If You Woke Up Rich And Had To Spend The Money Building A New Race Track

[ronabneysr]

NOW EVER BODY HAS GOT THERE IDEA ON WHAT ALL OTHER OWNERS ARE DOING WRONG OR DID WRONG AND WHY THERE AIN'T NO CARS AND NO SPECTATORS

LETS HERE WHAT YOU WOULD DO FIRST GOT TO BUILD THE TRACK IN FLORIDA CAN BE DIRT OR ASPHALT AND ZONEING HAS GAVE YOU PERMISSION

# 1 WHAT SIZE TRACK HOW MUCH BANKING GET SERIOUS NOW
#2 YOU CAN RUN TWO NIGHTS A WEEK AND RUN ANY THING YOU WANT

SUPER LATE MODELS - LATE MODELS - SPRINTS WITH WINGS - OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS - SPORTSMAN -STREET STOCK - PURE STOCK- SUPER MINI STOCK - MINI STOCK - TRUCKS - AND STOCK FIGURE EIGHTS AND SUPER FIGURE EIGHTS

NOW THAT IS 12 CLASSES TOO MANY FOR ONE NIGHT HOW DO YOU SPLIT THEM UP

DO THEY RUN TWICE A MONTH OR 6 CLASSES ON FRIDAY NIGHT 6 ON SATURDAY NIGHT

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO CHARGE TO GET IN STANDS HOW ABOUT CHILDREN WHAT ABOUT PITS

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO PAY DRIVERS TO GET THE CARS IF PEOPLE COME NO PROBLEM IF THEY DON'T COME ARE YOU GOING TO GET AN ATTITUDE

REMEMBER YOU STARTED OUT RICH AND NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAND NEW TRACK AND YOU PICKED THE LOCATION WERE THERE 3500 PEOPLE IN THE TOWN YOU BUILT THE TRACK OR WAS IT OVER A MILLION WERE THERE OTHER TRACKS CLOSE BY

ARE YOU DOOMED FROM THE START YOU CAN'T SPEND YOUR MONEY ON A BAR - WINE - WOMEN - SPORTS CARS - HORSES OR GO TO VEGAS GOT TO BUY A RACE TRACK

LETS GO GET TO WORK ALSO YOU CAN'T BUILD IT ONE MILE DOWN THE STREET FROM ANOTHER TRACK YOU DON'T LIKE

[Boneman]

I can tell you one thing...my track would be a Bandolero-free zone!

Build a banked, paved quarter mile with a figure 8, just like Sunshine Speedway. Although I like 1/2 mile tracks, the fact is that they tear up more equipment, and it is easier to be competitive on a budget when running a small track. Dirt is nice too, but I would avoid the continual maintenance.

Run two nights a week, with a Sunday rain date. Friday night, run the show off the back gate; meaning have all the traveling and unusual classes run for little or no purse. The grandstands don't even have to be open, so do it SCCA style with the competitors carrying the load.

Saturday night is show time! Put on an exciting show for the spectators that features hobby figure 8's, economy sprints that look fast but cost less, and avoid having multiple classes of Monte Carlos. A wide open 4 and 6 cylinder entry level class would be essential, along with a mid-level super stock or Sportsman class. Run motorcycles once or twice a month; they are great on a short track if you can keep them safe. SLM can run a big race once a month for some good money.

Although it does not interest me personally, it would be good business to add a 1/8 strip for street cars and bikes. Be sure to use common pit and concession areas for both tracks so that "their" fans and competitors could mix with ours.

Cover the grandstands, pave the pits, air condition the bathrooms, or at least keep them cool and very well ventilated. Build a playground for the kids too.

The track would own and operate revenue streams including the concessions, fuel and tires. (Its amazing to me that some tracks lease this out.) How about leasing on-site, secure storage for racecars? Not all competitors can transport their equipment.

Build a bar and grill that is open all week. You can't go far wrong selling beer and burgers, especially if most of the overhead is already covered, and you may attract some new fans.

Close for 6 weeks in the summer, and around Christmas and New Years, but run through most of the winter, even if you have to change to afternoons in January and February.

Adopt proven, winning sets of rules when possible, like the IMCA modifeds for example. Keep the racers under control and structure things so they can't spend themselved into oblivion.

More inspiration available upon request.

[Dana Barlow]

That make scents,1/4 mile oval,plus 1/8 drag strip.Don't like more then 4 reg class's myself and 1 big show about 1 time a month [sprints etc.]with two up to four super shows a year.
But time off [closed down]should only be in 1 month spots max, end of year and mid rainy time,other wise you've lost some fans to other stuff,mostly forever.

[ModelCarMan]

Here are my top twenty things close to a perfect track:

1. It would be ½ mile of Georgia clay track.
2. Five different divisions: (1) Latemodels (2) Sprints (3) Openwheel Modifieds (4) Street Class (5) Mini Stocks
3. Tried to make rules fit other local tracks close as possible to keep car count up.
4. Run feature races only for the Street Class and Mini Stocks. It works at other tracks it can work here!!!
5. Payouts are worth something for all finishers…..for example, not $10 for the last 10 finishers.
6. NASCAR safer barriers around the whole track.
7. One hell of a catch fence.
8. Open area around track so race cars can get on and off the track, so there are no gates to open and close.
9. Lots of pit area to expand if needed.
10. Top of the line speaker system, so everyone knows what you are saying!!!
11. Outstanding lighting on the track, pit area, parking lot etc…
12. Whole pit areas are concreted.
13. Grandstands will be completely covered for fans.
14. Women/kid friendly areas, playground, game booths, restaurant etc…
15. CLEAN bathrooms!!!
16. Handicap seating area for people in wheelchairs....like me ;>)
17. People able to park their cars around track to watch the races and cookout at the same time.
18. Different types of food and drinks for everyone.
19. Souvenir gift shop for fans to buy pictures, shirts, hats, diecast cars etc….
20. Drawing for souvenirs each week, or something like that.

[ronabneysr]

Now This Is What I'm Talking About Come On

THERE HAS TO BE MORE THAN THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE OUT THERE TELL US SOME MORE THESE WERE SOME GOOD IDEAS COVERED STANDS . COOL BATH ROOMS MORE FRIENDLY FOR HANDICAPED .LOVED ONE ABOUT ALL PIT IDEAS

COME ON GUYS AND LADIES MORE SUGGESTIONS BUT DRIVERS HAVE TO GET PAID

[Rick Williamson]

All the ideas above are good and I would use them. And as for the track. I would buy the old USA track. Why because as best as I can tell from the road the track it's self is still in place. I would just need the stands and lighting. Along with the other things talked about. And I really think the car storeage area is one of the best ideas. And the second reason for buying USA is the stip that's right next door there now. I never did understnad why this track wasn't used on a weekly basis.

[RSB]

I'm with Rick

I ran USA around a dozen times and it was the most fun I've had racing. That was the main reason I bought a PARTS PRO truck way back then. Then it was the main reason I bought a SSS car! If I had the money, I would also build a small road course. Sebring in the FASTRUCK series was a blast! THE MOST FUN TIME EVER! I WISH someone would "put on" a streetstock/sportsman race on a road course!!! Somebody? Anybody? Bobby Deihl did it!

[Edm]

1st and foremost it would be a small COVERED dirt track. Not indoors just covered. It would be a multi purpose facility. Swap meets, parking lot for campers with water/tv/power hook ups, car shows, flea market, rodeos and whatever else I could get in there during non racing weeks.
Lots of racing in the winter, snow birds love it. Late models, modifieds, hobby stocks, pure stocks and box stocks. Sprints special once or twice a month. 4 cyl mods and go karts once in a while on Sunday afternoons. Big races will be Saturday night and some special events will be Sunday afternoon.
I would bring in a few different food vendors with GOOD food.
SPONSORS WILL BE RECOGNIZED, they will be "wined and dined". Racers will be asked to help promote these sponsors and use their services if possible. Racing will be done early enough in the evening so the kids can come down into the pits and see all the cars and meet the drivers.
RULE BOOK will be followed to the T. I don't care if your last name has a France in it somewhere or not. It will be fair for all.

More to come but gotta get back to work.

[SeminoleWind]

The Boneman's plan is flawless!

[ronabneysr]

some great ideas keep them coming got to be more

people with some good ideas come on not no stupid ones but for real come on get them great minds to working

[ModelCarMan]

I forgot some things; however, Edm covered two of them already. Wine and dine the sponsors so they'll open up their checkbooks, and have a camping area for RVs and campers to enjoy the whole weekend.
Have a small dirt and asphalt tracks for kids to bring there RC cars/trucks to race and play around on before the races start.
Have luxury sites for the high rolls, and others if they can afford them. Also have a drawing for fans (Between 2 to 5 people) to enjoy one night of racing in a luxury site.

I probably have more, if so I’ll post them as they come to me.

[Gary J]

EDM got my idea. Build a structure with a retractable roof above a 1/4 mile paved track. Have a gokart track beside it maybe with a shop. Have a big pond stocked with bass -pay to fish.

[ocalasp76]

What Ya Tink??

Boneman has the right idea,however, I would have a 1/2 mile asphalt track with a 3/8 mile flat dirt track inside the asphalt. An inside wall separating the two tracks. Pit area like Ocala, only larger. Run dirt Friday night and asphalt Saturday night. Electric and water available in the pits for a small fee for haulers. Dirt practice on Saturday morning while track fresh from Friday night.

-JIM-

[Todd McCreary]

LETS HERE WHAT YOU WOULD DO FIRST GOT TO BUILD THE TRACK IN FLORIDA CAN BE DIRT OR ASPHALT AND ZONEING HAS GAVE YOU PERMISSION

duplicate Slinger. 1/4 mi paved with 33*banking. back straight has more bank than the front so you've got to know what you're doing to get a car around there but the good cars will pass on the high side all night long.



I would buy the old USA track.

Saint Augustine is still supposed to be there.




it would be good business to add a 1/8 strip for street cars and bikes. Be sure to use common pit and concession areas for both tracks so that "their" fans and competitors could mix with ours.

not a bad idea at all, especially for a "no expense, dream facility". the problem in real life is that drag strips require a LOT of linear feet. doesn't have to be very wide but it does have to be really long. and if it's "no expense", you might as well go a full 1/4 and pull in some NHRA shows.

and you forgot a road course. if you're serious about bringing in SCCA you'll have a road course.




Build a bar and grill that is open all week.

i'm pretty sure you just swiped this idea from me.

i see you didn't dump all my ideas out for everybody to see though, i guess i should be grateful, eh?




How about leasing on-site, secure storage for racecars?

forget storage, what about taking over an old auto dealership like the old Palm Bay Chevrolet building at Palm Bay Road and 95 and having all kinds of work stalls people could rent?

then Tenney wouldn't have any excuses.



Keep the racers under control and structure things so they can't spend themselved into oblivion.

two words: engine claim.



I can tell you one thing...my track would be a Bandolero-free zone ...
Friday night, run the show off the back gate; meaning have all the traveling and unusual classes run for little or no purse. The grandstands don't even have to be open, so do it SCCA style with the competitors carrying the load.

you contradict yourself. if you're going to have a designated "back gate" night, then let in anybody who wants to pay. even if they've got Bandolero's.

[flvideo]

Some of these ideas are great. A bunch of them I have seen on Bobby Diehls desk. That man has visions. The only problem is money. Oh I forgot Ronny started this thread on the premise we woke up rich. The Idea I like from bobby was the on site garages. He has the idea of building garages for the racers to rent and keep their cars at the track so they don't have to tow. Thats a big big savings there. He is looking to be able to rent them reasonable so most can afford them. I probably know or knew at least 100 people that have rented garages for years to house their race cars and equiptment. How neat would it be to show up and open your own garage and prepare your car for racing, race, put it up, and go home all relaxed or go to breakfest or any other activity you normally do except loading your car and carrying it home. Bob...