Do you want to see the Orange Blossom race back???

[Rusty the 50/50 Guy]

What would be the "ideal" show to put on for the PRI weekend????

What can Florida showcase for the people that come from virtuallly everywhere?

Who wants to step up to the plate with sponsorship money???? EWWWW there is an ugly one!

Should we even try this???

Give us your "constructive" thoughts

[Rick B.]

Need to have something for all those race fans to see !

Need to have a show to take advantage off that many fans coming right here. You will need to be able to really promote it ahead on their website, then plaster the area hotels, etc. with flyers and discount tickets. Many of those folks will fly in and do not have transportation. They used buses to shuttle folks in. You may need the same to really get a ton of folks. Well for the race if you do bring back or do a Super Late Model show make it a twin event of some sort with inversion etc. Spice it up a bit. They are use to a kind of high class deal so you need great pre-race show with smoke and fireworks, cool intro's etc. Maybe run a open sprint car race, or run the TBARA cars along with a big Super Late Model show. The for fun you could top it off with a true 4cyl / 6 cyl enduro really pump up starting soon. The folks that have drank to much can sit around and watch and laugh.

Or Rusty you know I could switch the Charity Truck Race to that weekend if you decide soon enough as to what you may do, let me know !!!!

[JackTripper]

I think the TBARA is the best travelling show in the state, so we've got to figure out a way to highlight those guys and gal. Maybe a wingless show where the TBARA cars would be competitive with some sort of engine/weight formula.

A super late model show would be nice, but maybe run Snowball Derby (to get those cars to haul down without tinkering with their cars) rules with an inversion of some kind because the last couple of Sunbelt races I've seen at OSW were god awful in terms of passing - no offense.

[Frasson118]

As for "the ideal show", it depends on who your targeted audience is. If you want to feed off of the PRI show, how are you going to let those people know about the race? Ads in the Northern racing papers? Handouts at the show? A booth at the show? Even many die-hard fans have a hard time getting excited about going to a show where they know none of the racers... so you'd have to have some drivers from "back home". The "ideal" sutuation would be the ISMA Supermodifieds, TBARA Sprints and Midgets.

Of course, this idea is far too ambitious without some serious corporate backing.

If you're trying to lure PRI fans into a "local division" show, you're gonna have a tough sell to those fans. You CAN'T invite the support classes, and you CAN'T have more than 3 classes (maybe 4, if a few are top-line classes).

You need inverted starts and double-file restarts... that's what most fans in the U.S. see at home. If more than 1 feature is won from the pole, they won't be back next year.

Say were counting on local cars, to put on a show for fans from elsewhere, what would be the best options?

The 2 tightest groups for quality and efficiency right now, are the TBARA Sprints and the UDLMCS Late Models. Maybe run an "Invitational" for the top-25 in points. I say run them both, plus the Southern Sportsman (they normally run a clean, efficient and exciting show), and the Legends cars (not many people are crazy about them, but they do run at the fans home tracks too and they are used to them, plus there's a chance of seeing someone from back home).

There you have it... 4 of the smoothest running, best racing format series in Florida. Fans would see passing, side-by side racing, good looking & diverse machinery, and has a great chance of being an exciting show.

Lots of luck putting something together. It's a great opportunity with that many people in town... but they first have to KNOW about it, and then become EXCITED about it. Local fans only won't fill the place!

[JackTripper]

I also seem to remember something like this from a few years back...

Maybe you could solicit someone like Lucas Oil (for example) to put up $50,000 if one driver can win three of the four features. They're only out the money if someone can "run the table" like Jack Hewitt did many moons ago and legend has Wayne Reutimann Sr. doing something similar. Tons of free press, drivers jumping into different classes and realistically little chance that someone will actually take the prize.

[modracer22]

I would like to see the florida modifieds as one of the support classes. I beleive there would be a good turn out. I think whatever classes you run should be a invert of atleast 10 make it a show and maybe put up some extra money for the poll sitter of the lm race or which ever one you want to start last and win. There has been some good ideas posted for this show.

[Speedweeks junkie]

You want ideal, and showcase the florida cars? This would be Ultra expensive but would be unmatched.

TBARA sprints
SUNBELT Super lates
UDLMCS Dirt late models on asphalt at speedworld

all for a 2 day show

[Edm]

I have to agree with Frass 3 or 4 classes at the most, Mods would be cool, IF, enough show up. If you run an enduro then go ahead and finish it off with a 50 lap bandalero sp? race and put the crowd the rest of the way to sleep. Fun to race but as a spectator they suck.

[Frasson118]

I thought of the Mods also, but honestly, they are a huge gamble. If that class would spend a year running double-file restarts and get the experience (and car count) needed to do it, they could be a great show. Otherwise, too many spins would stink up the show, and the last thing we need is to look amateur-ish in front of a National audience.

Please don't think I'm bashing the Mod class.... there is a lot of talent in that class... I just think their single-file format would prove to be a nose-to-tail event, which would not impress many people. Refer back to my comment about winners starting from the pole!

Another thing.... PLEASE, no hour long autograph sessions. They are great for kids, but these people are professionals, and long-time, somewhat jaded racing diehards. They came to see ACTION, not get autographs. Make sure you are catering to the right clients with a show like this. It isn't kids, it isn't rednecks, and it isn't the demo-derby crowd. These are people who frequent Knoxville, Eldora, Irwindale, Syracuse, The Chili Bowl, Oswego, etc... as well as Indy, the Nascar circuit, and a few F-1 fans thrown in. They know a good show from a bad one. If it's good, they will surely spread the word for next year. If it's horrible, the rest of the country will find that out too!

[modracer22]

I will still say the mods for support and when you have some of the best there you have one of the best shows in the state. I don't want to argue but what's the difference between us restarting side by side then the sun belt series doing it? It no different then taking the green at the start of the race you just do it everytime. Whatever classes Rusty decides to run I will support his show.

[racnphotos68]

My thoughts...

OK, first off your target audience is not so much the fans but the people inside the industry (since the show is not open to the public). You would need to run one, maybe two top notch classes (my thoughts are Super Lates and TBARA). One problem is the show is the weekend after the Snowball if I am correct and most of the out of town teams can not afford to stay another week just for this. Maybe the Goodyear cars would be a nice class to run in between heats and features for TBARA if Supers were not plentiful enough.
I would also say it would have to be a one night, tightly run show. Try and get a few big names to come and run I.E. Ken Schrader, etc.

This being said, Rusty, you have had some great ideas and even better drive to accomplish them so I would say, work your magic again and let's show the PRI people what a great track we have in Orlando. Get another booth if you have to at PRI and warm up the hot dogs!!