I just got this from Citrus Face Book.

[modmini55]

Who calls a race by 9am the day before! Holy cow

[OldSchool+]

"Rain is the tracks biggest downfall. The rule in the day was at 5:00 You could call the racing for that night if it was raining. If not open the gate and let the baby be born as Clyde would say. The average year was 4 rain outs but I did have 13 one year. The harder you try to get them in in bad weather the more chance you will have to keep a car count. When you get rain out feaver so dies your cars. If it looks like its going to rain then they wont wast there time pulling to the track. after a few we got it in nights they will start showing up in the rain. Rain is just part of the deal. It is still better than cold. These tracks that try to race in the winter have no chance. when its raining it might stop but when its cold at 5:00 its not going to get warmer. Rember its all about the money on both sides..."--DN

Not that he needs to hear it from me, but that is another award winning Don Nerone post!

[Winger]

Rain is the tracks biggest downfall.
The rule in the day was at 5:00 You could call the racing for that night if it was raining. If not open the gate and let the baby be born as Clyde would say.
The average year was 4 rain outs but I did have 13 one year. The harder you try to get them in in bad weather the more chance you will have to keep a car count.
when you get rain out feaver so dies your cars. If it looks like its going to rain then they wont wast there time pulling to the track. after a few we got it in nights they will start showing up in the rain.
Rain is just part of the deal. It is still better than cold. These tracks that try to race in the winter have no chance. when its raining it might stop but when its cold at 5:00 its not going to get warmer.

Rember its all about the money on both sides..

don62

I was agreeing till you got to the part about winter racing having no chance. I came to Florida for several years before moving here. I came down in the winter and couldn't find a race to go to. If there was racing in the "winter" you'd have a whole bunch of snowbirds who aren't here in the summer. Their definition of cold is completely different than yours. They're a complete fanbase that isn't being tapped. You can't race when it's raining, but you can race when it's cold. In addition, you can always put more clothes on. In the summer, you can only take so much off. I think winter racing would do well if it was tried. Of course you have the holidays to work around.

[elmer]

Who calls a race by 9am the day before! Holy cow

I know right !!! This is ridiculous. I can remember being at Punta Gorda (when Leroy owned it) and Desoto several times in years past. It rained in the afternoon they dried the track. It again rained before intermission and again they dried the track. However if it rained after the features started then they would call the show. But to call it on the day before is absolutely crazy!! It's Florida oh yea and it's the start of summer and its going to rain. So why don't you go ahead and cancel next weeks show now? Because I just checked the weather forecast and it calls for rain on the 23rd as well. It just seems a little premature to call the show the day before. JMO

[Bandit II Racing]

Raining at Lakeland

I like the Don theory on rain. I was sitting in the parking lot at the old Lakeland little track with my Sportsman one Friday night in the pouring rain. Called him and said I was heading from St Pete, what was the weather like? He says the sun was shining and we're racing, LoL. Those were the good ole days.

[jacko241]

Rain is the tracks biggest downfall.
The rule in the day was at 5:00 You could call the racing for that night if it was raining. If not open the gate and let the baby be born as Clyde would say.
The average year was 4 rain outs but I did have 13 one year. The harder you try to get them in in bad weather the more chance you will have to keep a car count.
when you get rain out feaver so dies your cars. If it looks like its going to rain then they wont wast there time pulling to the track. after a few we got it in nights they will start showing up in the rain.
Rain is just part of the deal. It is still better than cold. These tracks that try to race in the winter have no chance. when its raining it might stop but when its cold at 5:00 its not going to get warmer.

Rember its all about the money on both sides..

don62

Well said, Don. When it is cold, I do not want to go racing. Maybe the snowbirds will show up to watch races down here in the winter, but it is the Florida boys that have to put on the show, and we don't like the cold!

[Matt Albee]

I get the feeling that Gary is just barely hanging on as it is. So maybe any opportunity to keep the place closed for a night is actually a good thing. He doesn't have to put out money that he doesn't have.

[Don Nerone]

I get the feeling that Gary is just barely hanging on as it is. So maybe any opportunity to keep the place closed for a night is actually a good thing. He doesn't have to put out money that he doesn't have.

If you as a promoter will give up the nights that have no chance to have any income like any race before the 2nd week of march and any time after the first week in nov you will be able to take a few rain outs in the summer.
When you take a beating in the winter and get ur butt kicked 8 weeks the 4 rainouts that you might have will be a blessing.
When it is going bad at the track a chance of rain might keep you from a new loan on your house or using up ur kids collage fund. I have done both
in past years.
Feel bad for the guys that are giving all they have to keep ur sport alive.
Give them ur $15 they are not going on vacation like Obuma with ur money...

Don62

Yes matt another of my breath taking post..lol

[Don Nerone]

I like the Don theory on rain. I was sitting in the parking lot at the old Lakeland little track with my Sportsman one Friday night in the pouring rain. Called him and said I was heading from St Pete, what was the weather like? He says the sun was shining and we're racing, LoL. Those were the good ole days.

I was in the office and could not see the rain...LOL
You know when a track owner is not telling the truth?? When he is trying to sell tickets..

[Lurkin]

Pretty baddass isolated thunderstorm down by Sarasota heading offshore. So if it hangs together, turns right and hauls ass up to Inverness you can all kiss Gary's.

[Groundpounder]

When you own a track the weather is the hardest thing you have to deal with. Most average nights the purses are over $20,000.00, plus $2,000++ for employees, insurance $1,150.00, lights $750.00, food spoilage, $1,000.00 advertising on and on........ So do the math. The old saying that the tracks make the brunt off the racers is true, but if it's rains anytime during the day most of the Fans will make other plains. The worst thing is if it rains after time trials. Then all the racers expect to get paid. I know nobody bitc.... when it's a perfect day and the grand stands are packed. Those days aren't the norm. I feel for everyone still in the business. Don 62 told me I needed to buy a track. When the economy was good you didn't need to worry, but now there are very few good nights. So the gamble is how far do you go before pulling the plug. It's a CRAP shoot at best.

OK, you stuck up for this guy...Mr. Big Blue...be careful of your comments.
Saturday night and not a cloud in the sky...
splain it to me Lucy...

This guy should turn in his keys to the track!
He put all of those folks (workers and vendors) out of work this weekend, plus denied the racers the opportunity, that they have spent their money on to put on a show, so HE can make money...
BS

[elmer]

OK, you stuck up for this guy...Mr. Big Blue...be careful of your comments.
Saturday night and not a cloud in the sky...
splain it to me Lucy...

This guy should turn in his keys to the track!
He put all of those folks (workers and vendors) out of work this weekend, plus denied the racers the opportunity, that they have spent their money on to put on a show, so HE can make money...
BS

Mr. Big Blue and Gary Laplant are buddies from way back. They ran Charlotte County Motorsports Park together. And yes the Big Blue Letters are very annoying!!!

[Benny The Mule]

Gary needs to go!

Don Nerone..as usual, makes sense with his comments.

[JMITCH]

OK, you stuck up for this guy...Mr. Big Blue...be careful of your comments.
Saturday night and not a cloud in the sky...
splain it to me Lucy...

This guy should turn in his keys to the track!
He put all of those folks (workers and vendors) out of work this weekend, plus denied the racers the opportunity, that they have spent their money on to put on a show, so HE can make money...
BS

Yep, not a cloud in the sky at BRP either! I decided late that I'd go catch the late models down there, hauled ass just to see the gates locked. NOT A CLOUD ANYWHERE!(yes, I'm a dumbass). Kind of a blessing in disguise though as I pointed the Stang to VSP and saw an awesome show!

[Lurkin]

BRP switched to Fridays before the season started.