PS....Don't worry, Marrow-Boy....we'll hook up at a track soon. When is your next race?

[Osmosis Jones]

Look! Up there in the "stickies"!

Just saw a "Sticky".......that still makes me laugh......where the TBARA will be at Desoto the 27th....that's just great. Ima be in a tree stand about 20 miles east of there looking for some antlers....so unless I tag out early or something else happens to end my hunt early, I probably won't make it.

And with my luck that's probably the last show for the year, isn't it?.......

[kendo]

there is an all too finite supply of hard-working, spare time/spare money racers that is quickly drying up. You just don't see the families and "career" short track teams that you know will be there at your local track week in and week out.

eh,,,just wait until low budget racers get hit with the new penalty (tax) for not having health care come tax time,just around the start of racing season.That tax increases substantially in the coming years.

[Boneman]

Osmo, we have another at Citrus on 10-18. Come on out; my son is racing a Bando that night, and he is cranked up to be running where the sprints are.

Yeah, the old days are gone, but the new days are still pretty good (in some spots). Might as well get out there and have at it.

[Renegade Racing Fuels]

Short track racing in Florida isn't very healthy right now, but there are a lot of comeback stories too. Look at the huge turnaround at Volusia. And that was done by people with little or no prior track management experience. Doug and Wendy have really made a difference up there, that track was overgrown with weeds just a couple of years ago.
And Desoto has made a miraculous recovery considering what they had to work with. Jimmy and Critter and the entire crew have made a racetrack out of the old girl. And i have no doubt that there are even bigger things coming in the future at Desoto.
New Smyrna has also seen a turnaround and Kim and Robert are coming up with new ideas all the time.
Showtime is another track that was left for dead and has been reborn. Nobody thought there would ever be another wheel turned there, but Yoho has shown it could be done.
There are a number of tracks that are just hanging on right now, and others are trying to reopen. Volusia, Desoto, New Smyrna, and Showtime have demonstrated that racing is still alive. I only hope the other tracks can find a way to make things go too. It looks like the fans and racers are still out there, just have to find ways to bring them back to the tracks.

[Phil Jacques]

there is an all too finite supply of hard-working, spare time/spare money racers that is quickly drying up.

In my eyes, with this one line Osmosis, you have nailed one of the biggest problems with short track racing today.

There are far too many "kids" who have everything spoon fed to them and don't even know how to work on their own cars. Mommy and Daddy pay the bills and they get in, turn the wheel and press the pedal.

Personally, I have worked very hard just to get my foot in the door here in the northeast. I have been lucky enough to get a bit of seat time driving a friends car now and then and even had a couple good (and lucky) runs with it but I have been building my personal car for 14 months now scrounging every penny I can to get it done and still facing a possibility it may not make the 2015 opener up here while I see kids on Facebook posting pictures of the shiny new car that their mommy and daddy bought for them and not understanding how lucky they truly are.

From my perspective when I first got started, I did have the "i'll never be able to do it" mentality and almost gave up once already. I can't imagine how many kids out there come from families that can not afford to support their passion, that do want to do this, but get the same overwhelming feeling that I do and just say screw it and never even make the attempt.

[Phil Jacques]

Short track racing in Florida isn't very healthy right now

I know this is a FL forum, but I wouldn't even single out FL in this. There are tracks here in the New England region that are struggling too, though they are mostly north of the Massachusetts Line in NH and Maine

[Groundpounder]

Part One is easy, the promotors are here because it's easy and free.

Part Two well, maybe there's not compelling stories to tell and discuss. Maybe there are and folks just don't discuss them...I know that there probably are. I do see many items of drama here ...maybe that's what folks discuss now other than the races. I think the numbers here are small and that contributes to us same retreads over and over.

I have noticed most forums are for controversial items, not race reports...you know, like Stewart killing a driver or Ricky and Danica wrecking each other again out of the bedroom or which NASCAR driver has the latest "trophy" girlfriend! Ahhh, remember the old show Peyton Place?

[dd38]

Wishing Speed World would have some sort of come back. But with the present owner(Ozie) and his side kick (Donnie) who despise stock cars it will never happen. Unless maybe another owner comes in which probably will never happen.

[kendo]

Wishing Speed World would have some sort of come back. But with the present owner(Ozie) and his side kick (Donnie) who despise stock cars it will never happen. Unless maybe another owner comes in which probably will never happen.

They just announced on FB plans for a Strictly Stock race and some enduro's for October

[xracer54]

And

Are you trying to say that,people pay to watch a show like that. I was thinking REAL RACECARS!

[kendo]

Are you trying to say that,people pay to watch a show like that. I was thinking REAL RACECARS!

I don't know,maybe you should ask those attending Melbourne,or the 60 fans in the stands at OSW watching real race cars ?

[dd38]

That's what I was thinking too. Kendo "Rear Race Cars"? LOL!

[rhinoracing11]

According to FB.It isnt OSW putting on the event its a Tree company!
Sad, just sad....