7 weeks into the season....a suggestion

[Boneman]

I think the trend is clear after 7 weeks of racing in 2009, the FASCAR shows are too short. There are too many nights with 4 classes. The whole evening is features only, so there has to be an autograph session or other non-racing time fillers added to keep the show from being done in two hours. Limited use of autograph sessions and other events is a good idea, but only as a supliment to racing, not a replacement.

One of the original intents of going to the rotating class schedule was to encourage cars to run both tracks. This has not happened yet on large scale. The trucks and limiteds are new to the OSW schedule, so they are coming to run Orlando, but you can count on one hand the number of teams that are running both tracks in Super Stock, Minis or Strictlys.

I love these two tracks and want to see them thrive. As much as I like going, I almost always leave the track thinking, "we're done already?"

Presently we have to face the fact that the car count is always under 60, and that some of the other tracks are consistently 100+.

I didn't say the racing is bad. In fact it is usually pretty good. My intent here is to ask if anyone has plans to modify the schedule. Can some guest classes be added? I don't mean adding bandeleros or karts every week, but can we give the race fan more of what they are coming to the track for?

[andre]

If those tracks are equipped with an electronic scoring system, could be a good time to try a ''run watcha brung don't run under XX sec'' class, as stated by Frasson(If I remember right) a while ago.

No rule except safety, the only thing is you cannot run under XX sec. All cars equipped with transponders, don't care if it is a 4 cylinders with 12 inches wide racing slicks or a Super Late Model on street tires, just bring it and run. The track choose a lap time based on what's available as race cars tonight and go from there. I really beleive if that would be done right, it could really catch up. Look at what ET bracket did for drag racing. Against all odds, it revived it.

[flraceguy]

Ok.. I don't know if it safe to say this... what about heat races.... with the limited amount of classes running each night, short heat races would not add a great deal of time to the venue...

[straight up]

everyone i talk to agrees , return to all divisions every week , bring back the heat races , go back to single file restarts , to many cars gettin torn up just to please the 20 fans in the stands . drop the ticket prices to 5 dollars every week , last time they did this the place was packed . increase the purses in every class to modern day standards ,enforce the rules ,tech mans decision is final , no interfierence from the race director protecting his pets . but we all know the employees want to go home early , they get paid the same no matter how long they work so who cares about the racer ? its a simple solution go back to the way clyde ran the show and the car count will come back and so will the fans . robert needs to remember how clyde ran things . huge car count , grandstands packed every saturday .if the employees dont agree , replace them .theres lots of people lookin for work !

[AJ14]

They might be trying to keep the total lenght of the show to what a movie or HS Football game is . Thats not a bad idea . I don't mind leaving at midnight if theres been a good reason for the races to last that late , but the new fans seem to feel that a 3 hour show is enough . Then they can still get home at a reasonable hour .
Autograph sessions are really a good idea , get the fans familier with the drivers , gives the kids a chance to pick a car and driver to cheer for . Maybe just add another class of racing . Well... maybe not Bandoleros .

[Frasson118]

Get completly rid of practice sessions (maybe a 5 minute session per class, just to verify the track-worthiness of your car), and run Heat races instead. If you need track time/seat time, get your ass out there for the Heats!

Learn how to RACE, not just learn how to go fast in circles.

I agree with Boneman... it's not that the racing is bad, it just isn't worth the money and time for the $10 it costs.

[tccaz]

The limited number of races is the reason I haven't and WILL NOT travel to either OSW or NSS to the races it is just too far for me to go to see 4 races. The car count doesn't help matters but I refuse to travel 100 or more miles for 4 races. What I don't understand is why dirt racing can bring in 20 or more cars per class on a regular basis yet the asphalt tracks think they have a great show when they have 18 supers at the Orange Blossom and I think it was 17 at the Billy Harvey. Is dirt racing that much cheaper to run?

[ancrdave]

From talking to the LM guys I know at Volusia, Dirt racing is cheaper and pays better...

[andre]

Is dirt racing that much cheaper to run?

Way less practice time on race day.
Tires do not wear out as fast.
No ''during the week'' track rental for practices, or very seldom.
No ''the day before whole day of practices''.
Short feature races.

And a lot of fun to drive

[ss29]

i think instead of a reg. night of racing they should have atleast one class running a 50 lap race per week or keep it to 4 or 5 classes a night with 8 lap heat races and 25 lap feature races for all classes... i bet if they did points and a little payout for the strickly stocks they would have more cars at both tracks

[Hired Gun]

i bet if they did points and a little payout for the strickly stocks they would have more cars at both tracks

I agree I built a strickly just to run points as so with a few other people did. I least points gave more reason to come and race

[Jane]

Since switching to dirt from asphalt this has been my observation. They only give each division one practice which I believe is like 5 laps. They do have heat races and sometimes they are three if the car count is really big in that division. They have about a 10 minute intermission where they throw out frisbees with numbers on them to the fans. If their number wins, they get a prize for the night. Even with heat races and a feature, they are done at a reasonable hour and everyone does leave happy. And their stands are always good on Saturday night.

Most divisions have 20 cars or more at Volusia except for the new Thunder Stock class and it is building. Yes, their payouts are alot more than any asphalt track I have seen. Most races are a $10.00 admission and at Volusia you can park and watch from your car for $10.00. The food is very reasonable and good and they have ice cream which I see alot of the fans enjoying.

What is the solution, I don't have the slightest idea. I just know that dirt is working.

[AJ14]

And i hear Ocala is doing much better than Volusia . So the car counts are there for dirt racing . On the other hand , Bronson is bringing in some cars too .

[Hired Gun]

So then what are they doing to bring more cars in. Citrus I think pays $100.00 in there bone stock class. When Orange County Raceway was running next to OSW, there 4 cly bombers class would start atleast 20 cars and street stock "V8 cars" would have about 15. My Cousin would win both classes in one night, $100 to win the 4 bangers and $150 to win street stock, top 3 got money and trophy. I am 100% positive if FASCAR would find a sponcer or put the money up themselfs, as far as strickly stock goses I a bet a minimim of twenty a week.

[straight up]

lets get back what clyde built

speaking as a racer whos been going to new smyrna since the early seventies ,new smyrna has gone totaly downhill since clyde passed . the only thing they care about today is renting the track to cup teams . big profit and commissions . clyde cared about his racers and fans . huge car count and packed grandstands . clyde new that racers and fans were more important than his employees . its not working the way the current management runs the show .just a soap opera run by people who dont have a clue about racing .they are just bleeding robert dry .bring back all divisions every week , bring back the heat races , stop the double file restarts that just tear up cars for the 20 fans in the stands .bring the payoffs up to modern day standards , clyde paid double 20 years ago ! and most of all , enforce the rules in tech . the tech mans decision is final , no race director interfering to protect his rich pets ,rules apply to all . and 5 dollar admission in the stands , use your heads , the more money you leave in the fans pocket at the gate , the more he spends at the concession stand .if you want to go racin expect to be out till midnite if you cant handle that , your not a real racer .and maybe a flagman that knows what hes doing , throw the caution flag immedietly , not after they hit a parked car ! and throw the red flag when you have big cleanup , waste of gas and running over debris costs more than 20 caution laps is worth .new smyrna speedway is a great track , it can be the showpiece of the south if robert would wake up , clean house , hire experienced caring people to run the show . new smyrna has become an embarassment to the sport , poor clyde must be rollin over in his grave every friday and saturday nite . but we all know no one is listening , time to travel and race elsewhere .