Reality Is A Bitter Pill To Swallow--

[AB195]

FASCAR at Orlando SpeedWorld has been in control since the late-80's, and by now you would have thought things would have turned out just a tad-bit better after all these years. Save for the Don Nerone years, and the Rusty Marcus years, the track has seen better times. Their brief tenure as owners of this fine Raceway has been less than successful, for the most part.

At least FASCAR is leading by example, to increase racing action, full fields and full stands. j/k

And asking a small-sized message board for ideas on promotions and thoughts on how to increase profits and purses is sort-of...um....well yes, nothing says "solid business plan" like guessing and rolling the dice time and again. In fact, almost all Fortune 500 companies were built on the principle of just hastily slapping (year after year long) crap together like this, and hoping for the very best.

There are some tried-and-true formulas out there for success of a Raceway, none of which seem to be followed by Orlando Speedworld (or WTFCAR).
I wish them the best, and some headlines I'd like to read about;

--Fire Marshal stops flow of fans into OSW: Too Overcrowded--
--Ocala Speedway Makes Presentation For FASCAR Sanction--
--OSW Pits Are Too Full; Teams Turned Away--
--Citrus County Raceway Fans Abandon Their Track, and Head To OSW--
--Orlando SpeedWorld Leads The USA in Attendance Records--
--NASCAR Purchases FASCAR--

[dd38]

Osw

I can remember the days at OSW where that was close to your statements. I've got pictures back when I ran Thunder Cars and Limited Late models (1979-1985) where I won and in the pictures you could see the stands packed with people.

[ancrdave]

When the infamous Billy Herndon owned the place, there were several promoters who did very well... Great fields of cars and the stands were packed just like dd38 mentioned... However, each time the track became successful, Herndon would raise the rent forcing the promoter to shut down because he couldn't make a buck for himself...
Nerone's first tenure (under Herndon) from late '85 thru mid '87 was an absolute blast... More cars than the pits could hold and great racing... That ended when Herndon sold the property to Clyde Hart...
The track had a few really good years with Clyde and the early days of FASCAR but times have changed...
A few years ago if you lived west of Orlando, you could load up your car and be at the track in about 45 minutes... Now you just about have to leave by noon in order to get any practice time in... The track has always drawn 50 percent or more of its cars and fans from Brevard County anyway since the demise of Melbourne (Eau Gallie) Speedway...
Right now it seems the management has dug such a deep hole that it will take a while to crawl out of it and certainly no drivers want to jump in that hole with them right now...
I also know that several parties with pretty deep pockets have offered to rent the place just like Carl does with the drag strip... I really don't know why FASCAR doesn't lease the place out... That way they know they will make a few bucks on a regular basis because they've got to be losing money as it stands now.
I wish my good friend Rick Bristol all the luck in the world... Hopefully his passion, faith and perseverance will work out, but only if he gets the support he needs...

[Edm]

Not gonna name any names but it doesn't help when you have former employees complaining about the "shit hole" because they had to pay to get in. I love my track and I take offense to such comments. I have been to every track within a 300 mile radius and it is not the best but it is not by far the worst.

[Jane]

I love SpeedWorld and remember the good old days and the present. When Rusty was there, we really worked hard to get fans in the stands and more cars. For awhile it worked but then the economy got real bad and car counts and fans slipped. But my family and I had some great times way back when at SpeedWorld and then we would go to NSS on Saturdays. Those were the days you could bring in a cooler and food and that helped back then. If you had not been able to do that, not sure we would have been able to go to all the races we did.

Times do change and it shows alot in racing at some of our local tracks. Rick Bristol has a big job ahead of him and I know Rick and he will do his best to make it better but you are right, he needs help behind him to do that. We use to have a great time at Rick's sponsor place in Orlando when he would have that. Cars and drivers would come out and enjoy the night and we got some new fans.

Heck, those times Rusty took us to McDonald's in Titusville and we had the cars and people would come over and check them out and Pedie Allison gave out trophys to the kids, those were great. And Ron Dicandio's school shows were great and the kids loved it. But it took work on management's part and the drivers.

Hopefully SpeedWorld will get better because I do love that track and the people who support that track. I have not been there in quite awhile but one of these days I will go back but I wish SpeedWorld the best and Rick.

[ronabneysr]

i don't know how to fix it but orlando speedworld is a gold mine

perfect location - size - shape plenty speed and track was perfect back in day

i have seen it so packed there it took forever to get out of the pits
there has to be some body that can fix the problem ------------------

[Boneman]

We can all agree that OSW is heck of a nice facility. The surface is very racey, the viewing is first rate, and its in the world's number one tourist region....with millions of full-time residents! How can things be so bad? It should be a packed house every night. I've heard all the excuses for years and I don't believe them.

Promoter Rex would be ignoring the front gate for now. The show is too weak to win over new fans. Instead I'd be working over the owners and drivers to get some cars back in the pits. Visit their race garages, take 'em to lunch, hear them out and persuade them to come back racing. Offer incentives on tires, pit passes and other expenses. I'd prowl the pits at NSS (the sister track) and invite more cars in. Invite other forms of racing (tuners, karts, super moto, electrics, lawn mowers, anything!) to our track to lure some of those gearheads to join our sport.

How is this for a slogan? "Orlando Speedworld, where EVERYBODY gets a top 5!"

Regarding the statement "no drivers wanting to jump in the hole", think about this: its easier to race in a smaller field. There is much less destruction, you are more valuable to the track, it gives new racers fewer things to hit as they learn, and more opportunity to run near the front. There is more practice time too.

Yes, I love a big wild race as much as the next guy, but they are tougher to win and it takes more repair work than racing with the current car count at OSW.

[flvideo]

Rex who wants to race in a field of 5 cars. It isn't much of a challedge especially if you have a good ride. You take off and never see another car till you lap them. It just seems like a elongated practice. It also is not very exciting for fans to watch. I have heard for too long that its the economy, but I don't think so. I see tracks with good car counts and butts in the stands. With the economy like it is they wouldn't be there if the racing wasn't fun to watch. Last Saturday, PGS opening night, we had 103 cars in the pits and 1500 paid fans. The new owmers lowered the admission to $10 and lowered the prices in the concessions pretty drasticly. I think the class with the shortest field was 15 cars. All the racing was good, in all classes. I sure don't want to see any thing happen with OSW, its a good facility. I really hope the powers to be figure out what to do and do it quick. Bob...

[Boneman]

Bob, I"m not defending a 5 car field. It is a symptom of a sick class and a sick track. My point is to counter the idea that no racer wants to support the track during its sick period.

[flvideo]

I see Rex. I don't know the answer but I sure hope they find one. Do you think all the rain outs last year has just turned them off? I saw someone above had mentioned personal contact with the drivers. When Bobby was struggling he called drivers personally and ask what the problem was and invited them to come back. I seem to remember a few weeks ago they invited all to come to a free B BQ and not many responded. Free food usually brings them out of the woodwork. I don't know man. Bob...

[straight up]

answer this , what are the three things that sucessfull tracks like citrus , auburndale and punta gorda have in place that osw and nss do not have ? answer = cure .

[Marty Little]

Having been an Orlando Speedway/Orlando Raceway/OSW fan since 1957 I have some wonderful memories of racing in Central Florida. I believe what OSW currently lacks is passion and loyalty. That covers management, particpants and fans.

Citrus and Ocala quickly come to mind as having those two ingredients and that's a part of what makes them a success.

Following Rex's lead, promoter Marty would do the following. First, change the race night from Friday to Saturday. I know, Orlando has a 50+ year history of racing on Friday nights but its not working and Dave gave one of the biggest answers - traffic if coming from the west. Friday is payday for many workers and not everyone can get off early, get home, clean up and get to speedway in a timely manner. Racing on Saturdays would eliminate much of that. By moving to Saturdays it would force some teams to make a choice - Orlando, NSS or maybe even Auburndale. Establish some "home track teams" and build on that. Maybe even go one step further and change the rules for the lower divisions so that the cars are only legal at OSW. Crazy you say? Hialeah and Palm Beach did that years ago in divisions other than the late models and the car counts increased. A few of the guys would swap a rear end or other items over but not many and it built a home track fan and car count base.
Believe it or not, a real speedway promoter has to do it full time. Yes, its risky as the weather is always there to foul things up, but promoting (not just openng the gates) a speedway properly requires a ton of work and a dedicated staff. It's not a part time job in any way. There is so much to do at a speedway during the week in preparation for one night of racing most people have no clue. There is no magic "speedway fairy" that comes in and mows grass, repairs plumbing, electrical or sound systems, orders food, pays bills, cleans up trash etc. In addition this promoter person should be speaking to the local Rotary club, attending a Chamber of Commerce meeting, arranging for a car and driver to visit a local school, coddling disgruntled drivers and crew persons or battling some misfit on a message board who has all the answers but may not come to the track for weeks or months etc.
I was the full time promoter at Hialeah Speedway for almost two years during 1985-86 and I can tell you it was a ton of work seven day a week. Until Robert Hart is willing to lease the oval to someone as he does the drag strip, I don't see things changing. God bless Rick Bristol and his love of racing and dedication, but he's come to a gun fight with a knife.
Bottom line is, support your local track before it joins Sunshine, St Augustine, Hialeah, Palm Beach, Thundercross, Naples, Miami-Hollywood, Melbourne/Eau Gallie, Ft Pierce, Vero Beach, Golden Gate and others that are now but a memory. Sorry for being so wound up but that's my .02 worth.

[Rick B.]

Well ok I will bite !

Let me start by sayng thanks to those who have said nice things and wished me well and although I have come to a gun fight with a knife, it is a battle I am willing to fight, because I love racing and Speedworld. Many of the things that Rex, Marty and others have mentioned are things I am trying to do. I am working on the local communities, Scouts, Library, Schools etc. What many do not ralize is how hard it is today to do these things then it was in the day. Insurance issues, security etc. is very difficult. I have many proposals I am trying to get sponsors, improvements etc. I have been in contact with drivers and I have tried to get some to show up and talk to me, where they can be open without owner, other management etc there. I am going to offer to do again, maybe with easier and better time to try.

Now I will say this, there is enough negative attitudes to go around. We have some in the team, much in the pits, and many that do not come anymore. I am trying to bring a positive, exciting attitude to the fight. I need some people who will say ok, we know about the past, we kbnow about this person and that, but lets try to get behind an effort to improve things. I need drivers to come talk to me, openly, contructively etc. I need volunteers to help get me contacts of places, businesses etc that may get involved. I am working full time, I have spent hour on hous, passing out info, making appointments and proposals, much of this will not bring fruit until later because many companies do budgets for the year in September October, but I have made many great contacts and am trying to build those relationships. I have some fun nights, events planned during the year, that can bring some new folks, add to the show etc. I am asking those whoreally care and really want to see Orlando succeed to abandon the negative attitudes, and join me in helping. I can promise only that I will work hard and I will d all I can to gain momentum. It is easy to sit back and say all these things and complain, but is takes true heart and effort to get out and do somthing.

There are things that need to change, people who need to change, rules that need to be fixed, a show that needs to improve, promotions that can work. But if we just sit and listen to the negitivity, it is easy to just give up. I am not going to give up, I will continue to fight. I am asking others to join the fight, join with me and lets just see what can be done.

For those who have gone on to other tracks or do not work at Orlando anymore. If you care for the track as you say, then do what you can to help, stop all the negative bashing and send me your positive ideas and thoughts.

If we are going to succeed we have to have the attitude that we can !

Thanks !

[al_tere_go_05]

answer this , what are the three things that sucessfull tracks like citrus , auburndale and punta gorda have in place that osw and nss do not have ? answer = cure .


if punta gorda= sucessful? than NSS and OSW must be doing Pretty good so what is your complaint? Hey want to go fishing?

[straight up]

mike , if the results of their 1st nite since new ownership is any sign , yes punta gorda is sucessfull . read the posts and race reports about their car count and how many fans were in the stands . also check out the payouts . and that was only the first nite ! too far away though .anyhow i really dont have any complaints other than too many dam horses to feed , money tree in the back yard aint producing squat , love bugs messin up my truck . and NO i dont want to go fishing , bout as boring as golf ! besides its looking like it wont be long before all the fish are dead or mutated . BP oil is coming to a lake or stream near you !