in case you missed it

[andre]

There it is:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...3.story?page=1

André

[Todd McCreary]

thanks, Andre.

[HaudFan]

I read the article and it was nothing that hasn't been beat to death on this board. However, I was reading [I]Lone Wolf [I] the Doug Wolfgang autobiography and he made mention of this same issue.

Chapter 30 Life After Racing (pages 328-329)

"There are too many other things out there today. When I (Doug Wolfgang) grew up, there was nothing to do. Kids grow up with so much more to do. When I (Doug Wolfgang) grew up in Sioux Falls, Sunday night was race night at Huset's Speedway...That's one of the biggest changes I've seen. Actually it isn't a change so much with the racing, its just that the world outside racing has changed and our sport hasn't figured out what to do about it."

And no its not a book on tape Boneman.

[SeminoleWind]

Quite a profound quote from Doug Wolfgang.
We are undoubtedly at a crossroad concerning local racing. Most of our facilities are fairly rustic compared to sports such as minor league baseball, hockey, etc. Of course, unlike other pro sports, our big league parent (NASCAR) could care less about the lower levels.
I think the racetracks are going to have to figure out if they want to be racer friendly or fan friendly. I don't think you can be both.
A racer friendly facility can have 12 divisions and race until 4 in the morning. It would not have the infrastructure (grandstands, restrooms, concessions, insurance, advertising and parking) to support fans. Most karting, drag race and road race facilities operate like this. Sure, they'll sell a spectator a ticket, but they do not pretend that they are in the entertainment business.
A fan friendly facility will need to have the modern amenities that other local entertainment venues have. A fast moving program with 3 divisions max and the whole show contained in 3 hours. Starting the fast cars in the back may not be popular with the drivers, but this type of track is in the business of filling their grandstands every week. Just having race cars is'nt enough, these tracks need to put on a SHOW and give the fans reason to come back week after week. I think tracks closer to urban centers will have to become this in order to survive.