A good way to close a racetrack

[turnleft]

low car count-dirty tracks

Hate to keep beating a dead horse. Drivers and car owners can not afford double file restarts, this is not Nascar. Most teams have to race a lot less, because they are using all of there money and time to fix there cars because of wrecks, cause by double file re-starts.

Now we have tracks that wont even clean the track? Saw 2 drivers report they had flats at a track in Florida, because it so much trash on it? Would like to hear some feedback on that, if anyone has some?

Florida racing needs help!

Vince P.

[Renegade Racing Fuels]

I doubt that only 4 cars showing up had very much to do with racers saving their cars for Punta Gorda. Prize money may have had a lot to do with it, but no one who actually knows has posted in this thread. It's a shame the race didn't happen because it honors a very good driver.
Exnyer, possibly Denny pulled out of the series because he didn't feel the series was doing him enough good. But Desoto can draw cars and fans with or without a series. Look at the crowds and car count that Jimmy Cope and Don Cretty pulled in when they were in charge. And the current staff at Desoto can do the same thing if they are willing to really promote the track and the races in clever and meaningful ways.
Denny is probably tired of spending lots of time and money on things that don't bring fans to the track. But i've been going to Desoto since opening night, and i'm really hoping the place stays open for another 30 plus years.

[flvideo]

I have been there since opening day too, and have worked there for 35 years! I have worked under every prompoter! If anyone can turn that track around its Burt Thomas who took over as race director this past week and Garry Montegue who took the flag stand. Both are long time veterans of Desoto! Let me share what was posted on their face book page! Its is a run in the right direction!Desoto Speedway Page Liked · Yesterday · Edited · Desoto would like to thank the drivers and fans that come out and support us. we are trying to listen and turn some things around. No entry fees for 50 or less laps, no tire or fuel requirements. no more slab fees, some discounted front gate nights coming. new tech John White, Julie Bartam for the great pictures and we welcome aboard Gary the new flagman and Burt as race director. adding some bigger races for the back bone classes. thank you to those that continue to support us.

[Renegade Racing Fuels]

Sounds like Denny is trying hard to fix things. That's great. Good luck to Denny, Burt, John, Gary, and the entire crew at Desoto. Look at what Citrus was, and what it is today. Proof that big turnarounds can happen!
Watched Gary race his Pontiac for years, i'm glad to hear he's part of things there.

[OldSchool+]

Best of luck to Desoto.

I agree, it does sound like a "run in the right direction".

[AB195]

agreed

in addition, a new flag man will really pack the pits and the grandstands

[novabmx]

Southern All-Star late models pays $7500 for 50 laps, why can't asphalt tracks pay l?

Southern All-Star late models pays $7500 for 50 laps, why can't asphalt tracks pay like that?

[zerofor]

Citrus and 4-17 (Punta Gorda)

They indeed have both made a spectacular turnaround. A new race director and flagman DIDN'T facilitate the turnaround. Regime change did!!!! A race directors hands are tied behind his back when the track ownership has the final all important say.When I first moved to Florida John Sappricone owned/ran the place.They had a message board on the track website and people were screaming bloody murder saying he needed to go,the place drew no cars or fans etc.I drove up one night to watch eight late models race.Is four an improvement? I will say this to all owners/promoters here in the state of Florida and beyond. If you CAN'T or WON'T pay the necessary purse structure to get the upper tier divisions to your track in reasonable numbers PULL THEM FROM YOUR SCHEDULE. Living in a fairytale la la land existence benefits NO ONE. It angers the racers who wasted their time pulling their rigs there,the paying customers who come to watch one thing and you give them another and maybe even more importantly makes your track a laughingstock. You can post unicorn races and dancing elephant figure eights but if in reality you have no chance in hell of making them appear why even bother?

[Old Sunshine Fan]

Very well said Mr. Zero...(but they don't listen - never have - never will).. OSF

[luke81]

It's NOT too many races so nix that thought.It's too little payout for the races being run.PERIOD. Go to the Lucas Oil Late model Series schedule and see what first place share is in their events this season. It makes what gets paid on blacktop look like what it is.

I'm pretty sure there is very little similarity between local yokel Florida pavement door bangers and a dirt late model series that races all over the country for a living....but that's just me.
If you want to get lucas oil level payouts start spending lucas oil level money, I'm sure they'd be happy to have another car on the series. I'm pretty sure it would make racing a tar late model around Florida look awful cheap!

[luke81]

It's NOT too many races so nix that thought.It's too little payout for the races being run.PERIOD. Go to the Lucas Oil Late model Series schedule and see what first place share is in their events this season. It makes what gets paid on blacktop look like what it is.

I'm pretty sure there is very little similarity between local yokel Florida pavement door bangers and a dirt late model series that races all over the country for a living....but that's just my thoughts on that.
If you want to get lucas oil level payouts start spending lucas oil level money, I'm sure they'd be happy to have another car on the series. I'm pretty sure it would make racing a tar late model around Florida look awful cheap!

[zerofor]

Luke

It isn't even in the same stratosphere. Maybe you can't expect a winners share that matches a full time organization but damn it isn't even anywhere in the same realm.If you would take the current payout and apply that to the street stock class at Desoto or 4-17 they would have 30 car fields in that division. Same for the mod minis.Paying a grand or two to a super late to win will bring a ten or twelve car field.Apply that same money to a street stock,truck or mod mini class they will grow.Applying that same payout to the superlates and open wheel mods leave those classes floundering to draw cars and that part won't change.

[OldSchool+]

Plus, what does it cost to get into a major dirt consuming event?

04, I am all confused. You mention a cancelled SLM event, and then new management at Desoto.

Net-net, are you supportive of the track at this time...?

[zerofor]

Old school

I love Desoto. It's my favorite venue here in Florida. But until things significantly change I have made my last trip there.It's a shame because it really is a damn fast place.A big time dirt event is about the same cost wise to attend as the governor's cup or world series race at New Smyrna. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Yes.Your point about taking your muscle car out and paying to be the show I understand because my dad had two cars he took both to inside and outside shows.The difference is you can reasonably expect to bring it home without the fenders beat off of it or the trans and clutch in tiny pieces.And the SCCA guys and even the dragstrip guys have always approached it as strictly a hobby unless they were in the most expensive traveling divisions. Things have to change.The easiest way I see is take the big money divisions off the schedule except for a few really big events each season. That way money could be used to build up the support divisions and bring them back to full fields.You said it yourself about a month ago when you visited Citrus County.Showtime can get 18 old Neons to turn out for the Mini stock class there and Citrus gets a quarter the amount. Why?

[Renegade Racing Fuels]

The fact that race purses haven't increased much over the years is well known. But the prices to keep the doors open at race tracks has increased a lot. Just the usual expenses like utility bills, concession repairs and upgrades, property taxes, insurance, payroll, etc. have gone up drastically from 20 years ago. And then throw in the costs of repaving, new grandstands, and pit area improvements...... it costs a bundle to keep a track open if you're doing it right. And at least half a bundle even if you aren't trying to do it right.

Car count is obviously important, but spectator turnout is even more important. And there are some differences in both around Florida. Citrus has had very good crowds for every event they've held since the re-birth. But they've been lacking in car count in some classes. On the other hand, Showtime pulls in good car counts, but not always a crowd in the stands. The reason for the difference? St.Pete and Tampa area has always been the home for a lot of racers. So Showtime has a easier time of bringing in cars. Citrus is trying to grow their classes from local racers, and they're doing okay, but it's a long term project. 4-17 is also getting a decent car count, again because a lot of racers live in that area.
And of course you have track owners doing everything they know how to make sure the other tracks don't get any cars. I can't think of anything more shortsighted for the health of short track racing than trying to kill off other tracks. 4-17 is also bringing in cars, again because a lot of racers come from that area.

Big increases in the purse are going to come from advertisers and sponsors. Local and national companies, banks , insurance companies, home improvement stores, fast food, soft drinks, along with the usual speed equipment and race parts companies.