Desoto coming back to life ???

[Old Sunshine Fan]

OK FOLKS... here's what I've been saying all along... the only way I see that track having a chance of coming back to life is for Yoho taking it and run on Friday Nights and then run the same classes at Showtime on Sat Nights.... drivers and teams would be able to run two tracks/same rule packages and it would be a win win for everybody... can't see it working any other way... that's my story and I'm stickin to it... OSF

[elmer]

I agree with you OSF
It would take a little while for the Friday night racing to catch on.
But I think it can work. Most people work on Friday so they may have to start a little later then a Saturday show.

[xracer54]

Who are you talking about

OK FOLKS... here's what I've been saying all along... the only way I see that track having a chance of coming back to life is for Yoho taking it and run on Friday Nights and then run the same classes at Showtime on Sat Nights.... drivers and teams would be able to run two tracks/same rule packages and it would be a win win for everybody... can't see it working any other way... that's my story and I'm stickin to it... OSF

I dont know if you know what it cost to run a racecar today or not, But I for one, can't afford to race 2 nites a week,4 weeks a month

[Old Sunshine Fan]

I dont know if you know what it cost to run a racecar today or not, But I for one, can't afford to race 2 nites a week,4 weeks a month

Agreed, some/many might not be able to afford it... but the option would be there for those that might take advantage of it... it's better than trying to run both tracks on Sat.... fans would have another night to take in a race vs having to chose which track to go to on Sat's only... OSF

[OldSchool+]

I support the theory.

That is how they did it back in the day. I grew up going to Orlando Speedworld on Friday nights, and they ran the same classes every week.

Although we only occasionally traveled to Tampa or St Pete, I presume they ran at least some of the same cars on Saturday nights.

And I was/am supportive of Yoho's run-late-models-&-mods every week deal. If each track had their own fields, then the "big" races could have large and competitive car counts, and the tracks would not be dependent on essentially sharing a handful of cars.

BUT, he doesn't seem to be pulling a decent car count. It has been suggested that it is due to the weekly thing, but I suspect that the races are shorter and the purses are commensurately smaller.

If true, and a guy loses money every time out...then he will race when he can, much like taking a large boat on a fishing trip out on the ocean.

Fridays at Desoto? Xracer's frustrated reply tells the tale.

The trick is always low buck high level classes. And it is always seemingly ignored.

[OldSchool+]

ps--to OSF's point--If Yoho cannot pull decent fields on Sat nights, where is Desoto going to get any cars on a Saturday night?

Friday would be an option--particularly if the purses are high.

[zerofor]

ok here's my two pennies worth

I agree with Yoho's right (and sentiments) on what he did but I still think it was a bad move on his part.When I came down here from Ohio nine years ago all I heard was guys say they might do that up north but it won't go down here.And I thought that was bs.But after almost ten years here now I'm inclined to think that schedule of Yohos really won't work here.He said he did it because of the lackluster attendance at the front gate.But tell me when you have the possibly bigger hurdle behind you (drawing cars) do you really think chasing away $30 pit passes for $15 general admissions is a good move?Not to mention the cars bring a crew and family and stay longer which makes them more inclined to spend money at the track?

[zerofor]

On Desoto

John had posted on Facebook he also wants to run thirty lap features(same as Yoho) NO SUPERLATES to be scheduled.Payout through top 3 (or possibly he posted top 5 one or the other)NO end of year point fund.Sprints (who might possibly be scheduled) must bring their own purse.Personally I don't know if this will fly on ANY night.I could possibly see that working at say Auburndale or Bronson but Desoto? I have my doubts.

[OldSchool+]

Am curious about Sprint Cars (already high dollar) bringing their own purse.

Why not have all classes bring their own purse, in addition to funding their cars, including blown engines and front clips.

However, I am wondering where they would get it?

If the answer is a big fat sponsor, why wouldn't they and the sponsor rent Speedyworld, and possibly make a buck?

[zerofor]

If it were my decisions to make (which it never will be)

I would get neck deep in scheduling the Wheelman Sportsman Series as many times as possible.They had 29 cars at Citrus County Speedway a few weeks back.They actually had to have a last chance race.When have you seen that for a superlate race in this state last? I would establish a latemodel division using Citrus/Auburndale/417 street stock rules but mandate new Camaro Mustang,Challenger bodies and bump up the payout to make it worth them doing a re-body.NO 45 year old camaros.Develop a new v6 only class using early 2000 model taurus,sable,impala bodies. Their are a ton of those things on budget car lots and in junkyards.They are like the model T of this era.Auto City michigan just started a mini van division and guys have used them in the enduros down here so why not v6 powered division.An open wheel week like new smyrna has with the world series.But sprints,Supermodifieds,outlaw modifieds and one throw in class.Minis etc.Held during speedweeks when the fans AND drivers are here in Florida.

[zerofor]

As far as the Saturday night thing

use patience.Let other tracks post their schedules first.Bad move you say?Every track in this state has off saturdays.Run some Saturday shows,some friday shows,some sunday shows (but not sunday afternoon in june july august September too damn hot)maybe even a one off Thursday evening show.(these thursday shows should only have 3 divisions racing that night).It has worked at different places in the past and can still work.Different times or not.Use some common damn sense.If you put in little effort you will get little results.SOME THINGS are out of your hands.Like weather.Like road construction.When Yoho first opened Showtime up the crowds were good.Actually some were very damn good crowds.When the road construction cut off the Ulmerton road drive the crowds dropped.They still haven't recovered.Out of his hands but now he's posting videos on Facebook boo-hooing and second guessing and changing his entire schedule iver it.What he fails to see is that was solely out of his hands because of where the place was located.Hell he got cars.It was the fans that weren't showing up.And John will have to deal with the route 64/I-75 interchange being a disaster right now so like I said some things are out of your control.

[Boneman]

Internet expert checking in...

I can't imagine getting a weekly show up and running at this time. A small show with low participation does not help in any way, and a bad experience poisons the fan interest when a real show does come to town.

Maybe there is a way out of the present malaise: larger and less frequent events. "Knights of Destruction" is a proven winner. Monster trucks (ughh), Open Wheel Madness, and big SLM shows like the ones that made the track famous in the past. The key is to add a few local divisions, where possible, to gauge the local interest in grass roots bomber, street stock, etc.. racing. If they show up consistently, then look at a more frequent and less ambitious schedule that features the local stars.

Don't fall for the idea that the track can be fixed by "starting new classes". Even though I've been to tracks this year with 50+ 4 cylinder bombers in the pits, it would be a bit much to try to get De Soto back on its feet while also starting a new class.

Of course all of this assumes that the fundamentals are in place: clean bathrooms, a good PA system, lights that work, safe seating. You know, all the stuff that takes some money and effort.

Oh and don't even get me started on the idea that a featured class brings its own purse!

[OldSchool+]

"[To have success with a short track you need to do,] you know, all the stuff that takes some money and effort."--Boneman

Bee eye ingee-o, and bingo was his name-o.

[zerofor]

yep Boneman

I wouldn't want to open up immediately anywhere with a start up division since you would have a zero car base to start from.That would be a goal a little later down the road.To clarify my position is this,race tracks need their own identity.Carbon copies aren't always a good thing.If every time a race fan traveled to a new track it looked like,sounded like,smelled like his home track he would have no reason to ever visit another track.People cry about Nascar and cookie cutter tracks and cars that are all to familiar.Different is good at times is what I'm saying.BUT different also takes time....and a car base.So I realize straight out of the gate you have to work with what you have available.Considering Showtime has no sportsman division races scheduled (currently) for this season it would be a good fit.John has a glorified hot lap session scheduled for June 9th with a general admission cost of $10.I guess feeling the water for a possible opening in September.I know John loves the place,that is very easy to pick up on talking to him and I think he wants to ease into a possible re-opening.But I think also everybody knows that particular track is capable of way more than a low buck program.

[jacko241]

I went to the Cup race at Dover a couple weeks ago, and the stands were not 1/3 full. I got the tickets for free. That track is located within a couple hours of many metropolises. The simple fact is, stock car racing as we know it is dying. If people won't pay $40 to watch the superstars of the sport, they aren't going to pay $15-$20 to watch a bunch of locals run around a short track in beat up Impalas and Tauruses, clean restrooms and hand soap or not.