Citrus???

[Phil Jacques]

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.

Okay, so let's say it's 42... Over 4 divisions... Now take the 4 best car count divisions from Desoto this past week... 41 cars...

Try again

More divisions will always inflate your numbers.

[Phil Jacques]

Oh, and I don't understand... You are putting down NSS, because they made a change that boosted their car count? Isn't that the whole point of things here? To get as many cars as possible?

[OldSchool+]

So, we is getting off track...(pun intended).

"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."--Kendo

As mentioned, they own it. And they can pay $5000 to win or $5 to win, or bulldoze the joint or lease it out. All their prerogative, just as it is our prerogative to paint our car whatever color we want. I am thankful for the Hart family. They are a staple of racing that the racers can count on. And they are happy with their show.

But the point was...they are there, with their rules. If you are a track operator looking for new blood, they have the rules and the cars that are built to them to them. On the trailer, ready to go.

Sportsman & modifieds, and they only run them every other week as a rule. Also a beginners class that runs whatever you like out of the junkyard.

[kendo]

Oh, and I don't understand... You are putting down NSS, because they made a change that boosted their car count? Isn't that the whole point of things here? To get as many cars as possible?

Nope,think its fantastic,,,I for one like bombers and have been saying all along to pony up some funds for them and they will show up.
I was just pointing out your skewed numbers.

Understand now ???

[kendo]

More divisions will always inflate your numbers.

Well duh...

[kendo]

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

...

Now if we can just get Scott there...

[Phil Jacques]

Nope,think its fantastic,,,I for one like bombers and have been saying all along to pony up some funds for them and they will show up.
I was just pointing out your skewed numbers.

Understand now ???

My numbers really aren't skewed though, it's 100% fact that they had 50 cars in the pits Saturday. They made a positive change and it worked. How does that skew any numbers? It's called progress. If Hart really didn't care like some claim, he wouldn't have put up the extra money. THAT is the only thing skewed, is that theory. Not trying to argue really, just pointing out that despite the change, they are still pulling cars and that's all that matters.

[scottgarrity07]

Now if we can just get Scott there...

I would love to go back and run NSS. Problem is all of their 50's conflict with Desoto. It's all about logistics. NSS is an hr further from my house each way than Desoto. Coupled with the fact that Desoto's regular purse pays better through the field than NSS's 50's. I love racing at Desoto and I'm treated real good by the staff. However, I love racing at NSS to and really enjoy how Kim Brown, Jeff Sutcliffe and everyone else treat me there too. I wanted to run all the Sportsman races at Desoto and all the 50's at NSS but the schedule dictates I must choose. It sucks. Money and convenience keeps me on the west coast this year. I will say that if I can come out of the last Sportsman race at Desoto clean then I will tow over to run the Governor's Cup Sportsman race the next day.

[kendo]

My numbers really aren't skewed though, it's 100% fact that they had 50 cars in the pits Saturday. They made a positive change and it worked. How does that skew any numbers? It's called progress. If Hart really didn't care like some claim, he wouldn't have put up the extra money. THAT is the only thing skewed, is that theory. Not trying to argue really, just pointing out that despite the change, they are still pulling cars and that's all that matters.

LOL,its going to take a lot more than $100,hope it didn't break the bank,,,They need to take a more proactive approach with their racers to get more cars in the pits.New grandstands and lighting are great (for the special shows) but don't attract someone in Edgewater to build a car and go racing week to week... NSS has been pulling in 35-55 cars give or take for 15 years now.

Sounds like too many have been lulled into what they think is progress,much like the anemic 0-2% growth in the economy over the last 6 years.

[Phil Jacques]

LOL,its going to take a lot more than $100,hope it didn't break the bank,,,They need to take a more proactive approach with their racers to get more cars in the pits.New grandstands and lighting are great (for the special shows) but don't attract someone in Edgewater to build a car and go racing week to week... NSS has been pulling in 35-55 cars give or take for 15 years now.

Sounds like too many have been lulled into what they think is progress,much like the anemic 0-2% growth in the economy over the last 6 years.

A couple notes...

- EVERY track in FL could use to take a more proactive approach with their racers to get more cars in the pits...

- A nice and facility will always make people come back, I doubt the intention was to ever draw people by fixing stands and lights.

- There really aren't many tracks that have done much better than 35-55 in 15 years in FL. When I started visiting tracks there in the early 2000s after moving there, the counts were pathetic.

I've said it a million times... Owners and Promoters need to focus on getting the pits full however they have to do it. Better purses, listen to what the racers want, less conflict in scheduling between tracks etc. If you get the pits full and get a good on track product, the stands will gradually fill up. Once you do that, the sponsor dollars will roll in and allow the tracks to do more, even raise the purses higher. Which will draw more cars, which will draw more fans, which will... well, you get the idea, don't you? It's ALL a cycle. Once you set it into motion it will self sustain until you do something extremely stupid. Thompson Speedway here in 2011 was in a terrible state. Cars leaving left and right, stands always empty. 11 or 12 car features the norm. The track restructured, made staff changes, adjusted the purses ever so slightly, only really adding $400 to the entire purse in my division. Less in others, more in others. But they started being proactive. Working with racers, fair tech, no favoritism, consistent calls on track and off. Special events to highlight support divisions. The cars started to come back. Then the fans did. Then we were able to score Monster Energy, Xtramart Convenience Stores, Sunoco Race Fuels and Valenti Auto Mall as title sponsors for the divisions which allowed them to up the purse again. Now the racing is fantastic, the pits are full, the stands are full, the midway is busy every week, concession lines are long and the food is great too. I don't just make this shit up. It's all based on real life experiences. It CAN be done, maybe not to the extent we have done it here, but if you do it right, like I said before, You can probably average 15 or so cars per division. By FL standards, that would be an outstanding weekly turnout!

[kendo]

I've said it a million times... !

Just curious,,,how much $ did Thompson invest in their revitalization project?
Heck,the sign alone out front that I have seen in pics had to cost $30k lol.

No money down here Phil,,,I repeat,no money...0x100 still equals 0

[Phil Jacques]

Just curious,,,how much $ did Thompson invest in their revitalization project?
Heck,the sign alone out front that I have seen in pics had to cost $30k lol.

No money down here Phil,,,I repeat,no money...0x100 still equals 0

You are mixing things up here. The road course, signage changes, new website etc etc had nothing to do with what I am speaking of. But just an FYI, the recent road course project and changes that started mid 2013 and completed for June 2014, were part of a $4.4m loan from the state for entertainment from some entertainment fund CT has.

What I was speaking of is the fact that for a very long time, since at least 1995 Thompson had struggled. Slowly falling into a downward spiral. They had some good nights and even good years, but it was a downward trend. Scott can likely attest to this. In 2011, the track really hit it's ultimate rock bottom. They decided things must change. They fired long time Promoter Ben Dodge, they fired the entire tech staff, and most of the track staff. What they did was get down to business and try to figure out where the cars were going and why. Something that really costs nothing. They hired a new Race Director by the name of Jeff Zuidema, a former pro stock driver/champion. Hired some unbiased tech guys and new staff to replace those who were fired. They held a few meetings with teams and came up with the idea to bring in the ACT late models to start replacing the antiquated LM division that had fizzled to 8 cars. They also phased out the TIS modifieds (similar to your mods) which were removed completely by 2013 leaving 5 base divisions. SK, SLK, LM, Sportsman and Mini Stock. The car counts gradually grew as word got around and people personally experienced the change. The atmosphere around the track became more positive and the car counts grew to a rough average of 15-20 per division. By 2013, the counts had gone up to the mid 20s. All of this happened before the road course had even been announced. More changes were made for 2013 with Scott Tapley a former K&N (Busch North) Crew member and family racer from MAINE coming down every week to be a race director. Counts grew even more up to 40 Sportsman, 30 Minis, 20 SK's and 20-25 LM's. Again, all before any changes were even made to the facility. We actually LOST some cars because of the integration of the road course and shortening of the schedule mid 2013, but for 2014 and 2015, they are all back again and car counts are growing again.

It really had nothing to do with any of the improvements to the facility, because for us oval guys, the only thing they really did was pave some more of the pit area over and give us a shiny new sign to look at. There were ZERO upgrades done to the oval part of the facility.

[Weftracing96]

Bottom line IMO, this deal is close to impossible unless you own the facility. That's just how I feel.

[Phil Jacques]

Bottom line IMO, this deal is close to impossible unless you own the facility. That's just how I feel.

It's pretty much impossible even if you own it it seems down there. But alas, It's still worth offering up ideas and suggestions in hopes someone is listening. It makes the day pass quicker anyway.

[OldSchool+]

Or you have inexpensive rent, or you have a lot of disposable income.