would a call or meeting help?

[Boneman]

Imagine that you are a racer who is having "creative differences" with your local track. Something has happened on the track, in the tech shed, or maybe there have been many incidents, so you decide that they can shove it and you head off to a different track. That is an effective form of protest; you get to look for greener pastures elsewhere and it gets you away from your problems.

Now the new status quo is that the local track is down a car, and you have to spend time and money towing. All things being equal, these are both negatives. The show will suffer a little, and given enough time, you will find that almost all tracks have similar problems.

So here is my question: is a meeting between track officials and a disgruntled driver an effective way to settle a difference and WIN BACK A CAR? I think the topic of winning back cars has got to be the top priority of some Florida tracks. My home tracks are down 50-60% in the last two years and the whole show suffers because of it.

I can guarantee that throwing rocks at each other on a message board has a 100% probability of making things worse. We've watched this play out for the last day or so on this board, and it is clear that no progress will be made this way, even though one side is trying.

If you run a business and have a problem with an employee, you better call them into your office and discuss things like rational adults. It can be a very effective approach, and one that I think would go a long way toward mending fences and winning back some cars.

No amount of meetings or attention will win back a racer who is broke, out of work, etc. I'm only referring to the many, many people who are nursing a grudge, feel that they can't get a fair shake, believe that an official has it in for them, etc. Some of these cars can be won back if given a little attention and consideration. Others just want to complain, so you write off the hopeless cases and concentrate on the ones where it can work, and the track and fans will get another car in the line-up.

Does any track do this? Does anyone invest the effort in trying it?

[BJ Cavin]

I have heard Mike Peters offer many times in drivers meetings to meet with any driver who has a complaint, and he has met with countless drivers and listened to their messages. His office is open any night after racing, and any weekday, for any driver who wishes to speak freely, make suggestions, or air complaints. But what is totally frustrating is that some will still leave and never come back, or try to organize boycotts, or whatever. I guess there is always one in every bunch.

[RSB]

Bert Ashleman used to call racers and try to smoothe over track incidents. Also, if you had an argument/fought/ wrecked or "paid back" another on the track, he would call both drivers together immediately when they arrived at the track the next week and the three of them would have a talk. R.I.P. Bert! My favorite track owner EVER!

[Nickel and Dime]

Yes, some do

Yes, Dennis at SGMP does call the drivers. And yes, a phone call can make a world of difference in resolving an issue and it lets everyone know that the owner does care about his track, drivers and fans. SGMP has an open door policy. I can call Dennis any time and he will take the time talk to me. He is in the pits and stands every night talking to the drivers and fans. All of them that he can, not just a chosen few. I understand that is also happening at Ocala and a few other tracks and the car counts reflect it. I know one that it is not happening at and the car counts reflect that as well. And I couldn't agree more with RSB. Bert was the man.

[AJ14]

Just keep in mind that this goes two ways . Drivers or car owners can contact the track officials , and likewise the track owner or officials can contact the competitors . And neither should discuss the problems with a receptionist or a crew member and then consider everything is back to normal . Talk with the principals , thats the only real way to get a problem solved .

[Todd McCreary]

Boneman
So here is my question: is a meeting between track officials and a disgruntled driver an effective way to settle a difference and WIN BACK A CAR?

AJ14
Drivers or car owners can contact the track officials , and likewise the track owner or officials can contact the competitors .

but!

the driver must have the idea that the track official has the authority and willingness to make a change AND that the official is dealing in good faith and wants to make a change.

when the problem the driver has is experience repeated multiple times one phone call ain't going to do much.





But what is totally frustrating is that some will still leave and never come back, or try to organize boycotts, or whatever. I guess there is always one in every bunch.

why is it frustrating?

you can't please everyone, it's not possible. many people will demand something that will make someone else unhappy.

the only thing the track people can do is behave in a professional, courteous and ( hopefully ) friendly manner. anyone who wants to take offense to that is probably someone you don't want around anyway ... no matter how much money they have.

if the majority of your racers think that you're enforcing the rule book and race directing in a "fair" manner and you've got healthy fields, you've probably got this race track operating thing 'down'.

[Rick Williamson]

And lets face it, some drvers you DON'T WANT BACK!

[OLD STYLE RACER 2]

I know when I worked at Ocala years ago for Paul Pitre, we would call drivers at night, to find out why they hadn't been there. Usually we would pick a certain class. If they were mad, we would try to discuss it to see if we could get it resolved. Sometimes it was just because they couldn't afford to race. Bottom line, we would always have more cars that following week. If nothing else, it made the drivers feel like they were wanted and appreciated.

[northfloridajoyce]

So you think I should call up this driver and see what I need to do to fix the problem.I am not sure but,I think if he would talk to me I would sure try to get to the bottom of the problem.I know I am not the smartest cookie in the jar but,I love racing and to me that is what it's all about.Racing is fun and exciting and can be more so if we can all talk and share ideas .Fix and repair can be done if only I am given a chance instead of telling me how bad my grammer is or how bad I am.Just tell him to give me a chance to try and fix the problem.He might listen to you guys he sure want me.Thanks for all your advice and I will try to do better.Joyce

[RSB]

I "heard" that a car was protested and the techman found a couple of things that weren't right but was over ruled by the track owner. It just so happens that the protested drivers daddy supplies the wreckers at the track. Maybe someone else that was there could shed some light on this??

[ronabneysr]

let me try to explain diapointment to you

and i'll try to do it real slow so ever body can under stand me

first the owner of a track has the first - last - and final word
now is that understood .

next what he tells you might not be what he tells you five minutes later or to some one else

i don't expect any special treatment just be treated fair and equal if i call for two parking spots week a head of time and confirm it twice that should be enough

next yes we race in sportsman class and open wheel class and drive two transporter total of 500 miles round trip spend around thousand dollars time we pay entry fee / car fuel some times more when we have buy tires

one night we delibertly got crashed in sports man race yes we should not have turned him back around and yes we should not have
had the fight in pits

we went to jail paid all fines all dues suspended six months

after six months we were allowed to come back with open wheel then two weeks later we were allowed to bring sportsman back

with a different driver and guess what same guy in same corner crashed our car on purpose no doubt about it

as we were on our way to the pits i stoped for first time in my life and stoped my crew my son went to the officals and said now let's see if you can take care of this

well they did they lifted up rug swept it under it and went on there happy go lucky merry way

now if you own a race track and you were counting stars or in bath room and did not see it that;s ok cause we're just two drivers two cars with a choice

ever body have a happy 4th of july

[Nickel and Dime]

Call

Are you serious, you don't know if you should take the time to call the drivers, all the drivers, that are not showing up anymore? Your first and second place points cars and several others that run up front and have wins this season have left and you don't know if you should call them to work out the problem. All of these drivers have attempted to resolve the issues they have with the owner and have each been ignored and basically slapped in the face with his blatant favoritism. I'll put it this way, you have 20 - 25 cars in the pits on a normal night for all the classes and maybe 30 for special events. You have more drivers towing past your track then to your track. And you don't know if you should call the drivers.

[northfloridajoyce]

Sure I know I should call but,I have no list to call ,I have no phones nothing,however I am working on that .I have cards I am having filled out as the cars come threw the back gate with general information. If you wil call me maybe I can get this issue resolved.I will give it my best shot.352-942-2369 .thx

[Todd McCreary]

So you think I should call up this driver and see what I need to do to fix the problem.I am not sure but,I think if he would talk to me I would sure try to get to the bottom of the problem.

the effort is always appreciated.

but as Mr. Abney so eloquently points out, you don't actually have the authority to get the problem fixed.

there are some promoters who think being "infamous" is fantastic ... and who will go out of their way to get that reputation.




next what he tells you might not be what he tells you five minutes later or to some one else

yep, he can do anything he wants.

and if he changes his mind every 5 minutes OR if his answer is completely dependent on who he wants to win the race ... that ain't good.

[ronabneysr]

lts get one thing straight columbia was not my problem

i drove another 500 miles extra to be treated like a human being and when i got there to columbia speedway i had my parking spot just like i was told

ever body did what they told me they were going to do and i left happy except for being off 10 points on gear

what else or other problem some one else has with that track they need to work it out because those people are more than fair

the only problem i seen that might bother some drivers is it's a fast track and maybee some drivers don't want race on any thing bigger than a small track \

maybee they could go to robbie cooper -jason garver drivers school yes i know there were 20 more drivers that could open up columbia go fast racing school