good news ?

[cake]

From Bronson Speedway Facebook page

All 7 asphalt racetrack Owners/Promoters and General Managers came together today to discuss challenges facing the future of our sport. We shared ideas and issues surrounding rules, tech, race procedure, negative social media posts, car count, live streaming, scheduling, ways to attract new race fans and series racing, just to name a few. Because of the efforts of Rick Williams and SUNOCO Race Fuels, who provided our hotel accommodations along with a beautiful meeting room complete with breakfast and lunch we had an entire day to open up lines of communication between all 7 racetracks and foster new friendships. No doubt we will see the effects of this meeting in the not to distant future. A good day was had by all and the future of Florida Asphalt racing is in the hands of people who love this sport, have put skin in the game and come away knowing Communication is the key to success across the board.

Tried to post link with a picture. Could not get it to work. If you want to see the picture, go to their Facebook page.

[Renegade Racing Fuels]

These meetings happen from time to time, the last one was a few years ago at Desoto Speedway. A lot of ideas were discussed, but some of the track owners decided that those ideas wouldn't work at their tracks, and so the ideas weren't ever implemented across the board.
It's ALWAYS a good idea for all track owners and promoters to get together to discuss rules, marketing, and most importantly, scheduling. One very influential track owner wasn't invited to this latest meeting, but overall this might lead to some cooperation among tracks. Especially tracks within reasonable distance of each other.

[shorttrackcar1]

yea this is nothing new they met a few years ago . and you see how the tracks have not worked together . and it will be the same again . hell they started out going to work together on some series with the sportsman and trucks sun shine series or wheelman hell I don't even know anymore and look what happen. the sportsman class has the highest car count then any other class . and they cant even come together and agree on one set of rules . so what's that tell you ? good luck

[Ricky Brooks]

This is where your wrong renegade everyone was at the meeting or had representation there.

[ScottyMac]

Great Job Track Owners and Rick Williams!

It doesn't matter what did or didn't happen before. Getting everyone together is great and certainly better than not, so let's not criticize. We are all trying to promote motorsport activities, not tear them down.
Track owners and their management are working together to do their part. I know our message board members will do our best to support their efforts. Congratulations and thanks to all you guys!

[Renegade Racing Fuels]

Scotty, i haven't seen anyone criticize anything. As i mentioned earlier, i think it's great that track owners get together and discuss issues and the current state of racing. And i'm very glad that Rick is trying to make things happen. Time will tell, but getting all the concerned parties into one room is certainly a good start.

[shorttrackcar1]

nobody s really being negative just stating past facts. I would love to see them do something and stick with it .so here's the bottom line they met had the big meeting now we are going to sit back and see what they do . here's some advice the class that travel and run all the tracks lets get one set of rules and one tire company they can use . for example the sportsman class should be able to go to any asphalt track in FL and be legal to run. that means same tire ,clutch , crate engine ,left side weight , ETC. for god sakes it"s not that hard . yea it may cost some to change and get everybody on the same rules but that will just have to happen and then stick with it .
.

[Phil Jacques]

This is certainly good to see and it's really important for this to happen and keep happening regularly. Keep everybody on the same page. Work towards completely unifying rule books so guys can go to other tracks if they want when their division isn't running at their normal track, combining divisions and increasing the strength of the community, I personally would rather see 4 divisions with 20+ cars each and good racing, instead of 8 divisions with 6 or 7 cars each that get strung out like a glorified practice session.

It's been stated in the past by myself and others, there are too many similar divisions with similar cars in those divisions that can't cross over because of a drastic difference here and there. Working towards combining all the divisions in the state into their own category whether it be Street Stocks, Bombers, Minis, Sportsman or whatever will be a great help overall.

As a driver, I would rather race against 25 cars than 5 and as a fan, I would much rather watch 25 cars take the green flag, than 5. Along with that it would be great to see handicapping and heat race points everywhere. Make every lap on the track matter. In regards to handicapping, I don't want to see the fast guys start up front every week and string it out, do you? I want to see them start deep in the field and have to work their way through. I know a couple tracks may already do this, but it also increases excitement for the fans too. Keeps them drawn in.

We gotta remember, this isn't just about tracks, racers or fans individually, it's about everyone. Tracks gotta make money, and in order for that to happen they have to get fans and cars. To get fans, you need an entertaining show. To get cars you have to have fair treatment and consistency from the track. It's a big circle that has to all work together.

I'm just a guy from the nawth, what do I know

[OldSchool+]

I agree with everything Phil stated, with the possible exception of his last sentence.

I would add... Track Owners and Promoters: When considering rules consolidation, keep in mind they are just rules. It is easy to think in terms of "theirs" or "ours", but really, they are just lines drawn in the sand.

I would suggest that consistency of rules among tracks--whatever they are--is more important than the rules themselves. The rules per se will not earn a dime--but increased car count will.

Please further consider--if and when compromises are required, let whatever saves money for the racer drive the decision.

Better days may be coming--for all!

[kendo]

Always hear all this nonsense about rules.Are grandstands empty because of rules? Just another excuse out of hundreds we hear why racers don't make it to the race track.Short track racing is local.You have to have a healthy car count from your local teams.Other than the special events,you go to any short track and you might have 5 drivers tops that are not regulars.

Have excellent payouts and every track will achieve healthy car counts from your locals..Excellent payouts come from track owners and promotors going out and getting sponsors to pay the bills.Rarely does it come from the owners/promotors pocket.Why are the tracks in Florida stuck in an 70's time warp as far as purses? I know of tracks paying $2500-3500 to win weekly for a modified feature.Maybe it is simply what I have said in the past, their simply isn't any money down here.

If you are paying $800 to win a super late model race,you will have a 4 car feature no matter what the rules are.

[Renegade Racing Fuels]

Track owners and promoters walk a tightrope for sure. It's tough to keep the ticket prices low enough to attract fans while still trying to pay larger purses. And of course there's the never ending bills just to keep the gates open.

[ozzy42]

Always hear all this nonsense about rules.Are grandstands empty because of rules? Just another excuse out of hundreds we hear why racers don't make it to the race track.Short track racing is local.You have to have a healthy car count from your local teams.Other than the special events,you go to any short track and you might have 5 drivers tops that are not regulars.

Have excellent payouts and every track will achieve healthy car counts from your locals..Excellent payouts come from track owners and promotors going out and getting sponsors to pay the bills.Rarely does it come from the owners/promotors pocket.Why are the tracks in Florida stuck in an 70's time warp as far as purses? I know of tracks paying $2500-3500 to win weekly for a modified feature.Maybe it is simply what I have said in the past, their simply isn't any money down here.

If you are paying $800 to win a super late model race,you will have a 4 car feature no matter what the rules are.

You are spot on about the consistancy playing a big role.
Showtime is not my favorite track,but have you seen their street stock class? Good fiel every week. Funny,the cars are what most consider real street stocks,not sportsman like you see elsewhere. That means they have kept rules consistsnt for quite awhile.

As far as big purses. Yeah it helps but is not always possible . I think money spread out thru the field would help weekly car counts and post a guarenteed points payout for thr top 10 will keep a lot of steady local cars.

Just my 2cents.
probably exactly what its worth.

[zerofor]

Any time you can even hogtie all the movers and shakers involved in the state in one room is a positive. A track I used to visit up in Ohio ( Shady Bowl Speedway) put out a call earlier this season on their Facebook page for all the pavement track owners in the tri state area (Ohio,western Indiana, southern Michigan) to get together to discuss getting rules in line and other pressing issues pertaining to keeping their tracks open and profitable. After three weeks they had one response. Last night the bowl had a 100 lap super late model race scheduled and had eight cars show up.They cut the laps down but some fans were none too happy about it and letting them know about it today.The same thing has happened here in Florida ever since I came here nine years back.You the race tracks as an entertainment entity have to be aware that this gives you a big black eye as it is not the paying customers fault that the cars didn't show and they have a rightful expectation of getting what they saw advertised and payed to see.Besides working with each other in the state I ask the promoters here in Florida to reach out and contact Shady Bowl,who amongst other blacktop tracks in Ohio are experiencing many of the same issues and start a dialogue that could benefit the tracks of both states particularly in your off seasons.

[Don Nerone]

I THINK I THINK I THINK I THINK I THINK I THINK I THINK I THINK I THINK I THINK I THINK I THINK

Bobby rember??
Don62