Let's discuss Bronson Speedway...

[Phil Jacques]

Bronson is in a remote location, it's too far to draw cars on a regular basis from Citrus, St Pete or Auburndale. Levy County is one of poorest counties in the state and simply doesn't have as many good paying jobs, most of the jobs up that way are with the county or in some type of timber or agriculture. The place will never make money with the local racers and you don't have much new interest up there because it's been poorly ran for so many years. She needs out of town drivers to come in for big events to supplement her existing program. The problem is people just don't want to drive that far for a less than promised purse and when you factor in the bullshit that you deal with up there,it's a no brainer. I don't think money is an issue up there, it's poor people skills.

Nathan, I am going to have to very respectfully disagree with you. With Gainesville only 25 or so minutes up the road and Ocala only about 45 to 50 minutes up the road, not to mention all the little hick towns in between, there there is definitely a large enough population base to support Bronson Speedway. While I do not think that track will regularly support modifieds pro lates and super lates, I do think it would be a good track for strong mini stock bomber and other lower classes all the way up into the Sportsman division.

Bronson imo, is suffering from poor leadership. I don't necessarily believe that removing Ann from the equation would be the answer, however I do believe that if she changed her ways, you could see very good car counts.

By the accounts I heard last night, the fan turnout was actually very strong. It's just a matter of solving the issues keeping cars from entering the paddock.

[OldSchool+]

Personal change is difficult, even if the person wants to change, much less if someone else wants one to change.

But Phil touches on an interesting point. The tracks and the car owners, even more than the fans, are in this together. Without the cars, the track might as well be the field next to the track. Without a track, the car is an expensive and dusty workbench.

And yet, from Cup on down, there is almost a cops and robbers/us against them adversarial relationship between the two groups.

On the other hand is Capitol Speedway, "just 1.5 hours from Anchorage" and probably an equal distance from Fairbanks--in Alaska. It makes Bronson look like it is located in a boomtown.

Now, I only visited, but clearly the gate was 95% racers, and they were having pot luck dinner on tables and laughing and shooting the breeze.

The cars were low dollar fwd minis, low dollar street stocks, and low dollar sprint cars (!). And there was a good field of each.

I think they have been in continuous operation for about 30 years, and bill themselves as "Alaska's longest running dirt track".

Oh yeah, they appear to have just lowered the driving age to 14!

I saw no stress, no arguing, and they were all having...fun (remember that stuff?).

There is no reason that (forgive me) we "can't just all get along" down heah where it is, you know, warmer.

Except us, of course.

[JMITCH]

Nathan, I am going to have to very respectfully disagree with you. With Gainesville only 25 or so minutes up the road and Ocala only about 45 to 50 minutes up the road, not to mention all the little hick towns in between, there there is definitely a large enough population base to support Bronson Speedway. While I do not think that track will regularly support modifieds pro lates and super lates, I do think it would be a good track for strong mini stock bomber and other lower classes all the way up into the Sportsman division.

Bronson imo, is suffering from poor leadership. I don't necessarily believe that removing Ann from the equation would be the answer, however I do believe that if she changed her ways, you could see very good car counts.

By the accounts I heard last night, the fan turnout was actually very strong. It's just a matter of solving the issues keeping cars from entering the paddock.

Yup, the grandstands were pretty packed. AND there were 19 strictly stocks that showed up. Probably a good race but I left when their race came up. Dunno, just can't stand to watch those junkers..

[MiniRacer26]

Nathan, I am going to have to very respectfully disagree with you. With Gainesville only 25 or so minutes up the road and Ocala only about 45 to 50 minutes up the road, not to mention all the little hick towns in between, there there is definitely a large enough population base to support Bronson Speedway. While I do not think that track will regularly support modifieds pro lates and super lates, I do think it would be a good track for strong mini stock bomber and other lower classes all the way up into the Sportsman division.

Bronson imo, is suffering from poor leadership. I don't necessarily believe that removing Ann from the equation would be the answer, however I do believe that if she changed her ways, you could see very good car counts.

By the accounts I heard last night, the fan turnout was actually very strong. It's just a matter of solving the issues keeping cars from entering the paddock.

I agree that the management is horrible, but Gainesville isn't a "racing crowd", it's a college town full of snowflakes. I do business with UF and was up there the day after the election last year and it was like the world ended for them! A bunch of rednecks racin' gas guzzling V8's doesn't bode well with the moped/Prius crowd up there.Ocala is directly in between Citrus and Bronson time wise, where would you rather watch a race or compete? The place is at a disadvantage, especially with the renovations at Citrus. The poor management is the final nail in the coffin IMHO.

[Phil Jacques]

I have a ton of friends that I went to school with that live up in Gainsville and nearby areas. College kids aren't the dominant population up there. I get that it's primarily known as a college town, but I do know the test and tune nights at the drag strip has a pretty good turnout regularly and even though a lot of oval guys don't like drag racing, being from the drag racing community originally myself, I can tell you that more drag race guys like oval than you think. That would be a good place to try and draw some interest from. Let's also not forget All-Tech and North Florida dirt tracks aren't too far from there either and both would get fair car counts when they operate.

Ann likes to say "we do things different here", maybe she could look into inviting some of the dirt boys down to play on the asphalt once in a while. THAT would be a show and would draw a pretty good crowd for sure. She could also work on some bigger shows, such as the 6 pack series that is happening, but try to avoid the games like she's trying to play with tires. I get that she probably gets a kickback on tires, but in my eyes, she will do better allowing a competing tracks tires in and getting more cars. I promise she will make more money that way cause she ain't making much profit off a set of tires.

I like Ann, she's a super nice lady and she's a 'nawthener, so I gotta like her lol. I just don't get why she's chasing cars away, and I really don't know that she realizes it either.

[OldSchool+]

I see now. She is a northerner just like you. What could possibly go wrong?

Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust kidding. Florida is a state of northerners and, um, immigrants...

At any rate, here is the deal with Bronson:

1) True, it is out in the middle of, um, Bronson-land

2) True, the gainesville crowd is not filled with racers.

3) True, I think the tire thing could have been handled more diplomatically.

4) True, the owner/promoter and for that matter the tech team is self assured and will do things their way.

But here are some more things to consider:

1) Which track in the state has not had, let's say, rules "issues" at one time or another in which competitors did not feel "wronged"? Actually, how many in the last year?

2) Bronson is a cool little track to both watch and reportedly drive.

3) If you do not have a ton of motor and/or a ton of sponsorship, you will possibly do better there than at other venues.

If you do choose to go, be resigned to "doing it their way" (you know, like one tends to already do with their boss or spouse), and you will get along just fine.

Including short notice changes.

[Phil Jacques]

I see now. She is a northerner just like you. What could possibly go wrong?

Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust kidding. Florida is a state of northerners and, um, immigrants...

At any rate, here is the deal with Bronson:

1) True, it is out in the middle of, um, Bronson-land

2) True, the gainesville crowd is not filled with racers.

3) True, I think the tire thing could have been handled more diplomatically.

4) True, the owner/promoter and for that matter the tech team is self assured and will do things their way.

But here are some more things to consider:

1) Which track in the state has not had, let's say, rules "issues" at one time or another in which competitors did not feel "wronged"? Actually, how many in the last year?

2) Bronson is a cool little track to both watch and reportedly drive.

3) If you do not have a ton of motor and/or a ton of sponsorship, you will possibly do better there than at other venues.

If you do choose to go, be resigned to "doing it their way" (you know, like one tends to already do with their boss or spouse), and you will get along just fine.

Including short notice changes.

OS... I just do not know how to respond to you sometimes buddy. Your posts absolutely make my brain HURT.

[OldSchool+]

"My job is done here, awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy"--Superman

[Phil Jacques]

That's why we love ya lol