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

[sunshinestateracing1]

Here is My dream if I ever win Powerball

With the zoning not being a issue as Ron stated

Build both asphalt and dirt track. A 1/2 mile high banked asphalt track ( a lil Bristol) would have a figure 8 in the asphalt track and right beside it a 1/2 mile dirt track with a perment stage built in the center with a roof that could be put up to cover stage for concerts. With grand stands back to back with stands facing both tracks and one huge scoring tower and VIP boths in the middel of the grand stands that can be used on both tracks. On both ends of both tracks would be grassed over and have seatng area for folks in lawn chairs and the back strech could be set up for cars to park along for tailgateing. The pits would be at the back end of the tracks and be large enought to cover both tracks and have hook ups for rv's and campers.

Location for me would be mostly because of my roots to this are and not wanting to move, is one of these three locations. 1. Hy 31 close to Desoto county Charlotte count line. 2. Hy 70 near Desoto county Higlands county line or 3. hy70 Desoto county near Manatee County line. All three are near major roads that have access from major highways for some what easy access from all over Florida.

First thing I would do was higher 4 full time positions to help build report with customers both Fans and racer's, these positions would be:
1. Director of race operations ( build relations with racers and work to maintain communication with track and racers)
2. Director or Promoter of events ( to build fan base and work directly with fan feed back and to advertise and fill the stands for all events.
3. Head of tech ( wich would be on staff full time for any questions or to have a car with questions checked a any time before a race) Would have to be fair and consistant and hold to all rules.
4. Director of Maintence ( to keep facilities at peak and in working order at alltimes)
there would be others but to provide great customer service to both racer's and Fans these four would have to work together and feed off each other to make everything work. If you treat each of these four area's as a seperate business and make the overall customer experince for both the racer's and the fans right you will truley have a win/win.

I would run Dirt on Friday night and Asphalt and Saturday nights and have special events and concerts on Sunday's.

Class's would run 4 to 5 back bone class's weekly or bi weekly with one big event ( late models, sprints open wheels ect.) a week, and no backbone class would run more than three weeks a month to give all a break. Would also book 5 to 8 big events a year (ex. hooters cup ,wheelen mods, usac sprints ect.)

Price would be 15 dollars for grand stands with senior and childern discounts ( all retired and active millitary would be free same with law enforcement) Would offer a 25 dollar weekend package for people coming to both dirt and asphalt race's.

Pits: 25 dollars for pits to both tracks or 45 dollars for a weekend pit pass to both tracks.

Entry fee would be set up by class and or special race's but would be reasonabel.

Payout would be set in stone and high for class compared to other tracks, but would pay the winner's well but not have ahuge drop off from 3rd on down . Would spread the money out through out the feild, to make it worth everyone to come out and put on a show.

the key is have both a great mix of great race's and fan base. You get one and put on a great show you will egt the other both fans and racer's alike, (racers like to race in front of a crowd and fans like to see great car count.

I would definatly make sure that both my racer's and fans had a great experince, and would be both in the grand stands and pits shaking hands and talking to make sure the best experince possibel was had by all.

I could get into details as far as a special snack bar area and more but I think I have covered what ron asked about. Hope you all enjoy and think I am not way off base of a great florida track.


Robert

PS. also just an extra both tracks would have a jumbo tron showing live feed of the race's and maybe even replay technology for crahes and great pass's, with the ablity to get the race on a dvd before you ever leave the track.

[ronabneysr]

thanks some really super ideas

people are all ways going to have to eat - rest - and relax - racing can pay for it self just has to have some frills

how about place to eat big enough to come into to order your food and maybee sit down to eat it

also have cameras on track and in pits with tv's on wall in food court or resturant so you did not miss any thing

and real chair back seats to sit in . turn the track were sun will not be beating down on you in after noon love idea covered stands

[Dana Barlow]

SE Fla.[Miami/Broward or near] is staving for a small weekend track; Closeist now is over 2hr's one way [Miami Homestead Speeway counts for nothing at all,may as well not be here for us weekend hobbie racers]
Build a banked, paved quarter mile with a figure 8, just like Sunshine Speedway and 1/4mile drag.,
1/2 mile only screws up cars to fast and the show sucks if the car count is down,plus too much to keep up. 1/2 mile dose kind of work if your in a place like NSS were ya get speedweeks to recoup with,but the rest of the year is a hard times. A 1/4Mile show is better by far on a weekly

[Edm]

I will have a flag man with SOME enthusiasm and a decent announcer. There will be no show killers. Weight lifting, a bunch of old guys on motor cycles out past their bed time, or any of that stuff. I would have some unique gigs BEFORE the races start but nothing during.
Autograph session will be after the races.

Payouts will be posted before hand and based on the number of cars that show. Heat races will count towards points and pay.

I thought on site storage is a great idea but you would have to have security because we all know that not every racer is honest.

Paved pits and a covered pit slabs for the racers would an option too. Maybe a limited number of covered pit slabs and charge a fee for them would be an idea.

Lil 500 go kart tracks on site too. How awesome would that be? Open late after the races they would be MONEY MAKERS.

My facility would be an event whore. Anything I could bring to the table to make sure the land is as profitable and as busy as possible would be done. There is no reason for the land to sit idle around the tracks if it can used to increase track revenue.

[andre]

All of that stuff is nice but, you already have all kinda nice racing facilities in Fla. The one that are starving all have the same syndrome: thre's no show on it.!!!! Put a show on and you will realise that you don't need a golden palace to bring the fans, just a good entertaining event. Air conditionned bathroom won't do sh...t to attract the fans if the main event is 40 laps with 8 Mini .....(Fill as you please) or 150 laps with 15 Mini Stocks.

[Edm]

All of that stuff is nice but, you already have all kinda nice racing facilities in Fla. The one that are starving all have the same syndrome: thre's no show on it.!!!! Put a show on and you will realise that you don't need a golden palace to bring the fans, just a good entertaining event. Air conditionned bathroom won't do sh...t to attract the fans if the main event is 40 laps with 8 Mini .....(Fill as you please) or 150 laps with 15 Mini Stocks.

I understand that the rest of us are not allowed to dream but what are your ideas? Thats what this thread is supposed to be about.

[Boneman]

Andre, A/C in the bathrooms may not matter to you in Canada, so I suggest you tour a few speedway outhouses down here in the heat of summer. I can tell you with 100% certainty that my wife never returned to a track where I raced solely because of the condition of their bathrooms. I don't think the bathrooms will attract fans, but they CAN MAKE FANS RUN AWAY SCREAMING.

We're dreaming here, nothing more.

[oneoff]

Oneoff Motorsports Park....Part 1.

Part 1....The track. 4/10 mile, 18-20-22 degrees progressive banking, both ends same radias, X in infield. Exit pits on turn 4 lined up and ready to race. After checker flag, cool down back to turn 4 down through the X to reenter the pits on turn 2. Covered stands on frount and back sides. Teired Handycapped seating in turns 1 and 2. Inclined grassy area in turns 3 and 4 for chairs, recliners, blankets, ect., for those so inclined, Pun intended. Clear infield. Safer Barrier on all outside walls. 8 mens and womens restrooms located around the track for fans plus 2 larger units in the pit area. ALL AIRCONDITIONED!! All common areas well be paved, concrete, or landscaped grass. All track lighting wel be on exterior, outside the walls. All common areas well be will lighted for fan and racer saftey. All food locations well be run by one of the following:Hardy's, Wendy's, Burger King, McDonalds, or Checkers, who well also have a perment location on race track highway frountage. Crossover bridges over pit exit on turn 4, and pit entrance on turn 2, well give seating access to all areas to everybody. Track location somewhere in central Florida near a major north-south and east-west highways. Stay tuned for Part 2.

[ModelCarMan]

Hey Oneoff, I like your idea about Hardy's, Wendy's, Burger King, McDonalds and Checkers. How about a Hooters walk up window with a Hooter girl taking your order of course??????
I'll make sure I'll go to that window every race...at lease once FUR-SURE!!!!

[all4racin]

If only it would happen to me!!!
What amazing plans I have......

[racnphotos68]

My two cents...

Some good ideas I have always had have already been presented but here goes:

1/2 mile banked asphalt track with 3/8 mile dirt track. Back to back pits so some common things can be shared. Water, compressed air, and electric provided (might have to be a $10 per trailer charge to cover that). The dirt track runs on Friday nights, Asphalt on Sat. At least once every few months one of the top classes from the Asphalt track takes a night off and runs a 100 lapper with a concert after the race on a Sunday afternoon.
Musco lighting system for tracks and pits.
Concert quality sound system in addition to a multi camera video system with a screen located on the east side so the fans don't have to look into the sun to see the screen. Additional monitors can be placed around at various points of interest (ie the air conditioned bathrooms and concession stand) at each track. Tech booth would be shared between both tracks. Entire property should be wired with a network system that would allow for change as the business grows. Each class would have music as the cars enter the track.
Tickets- No more than $10 for adults. I believe if you make it affordable, they will come, and come back!! Special events would be higher but never more than $20 (that would be for the Carl Green / Rick Bristol match race). Family section (no beer) and a playground a must (opposite end of the track from the screen).
Classes- I know I am bending the rules but 12 classes is way too much. Supers, LM, Nascar style Mods, Sportsman, Minis, and two entry classes (4cyl and 8cyl). Dirt track would have LM, Mods, 410 sprints, Minis, and two entry classes.
Revenue- Tires, Fuel, concessions all run by the track. Advertising sold for in between races and during clean ups, as well as each class sponsored. A name brand restaurant would be on property to get non race fans used to stopping by and would have tv's showing on track action with a show your receipt, get in half price deal for that night's races. Non racing nights would have highlights from previous races and ads for upcoming ones.
Sponsors for giving extra payouts to drivers for longest haul to get to the track (a new driver each week), worst luck of the night (as voted by fans, votes turned in at the concession stand) and best move of the night (also voted on by fans)
Last but not least, No Bandeleros or anything like it. Maybe I'd allow an occasional Legends race. Maybe...
I know this is if money was no option when in fact it is a huge factor but it is fun to do this. Thanks for listening to my daydream but the boss is coming so I need to go.

[andre]

Andre, A/C in the bathrooms may not matter to you in Canada, so I suggest you tour a few speedway outhouses down here in the heat of summer. I can tell you with 100% certainty that my wife never returned to a track where I raced solely because of the condition of their bathrooms. I don't think the bathrooms will attract fans, but they CAN MAKE FANS RUN AWAY SCREAMING.

We're dreaming here, nothing more.

Keep on dreaming guys!!!! Dreams and goals keeps america going. Hope someday somebody in Fla will have the money to go forward with those nice ideas.

BTW, just to clarify, from November of '88 to May of '95, in lived in Broward County. I raced in Hialeah & CCMP in 93. Also tried Dwarf Car in A dale. I went as a crew member many times to East Bay with Gary White from Pompano who owned a sprint car at that time. THat was during the Sammy Rodriguez era, won every week. Also had the chance to visit, as a fan, the following Fla racing facilities: Inverness, New Smyrna, Ocala, Volusia, Moroso drag strip. I was involved in PCS in fall of 03. So, I kinda know what FLA heat is. And I agree 100% with you that AC in bathroom would be nice for race fans during summer months.