Matt Albee

[OldSchool+]

Gotcha,

Scott you are a perfect example of the beauty of this deal.

If there were NO sportsman, and you had your current situation and interests, you would be parking the car when a big expense came along--otherwise there would be no "other interests".

You and guys like you will make these full fields.

In other words, the big money is a given, it is the more modest money that can be consolidated into a big field of cars.

Calling it a "late model" instead of a Sportsman will be easier with time...

[scottgarrity07]

Thanks Oldschool. I learned a long time ago to "race in the division you can afford to be competitive in". That and "racing within my means" is what has kept me racing for 22 years on a modest salary. I can't imagine the day when I'll want to hang up my helmet. I've met and continue to meet so many good people through this sport (you included).

[Phil Jacques]

I've met and continue to meet so many good people through this sport (you included).

Scott, take your meds...









































Kidding...

[OldSchool+]

Scott, just like Phil Jacques, I am blushing...!

[Phil Jacques]

Scott, just like Phil Jacques, I am blushing...!

lol

[scottgarrity07]

Scott, take your meds...

Kidding...

Obviously I've already taken them!

[ocalasp76]

I learned a long time ago to "race in the division you can afford to be competitive in". That and "racing within my means" is what has kept me racing for 22 years on a modest salary. I can't imagine the day when I'll want to hang up my helmet. I've met and continue to meet so many good people through this sport .

Ditto... and I had that division until they canceled it... e-mod.
-GYM-

[OldSchool+]

ocalasp.

can you hang at Aub, St Pete, or Citrus?

[Matt Albee]

"...don't know what the seating capacity is at Showtime, but as i recall it isn't a lot."--Ma
It is significant for a short track. The stands cover 2/3 of the track, and there is truck parking/beer drinking on the remaining backstretch.

" And [Showtime Speedway's success is] probably in spite of Yoho..."--Ma
It's all Yoho, sir. They were parallel parking prius' or something there before Yoho.

"The Tampa/St. Pete area just seems to love oval racing." --Ma
Point taken. Dunno what to do about that re: Beethlo.

"But Yoho is ripping off the racers to pay for his show."--Ma
Sez you, not the racers. I would suggest no more than any other choice, from McDonalds to paying for a date.

I wonder how many folks those wrap around the track grandstands hold.
I really don't think it has anything to do with Yoho. If anyone even slightly competent had re-opened the place, the fans and racers would have shown up. I don't recall Prius parking, but you might know more than i do about it.

Yes, i say Yoho is ripping off the racers, him and every other track that has that insane business model. The racers we've heard from seem to be divided on the subject. A couple of very well off racers chimed in to say it's fine with them ( one of those racers sounds more like a track employee ) but others have said it's crazy to grab every dime from the racers.
It's easy to find out for sure. Offer to drop the entry fee, the slab fee, and no mandatory purchase of tires or gas, See how many racers DON'T show up because of that.

[Phil Jacques]

I wonder how many folks those wrap around the track grandstands hold.
I really don't think it has anything to do with Yoho. If anyone even slightly competent had re-opened the place, the fans and racers would have shown up. I don't recall Prius parking, but you might know more than i do about it.

Yes, i say Yoho is ripping off the racers, him and every other track that has that insane business model. The racers we've heard from seem to be divided on the subject. A couple of very well off racers chimed in to say it's fine with them ( one of those racers sounds more like a track employee ) but others have said it's crazy to grab every dime from the racers.
It's easy to find out for sure. Offer to drop the entry fee, the slab fee, and no mandatory purchase of tires or gas, See how many racers DON'T show up because of that.

Slab fee and entry fee are an absolute 100% undeniable ripoff. The only time fuel and tires should be a mandatory purchase is for a show with a winning purse of about $3000 to win or more. That's how we pay for the 6 10k to win open modified races that are run across New England every year. The racers agree to buy 10gal fuel and 6 tires per team.

[OldSchool+]

Huh.

Potentially $13k payout. I bet a lot of Florida (& out of state) racers will boycott the joint.

I am going to go (way) over there to see how many fans and racers did not show up & will report back.

We have one track that packs the joint and...(Sometimes y'all could FUP a free lunch).

Stick with fixin' Bithlo, Yoho has his bidness handled.

[Matt Albee]

Huh.

Potentially $13k payout. I bet a lot of Florida (& out of state) racers will boycott the joint.

I am going to go (way) over there to see how many fans and racers did not show up & will report back.

We have one track that packs the joint and...(Sometimes y'all could FUP a free lunch).

Stick with fixin' Bithlo, Yoho has his bidness handled.

I'm sure Yoho appreciates your unflagging loyalty, but there are a number of tracks in Florida that draw a good crowd. Start with Desoto, then there's North Florida,5 Flags, and even Auburdale pulls in a decent crowd i've heard.
Bithlo is beyond fixing for the moment, but there's always hope.

[Phil Jacques]

I'm sure Yoho appreciates your unflagging loyalty, but there are a number of tracks in Florida that draw a good crowd. Start with Desoto, then there's North Florida,5 Flags, and even Auburdale pulls in a decent crowd i've heard.
Bithlo is beyond fixing for the moment, but there's always hope.

Uhh, did you see this week's Turn Five? That wasn't a good crowd brother lol Desoto does draw better than most, I think NSS has the worst crowd. I paused this past week's video and counted roughly 60 people in the stands... That's really sad. I didn't know we even cared about 5 flags here. It's never mentioned lol

[zerofor]

Its almost a comedy how track owners here can put maybe 1500 people in the stands and then say the place was packed,even when their stands hold three times that.But it happens all the time.I would like to put them in the wayback machine and let them all see the way it was back in the 60s and 70s.Remember way back when Ed Howe,Dick Trickle,Mike Eddy,Don Gregory,and the likes would come and race in Florida in the winter?Now their isn't enough money to be won to drag a guy across county lines.And a lot of it has to be laid at the track owners feet.Most never tried to adjust the rules.Does anyone remember Michigans Joy Fair unveiling a 4 door Ford Maverick and making the tracks heads spin?Or Ed Howe unveiling 180 degree headers that made a late model sound like an indycar?Or the same Howe having a Camaro late model powered by a 500 cubic inch Cadillac motor?The point is GUYS used to push the envelope with their talents.Not by running to the local speedshop and buying the new mega buck piece for their car.It was more about ability than just strictly how deep your pockets were.(Not that it ever hurt anybody to have deep pockets)Some money in the payout and adequate sponsorship could still revive tracks.But not if the track owners are only willing to work a couple days a week at it.

[OldSchool+]

I remember those guys and those days.

Anyone that wants to revisit...it is as close as St Pete this weekend.