Tweet
Er...no, but it has been a while since we have had a Bithlo thread, so...
Citrus County and um, Charlotte County Speedway, aka 3 Palms, are due to re-open. Why not Bithlo?
First, I would suggest that the other tracks are not re-opening because "we" all held hands and sang kumbaya. Nor is it because the racers are willing to race for free or pay outrageous gate fees.
So why not Bithlo? Here is how I see it.
CCS & 3P are opening because of Sugardaddys. Why is there not a similar benefactor for Speedworld?
Possibly because there just isn't a third investor/philanthropist/racing-nut-with-money. But also possibly because the costs are higher to throw a show--or a season, at Bithlo.
Why? I believe the other two are essentially owned by a larger longtime (airport) entities, probably outright (that is, with little to no monthly costs to the property owners), and the rents are fairly reasonable, leaving the promoters time and money to focus on other necessary things, like track upgrades and funds to run the show (probably at a loss, initially).
But Bithlo...? My understanding is that the owner is drag focused and there is a mortgage--possibly a steep mortgage--on the property.
Further, a guess, but I am guessing a serious guess, is that it is expensive to rent the circle track from the drag track owner. Naturally it would seem to be "worth it" to the owner, especially if his own monthly "land cost" is expensive, but clearly not to investors.
To The Bithlo Complex Ownership Team:
A question: How much is the circle track currently earning/offsetting your other considerable costs?
Why not figure out about what the other tracks are paying for their lease (Showtime excepted), and then let it be known that Speedworld is available for about the same amount?
Alternatively, and probably with the best chance of financial success for everyone (yourself included), you could get a small--and I mean small--percentage of the gates until the attendance picked up, at which time a regular lease would come into play. Try to look at it from the circle track lessee's viewpoint--they have to be able to run a show and make a little money themselves after all expenses are paid.
It will probably be a Friday night show, as there are just not enough Orlando-area cars to support both tracks on Saturday night, and without big purses they will not pull over from the west coast. It has to be inexpensive to run to work, particularly in the beginning. And there needs to be a beginning...
A suggestion: Make it a part of the lease agreement that "and dragstrip" is incorporated into any and all websites, public correspondence, radio ads, etc.
Now, instead of a track getting further and further away from being viable--itself a poor reflection of general health of the complex, the circle track is again rolling, making you a little money, and maybe get a little free dragstrip advertising.
Where is the downside? Literally, I do not see what you have to lose--only gain, like a money $nowball rolling downhill.
Thank you for your consideration. Go Speedworld!
Citrus County and um, Charlotte County Speedway, aka 3 Palms, are due to re-open. Why not Bithlo?
First, I would suggest that the other tracks are not re-opening because "we" all held hands and sang kumbaya. Nor is it because the racers are willing to race for free or pay outrageous gate fees.
So why not Bithlo? Here is how I see it.
CCS & 3P are opening because of Sugardaddys. Why is there not a similar benefactor for Speedworld?
Possibly because there just isn't a third investor/philanthropist/racing-nut-with-money. But also possibly because the costs are higher to throw a show--or a season, at Bithlo.
Why? I believe the other two are essentially owned by a larger longtime (airport) entities, probably outright (that is, with little to no monthly costs to the property owners), and the rents are fairly reasonable, leaving the promoters time and money to focus on other necessary things, like track upgrades and funds to run the show (probably at a loss, initially).
But Bithlo...? My understanding is that the owner is drag focused and there is a mortgage--possibly a steep mortgage--on the property.
Further, a guess, but I am guessing a serious guess, is that it is expensive to rent the circle track from the drag track owner. Naturally it would seem to be "worth it" to the owner, especially if his own monthly "land cost" is expensive, but clearly not to investors.
To The Bithlo Complex Ownership Team:
A question: How much is the circle track currently earning/offsetting your other considerable costs?
Why not figure out about what the other tracks are paying for their lease (Showtime excepted), and then let it be known that Speedworld is available for about the same amount?
Alternatively, and probably with the best chance of financial success for everyone (yourself included), you could get a small--and I mean small--percentage of the gates until the attendance picked up, at which time a regular lease would come into play. Try to look at it from the circle track lessee's viewpoint--they have to be able to run a show and make a little money themselves after all expenses are paid.
It will probably be a Friday night show, as there are just not enough Orlando-area cars to support both tracks on Saturday night, and without big purses they will not pull over from the west coast. It has to be inexpensive to run to work, particularly in the beginning. And there needs to be a beginning...
A suggestion: Make it a part of the lease agreement that "and dragstrip" is incorporated into any and all websites, public correspondence, radio ads, etc.
Now, instead of a track getting further and further away from being viable--itself a poor reflection of general health of the complex, the circle track is again rolling, making you a little money, and maybe get a little free dragstrip advertising.
Where is the downside? Literally, I do not see what you have to lose--only gain, like a money $nowball rolling downhill.
Thank you for your consideration. Go Speedworld!
Comment