osw website

[OldSchool+]

"the track reps [have wanted to shift the responsibility for the crowd to the racers]."--Mr Bertram

Again, Donnie or Ozzie or someone else on the Speedworld payroll...?

If it is an OSW "sypathizer" (and I would probably count myself in that crowd), again, it is neither here nor there.

Let's assume you own a honky-tonk.

You love Country & Western, but the cash register receipts are stronger on Polka night. Who are you going to hire for this weekend?

On the other hand, if the country boys want to bring a paying family reunion for Wednesday night--would you turn them down?

So, am right there with you, but am simply suggesting that there are only two choices that appear to me:

1) Wait, sadly, to see if anything develops, and be thankful the asphalt is still there.
2) Allow it to upset me, and call for the track's permanent closing because the principals wont do things (like spend their money) my way.

There is still hope, Scott.

[scott bertram]

my thoughts on the clean cut tree guys are that at least they are making an effort with what they have, and at least the track is/was open.

Could the attempts that they are making be more profound with joint effort from Ozzy/osw ? If $ is the biggest issue.... it would seem to me that by the clean cut crew making an investment (and any other even small time investors that a little footwork might potentially generate) it would help offset the expense to Ozzy.

on another aspect, I have heard many times that when Mr. Hart was running the deal the drag track basically funded the oval. Now I'm sure Mr. Hart was not a bottomless pit of $$, nor is he ignorant, so I would like to think that even with the obvious lack of focus on his part between the drags and oval he saw some sort of income.... cant imagine he would have kept it going as long as he did otherwise.

Now we hear that the drags are booming, making great $ (more than before)...... I don't pretend to know the financial aspects at all, but wouldn't common sense make you think that more $ is being taken in, less expenses are going out, (by not running the stock cars weekly or sub leasing the track) combined with the oh so healthy drifting events and shows, that some revenue would exist to tackle the commitment that was made to the stock car scene? It may come across as selfish to think that way, but he did make a commitment to the stock-cars when 1st coming into this didn't he?, osw still currently says how bad they want stock car racing to be at the track don't they?

does anyone really believe that osw oval can never prosper again? does a ghostly spirit haunt the oval track to prevent success or something that I don't know about? lol

this isn't rocket science. you cant rightfully put blame on the current sub leaser, or the racers, or the fans when they aren't even making a legitimate effort to do anything.

[OldSchool+]

Why assume the responsibility of placing blame in the first place?

Should we blame the original developer for building a track halfway to nowhere in a financially depressed swampy area?

How about the city of Orlando that spends my money on some big-a citrus bowl or some such that I have never attended for not subsidizing it with tax dollars?

Should we blame the Hart family (I am assuming they still own it) for leasing it to a drag race guy as opposed to running it?

If the reports that Clean Cut is not turning a profit--or even breaking even--are accurate, should we blame them?

Regarding the drag profit being recycled into the oval track:

I will assume you like beer. If your recycling efforts turn a profit, would you buy beer, save your money, or buy a fridge full of liver and sushi (that you dislike)?

You would do exactly what Ozzy is doing, either spend it on a new trailer to recycle more stuff, or save your own money, or whatever else you want to do with it.

[scott bertram]

"the track reps [have wanted to shift the responsibility for the crowd to the racers]."--Mr Bertram

Again, Donnie or Ozzie or someone else on the Speedworld payroll...?

If it is an OSW "sypathizer" (and I would probably count myself in that crowd), again, it is neither here nor there.

Let's assume you own a honky-tonk.

You love Country & Western, but the cash register receipts are stronger on Polka night. Who are you going to hire for this weekend?

On the other hand, if the country boys want to bring a paying family reunion for Wednesday night--would you turn them down?

So, am right there with you, but am simply suggesting that there are only two choices that appear to me:

1) Wait, sadly, to see if anything develops, and be thankful the asphalt is still there.
2) Allow it to upset me, and call for the track's permanent closing because the principals wont do things (like spend their money) my way.

There is still hope, Scott.

on 8-28-14 Donnie stated he would put together a put up or shut up race for slm's...... nothing to date has happened, after bringing that up today to Phil (Donnie's buddy ) the mentality is prove you can bring fans, in order for him to keep his word. now remind you I'm just a racer that has a profound love for the track, that tries to bring attention where it is needed..... if that means ruffling feathers or pissing in Wheaties ...so be it. so now in order to see him follow through with this (possibly), (more like get ozzy to agree) then I need to show that I can put fans in the stands, for a race that doesn't even exist. sounds like shifting responsibilities to me, but what do I know?

[OldSchool+]

Do you have a written quote from Donnie from August?

If it was truly "put up or shut up", I would be surprised. Promoters post a purse, and then whoever pulls in, pulls in. If there was no purse, then it would have been empty words, and I believe Donnie knows more about the bidness than to dare late models to show up...for free.

And, how do we know Phil is "Donnie's buddy"? Maybe Donnie is Phil's buddy!

Scott--we are all ("you, me, them, everybody..."--Jake Blues) on the same page, there is just no jack between us to "fix" speedworld. All of us but Ozzy, and he is entitled to his opinion & to dispose of his income any way he likes. And btw, without a P&L statement, we really don't know how profitable the dragstrip is.

Don't worry, be happy.

[scott bertram]

Why assume the responsibility of placing blame in the first place?

Should we blame the original developer for building a track halfway to nowhere in a financially depressed swampy area?

How about the city of Orlando that spends my money on some big-a citrus bowl or some such that I have never attended for not subsidizing it with tax dollars?

Should we blame the Hart family (I am assuming they still own it) for leasing it to a drag race guy as opposed to running it?

If the reports that Clean Cut is not turning a profit--or even breaking even--are accurate, should we blame them?


Regarding the drag profit being recycled into the oval track:

I will assume you like beer. If your recycling efforts turn a profit, would you buy beer, save your money, or buy a fridge full of liver and sushi (that you dislike)?

You would do exactly what Ozzy is doing, either spend it on a new trailer to recycle more stuff, or save your own money, or whatever else you want to do with it.

in my opinion there is blame to go around. if I buy a McDonalds, and hire nothing but window lickers to serve the public, take down the dollar menu because its not turning the profit that my meal packages are, shut down half the bathroom stalls, empty the toilet paper dispensers, and promise the public for 2 yrs that we will get better if you come support us, all awhile hiring multiple managers but not giving them the resources to fix the issues....... ehhh.... no one to blame. poor me. I'm not turning a profit.

[scott bertram]

Do you have a written quote from Donnie from August?

If it was truly "put up or shut up", I would be surprised. Promoters post a purse, and then whoever pulls in, pulls in. If there was no purse, then it would have been empty words, and I believe Donnie knows more about the bidness than to dare late models to show up...for free.

And, how do we know Phil is "Donnie's buddy"? Maybe Donnie is Phil's buddy!

Scott--we are all ("you, me, them, everybody..."--Jake Blues) on the same page, there is just no jack between us to "fix" speedworld. All of us but Ozzy, and he is entitled to his opinion & to dispose of his income any way he likes. And btw, without a P&L statement, we really don't know how profitable the dragstrip is.

Don't worry, be happy.

yes I do have it written ....just don't know how to upload image. shoot me an email address and ill send it

[OldSchool+]

If you bought a McDonalds (ignoring the franchising rules), and ran it into the ground, that would be your deal.

There are closed businesses in every town. Some were mismanaged, some the public simply chose to do business elsewhere.

But I don't hear Ozzy crying the blues.

Again, who made the "promises for two years?". In writing?

If it is a well meaning cheerleader like myself, it has nothing to do with the track, just a OSW fan--like you and me--and it is really neither here nor there.

Kind of like this discussion (lol).

ps--to transfer a quote, hold down your left mouse button and highlight your quote--wherever it is. Then click the Ctrl and Alt buttons simultaneously and immediately follow by pressing "C" (for cut) with your other hand.

Then place your cursor in your next note and repeat, except follow ctrl & alt with "P" (for paste).

[scott bertram]

If you bought a McDonalds (ignoring the franchising rules), and ran it into the ground, that would be your deal.

There are closed businesses in every town. Some were mismanaged, some the public simply chose to do business elsewhere.

But I don't hear Ozzy crying the blues.

Again, who made the "promises for two years?". In writing?

If it is a well meaning cheerleader like myself, it has nothing to do with the track, just a OSW fan--like you and me--and it is really neither here nor there.

Kind of like this discussion (lol).

I assume you haven't been to 1 drivers meeting since he took the lease, haven't spoke to any of the gm's he's hired about the future of stock car racing at the track, nor went to the initial meeting with ozzy promising the world when he 1st took over. if you had....you would have heard plenty of empty promises, along with "please bring people out" speeches these past few yrs.

[Matt Albee]

And yet 5 Flags is doing great with a much smaller potential fan base. The difference is that the owners of 5 Flags are willing to work hard for success.
With the population of Orlando ( not even considering the outlying areas), you shouldn't have any trouble drawing a tiny crowd of 500 fans per week. OSW has trouble drawing 50 fans a week.
The main problem is Father Time. OSW has been closed for many years. I know there have been small, sporadic attempts over the years, but in the minds of most fans and racers, the place has been closed for years. The fans and racers have moved on. It would take developing a brand new fan base and a brand new racer base to make the place succeed. Just like Desoto has pulled itself up out of the ashes. But the owners of Desoto truly want to see the place grow and are willing to put in the time and money needed.
The stock car/oval track business model makes no sense to Ozzy, and he isn't going to change his mind.

[OldSchool+]

"I assume you haven't been to 1 drivers meeting since he took the lease, haven't spoke to any of the gm's he's hired about the future of stock car racing at the track, nor went to the initial meeting with ozzy promising the world when he 1st took over. if you had....you would have heard plenty of empty promises, along with "please bring people out" speeches these past few yrs."--Scott

Nope, and I will take you at your word.

But I have been fed many rations along the way (like from ex wives...) and the lesson is not to take them at their word anymore.

So, we wait. Ozzy clearly isn't going to pony up the jack.

No point in levelling the place to "spite" Ozzy.

That would make no more sense than cutting off my happy place to spite the ex.

Btw, neither would be spited anyway.

Alternatively, we could say a prayer for both Ozzy and the track. It's free.

[katlizy]

Wow dejavu. Imo... Donnie has put a good effort. He clened up the track and made it stay open with drifters. Stock car racing is no longer the main attraction..

Being a loyal spectator.. I do see tourists coming in.. Why not market to the hotels and timesares. Usually the woman go tomthe outlets.. And the men drift over with sons to see racing. ..just a suggestion.

Racers.. Promote as well.. The pits look like they have a decent crowd.. And everyone has a day job. ..

Skinner has done good getting the cars there..

[cake]

Heard rumor last race that someone is waiting for ozzy to default on the lease (something to do with the drifters paving the pits) and take back over.......

[OldSchool+]

It's a shame they don't have more events at Orlando SpeedWorld.

We certainly provide plenty of exposure (for, um, free), maybe one day it will be primarily positive exposure.

[Matt Albee]

Heard rumor last race that someone is waiting for ozzy to default on the lease (something to do with the drifters paving the pits) and take back over.......

I hope that "someone" is in a very comfortable chair, it's going to be a long wait. From what i've read, Ozzy has plenty of money and has no intention of letting go of the track.