Suggestion to track owners/promoters

[Trash Inturn4]

Why not have your 'lap counter' count down the laps left in the race,rather than how many have been completed. Since heats and feature races in each class all have different number of laps, this would eliminate the question "How many laps is this race? (i.e. when a feature is 20 laps, it would show 20 laps when the cars are lining up etc.). Nascar counts down when they get inside of 100 laps to go......just a thought

[Mark Keeler]

I can't speak for other tracks, but I know at NSS the scoreboard is not designed for that... it has an incremental lap counter...

You would have to physically scroll through each lap and manually enter the number.

I will say that I announce at every possible opportunity how many laps are down and how many there are scheduled or left in each race. (one of my biggest complaints as a fan is when a yellow comes out and there is no scoreboard, and the announcer doesn't take the opportunity while it's quiet to give lap counts)

[BJ Cavin]

Why not have your 'lap counter' count down the laps left in the race,rather than how many have been completed. Since heats and feature races in each class all have different number of laps, this would eliminate the question "How many laps is this race? (i.e. when a feature is 20 laps, it would show 20 laps when the cars are lining up etc.). Nascar counts down when they get inside of 100 laps to go......just a thought

We actually did this at Ocala one night. I thought that it was a good idea but apparently the fans thought it was a bad one. Virtually no one had anything positive to say about it that I heard, and we haven't done it since.

[Trash Inturn4]

Well maybe my buddy's were right. When i brought up the idea sitting at the track they said "you can't change these rednecks", it will only confuse them.

[pitcrew]

You would also be assuming that the scoreboards (which I am sure were not cheap) are actually functioning and that someone in the tower knows how to properly operate it. Counting up or down, I think the fans would love to see it either way ( and how about displaying qualifying times while we're at it).

[Benny The Mule]

Well maybe my buddy's were right. When i brought up the idea sitting at the track they said "you can't change these rednecks", it will only confuse them.

Counting down laps is like NEEDING a digital watch to tell time.

[Rick Williamson]

If it's a good race you will not be counting down the laps. You will be enjoying a good race. And trust me you will know when it's over.

[Todd McCreary]

Counting down laps is like NEEDING a digital watch to tell time.

that presumes that you know how many laps are in the feature.

if you're at a track which is running 8 different classes with a different number of laps in each feature, you might get a little confused....

[Benny The Mule]

Counting down laps is like NEEDING a digital watch to tell time.

that presumes that you know how many laps are in the feature.

if you're at a track which is running 8 different classes with a different number of laps in each feature, you might get a little confused....

I see your point, but i try to avoid the 8 class shows and rely on my track announcer to tell me "and now the (......) division will making their way onto the track for their 20 lap main" and so on.

I don't worry about a scoreboard because if i watch the entire race i know who's where all the way through.

[georgep]

For the almost 60 years I ahve been going to races the ONLY time I look a lap counter is when I am bored and waiting for the next race. Running order is the most important thing on the board anyway. Also a good man in the tower and in the flagstand keeps you up to date an the on 2 or 3 things you care about, Half way, 5 to go and White flag.

[Winger]

For most of my racing years scoreboards weren't available. When I started seeing them at tracks I started to look at them quite often. I don't count the laps but I like to know how many laps my favorite driver has to catch the lead or maintain it. So the only alternative I have is to check the scoreboard. You just can't hear the announcer when they are racing. As someone else mentioned, you need to know how many laps a race is. That has become an issue for me since I've started photographing in the infield. So, from a personal standpoint, a counter going down would be neat. I'm not looking for any changes though. It's still makes more sense than the scoring in tennis, or golf where the lowest score wins.