Throwin' Somethin' Out There: Big Event Idea

[Jimmy McKinley]

OK, so I'm just speculatin' and dreamin' but here goes. Got to thinking about how successful the Florida 200 weekends were back in the day, with qualifying/time trials on Saturday afternoon, load up and get to the Gulf Coast Classic at St. Pete Saturday night, and the 200 on Sunday afternoon. I don't have the time right this second to say everything I want to say, but I'll give it a start.

My idea:

Friday afternoon: open practice 3pm to maybe 9pm. Bog "welcome party"/cookout Friday night with autograph/photo session on front straight.

Saturday morning, 10:30am: one hour practice session.

Saturday, noon: time trials to set heat race lineups for Sunday afternoon.

Saturday night, 8:00pm: Orlando, SLM 100-lapper. Heat races to set up lineups. Run features only for three support divisions.

Sunday afternoon: noon. Heat races. 2:00pm Governor's Cup 200.

[bubba]

Yea, unfortunately it already exists 8 hrs to the northwest, they call it the Snowball Derby. And it is done right - no two ways about it - they have their poop in a tight spiraled group.

[AJ14]

This state could certainly stand two big shows , especially since they are many miles and months apart . A big enough purse would draw the cars no matter where the're from . Thats a very good idea Jimmy . Why should the Panhandle get all the good racing ?

[Winger]

How about a small series and then a big final? Have a series of races that visit all participating tracks. The winner at each of those tracks is a guaranteed starter at the 2 final events. If the winner is already guaranteed then the 2nd place finisher, etc. becomes the guaranteed starter. Make these series events, long distance races with a decent payout. Qualify by heats, no time trials. Start heats by random draw.
Now for the season finale. Let's make it a 2 event weekend at 2 different tracks. For example, CCMP and NSS. Race CCMP night one. Again having heat races to determine feature lineup. 100+ lap race for a good payout. Night 2 the race is at NSS. Heat races again but heat lineups are started inverse of finishing order of previous nights feature. Again, a 100+ lap feature. Drivers must participate in both races or they receive a 30% reduction in the purse.
Sure it's a long weekend with some travel. But there is no practice sessions the day before. Also, limit all practice to just one hour at each track. Try to get a tire that is used for all races.
BTW, I just used CCMP and NSS as examples. It could be any two tracks, but I would try to keep it from becoming a "FASCAR" event only.

[fred23]

I agree with you Jimmy....this is part of an e-mail I sent to FASCAR last year as an idea for that weekend......

I would have races for SSS (50), Protrucks (75), Modifieds(75), LM (100) and SLM(200)

Friday - Open practice and Tech for all divisions
- Strictly Stock 25, Super Stock 25, 2 Heat races to determine starting spots for Mods (20), Trucks(20) and SSS (20), qualifying for LM and SLM - Impound Tires

Saturday - Open Practice
- Mini Stock (25), SSS (50), Protruck (75), Modifieds (75), LM and SLM Last Chance races

Sunday - 9:00am Church Service
- 12:00 Governors Cup (200) - LM (100)

That would be close to 750 laps of racing give or take.......

Free Camping across the street - $25/day pit pass or $60 for 3 days.
$20/day grandstand or $50 for 3 days.

Invite the Speed 51 boys down to cover and try to land a couple of title sponsors for the weekend or for each race to get a healthy purse.

[Jimmy McKinley]

Yeah, but I'm talkin' 'bout *almost* like a Triple Crown weekend, only at two tracks instead of three. Run one track Saturday night, then the other on Sunday afternoon. Run qualifying for the big show at one track on Saturday afternoon, head down the road for the next track and almost like a "preliminary", then the big show Sunday afternoon. Not a three-day show at one track.

Winger, I'm gonna hafta disagree with the series concept. Florida Pro didn't last all that long, FASCAR's series don't pay all that well really and to be honest, I think the car counts for the current "series" are terrible. I just wanna go back to the days where the bigger shows drew tons of cars from all over the state, not just the local guys. Would love to see some of those guys from Citrus, Punta Gorda, DeSoto, Bronson, Orlando, New Smyrna, etc. all come together for one big show. In my opinion, other than the Snowball in the state of Florida, most of the "big races" are all "one-track wonder" drivers. Sure, guys like Rogers, Winchell, Anderson, and Choquette run pretty good wherever they run, but for the most part...look at guys like Colangelo, Webster, Clouser, etc. They only run good at one, maybe two tracks.

This would be my schedule:

Friday night:
3:00pm to 9:00pm - open practice
9:00pm to ? - big welcome party/BBQ/cookout/photo-autograph session

Saturday morning:
10:30am - one hour practice for SLM
12:00 noon - time trials to set heat race lineup

Saturday afternoon: Load up and go to second track

Grandstands open at 5:00pm
4:00pm to 6:30pm - practice
7:00pm - heat races for SLM 100-lapper (NO time trials); 25-lap Sportsman/LLM feature, 25-lap Modified feature, 25-lap Strictly Stock feature; 100-lap SLM feature (run the SLMs last, so people will stick around)

Sunday:
12:00 noon - heat races for 200-lapper
2:00pm - 200 lapper

[Winger]

Winger, I'm gonna hafta disagree with the series concept. Florida Pro didn't last all that long, FASCAR's series don't pay all that well really and to be honest, I think the car counts for the current "series" are terrible. I just wanna go back to the days where the bigger shows drew tons of cars from all over the state, not just the local guys. Would love to see some of those guys from Citrus, Punta Gorda, DeSoto, Bronson, Orlando, New Smyrna, etc. all come together for one big show. In my opinion, other than the Snowball in the state of Florida, most of the "big races" are all "one-track wonder" drivers. Sure, guys like Rogers, Winchell, Anderson, and Choquette run pretty good wherever they run, but for the most part...look at guys like Colangelo, Webster, Clouser, etc. They only run good at one, maybe two tracks.

You might be correct Jimmy. I come from a different area and era. Florida is definitely different. What Florida needs is a real promoter. Someone like a Glenn Donnelly, Ted Johnson, or Big Bill France. My idea, with the series, was to get all the tracks and drivers involved so they have a stake in it. Also, having 2 different type tracks for the finals would play to some of the "one-track wonders". Whatever works, I'm for. Whatever it is, will need to generate some anticipation and excitement. That's where a great promoter comes in.

[villageracefan]

I am president of a motor racing fan club in the Villages, FL. for the last 2 years we have chartered 2 buses to carry fans to the Governor's cup on a Saturday night. Those of you that have been there know it has been very cold each year and has been very uncomfortable for us active seniors. We have personally asked Joe and Robert to reschedule the race to Sun PM with no success. We started a letter writing campaign to Robert but with no success. Maybe if all the race fans keep bugging him, it might happen, right? Glen Carter, glenlind@comast.net