Who's job is it?

[Boneman]

Who should be working on rebuilding car count at Orlando and New Smyrna? They are two great tracks that have lost at least half the drivers in the last few years. Where is the out-reach to see what happened? Who is trying to get some racers back?

If I lose half my customers, you better believe I am on the phone to try and win them back. Sometimes it works! Racers could be tough to reach; some only want to bit*h and vent, but maybe some common ground could be found, or some understanding reached that would bring another car or two, just from a phone call. Especially on the teams that have parked more recently.

Is it the promoter's job? The race director? The pit steward? The track owner? The office staff?

Everything appears to be "business as usual". I am not buying the excuses of the economy and potential bad weather; every track in Florida has the same conditions and most are doing better than we are.

I am not blaming management for everything. Some racers may be out of work, too busy, getting divorced, etc. But I also know of several who have a track relationship problem: they think someone has it in for them, someone isn't treating them fairly and so forth. These are the type of problems that can possibly, even probably be fixed. You know the old saying "every business is a people business". It is true! Even with hard-headed racers.

No personal attacks going on here; I know some of the track officials and count them as friends, but the empty pit syndrome that we have developed is worriesome. I don't like the fact that a 50 car or less night has become the norm. How can the promoter win new fans when our show is so much weaker than it was? Hello? Anybody?

[tccaz]

it's everyones job

Anyone who is associated with racing in any way should try to get cars to the track. but the major responsibility should lie in the track employees ALL OF THEM because without racers in the pits = no fans in the stands no business can operate in the red forever sooner or later that has to mean no job I have noticed when I look at the results on http://speednetdirect.com I notice all tracks have some classes short on cars but there is almost always a class or two with at least 20 cars. I have yet to find a track with short fields like NSS and OSW

[Bigbuck]

a friend

actually more than one that raced every week in OSW and NSS for years. One is a Mod. owner, in the Nascer Hall Of Fame For Mechanics. Some things happened at OSW a couple yrs ago that he diidnt feel like he was treated right. He never complained like I would of, he just stopped going there. One day at NSS i was with him to buy tires, (he was still racing at NSS weekly) A lady in the office asked me if he was gonna race again, I said i'm nnot sure, he's sure hurt by what happened at OSW. Anyhow, he raced pretty regular at NSS the rest of yr. Said he saved $ staying home. Raced a little in speedweeks and only once since this yr at NSS. Not one person from either track has ever called him, just to say "We miss you, what can we do to improve it for you?" Maybe offer him a free pass a wk or 2? What would that cost the track, $50 tops to maybe instill a little good will. After there are teams allowed in EVERY week no charge. I dont know whos job it is to call these people but then again, maybe no-one wants to know whats wrong. But the results are obvious, the stands!! A shame too, both are great tracks but I'm willing to be there are MORS cars sitting in peoples garages and "out back" within a 25 mile radius of both tracks than there are racing. Somethings obviously wrong but if I was the promoter, owner, or ANYONE working there I'd be on the phone, why? Your jobs depend on it!!

[ocalasp76]

Yup...

actually more than one that raced every week in OSW and NSS for years. One is a Mod. owner, in the Nascer Hall Of Fame For Mechanics. Some things happened at OSW a couple yrs ago that he diidnt feel like he was treated right. He never complained like I would of, he just stopped going there. One day at NSS i was with him to buy tires, (he was still racing at NSS weekly) A lady in the office asked me if he was gonna race again, I said i'm nnot sure, he's sure hurt by what happened at OSW. Anyhow, he raced pretty regular at NSS the rest of yr. Said he saved $ staying home. Raced a little in speedweeks and only once since this yr at NSS. Not one person from either track has ever called him, just to say "We miss you, what can we do to improve it for you?" Maybe offer him a free pass a wk or 2? What would that cost the track, $50 tops to maybe instill a little good will. After there are teams allowed in EVERY week no charge. I dont know whos job it is to call these people but then again, maybe no-one wants to know whats wrong. But the results are obvious, the stands!! A shame too, both are great tracks but I'm willing to be there are MORS cars sitting in peoples garages and "out back" within a 25 mile radius of both tracks than there are racing. Somethings obviously wrong but if I was the promoter, owner, or ANYONE working there I'd be on the phone, why? Your jobs depend on it!!

Very good point.....It worked for me a few years ago.

[raceman16]

Who is the customer

One thing I noticed in racing at different tracks in the past is the track has 2 customers the fan and the racer. If you dont bring in good talent you wont fill the stands. People want to be wooed this day and age . Their are a lot of things to do and see nowadays. When I was a kid in the 60s the track was the most exciting thing I saw as a kid. today kids have many differnt platforms too choose from. the talent pool has moved too different sporting events. just an observation. Today most people that race wants the track to favor their position. racing is rubbing and tempers will fly and there is your excitment per say. the daytona 500 in 1979 when aired for the first time on national tv said it all and nascar took off. A fight broke out on thr last lap in the infield. that is what excites the fans. Crash a rama is another one they pack the stands. So bring on good racing and the people will follow

[georgep]

more cars 101

1. Set the rules and leave them alone for the WHOLE SEASON. Make your changes in the off season.
2. Make 100% sure that whatever is said by an official is the SAME THING the promoter/owner would say.
3. NEVER cut the purse.
4. Take the time to send someone around an THANK each driver for coming and see if there is something that can be done to make it better AND LISTEN PLEASE.
5. Remember that the track you save might be your own!!

[JackTripper]

To Boneman's point, I personally think it comes down to the track promoter to step in and work with the customers/drivers in this scenario and figure out what the problem is. But if the promoter won't take that effort, there is your problem.

Speaking from my own personal experience, our team did a lot of advance public relations work for the TBARA races up in the Panhandle. They personally thanked us after the races each night for our hard work and followed up with phone calls the week after thanking us again.

We don't even race there on a regular basis. But you can be damn sure we'll do anything they ask us to any time we're in that area again.

That kind of stuff goes a long way.

[john tenney]

Suggestions:

1: To avoid empty pit syndrome first avoid empty stand syndrome. Fill the stands with cheaper tickets!
2: Get corporate sponsors to raise the purse.
3: Clean up the pits. The bathroom is DISGUSTING - and I mean DISGUSTING. I doubt I will ever stay there a whole night without a motor home with that pig sty.
4: Fix the stands. I feel like I'm going to fall through those crappy boards at any minute.

[Front Stretch]

All Of The Above Posts

should be read and re-read by ALL track owners and all personnel employed by them. As most of you have figured out, I am on here "occasionally" promoting Hendry County Motorsports Park and on the night of our grand opening, Ken Kinney went to EVERY late model driver as they were lining up for the feature and thanked them for being there that night. Just a small gesture like that at least let's the drivers know the OWNER/PROMOTER does appreciate their support. I just hope and pray that all the "positive" I have been feeling about HCMP stays with us for years to come! I am sure he probably thanked all the drivers in their meeting but the LATE MODELS were the "headliners" for that particular night.




P.S. Not race related but for those of you that believe in the power of prayer as I do, my son-in-law was in an explosion in Afghanistan this past Thursday and he and all other passengers were airlifted to another location. PLEASE, in whatever way you choose to do it, remember these young men and women who are in harms way. Full extent of his injuries are not clear as yet but he is still in the hospital. THANKS!

[AJ14]

I think its very important for tracks to find out why drivers aren't showing up . I think its just as important for thr drivers to contact someone IN CHARGE at the track to discuss problems , the track owners aren't mind readers .
But i also know that i have never allowed a track owner or track official to run me off . Except of course for the inept clown who runs the track that i used to attend . But i left there as a spectator , not as a racer . I've been involved in many diferent sports over the years and i've gotten screwed by officials just about as many times as i've benefitted from officials . I've seen many cases of what i know were blatent favoritism , and i know i've been on the receiving end of calls that could have easily gone the other way .
When i was racing , i don't recall ever giving thought to not going back to my area tracks because i didn't feel welcome , or i thought cheating was being allowed by certain cars , or race calls went against me . Tracks are always responsible for trying to keep the racers and the fans satisfied . If the track doesn't do a good job putting on a show for the fans , the fans find something else to do . But as a racer , i never found anything i wanted to do more than race . So no matter how i felt about the owners , or officials , or rude fans , or low payouts , i never missed the chance to go racing .
Thats my take , doesn't mean other racers have to agree . But if racers don't get over the hurt feelings and jealousy and start racing no matter what , then there is not going to be a place to go racing . If fans aren't coming out to see races that are really good , then thats their fault . And the tracks might be able to survive if lots of cars but few fans show up . But if few cars show , the fans soon won't either and then the track closes .Its up to the racers to make this go , if you show up every week , racing will survive and prosper . If you let an official or tech call or hurt feelings run you off , you're giving up too easily and taking the sport down too . .

[Old Sunshine Fan]

My Money is on..................

ANDREW Hart

We have watched this young man grow up at NSS... (even bought that fresh lemonade).

Taking nothing away from Robert Hart, but new blood is often a nice relief.

I think ANDREW will have new idea's and with his personality, I can see him going around and speak to each team and welcome/thank them all.

When its time for Robert to hand over the reigns, I believe ANDREW will take them and run for a better/improved place for all to go for GREAT RACING.

Can't wait.

OSF; VP-STFU,

[Boneman]

FASCAR's Donnie Lewis has thanked the racers for coming for the last few years. He is sincere and we appreciate it. But remember, the point of this thread is not to thank the racers in the pits, its to get back some of the many teams that are staying away.

AJ, I agree that no racer should allow a situation to "hurt your feelings and run you off". We have to be more thick skinned than that. I am referring to the type of problems that could be resolved with some communication: "the starter doesn't like me", "tech is always out to get me", "other cars get favored", etc.

[Bigbuck]

whos job is it??

I still say if the track wants to be successful they need to contact, maybe even go see the owners that are no longer racing to see what they can do to bring them back.If its my track, you can bet I'm gonna see/talk to owners that no longer race and find out why. As an owner, to sit on my duff and let it all slip away is ridiculous. You dont stay away long before you find other interests, hobbies.

[Bigbuck]

By the way, where is Don Hillyer? He used to come by all the time and thank us for showing up, so did Terry Roberts.

[Todd McCreary]

1: To avoid empty pit syndrome first avoid empty stand syndrome. Fill the stands with cheaper tickets!

this is actually backwards, John.

you can bring racers to the track even if the grandstands aren't full ( check the empty seats at any NASCAR race this year ).

but you will never fill the stands / get repeat ticket sales if you don't have cars on the track.

there is a track in Fla that had 21 cars ( and all of these did not make it onto the track ) between 5 classes last week. do you really have to wonder if there's anybody over on the grandstand side? i don't know what their box office rake is but i'd be very surprised at anything much over 50 people.