Lots of promotion, not much discussion

[Matt Albee]

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.

As i recall, the penalty isn't all that substantial. But i'm sure you're right, that will end auto racing across the nation . But only for the racers that weren't smart enough to sign up for health care.

[Matt Albee]

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.

There's no doubt that Desoto has made giant progress. I've seen a lot of good things written about VSP too. But overall, i'd say there are a lot of areas that need rethinking. I've never really thought that ticket prices ( at the front injectors ) had much effect on the fans coming out to the races. People are more than willing to pay high prices to see a good show. They're even still willing to pay crazy prices to watch NASCAR races. A lot fewer than in the past, but still a lot.
But regarding this thread, i'd say all of the issues in Florida short track racing have been discussed on this board at great length. But i'm not sure how much attention the track owners really pay to these discussions. And it's disappointing for fans and racers to see perfectly good race tracks run into the ground by owners and promoters who are too hard headed to listen. Citrus is a good example, OSW is another. So maybe this board is a little quiet because the participants are just losing interest in talking about things that never seem to change anyway.

[Matt Albee]

Here's a topic for discussion. From the news reports i've seen, it looks like the France family is phasing out stock car racing and moving toward football with their remodel of DIS. So maybe the short tracks need to expand their programs too. For instance, stadium truck racing would be a big hit in Florida. Those guys show up, lay down their track surface ( dirt w/jumps ), they race, and then clean up and move on to the next track. Tell me that show wouldn't draw a crowd. I was reading that racers racer Robby Gordon has a series that does this.
Desoto has a big unused open area on the east side of the track off of turn 4 that i saw on the drone photo. It would be ideal for a permanent track like that.

[Groundpounder]

From the news reports i've seen, it looks like the France family is phasing out stock car racing and moving toward football with their remodel of DIS.

Which news reports are you referencing? I'd like to read them.

[Matt Albee]

Which news reports are you referencing? I'd like to read them.

Don't have a specific report, i've read several interviews of Chitwood where he mentions that the track may very well host football games and other sports in the near future. Maybe someone who lives over there can chime in with a specific reference.
All the photos i've seen show a big make over of the grandstand area, and since i very much doubt that the lack of fancy grandstands would account for the fall off in spectators there, i'd have to assume that the France family has other ideas for the place eventually.

[Phil Jacques]

Which news reports are you referencing? I'd like to read them.

Probably something reported on EmpireNews.net...

[OldSchool+]

IMO, a liasion with Football might not be the best thing for NASCAR right now...

Soccer, now that's altogether different!

[kendo]

As i recall, the penalty isn't all that substantial. .

The penalty increases every year. In 2015 it’s 2% of income or $325 per person. In 2016 and later years it’s 2.5% of income or $695 per person. After that it's adjusted for inflation.

[OldSchool+]

sometimes it's good to be the old guy...

[Matt Albee]

The penalty increases every year. In 2015 it’s 2% of income or $325 per person. In 2016 and later years it’s 2.5% of income or $695 per person. After that it's adjusted for inflation.

I believe i read that people under a certain income level pay no penalty at all. And of course the penalty is self inflicted so i can't have much sympathy for anyone hit with it.

[Matt Albee]

Probably something reported on EmpireNews.net...

Never heard of that site, but i just checked it out and read that there's a plan by the Republican Party to change their Elephant logo to a Yacht logo.

[Phil Jacques]

Never heard of that site, but i just checked it out and read that there's a plan by the Republican Party to change their Elephant logo to a Yacht logo.

Sweet!

[kendo]

I believe i read that people under a certain income level pay no penalty at all. And of course the penalty is self inflicted so i can't have much sympathy for anyone hit with it.

If income is below $10,150, no penalty is owed...those making under $19,600 pay a flat $95 penalty.I will assume no one in that tax bracket is racing for a hobby.

I know many who are having to drop health insurance due to the continued increase in rates.One can not afford health insurance but Obama thinks one can afford the fine for not having it ?...Curious as to how you think not being able to afford 800-1200/month for health ins is self inflicted ?

[OldSchool+]

never have had to pay for nothing, before... (well maybe a bad date back in the day).

Play the lottery, you at least get a piece of nicely colored cardboard.

[kendo]

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

Looks like the folks over at Melbourne are having a tough time getting a permit,so they are organizing an event at OSW,,,good for them.

What is stopping the so called "real race cars" from doing the same ?