Citrus???

[OldSchool+]

Now that I re-read it, it appears I largely restated Phil's post 119

[Phil Jacques]

Re: Choice.

For all:

Go to the races or not go to the races?

Spectators:

Where is the best show, given the admission, gasoline, time, all that?
THAT IS OUR ONLY CHOICE.

Racers:

It's close. Where will I tow to that I will be treated well, that I feel the purse if fair, and where I feel I can be competitive? Phil, am guessing that is your choice also. "Treated Well" seems to be at the top of the racers list, and as my bud says "How can you guess at the future except by judgements of the past?"

SO--IMO, the choice is truly up to the track operator. Do you have a thick skin and can you put up with the shennanigans that the racers bring with their cars? Do you have the necessary fundage to pay a decent--or better than decent purse? Nevermind what the other track operators can do for you. Where are the most cars? Right now that is New Smyrna & St Pete. The cars are built to their rules. Should your rules or classes be different?

The proof is in the pudding that tracks that communicate and don't step on each others toes, will always do better. It's like that from California, to Maine and everywhere in between... You do however, need willing parties to do so. I will use here as an example. Waterford and Thompson work together. Stafford does their own thing. Stafford is struggling severely right now while Waterford and Thompson are thriving and doing well. It's also no coincidence that Thompson and Waterford both take care of their competitors. I received a phone call yesterday from the Track Manager of Thompson Speedway on my way home from work, to see how my car was coming along, ask how I enjoyed the race last Wednesday, and see if I had any input or needed any help. How many tracks do that? This winter, as drivers put in their registrations for the 2015 season, the track manager took the time to go on Facebook and PERSONALLY thank each and every single one of us for the support. Here is the one I received

Josh VanadaPhil Jacques
December 15, 2014 ·
Just saw your number registration when I got back to the office today. Be nice to have you out on the track in the 77. Know there is a lot of pride and effort going into it, and we appreciate every ounce of it. Looking forward to a great 2015 - only 116 days!
Unlike · Comment

Do your tracks take the time to do that? Little things go a long way for many of us. We are their show and if we do not feel appreciated, many times we go where we feel that we are.

The open minded approach and mentality is huge. I'm not saying surrender all control to us drivers. I am saying listen to us. Take our suggestions into consideration and work with us to make things better. That helps build a strong foundation for loyalty. It won't happen overnight either. FL people seem to always expect INSTANT results. That will never happen.

Funding can be gotten through hard work and proper marketing of your product. Obviously, with a good car count and good fan base, it makes your product much more appealing. As I have said, work on the main areas of the show. Get cars in the pits. Once the track product is good, the word will spread and fans will come. Promotion is a big help, but word of mouth is even stronger. If you tell your friend "hey I didn't really like the show tonight", is he likely to go? Probably not. So if you get that to turn into "hey, there was some really good action tonight! Lots of side by side hard racing" Well then god damnit I am gonna wanna see what he's talking about! Once you put some asses in the seats, it will be much easier to get sponsors because they will see actual value in the money they are spending. Nobody want's to spend $5000 to advertise where only 100 people might see it. They want to see 1000+ people's eyes on their ads. It's going to take some work to get to the point where you actually see 1000 people in the stands, but if you get it right, it can happen.

Remember... Bang for buck affordable entertainment is key. FL racing is up against a lot of competition in the entertainment industry down there. If you give them the best option, they will come.

[Weftracing96]

I called a driver who came to the track a few weeks ago for the first time to thank him and get his thoughts on his experiences, what we did right, what we did wrong, etc. I called him twice. I have yet to receive a call back. You can only do so much.

[Phil Jacques]

I called a driver who came to the track a few weeks ago for the first time to thank him and get his thoughts on his experiences, what we did right, what we did wrong, etc. I called him twice. I have yet to receive a call back. You can only do so much.

You will get that sometimes, it's inevitable, but the majority really appreciate it.

[OldSchool+]

"Do your tracks take the time to do [all that good take-care-of-your-racers-stuff]?"
"The open minded approach and mentality is huge."
"FL people seem to always expect INSTANT results."
"Once the track product is good, the word will spread and fans will come."
"Remember... Bang for buck affordable entertainment is key. FL racing is up against a lot of competition in the entertainment industry down there. If you give them the best option, they will come."

ALL PHIL!

And all relevant points. I just would like to point out, it ain't Florida we are discussing. It is the operators you are addressing. You can name them on one hand.

I would suggest that NSS & St Pete have it going on and are oblivious to our discussion, so...

[Weftracing96]

It ebbs and it flows I've noticed. Every track since I've been here has gotten it's "push" where car count grows, and they get the "buzz". It has never been able to be sustained. I'd like to see that trend reverse.

[Phil Jacques]

It ebbs and it flows I've noticed. Every track since I've been here has gotten it's "push" where car count grows, and they get the "buzz". It has never been able to be sustained. I'd like to see that trend reverse.

I honestly think there are some good people in place, some just need a little help and/or cooperation from those around them and the drivers. 10 years ago, it was much worse than it is. So things are slowly improving. Rome wasn't built in a day. There are definitely some areas needing more attention though and that is kind of what I am getting at. I'd like to see Yoho, Gary, Ann, Rex, Denny, Robert, Ozzy etc etc etc all succeed. Some just need to open up to the racers a little more. Get my drift?

[kendo]

Where are the most cars? Right now that is New Smyrna & St Pete. The cars are built to their rules. .

It sadly amuses me when those keep pointing to NSS as setting the bar for asphalt racing in Florida,,,You realize that they only get 40-50 cars/wk at best?

[OldSchool+]

It nonetheless is a financially viable track, that is comfortable with their program and their rules, and those 40-50 cars are already built...

[Phil Jacques]

It sadly amuses me when those keep pointing to NSS as setting the bar for asphalt racing in Florida,,,You realize that they only get 40-50 cars/wk at best?

While I see where you are coming from... I am going to point something out...

Desoto ran 5 divisions and pulled 52 cars. New Smyrna ran 4 divisions and pulled 50 cars. Even with 1 extra division, Desoto could barely get more cars... Now, Showtime had 91 cars in the pits this past weekend, but they ran 7 divisions. If you take Showtimes 4 best, they had 63 cars. Only marginally better than NSS. Showtime definitely has it going on when it comes to getting cars to the track, but let's not ignore the fact that when you run more divisions, generally you have more cars. Showtime is not really the "norm" in FL right now. I personally believe an average of 50-55 cars at a track right now over 4 or 5 divisions can be considered a decent night right now. Personally I think you guys can average 15 cars per division no problem pretty soon.

[Matt Albee]

It sadly amuses me when those keep pointing to NSS as setting the bar for asphalt racing in Florida,,,You realize that they only get 40-50 cars/wk at best?

People who don't know better think those numbers are terrific. NSS isn't the benchmark for asphalt racing in Florida. There isn't a benchmark nowdays. One week someone will pull in a larger than normal field of pure stocks. The next week someone gets a larger than expected field of mini stocks. Or someone puts on a special race, and along with their usual turnout of 8 cars per class, they're above 50 cars for the night.

[Matt Albee]

It nonetheless is a financially viable track, that is comfortable with their program and their rules, and those 40-50 cars are already built...

It IS financially viable for sure. But only because it's paid for, and Robert Hart is very wealth and doesn't need the income from the track. He's probably using it as a tax write off and running it off of the lease money he gets from OSW.

[kendo]

While I see where you are coming from... I am going to point something out...

. New Smyrna ran 4 divisions and pulled 50 cars..

I will also point something out,,,The 50 cars is only the result of the 200% increase in bomber/strictly stock cars added since they began paying $100 to win,otherwise you only have 42.

[OldSchool+]

Scott's class is doing all right, with about 20 cars themselves.

Plus, got a modified, or anything with a stock clip? You are close to having a Sportsman car.

And they are relatively inexpensive, and have most of the prestige of a late model, especially when toting it to a potential sponsor to impress them. Plenty of room for a Sponsor's logo, too.

Now if we only had one more Monte Carlo...

[kendo]

It IS financially viable for sure. But only because it's paid for, and Robert Hart is very wealth and doesn't need the income from the track. He's probably using it as a tax write off and running it off of the lease money he gets from OSW.

This has been my thinking for years,,,Sadly again,along with many others,I don't think that they really care about the weekly program.The money is in speedweeks or special events,,,why do you think the owners of VSP run the speedweeks program and lease the track the remainder of the year?

NSS is a 1st class centrally located facility,,,Absolutely no reason on the face of this earth why that place is not packed in the pits and grandstands every week