Another touring series in trouble?

[leftfield]

After having between 45-50 cars last year in the UDLMS races, the car count this year has been way down. The last race at Hendry, they had 11 cars. And now they are cutting bonuses and lowering purses for the rest of the year. They had a really good thing going last year, I wonder if maybe trying to branch out into other states has hurt the car count this year.

[Winger]

Be interesting to see what happens. This was my favorite series and I hope it survives.They had a good thing going. It appears that something else is going on to cut the car counts, other than the economy. Cutting purses and bonuses is never good but at least they notified everyone before doing it. Losing East Bay from the schedule and scheduling the out of state races certainly doesn't ensure a strong loyal competitor base. Hopefully it returns to what it was a year ago. Can't wait to see what they draw at Ocala and Volusia next week. Ocala had 25+ late models last week for their fan appreciation night. I believe Volusia had a similar car count the following night and many of those cars didn't run at both tracks. NFS also ran late models last weekend. So the cars are out there. Let's see if they show up to support the UDLMCS.

[ModelCarMan]

This is sad news. When they, whoever they are, decided not to come back to East Bay this year it was disappointing to me. I was at East Bay last year and they had way over 40 cars trying to make the field and man was it a great show!

[ALASKA54]

It will be interesting to see how many cars show up at Golden Isles this weekend with no resistance with other tracks running this type of cars (that I know of). $12,000 to win brings them out and qualifing was rained out last night, so I guess everything starts from scratch tonight.

[flvideo]

Alaska is that the National Late Model series at Golden Isles? Bob..

[Kerrmintor]

I agree with you, the UDLMS is not the same anymore. The car count is way down. Ray Millers series is the same, car count is down. I just wish there was some way to get all the late models together again at the same race track, I know its hard, but many times in the past, I seen 60 to 75 late models at an event at GIS. That is hard to do anywhere in the country, but it was done there. I enjoy all types of racing, but if you get "The Professor, The Locomotive, Mark Whitener, Patrick Williams, the Noblisch's, some of the Georgia and Alabama Outlaws together, its a great show. I wont make it to GIS until Saturday, but Im looking forward to it. I believe its being run under Ray Millers flag as I heard UDLMS and GIS are no longer affiliated. The heck with what series it is, If there is a big purse, a green flag, a white flag and a checkered flag, they will come no matter whose series it is, and thats what true race fans want. See you at the track.

[Jane]

Since I was an asphalt girl last year, I really didn't follow the UDLMSC that much so I don't know about car counts and all that stuff. But by what I have seen this year, they bring more Late Models than most big asphalt races do and they are a great group of guys. So far I have not been disappointed in any of their turnouts at Volusia.

Next weekend will be a big one for dirt Late Models with one driver taking home possibly $8000 in his pocket if he wins bothr Ocala and Volusia and there are quite a few who could do that. I have the upmost respect for these guys and am learning what a great group of guys they are. And like I said, they pull more cars than most asphalt races even hope to pull.

I just hate all the negative talk we seem to have about any and all series anymore. Yes, they go up and down in car counts but part of it is economy and the other usually has something to do with the series itself and making drivers mad and they leave. But let's try to be positive and wish only the best for the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series. By what I have seen thus far in 2009, it is a good series.

And I really wanted to go to Golden Isles this weekend but money has stopped that hope. But whoever goes, be sure to send me a few tidbits so I can post them and some pictures if you take any. I know alot of the guys from Florida are going and I wish them the best.

But no matter what or where you go this weekend, have fun, stay safe and SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TRACK.

Jane

[ALASKA54]

Alaska is that the National Late Model series at Golden Isles? Bob..

Yes, I saw on another web-site where they had 46 sign in last night and 4 that couldn't come last night that will be there tonight. Qualifing was rained out last night so they will have to qualify and run 5 heats tonight.

http://www.goldenislesspeedway.com/

[Frasson118]

When I saw that the schedule was built mainly around the Northern half of Fla, and mostly in GA and AL, I figured there would be big troubles keeping a good thing going.

That is just far too much travel for a group of guys who do this as a hobby. Other than Collins, Whitener, Fitzgerald and Tyler Ivey, I don't think anyone else has the funds (and/or time) to do that many races far, far from home.

Getting back to strictly Fla tracks (and possibly a co-sanctioned race or 2 at Golden Isles), might be the only way to save this series.

Another thing to consider, is that this series is run by Ken Kenney... who also spent a huge part of his time in buyng, refurbishing, and running the New Hendry Co. Speedway. Not sure how you can run a track in the southernmost part of Florida, and at the same time, properly promote a series race in Phoenix, Alabama. I think he spread himself, and his time, way too thin.

Hopefully, it can pick back up to where it was, because it was a fantastic series, with a bunch of support.

[Kerrmintor]

I agree with you on what you said, I agree with Jane as well, heck I'm not putting down either series, I like them both. Johnny Collins has not been running as much this year due to funds as well. I spoke with a friend at GIS and he said there are about 15 more late models expected today and possibly more on Saturday, especially if tonight gets rained out. Its raining hard right now in Jacksonville and it looks like its headed to Brunswick as well, they might get cancelled tonight too. I wonder if they will move up Saturdays schedule any if they have a rainout tonight?

When I saw that the schedule was built mainly around the Northern half of Fla, and mostly in GA and AL, I figured there would be big troubles keeping a good thing going.

That is just far too much travel for a group of guys who do this as a hobby. Other than Collins, Whitener, Fitzgerald and Tyler Ivey, I don't think anyone else has the funds (and/or time) to do that many races far, far from home.

Getting back to strictly Fla tracks (and possibly a co-sanctioned race or 2 at Golden Isles), might be the only way to save this series.

Another thing to consider, is that this series is run by Ken Kenney... who also spent a huge part of his time in buyng, refurbishing, and running the New Hendry Co. Speedway. Not sure how you can run a track in the southernmost part of Florida, and at the same time, properly promote a series race in Phoenix, Alabama. I think he spread himself, and his time, way too thin.

Hopefully, it can pick back up to where it was, because it was a fantastic series, with a bunch of support.

[flvideo]

I talked to Johnny Collins 2 days ago and he is running all Rays races this year and as many of kens that he can. I am thinking the long distance thing got to be too much for a lot of them Plus the economy. I talked to several of them a few weeks ago at ccmp and some have had to cut back and race a selected number of races. I know the travel thing got me. I went to all the series shows last year and loved it but it cost a fortune. It may not be much for some but it cost me $285 in fuel to drive to Golden Isles last year and we went twice. Not to mention Motels and food. I just couldn't do it this year. I went to Ocala the first race this year and taped them at CCMP. But thats it.
I really wish them well, they are a great bunch of guys. Kenny seems to be able to talk the spotts off a dog. Mabey he canm pick up some sponcers. Bob..

[BJ Cavin]

A couple of years ago I remember people having an absolute fit over the UDLMCS bringing 40 to 50 cars to events. Back then anything over 20 was considered pretty good, and 30 was fantastic. Now people are complaining that there are less than 40 showing up. I'm just happy that it's not 12 like with some of the asphalt events.

It seems to me that whenever something new comes along like the UDLMCS that everyone wants to jump onto the bandwagon. Then as time goes on and the newness wears off a little, things tend to plateau off a bit and settle down. We've seen that with the UDLMCS and we've seen that the economy has made that effect even more noticible. The only thing I want to ask is why is it such a big deal? I see no reason to believe that the entire series is going to come unglued just because late in the season things are running a little thinner.

The last two seasons at Ocala Speedway I've seen racers come and go, and many seem to run out of cash toward the end of a long season. That guy that pulls 100 miles to race may not be so willing to do it anymore, especially if he is not in the points race and his stuff keeps breaking or getting broken. Expenses mount as time goes on, and toward the end of the racing season with Christmas on the horizon some folks get a lot more conservative with their cash.

Let's not start nailing the lid on the coffin yet, OK?

[Jane]

No more negative, just positive thoughts. And yes, UDLMCS has more cars than most asphalt events. They might not have 40 but I have seen alot of 30-35 this year. And B.J. is right, by the end of the season people are out of money, property taxes are due, Christmas is coming and people must make choices.

I still believe that next weekend will be a good one at Ocala on Friday and Volusia on Saturday. And frankly, I am tired of putting nails in coffins. I only wish UDLMCS the best and frankly this year, I have not seen any negative about them. I know Rusty ran a Dirt Late Model series at Monroe this year and he only got probably 12 dirt cars to run asphalt. Just about what Charlotte County got when they ran the UDLMCS at their track this year. Give them credit, at least, they tried.

Wouldn't it be better to just wish them well and hope 2010 is good to the series and it's drivers. Series car counts go up and down, they always have, they always will. Just be happy that you have a Dirt Late Model series to watch and a track to go to watch them at. I know I am.

Have a good weekend and here comes the cooler weather thank goodness.

[Winger]

I hope I'm not one being referred to as posting something negative. I really enjoy and support the series. I certainly hope it survives. It just appears, to me, that something isn't quite right with the series right now. The cars are out there. Ocala and Volusia showed that last weekend with both running non-sanctioned races. Combine those with the East Bay, NFS, and Georgia cars that didn't run those races and you can see the cars are out there. Ocala and Volusia should do well regardless of UDLMCS. If they don't, well I won't go there. It really surprised and bothers me that they only drew 11 cars to Hendry. Ken is the promoter of the track and series and it just seemed odd. My hope, by contributing to this thread. is to show there is support for the series and I hope they go back to what worked a year ago. Stay in a more restricted area, get East Bay back on the schedule, work with Ray's series, and control the weather. I don't think anyone expects car counts with the numbers it had last year but I don't think it should be unreasonable to expect car counts in the 30's. I'd like to hear from the drivers and car owners to hear what their thoughts are.
Please don't think this is a negative post. It isn't. It's meant to be constructive and I do support the series. I want to see it thrive.

[flvideo]

I really think the serie is going to be allright. From what I gathered from Johnny the other day.a lot of the drivers this year are splitting their time with other series. Mainly Ray Miller and the National Late Model series. But I hear also rays numbers are down too. I'lll tell you, whe kenny called me 21/2 years ago and ask me to travel with his series, I was ready to fold my tent and become a spectator agin. Kenny and the UDLMCS put a new spunk in my step. I have never raced dirt and never been around it much till 2 years ago.
when I went to Hendry county in 2007 to tape Kennys first show, I had only taped 1 dirt show in my career. I taped will Cagles first show when he took over East Bay several years ago. The thing is kenny is still doing things right they are just havimg growing pains. I do think he has spread himself a little thin this year with Hendry. Last year ken was on the phone constantly promoting. Drivers and tracks. I think we were on the way to East Alabama and he set up the first Volusia show for the series. We stopped for lunch and he said well fellows we are going to Volusia and it happened. Maybe with Hedry he doesn't have the time to do those things. Last year Robbie and I interviewed Shawn Smith and he said it all. Ken Kinny is never going to let this series fail, and I believe that with all my heart. Bob..

Durn I rote a book!! LOL!