Can Anything Be Done?

[ancrdave]

37 cars at OSW last night and 1/3 were SLM? What is going on? Rick is working his butt off, but for what? I know it's been volleyed around here time and again, but what can get the track back "on track"???? I remember when we could have 37 cars show up for PRACTICE on a Wed. nite a few years ago...

[Jane]

I remember that too Dave and I remember where we would have sometimes 100 cars on Friday and a good 60 or more on Saturday. I have talked to some racers who say changing rules have stopped them from racing but I don't know about that part. I just hope that things do change soon because Orlando is a great track and alot of people do love her. Rick knew it was an uphill climb and I have offered to help him anytime if he wants to try and bring some kind of car show here to Brevard and get people's interests up on racing. Just keep praying for the best and hopefully it will come soon.

[rhinoracing11]

turnit to dirt and no this isnt a joke.

[Hired Gun]

As a driver myself no matter of any other B.S.
A stern tech and a better payout and they will come!!!!
EVERY track pays better then FASCAR, and nearly EVERY track has a better car count then we do. The 37 that showed up Friday are the ones aswell hoping there will be a change. I know of a few that say just not worth what is takes to get there vs. what it pays to win.

Hope it comes together

[modracer22]

I agree it's a shame that there isn't more cars a OSW or NSS. I also agree the payout is probally one of the biggest things in my opinion that is keeping people away. The fact is that all other tracks in the state pay better the OSW or NSS. I know that this isn't something that I think will ever change but it is something that FASCAR is going to have to address. Making the track a dirt track might help but if you don't pay any better then don't think the car counts will go that much. I think the tech has got better and that is a step in the right direction.

[oldyeller]

and it looks like there were 29 cars at NSS? i understand about the payout, but even the strictly stocks are way down, and they run for nothing.

[RSB]

I'll say it again.

I'm sure there are ALOT of racers like me that have construction related jobs/ businesses that are REALLY hurting at this time. I can't afford to spend ANY money on my hobby and have had to take on a part time job (36 hours/week) just to make my mortgage payment. I guarantee there are MANY more in the same boat! It ain't about payout...for MOST of us.

[UREZ2PASS]

The main issue is the ecomony. Every racing series and track is suffering the effects of the economy. Florida's problem is that there are so few active racers and an abundance of tracks.

I expect some tracks will go dormant until the economy improves. Right now, most are just trying to keep their track open. Shorttrack racing is driver funded during these tough times. So quit your bitchin, and see the real problem, its the economy.

Race for fun, cause YOU AIN'T GONNA MAKE MONEY RACING.

[polesitter61]

110 cars in the pits at Citrus last night for 7 classes, you can blame the economy, but it can still be done.

[Boneman]

The problems must be attacked from several directions, since there is no single cause for the tracks' condition.

Three 3 causes go hand in hand, and all point to the problem of empty pits. Some suggestions follow this list..

"The economy" Yes, it is a problem for some, but there are still Florida tracks that are filling the pits. Clearly it is NOT keeping everyone away.

"Expenses" I don't care who is in the fuel and tire business, they will all do better if the tracks are thriving. At this point, it looks to me that the mid-season tire and wheel change was not only a mistake, but points directly to the attitude that racers and the back gate can be expected to support the track when attendance is down.

"Payouts" Yes, I am sick of hearing about them too, but how long can this fact be ignored? If a business has a huge amount of their customers complaining about the same thing, when will it get some attention?

The common theme here is money. Racer expenses have got to be cut. For examle, the track has control of tire selection and price. WHERE ARE THE ROCK HARD TIRES THAT DON'T WEAR OUT? Successful tracks run them, why don't we? Why is fuel $9/gallon?

Why not try a few weeks of enhanced pay-out? Make it temporary ("Race for the Cash in September", "Hunt for Green in October"), publicize it statewide and TRY something different.

Why do Strictly Stocks race for no pay at all? I'm not suggesting paying them, but why not at least give them a pit pass for next week? Anything will be an improvement over the recent 4 car fields who race for free.

Next, address the quality and variety of the show. In the last few years, we have evolved to a minimalist and often boring show with no hests, no visiting classes and only 5-6 features. Hello? Can this be changed? It is amazing that NSS draws as many fans as it does considing how weak some of the shows are. I went to a track last night who had 120 cars, many, many races and a hell of a 4 hour show. The stands were full and the pits were packed. Give the schedule some attention, add some interest (like visiting classes) and do it quick to salvage this season.

Finally, I am amazed at why there is so much effort to attract fans to an often weak show. That just poisons the well; if they see a bad show they won't be back. Car count must be addressed first, improving the show second, and when we have a good product, work on the fan count. Its crazy to expect any fans to be won over with the show the way it is now.

I know I am bring critical, but I also bring a car every week to OSW, and look forward to the resurgance of both tracks.

[Todd McCreary]

37 cars at OSW last night


29 cars for all classes at NSS.
http://www.newsmyrnaspeedway.org/content/view/431/97/


32 Modifieds at Citrus. only one class in single digits. at a much smaller track.
http://www.citruscountyspeedway.com/...0/07-10-10.htm


one of these things is not like the others.

[Jane]

I hate to say this but even my two small dirt tracks in the panhandle - Southern Raceway and Northwest Florida, pull more cars than OSW or NSS. I honestly don't know their payouts but I am sure if I asked, someone would tell me. My friend Bob Smith, he has panhandleracing.com, does the web sites for both tracks and does a great job of it. He does the stories and send out the pictures plus their photography also will send me pictures from their races.

I don't know their tire prices or their fuel price but somehow they pull cars and fans each week. Southern does race weekly but Northwest has moved to once a month this year.

Orlando and New Smyrna are both great tracks and have lots of racers all around them that do or have raced. I do believe that pit prices are about the same at every track but Boneman is right, the payouts are extremely different. But without fans and cars, how can you raise payouts to help the drivers at least try and race??

This is a crazy time for everyone and hopefully something will give soon, one way or another. Here in Brevard, we have space workers who are cooks at McDonald's or have no jobs at all. Every other house is for sale and it is bad right now. Most people can't afford to even go to the movies much less go to a race or race. Yet other tracks are pulling cars and fans and having a good show. So why can't our's???

Somehow tracks, fans, and racers need to work together but will they ever do that?? Too bad we can't put them all in one room and let everyone speak and actually have open ears and hear each other. This way maybe everyone would realize that they all care about the same thing - saving their local track and helping it.

Too bad I don't have a magic wand because I would do this because I really don't want to see many more dead and gone tracks in our state. Poor Rusty is babysitting a track that is brand new and could not make it and hopefully soon someone will step in and buy it and make it work. But it is just not here and it is just not Orlando and New Smyrna, but all over.

God bless our country, us and our tracks because right now we really do need it.

[straight up]

obviously , since they have not made ANY attempt to address and fix the problems , they arent going to . they must think the racers will cave in and come back . NOT going to happen until the three basic rules of a successfull track are corrected . 1- rules/enforced tech without interference or favortism , 2- payouts equal to other tracks [example,citrus sportsman 1st place $450 - nss or osw $200 ] 3- management/promotions . if citrus and auburndale can do it , so can fascar !

[Hired Gun]

and it looks like there were 29 cars at NSS? i understand about the payout, but even the strictly stocks are way down, and they run for nothing.

The ever the lowest classes at adale and inverness pay back at least 5 spots.
It cost money no matter what class you run. I ran OSW and NSS every weekend last year,
$20.00 to get in x 2 "both tracks" x 36 races a year= $1,440 in gate money
$50.00 in gas in tow truck and race car per weekend" x 36 weekends =$1,800
and that's not changing oil buying tires blah blah whatever else might break,
and this is just for a Strictly Stock. It's definitely not just gas her up and go.

[Hired Gun]

BoneMan and Straghtup said it best. Now What can we really do about it besides talk about it on here??? I think the first step is ummmmm how bout this every 2 weeks run some kinda exciting event so get crowds and driver to want to participate, such as OSW has probly the biggest and nicest Figure 8 tracks in the state and we only use it to race School Buses and park the pace truck Run some figure 8 race with CARS!! every one else dose it?
And between me and my crew we have aleast 5 caged strictly stock that would run in it. At NSS we ran a matress race and raced backwards 3 times and ran in the ran twice, I say keep it coming lets do a driver switch of race. Half way threw the race come down pit road and change drivers all under green! that would be fun