what a joke

[Boneman]

Pin a medal on Jane, she nailed it! That was a most comprehensive assessment, and I believe it to be quite accurate. I especially liked her observation regarding "giving the fans their money's worth".

One note: all of you who think the track is intentionally losing money so it can be a "tax write-off" need to have your head examined.

Yes, times are tough at OSW, but things always tend to go in cycles. I have complete confidence that things will turn around one day. You guys can waste your time wringing your hands and throwing insults, I'm going to work in the garage.

[SeminoleWind]

Good points Jane! The main thing we have to remember is, "WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER". The tracks have to maintain a positive relationship with the racers and the fans and vice-versa.
If you have a racecar, when, if ever, has a track ever contacted you and wondered why you were not participating, or thanked you for your participation. Sure, the track would have to listen to belly aching from 7 of 10 drivers called, but 3 of the drivers would appreciate the personal interest and get the car off the jackstands and onto the track. "WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER"
Same with the tracks relationship with the fans. Why don't the tracks start some sort of Fan Club. Give fans some sort of voucher when they fill out an informational form. Now, the tracks can email those fans race and event info, promotions, discounts, etc. Maybe fan club members get 20% off front gate prices. Make the fans feel like they are an important part of the show. I would bet that most short tracks have no idea who their paying (present or former) customers are.
It goes the other way as well. I attended a road race at Road Atlanta last week, after every race, on the cool down lap, the drivers would wave at the corner workers to show their appreciation. I've never seen this at a circle track.
Right now, there just is not a whole lot of mutual respect among all the players (tracks, drivers and fans) in this sport. The fans feel screwed because they pay money to watch uninteresting entertainment. The drivers feel screwed because they spend thousands of dollars to make hundreds of dollars. The tracks feel screwed because they think that they are providing a multi-million dollar playground for 30 people and their closest friends to play on.

[Frasson118]

I see something that Jane hit on also.... the policy of not allowing coolers in.

I showed up at New Smyrna one time, many years ago, only to find most of the cars pulling OUT of the track instead of going in. Upon walking up to the gate, I was informed that they had just gone to a "No Cooler" policy. Since I was already there, I threw the cooler back in the car and went in... but most of the fans didn't. They hopped in their cars and left. All these years later, they are still not back.

Lincoln Speedway in PA also tried the "No Beer" policy, and the grandstands were immediately left to look like a ghost town. Fans were seen at other area tracks wearing T-shirts that read "No Drinkin', No Lincoln". They didn't come back until the policy changed.

Whether you drink or not, one fact of the matter is that many people like to spend their Saturday nights out having some beers, and enjoy some cheap entertainment. When you are forced into paying the track for beers, sodas, or food, your evening just became un-affordable. And people don't show up. And if people don't show up, where are the new racers gonna come from? Almost every racer, at one time was sitting in the Grandstands, thinking to himself that "Man, I could DO this". If you never get them in the stands, you will NEVER get them out on the track.

At VSP, my night at the races and a six pack of beer costs me about $16.00. At OSW the costs would be about $34.00. Pretty simple decision to make when on a budget!

[Bigbuck]

Great Post 185

Although a little long I agree with the part its pathetic now, but how about some suggestions on how to make it better? The racers lose money even if they win! I get kicked out of the pits in New Smyrna, because as the pace truck driver says "no none tow vehicles allowed" aven though I personally counted 23 "none tow " vehicles in the pits!!! I have personally spent approx. $ 10,000 in 5 yrs to differant car owners, sponsering a race, and basically none of them have anything to do with me now. Seems when the $ dries up, so do you. Well guess what? Orlando should be filled with wter and stocked with bass. New Smyrna? Wal-Mart might be interested in building a Super-Wal-mart there, great location! All it is now is a tire store. Yeah I expect to get blasted here, go for it, I don't care. The person I WAS sponsering, or helping to (the last of many) basically told me he was affraid I would get him disquallified if I fought the "no none tow vehicles in the pits". Well, he doesn't have to worry about that any more, I never hear from him anymore anyhow!!! But I'll say one last thing, as long as they allow other "none tow" vehicles at New Smyrna I WILL be one if I want to!!! I BEG them, kick me out!!!! And you ask, (what is wrong?), FAVOROTISM!!! I learned, have they??? No, but when the bulldozers come, they will!!

[Jane]

So what is your answer or suggestions for making Orlando better and New Smyrna besides higher payouts which comes from more cars and more fans?
How would you make them better??

[Jimmy McKinley]

We all know the traffic is terrible coming from the west side of Orlando on a Friday afternoon after work. My girlfriend and I don't have SunPass/E-Pass for the toll roads, so if we want to use surface streets, it takes us over an hour to go the 40 miles or so from this side.

As I understand it (coming from my brother), there's no more heat races? Features only? So if you get there late, you might have missed half the show. I don't know. I liked the heat races - if they meant points or starting spots in the features. Start the fast cars in the back.

Let me go into a little more detail:
Heat races - lined up by points, inverted. Fast cars (cars high in points) start in back. 6 laps for Strictlys/Minis, 8 laps for Sportsman/Super Stock/Limited/Modifieds, 10 laps for Super Late Models.
Features - Starting spots determined by heat race finishes, with inverted fields (fast cars in back). 12 laps for Strictlys, 15 laps for Super Stocks/Mini Stocks, 20 laps for Sportsman/Limited/Modified, 25 laps for Super Late Model.
If a driver misses two or more consecutive scheduled regular race events, he/she starts in the back of both heat and feature for the next two scheduled race events.

Next: the fans. Give them their money's worth. Ten bucks ain't *too* bad, but offer some sort of family ticket: say, $30 for a family of four; maybe a $15 "double" ticket (two adult admissions for $15; I know my girlfriend and I - no kids with us - would be able to make it over t here more often if it weren't for the toll roads).

Allow coolers in - but no glass containers. Offer some sort of "Family" meal combo plan or something. When it costs almost $20 for two people to eat at a race track, I know I'd rather bring my own stuff. That's almost Disney prices

Designate a smoking and drinking section of the grandstands. They don't have to be the *same* section; or - better yet - designate a "Families" section with NO drinking and NO smoking.

How 'bout a punch-card where every fifth time you come back, free grandstand admission? I don't think there's enough race dates to make a ten-punch-card. And I don't think fans will come back *that* often if this is something that gets started. It'll take some time.

ADVERTISE. I realize that this costs money, but in order to make money, you have to spend money. Like I said in an earlier post, I hear Orlando and New Smyrna ads on a Lakeland radio station all the time. And I hardly hear or see anything locally with the exception of Crash-a-Rama. But folks aren't gonna want to drive the 60-75 miles if there's no show (entertainment/racing). That, plus the B***H of a drive - again - from west of Orlando. Advertise on a few billboards around town, especially on I-4 down this way (Kissimmee). Advertise in the Sentinel Sports section. Advertise on the four local stations (WFTV, WKCF, WESH, and Fox35). A lot of folks just have basic cable and don't get BrightHouse. They don't get them weekly racing shows on TV. I know I talk to a LOT of race fans that come to Disney as guests, and a LOT of 'em are looking to get to a race some time during their vacation. And I tell 'em that SpeedWorld is the only Friday-night asphalt track. Everything else is pretty much Saturdays.

Want entertainment added? Put some media folks in a Strictly or Super Stock, and let 'em eat. Bragging rights and a HUGE trophy. Have a "Media Night"; invite 'em all out to see one of your GOOD shows with SLM, OWM, maybe Sprint cars if they come back.

BRING BACK some REAL Figure Eight racing, with Strictly Stock/Super Stock rules. Add some right-side door bars and maybe a cross-bar to strengthen the cage a little. Or maybe build up a new division with newer-style STOCK cars.

How 'bout a HUGE Super Late Model race that Orlando could call its own? One that should draw a BIG out-of-state field? At the end of the year/season, after the tracks up north have closed. In fact...put the Governor's Cup back on a Sunday afternoon. Run Friday night qualifying and heat races for the Super Lates at New Smyrna for Sunday's show (with a support division or two); then Saturday night, run at Orlando - maybe bring back the "Gulf Coast Classic" type; sorta a "preview" of the 200 on Sunday. Make it a 100- or 125-lapper, and of course, run another couple of support divisions, maybe Super Stocks and Sportsman can run in front of their biggest crowd of the season. BUT - run the SLM last, so the fans will stay for the support races. Then run JUST the Governor's Cup on Sunday afternoon up at New Smyrna.
To add to this part, offer fans some sort of three-day ticket for maybe $40. $15 for Friday's show at New Smyrna, $20 for Orlando on Saturday, $20 at New Smyrna on Sunday. Maybe a two-day ticket for $30 good at both tracks. Same for the pits; well, not the same prices, but offer the same structure.

Just some thoughts Again, the main concern for me, anyways, is that Friday-afternoon traffic. That's the main reason I don't get over that way much.

[AJ14]

Its all been discussed many times , even in the meetings Robert Hart had with the racers i'm told .

Start the fast cars in the rear , a total invert for ALL races , and do it off of qualifying times each night . Qualifying can be pretty boring , but its part of the race event , the fans can live with it . Fix the speakers at all tracks so the fans can hear all of the qualifying times , and announcers should pick and choose when to announce those times between wide open engines .

All re-starts should be double file .

GET THE LOCAL AND NATIONWIDE COMPANIES INVOLVED . Thats where the increased payouts and co-advertising come in . Realty , hardware , furniture , speed equip . , beer , soft drinks , car dealers , tractor dealers , eyeglass stores , carpet and flooring , local and national eateries , boats , sporting goods , . Every one of those advertise on Nascar broadcasts , and many more . Why aren't the Florida short tracks getting them involved here ? I know , if its that easy it would already have been done . But i'll say it again , every one of those business buys ad time on Nascar , so they obviously want to reach race fans .

The times i've been to Orlando at any time of the day , the traffic has been brutal . But i know the fans come out for Crash O Rama , so the show just has to improve .

Jimmy has a good suggestion regarding figure 8 racing . Its always been poular .

[Edm]

That was some really good points.
I like the idea of coolers. I also think race tracks need to be more family oriented and start aiming at the younger generations. Next time you are in the stands look around and tell me how many teenagers are there. Not many, most are home playing x-box.
The kids need to be involved more. I know insurance regulations make it hard to do a lot of things but more needs to be done.

[Frasson118]

I see that someone has decided this thread is a "complaint" rather than a discussion.

I guess it is, but I thought there were some excellent constructive ideas thrown around out there. Not only for OSW, but all the local short tracks. Fans aren't happy with the show they are getting, and if I was the Promoter of XYZ Speedway, I'd love to hear what my customers want!

[Old Sunshine Fan]

HEY - Great Idea Here.

Someone spoke of teenagers in the stands (or not)..

Suggest "FREE ENTRY FOR TEENAGE GIRLS"... when the word gets out... guess who will follow. A few weeks later..."FREE ENTRY FOR TEENAGE GUYS", see if that brings out the girls.

Hey, can't hurt to try.

OSF:

(then have a "FREE ENTRY FOR SUPER OLD GUYS")

[Jimmy McKinley]

Well...with no advertising being done, the word has to get out *somehow*. How 'bout a car show on a Saturday or Sunday, with the drivers and an autograph/photo session? Why not do a car show at the beginning of the season (BEFORE cars get all tore up...LOL) at one of the local malls - again, to get the word out? It's definitely going to take time, it ain't gonna happen overnight. Put an ad in the paper at least, maybe about a week or two in advance, so fans (or potential fans) have time to plan to go?

I also agree that this shouldn't be in a "Complaints" section. It wasn't a complaint; just an opinion on how the show was run. I thought maybe it had been Windexed by the powers that be. I had to search for it to find it again...

[Edm]

I think it started as a complaint but for the most part it has been very constructive.

If I continue to lose customers and don't know why, then sooner or later I am going to be out of business unless I know what I am doing wrong or what I can do better.

My question is this, how do you compete against an x-box?

[Winger]

My question is this, how do you compete against an x-box?

Lots of good ideas here. But you can't get the cart ahead of the horse here. First thing that has to be done is to provide a quality show. Don't try getting the fans in until the show is worth seeing. If the show is good the word will get out somewhat. When the show is good the fans will want to come back. If the show is bad the fans won't want to come back. Sounds like that is what has happened here. When the show is good is when you start with the advertising, giveaways, etc. You can start with the coolers now though. BTW, the toll roads and traffic is a huge detriment that I can't see a way around. The last time I went, it cost me as much in tolls as admission.

[Edm]

good point, you are absolutely right. I will have to say though, that superstock race was worth every penny of the $25 pit admission a couple of weeks ago, even if the rest of the show sucked. If you can lure some of the kids away from the game boxes and get them involved in racing, not only spectating but participating, that would help racing down the road.

[AJ14]

Its been said many times , but here it goes again . The teenagers , boys and girls , don't recognize any of the cars they see at the track , they can't relate to 1978 Monte Carlos or Camaros . The ONLY way there will ever be a next generation oval track racer is to put cars on the track that they relate to , and want to race . That means a huge overhaul of Strictly Stock , or Street Stock , or Mini Stock to race imports and American compacts with V6s , 4 cyls ., electronic fuel injection , computers , turbos , and pretty much front wheel drive . Hondas , Toyotas , Cobalts , etc . Let the teens help write the rules , bring in sponsors that never would have been sponsors , aim some of the new sponsor money toward a decent pay-out . Involve local High Schools and Trade Schools . Then get out of the way and let them race .