Please Please Come Back !!!

[carolwicks]

we used to have alot of fun racing people on the boards. they always came on to tell us about GOOD news regarding our drivers. such as the most recent telling us about CHRIS FONTAINE.....
this is the kind of news we need on here. GOOD POSITIVE fun news about our """entertainment""" in the world of AUTO RACING!
we have milked the complaints about costs and owners we dont like. we have milked that the economy isnt good ... we have milked the fact that changes need to be made... if it hasnt been fixed it isnt going to be. so why waste time complaining and making the sport look like its a total failure. the people who own the tracks want to be successful so they can pay the bills. they will continually try to find ways to fill their stands and please drivers. sometimes we will agree and sometimes not... but it is their livelihood and they are responsible. not ours!
the negative posts are depressing to some of us who have continually , for many years, worked so hard to promote the good side of the sport.
some of you enjoy sick humor and some enjoy controversies... thats all fine and dandy. but take it somewhere else for awhile. use that same energy to make people WANT to come racing... most of them dont know the owners and they could care less.
the old saying is "if you cant say something nice about someone, don't say anything. well alot of the posters are gone... guess they couldnt think of anything nice to say or they are afraid of the repercussions if they do write.??
there are an aweful lot of racers in florida... youd think we could all pick one and do a decent bio on their success.... wayne jefferson is one that comes to mind. he has been racing at every track for many years in several classes.
i never see anything on here about him... he is one of our best! Joe winchell is another...nothing on here....bj mccloud is a favorite...i cant get to all the tracks anymore so why doesnt someone let me and other BJ fans know what hes doing now. who is he driving for? tell all please! whats up? i could go on... david rogers has been winning SLM races all year..Pierce has had a very good year... who is he? where from? drives for? let the fans know who Pierce is! hes a great guy from a wonderful family of racing.. outside of the result reports nothing is written...we have alot of new drivers who are the offspring of successful racers... the Bigleys for one....
i think you get my point. you can insult me till hell freezes over. i dont break down too easily and i am on the brink of not caring anymore because i am sick and tired of the insults from people who just dont care!
so with all that said, i hope some of our more pleasant people who have news of interest will come back and not be insulted. please tell us about some of our drivers. i keep bringing up Joey Logano who was one of our kids... he is driving one of the most favorite cars with a famous # on it and he is racing consistantly good at age 19..... hardly a word...maybe its because he doesnt do drugs or get in alot of wrecks or some other negative thing. he is working very hard learning about the different tracks on the NASCAR circuit. he is learning about his car and how to communicate with Zippy... this first year he is awesome... a couple of good posts about David followed by lousy attitudes. Aric... insulted because of his heritage and opportunity. im wondering how many of our drivers would have turned down that chance of a lifetime.
this board is now made up of alot of us who have been on a long time and have become personal friends... osf, tripper, frasson, edm, rex.... lets get some new people on who are eager to learn are and interested in our sport. lets show them that its worth their trip and money to go. even at $20 ...
and just for the record while im cleaning house...
I HAVE NEVER EVER BEEN A MODERATOR, NEVER BANNED ANYONE, NEVER ASKED JACK TO BAN ANYONE AND NEVER WILL...... in fact ive many times called jack and asked him NOT to ban a person in the past. for the last several months jack doesnt even come on the board unless one of us tells him about something. i called him last week to tell him he had some nice birthday wishes and he needed to look so he could see that alot of people appreciate what he does. he doesnt have time to read all the BS....
like everything else, racing has changed drastically over the years... the entire world has! its hard for us to accept change when its in regard to things we love. racing is one of those because cars, engines, track surfaces, tires, rules, etc have all had to comply with the modern world. i loved seeing young guys working hard under the hood adjusting carbs etc. i loved guys taking the car out and making it the fastest... this new way isnt my cup of tea but its the way it is and if i want to watch racing, i need to keep up with the times.... we can never go backwards...
so thats it. please invite friends to come to a board that will make them want to enjoy racing. please let some of us who have been racing for decades know whats goinhg on with some of the drivers we cant get to see much anymore. SOME GOOD NEWS please....
carolwicks aka OZ

[AJ14]

You don't seem to have a grasp on how boards work Carol . Let me go over it for you . People write in with their thoughts , gripes , suggestions , memories ,or just conversation . Others then respond , or not . In spite of your deepest wishes , this board was not invented for you , or me , or any one person .
The vast majority of people who post on this board know all about Jefferson , and Pierce , and Logano , and Winchell . The only one who doesn't seem to know all about them is you .

I hate to burst your bubble ( the stupid pink bouncing one ) but a board like this one is all about coming up with new ideas and changes . And in the time i've been involved here , i seen some great ideas put forth for changes , some of which have been adopted by the smarter track promoters . When you have a board like this one , with racers , fans , and tracks involved , new ideas are always going to be discussed .

So i for one am not going to have the common decency to just go away just so your delicate sensibilities aren't harmed by the dreaded negativity .

Two more points . Most of the people on this board have been involved in racing just as long as you have , many of them as more than a spectator . And why would you think you need to call Jack to save people from being banned .

[BJ Cavin]

I'm with you. Carol! I recently had my own episode with negativity on another site, and I discovered that an attempt to put a positive light on a bad situation results in being publicly called out, labeled a liar, and accused of attempting to deceive everyone. That was never my intent. All I wanted to do was to keep my glass half full instead of half empty. I'll know better next time, won't I?

I think people's moods and attitudes have shifted. Where most used to be able to find the good in things, for some reason we can't seem to do that anymore. Maybe it is a sign of our times or our society, or maybe a crappy economy makes us all pessimists? Whatever it is, we really need to get over it.

[Boneman]

We have definitely had lots of fun here over the years. But people come and go... Here are a few names that I wish were still around and active again:
DemoRay62
Moe, and mini Moe
Chuck Rush
Smokin Joe 111
Ford6
John Tenney (ok, still here, but not racing)
John X90, or whatever the owner of De Soto called himself
Rob Bean Sr.
DonH
Buddy Sizemore

I meet lots of people in the racing world; nice folks, interesting folks, and although they read this site, so many never write a thing. Oh well, at least everyone is still entitled to my opinion.

[JackTripper]

Rarely are there are any real good discussions any more. For the most part posts are simply self-promotional with not a lot of "discussing" going on.

Let me give you an example. The most recent thread about how to fix late model racing in this state is an excellent discussion with a genius idea on purse structure. Few and far between though. Think a promoter will take that idea and run with it? If you do, I have some nice oceanfront property in Nevada I'd like to sell you.

Racing is in a very sorry state in this state. Promoters don't work together, super late model racing as we knew it is on life support, tracks have far too many classes, most of which have very bad counts, and none of the major sprint car series work together AND THEY ALL RUN 360 ENGINES!

So I think what you are seeing is bored/fed up people that are waiting for racing to get better in Florida. There's not much worth talking about these days and until the promoters (series and track) start working together it's only going to get worse.

And for the whiny promoters/track owners that think local racing can't work in a traditional sense any more - get a subscription to Area Auto Racing News and get back to me.

[georgep]

[QUOTE=JackTripper;27283]Rarely are there are any real good discussions any more. For the most part posts are simply self-promotional with not a lot of "discussing" going on.

Let me give you an example. The most recent thread about how to fix late model racing in this state is an excellent discussion with a genius idea on purse structure. Few and far between though. Think a promoter will take that idea and run with it? If you do, I have some nice oceanfront property in Nevada I'd like to sell you.

Racing is in a very sorry state in this state. Promoters don't work together, super late model racing as we knew it is on life support, tracks have far too many classes, most of which have very bad counts, and none of the major sprint car series work together AND THEY ALL RUN 360 ENGINES!

So I think what you are seeing is bored/fed up people that are waiting for racing to get better in Florida. There's not much worth talking about these days and until the promoters (series and track) start working together it's only going to get worse.

And for the whiny promoters/track owners that think local racing can't work in a traditional sense any more - get a subscription to Area Auto Racing News and get back to me.[/QUOTE]

AMEN, it does work if they want it to.

[Edm]

Bla, bla, bla... Same old story different day. Asphalt racing is broke. Everybody has an opinion or idea how to fix it. With all the egos I really dont see it getting better. In a few years we will have lost a few more tracks due to developers and we will still be wondering how to fix racing.

Hey Jack, does that ocean front property have a race track near by?

[carolwicks]

thank you for being respectful.

actually most of the answers to my post reflect what i was saying. racing has become a very depressing sport and we all know the reasons why. so we need to try to make changes in some things and accept others.
what you guys answered is exactly what i am getting at... lets all try to promote a driver or a track or an event... lets make it fun again.... its supposed to be fun. if it isnt then what the heck do we do it for? so we can be depressed?
the track owners are the ones who are suffering the most. i go for fun. i dont have to. MOST racers do it for fun but the track owners have to do well to survive not only their tracks bills but their personal bills.
as for the track owners feuds... well alot of them are fuelled by people who dont have a clue how to manage and maintain a race track...but they have all the answers!... track owners are forced into situations and they hate each other because they have been programmed to do so. it is NOT necessary .... each track owner needs to worry about their own and make theirs the place people want to go. we have plenty of racers for all the tracks!!! my family are metal roofers. we dont care if a huge company charges less than us. we do a better job then some of them. we do a great job and we are 100% legal....most people look for professionals who will do a great job, come back if necessary and answer their questions without being ignored. we dont care what the roofer down the street does. we just keep trying to do it better and pay our vendors...
i may not know jack crap about a race car, but i know alot about human nature and business. i know i am not always right but i always try to be honest and help everyone in this sport. i have not been to ANY race track for 5 weeks!!!! the negativity and attitudes have had me depressed and given me a feeling of uselessness.... it seems like no one wants to look on the bright side. the bright side is the one i try to focus on because thats the one that works. people who are happy and never give up are the ones who survive. the ones who are always in a crappy mood, take it out on others, and always look on the dark side of life... they will never be happy. i personally prefer to be around happy people. my life is almost over and im damned sure gonna make every single minute count... i am NOT going to waste my time or energy on nasty people who do nothing but complain. ;-)
thats why im taking a breather.
i have been writing on and reading this board for many many years! i hope we can do it for alot more... got to work now. have a fun day and BEEE HAPPY !!!!
carolwicks aka OZ

[carolwicks]

AJ...

i agree that most of the people left on here know about Jefferson and Winchell. but there are thousands and thousands who read it but dont write and alot of them will not know anything about those guys unless we promote them. and in that way we may also turn on some promoter who will enable a driver to keep racing thru sponsorship...! jack went thru so much to get the gorgeous ring for driver of the year... we had to pull teeth to get anyone to respond... and when we finally made a choice, the same people who didnt vote did the most complaining about who should have won! it gets frustrating! famous words... "im not gonna bother voting... they pick their own favorites" ughhhhhh so... we went to tracks, talked to fans, talked to owners, posted on boards, talked on our radio shows... some of us traveled all over the state... thats how we picked. could have saved some time and money if our wonderful message board people had some gonads and posted their favorites and why!
that is why we post and do the radio shows and do all the things we do... we want to help! you cant sit on your ass and complain and think things will get done. you have to get out there and talk and invite and make it fun!
do you have any clue how many racers and tracks have come to me and said they are so happy to meet me in person? well im not patting my own back but thats how i met most racing people in florida! they love my posts and they are greatful for all i try to do... you would never know that by reading this board! i ask them why they wont post or why they dont defend people like BJ gavin and others who try so hard to promote... they ALL say they are afraid to! now that really tickles me. a bunch of macho fast driving hard core guys who will punch you out in a NY micro second in person are afraid to write what they feel!!! i really feel that if alot of our drivers start posting it will bring racing people closer together. and there ARE sponsors out there who read these message boards. they will most likely not want to deal with someone who isnt professional and helpful... just a thought.
i really have to get to work now. i hope when i come back on the pc that some people have come out of their shells and have something GOOD to say! i already know all the bad stuff!!! thank you for your time. i appreciate you listening. i do this because i really care...
carolwicks aka OZ

[Front Stretch]

WOW! I guess we got told!

Guess maybe I WILL take it somewhere else for awhile! Did not realize my thoughts and opinions were not allowed to differ from other peoples! I do not post much for that reason and my reading time has gotten less and less.
I ONLY come to this site now because Frasson, AJ14 and Boneman are still here. I really miss Osmosis Jones and his opinions! I really DETEST someone coming on here and telling people to take their thoughts and opinions somewhere else just because they differ from "theirs". I guess there will always be a few with "tunnel vision" that think THEY are the only ones right about EVERYTHING! Please do NOT come back at me about what all you do for this sport. I like to think I do my fair share but do NOT feel the need to constantly be reminding everybody about it. Blast away, it's the nature of the beast!!!!!!!!!! Incidently, a few others have expressed their opinions about the post addressing the new late model series and it is by far "in my opinion" the most interesting thread I have read in awhile. I will be very honest, I am only a fan, do not understand all the "weight differences and other mechanics" of setting up a car BUT I do understand that when I drive two hours one way to my favorite track (HENDRY COUNTY) that I want to feel as though I am not being robbed on admission, that the show is good and that I leave there feeling as though NEXT SATURDAY is too far away. If it is not that way, then I have a right to voice my opinion! If we are not allowed to moan and groan and bitch when we are unhappy, then what is this board really good for? You will NEVER see me praising Joey Logano or any of the "others". I brag, laugh, smile, bitch, gripe and also root like crazy for the "locals"!

[carolwicks]

agreed once again...

it sure is ok to have opinions and to post them. but it is NOT ok to belittle or insult or hurt people. you can post opinions without all that drama.
if you think the prices too high. ok then write about it but you dont have to call the track owner an a$$hole or a crook to get that message across!
i agree that OJ (Matt) should be able to post his feelings. but it is NOT ok for him to constantly belittle ANYONE... he was asked many times to stop and he continued... so he was banned. he even came on Jack smiths board to insult jack smith. how smart is that? snicker... matt is a very intelligent guy who is a fireman with children and a wife. he is really funny and he has been involved in racing all his life. i too welcome him to be on this board but for crying out loud... quit with the insults! it hurts people. OH and yes... i am one of those people he enjoyed messin with..but i had nothing to do with his getting banned. i didnt ask anyone to do that!
you can B*&tch about me all you want but you dont know all the answers to all the problems and neither do i.... and i didnt say no one should ever have a complaint. just please try to post some positive fun things and if you have a gripe stick with the issue. dont call people names and hurt them. freedom of speech does not include that right !
i love frassy, rex, winger, OSF and some of the other posters. we have been friends for many years on the board and in person! and we very often disagree... but we never hurt each other or call each other names.!! usually if we have strong feelings about something, we call each other and its easier to understand what the other person means. sometimes things get lost in translation on the boards. you dont see the eyes rolling, or the smiles , or all the things that make personal talks interesting and understandable. not everyone can spell, not everyone can express what they really mean, not everyone will agree with us... but they all deserve the chance to be heard without being insulted! ...
please someone tell me i havent wasted all my gigabytes... does any of this make sense? i just want us to talk more about the positive things and have more fun with racing. to support our racers, to try to understand the rules of etiquette on message boards. thats all. i in no way want to make anyone feel bad...
carolwicks aka OZ

[1wildfastgirl24]

I'm with you. Carol! I recently had my own episode with negativity on another site, and I discovered that an attempt to put a positive light on a bad situation results in being publicly called out, labeled a liar, and accused of attempting to deceive everyone.

BJ, No one exactly labeled you as any of that on the other site,and FYI I don't lie on any tracks .....You was the one trying to label people as being dishonest & blinded!! ....All it was said is you can't sugar coat and over exagerate stories about a track you was briefly announcing at that despartly needs help in alot of areas(This track in discussion is not Ocala speedway), then have people come to the track you are posting all these up beat things about,to see & experience the total opposite,then you have some mad people expecting to see what all you posted about is'nt exactly so....,then when you see some people in person or communicate with them in pm's, phone etc.... and tell them how you really feel about that track and all the things that are wrong and what not,then turn around in the public view and try to make the people look like idiots and trouble makers who are telling the truth & what needs to be done to better the track then come back with attacks at people like implying & accusing them as far as being able to read your private messages(Like you done me) for heavens sakes ,That is being two faced, so how do you expect people to respond to ya?.I understand you was trying your best to help and promote that track,but you cant go on racing message boards with upbeat fabricated stories of how great a track is to have people come there and find out it's not what you was making it out to be,that is very misleading to people.No one wants to see any track close, so if the truth of the matter of the problems are'nt publicly said where everyone can know,how is the problems that are keeping people away get fixed,So the track can be saved and brought back to life so it can prosper & be successful?....Call it negativity all you want,I call it keepin it REAL .I know tracks such as Eastbay,Volusia & Ocala have all thier priorties in perfect order and it shows by thier fan and driver counts & good positive comments(I don't know how any of the asphalt tracks have been doing lately,we been dirt trackin for awhile now....LOL).

[cake]

rooooooooooooooooootamannnnnnnn!!!!

[Benny The Mule]

Carol, I've been on here since 2000 (not under benny the whole time) but, please take the time to think REALLY REALLY hard why noone is on here anymore.....i'm barely hanging on.......trust me.

since i set-up ignore on bouncing bobby i can cover everything new every couple of days in 3 minuites.

So, it wouldn't matter if i .........................

Too many people are thin skinned anymore.

And the nazi's will not allow them to be harmed........catch my drift.

Thanks Jack for providing this ENTIRE site...i still use my link to the origional front page.

But, i've about gotten bored with this part of it anyhow.....................and after we all got our lesson from Carol...........well.

Bye Ya'll.

Harry Brown (A.K.A) Benny
Newton NC/ Hometown Orlando Fla.

[bubba]

My take on why the board is dead is that there aint much to talk about. Sure if any of us had the time or motivation we could write puff pieces on drivers, but that aint likely. If anybody is seriously considering "disappearing" becuase of Carol's comments, that is stupid. Her point was simply to try to encourage people to be positive -woopity sh!t. We all read different threads for different reasons she likes positivity - I like it all. If it is about racing - good or bad, I will read it.

Racin in these parts is kinda slow and boring right now. That said, I am gonna try to hit VSP tomorrow. Maybe they will give me something interesting to write about - if not oh well.