My Problems & Suggestions for Race Track Owners from a ‘Promotional’ Standpoint
I know it’s been awhile, ‘Atop The Trailer’ has officially been changed to ‘Behind The Wheel’
With the economy in the shape it is, presently and skyrocketing fuel costs, I would like to take this time to reach out to track owners and express some of my views regarding the lack of promotion at racetracks throughout the country. The following are some problems and suggestions to what they can do to help themselves in what is shaping up to look like a tough year for short track racing in general. These views are from a driver, crew member & fan perspective of many years.
To start, I use the word ‘racetrack owners’ simply due to the fact that to use the word ‘promoters’ for today’s back gate Jesse James’ is a slap in the face to actual promoters of an era of short track explosion gone by; the likes of Lindy Vacari, Earl Baltes, Jack Gunn & Alan Kreitzer are missed. Now I understand we compete on a smaller stage than the tracks those gentlemen promote or had promoted. However, all of these gentlemen, who are all legends in their own right, did what it took to make the tracks and organizations that they represented succeed at all levels - for the drivers, crews and fans alike. They cared about the entertainment value of what was being produced, not the money that lined there pockets from 12 classes a night to which they paid no purse to. Please understand I know track owners are running a business and need to make a profit, it just seems to me and many I talk to, that they don’t care about anything but that. I work for a family business and am self employed also. I would never even think about doing some of the things track owners are doing to their customers on a weekly basis (the racers and fans) and expect to get away with it.
I do not believe any of the following to be rocket science just some general common sense things that would make big differences. I highlight #2, #3 and #5.
#1. If you own a race track, you should not under any circumstance what so ever at any time own a racecar or have any type of affiliation with anyone who may compete at your racetrack. Some of you may laugh at this and think, duh, thanks for the news flash Captain Obvious, but believe it or not this problem exists. Anyone who competes at your track, right wrong or indifferent, will never get a fair shake or think they will on anything that comes into question with their car and a car you are affiliated with, period.
#2. This one has occurred way too many times this season. It is your job to make sure you have the equipment to maintain and keep care of your facility should bad weather strike or late track preparation do to weather hinder conditions. I have been at too many tracks to where the owner felt it was up to the competitors to run in the race track if they wanted to race on that particular night. News flash --- this just in, it is not my job to take my $20,000+ racecar on your unprepared track to which I am paying to compete at and make it race able. If you don’t have the equipment to deal with Mother Nature, I have no sympathy if everyone packs up their trailers demands a refund and goes home. Also, if you are a competitor and help do this and wad up or ruin your racecar, I have no sympathy for you either. My race car is not a roller, aerator, truck or tractor and it most certainly does not have 4wheel drive. Furthermore, I am not going to spend $30 at a car wash to clean off half of your racetrack that is now on my car. Nor am I going to burn $4.50 a gallon alcohol doing this either. It is not my problem, sorry. Its great that you don’t have to be anywhere till 6am, but keep in mind the rest of us have a long ride home and may have to work in the morning. Do the smart thing, cancel and try again next week. You will save yourself and everyone else that is there a lot of time and aggravation.
#3. Do you want to see your car counts increase? Then do away with these absolutely stupid and ridiculous point handicapping systems that keep people who do not compete at your track on a regular basis from ever coming to start with. Why? Because they know they are penalized before they ever get signed in. I understand you want to keep your regulars happy and there is nothing wrong with that, but there are other ways of doing this without penalizing people who may want to travel or compete at another race track. All any competitor asks is just to make it fair for everyone that is competing. The best system I believe is to draw for the heat race, have the winner of the first heat race or a different heat race every week draw an invert pill from 2-12 or whatever number. Do this in front of the grandstands for the fans to see to determine the starting lineup for the feature. It is fair for everyone and the law of averages eventually works in favor or against everyone at some point in time.
#4. Speaking of fans, or lack there of, our division is not a fan draw for the average race fan who may want to take there family to a night of local short track racing or a night of entertainment. I am not saying there is not tracks that are the exception. However, if there are no fans in the stands, what is it going to hurt you to give tickets to the local community? Whether it be at a high school, restaurant, gas station or whatever, to encourage people to come and watch? They are going to go to the concession stand and spend money, they may not even know your track exists. Therefore, you may gain fans and people that want to come back and actually pay to get in and watch weekly action if they deem it worthy to do so. This could only benefit you.
#5. The Purse – It is bleeping ridiculous on a weekly basis! I am having a hard time believing that the purses should not be increased fairly significantly. (with the exception of one racetrack that I know of that is up against some unique circumstances to say the least here in PA. Might I note that particular track has a lot more expenses than most tracks and only races a partial schedule during the summer months. However, they still pay a purse that is comparable to tracks that run spring to fall) I understand the aspects of a business and know there are operating expenses and you need to turn a profit. What I don’t get is that 600cc micro sprint racing has been around solidly for 10-12 years at lease and the purse today is the same as it was when the class started. I believe there were only 5 cars in the class back then. Today on a bad night there are 20 and I would say most tracks average 25-30+. It is the only class, in general, that has a consolation race on a weekly basis of the tracks I go to and get the results from. I was recently at a well know micro track that had a car count of 20+ cars and the payout from 10th-23rd was $20 per position. That is $260 to pay over half the field. It was $20 for a pit pass and $10 to enter the car. That is not even a payback. The purse for the class that night was not even $1,000. It is lunacy. I could also see if our class came with just the driver and one other person. Most of the drivers and crew come with 4 or more people. What I am saying I do not see why our division is not paying $500 to win and $50 to start on a weekly basis. It is more than paid for itself over the years and continues to do so. One of my favorite things at a track is when they have the payout posted for if you get x number of cars or between so many. I always noticed that those sheets stopped when they get to 30 cars. In other words, the competitors get screwed when you have less than 30 cars but if you have more, the payout is capped. You would think that after seeing the success of all the $10,000 to win races and the success of PA Speedweek that the track owners would get the picture. Pay more money get great car counts. -----Gee that’s a novel idea. No I think we should add another beater car class and not pay them any money. That would be better. Like my Grandfather always said, “Who’s the dummy”???
Thanks for reading. As always I like to hear from everyone good, bad or indifferent. See ya at the track.
