84 replies to this topic

[BaconBits]

Less is more. Time for a promoter to think outside the tired old status quo Western Pa mentality of 5 or more divisions.

Open/steel block lates combined, an open wheel division like mods or 305 sprints, and ONE stock class.

 

 

This.

[snooky]

I like the idea of 3 classes. Open lates, an open wheel class and possibly run Street Stocks and pure stocks on alternating fridays.

[714d]

I don't think the difference is huge between alum and steel block lates. The difference is... The guys that have the aluminum engines typically (not always) have deeper pockets all around. They don't just have the motor. They have better shocks, newer chassis, are just typically better programs.

[Kschaff913]

A semi-late class or econo-late class like the one amp and clinton county ran. Engines can be built for 5-7k, more afffordable than a typical steel block. No schrader valves, no adj. shocks. Then run a super class, street stocks, pure stocks etc.

[Toolbox3]

They always had a great field of steel blocks every fri nite with some damn good drivers!

[Express Man]

Pure BS.........

Chris Rhodes CR9 has won more than a few super late races with a steel block over the years at Thunder Valley which is quite a bit larger than Thunder Mountain.

You are correct!    Except the block was litened sixty pounds in the mill and the rest of the engine was better than the run of the mill used parts and built by a professional builder!  All steelblocks  aren't what they appear!  He did that just to prove a point!  It wasn't a true steelblock like most would run!  However I do agree the difference is only about 90 lbs in most cases!  The true difference in the steelblock guys and the Aluminum guys is budget!  I'll stop there and not adress they way they race eachother!

[Skull]

Why does everyone think Sunday is sooooo viable ??? People can barely afford 1 or 2 nights and you want them to run 3 ??? I understand there's only soo many cars but there's even less that can afford 3 nights. You need to give them a reason to come to your track instead of the other tracks. Racing Saturday you unload and clean the car Sunday morning and spend a couple hours each night on prep. If you run Sunday you unload Monday and now need even more time each night to prepare... What tracks are super successful on a Sunday ??? Name them

Who the hell ever said that every car from every class that TMS is offering has to run three or even two nights a week?  Eriez has been successful for years on Sundays. So was TCS, until they dropped the Sprints. TCS and Sportsman's coexisted for about ten years on Sundays featuring both Sprints and Big Blocks. It can be done.

 

Now, this is where you come back and say, "well, there is too much else for people to do nowadays." Yeah, no shit. But, almost none of these tracks promote their product. They think if they open the doors, people will just poor in. It might have worked back in the day, it doesn't anymore.

[thebigdueceduece]

I agree..I think Thunder mtn is a good track....but if they promote it well and aggressively I think they will get good crowds. Im excited about this. But I hope they do it right. And not afraid to try something a little different in one of the class selections they choose to race. They will need something out of the ordinary from the every Saturday track that is different. So the fans can say "let's go watch the mods tonight at TMS" or "let's go watch 25 lates and 30 6 cyl. At TMS". .

But like I said...they need to promote well/ PAY well/ give it a big important track kind of feel. And drivers will come. Cover social media avenues. Take film of races and post them. Make it a big deal to be at thunder mtn speedway...to race there...and to win there!

[thewick2w]

Agreed skip you said it well can't agree more

[RocketRide]

Not a good move to mix steelblock with super, why do you think center keeps em seperate, people want to see multiple latemodel classes, more bang for their buck,of all people you dirt should know this.

[The Legend]

Skull your saying they need to race Sunday because the other tracks race Friday and Saturday .... So either the cars will have to run multiple nights a week or skip Friday and Saturday to run Sunday ... You didn't say the cars had to run multiple nights but your logic of why they should race Sunday implies it

[RocketRide]

Seldom will racers ever have to race all three nites anyway, due to weather,so therefor sunday is just as good of a pick as friday or sat, and lets say it rains out friday and sat nites then guess what, sunday track doesnt have enuff room to house everybody, its a gamble, just like goin to the casino.

[speedster101]

Here's an idea.... Run every Wednesday afternoon at 3pm that way nobody can complain about weekend racing and what night it should be. Wednesday is smack dab right in the middle of the week

[T-440]

I like the idea of running on Friday nights.  And I also agree with bacon and some others, don't over do it on divisions.  In my opinion, two or three divisions on Friday night is plenty.  My personal preference would be late models and street stocks (using the rules that hesston used for thier shows), and then one different division each week.  Sprints, 305 sprints, non-wing sprints (BOSS), E-mods, Modifieds, Vintage Mods, Semi-lates, Pure Stocks ect.  There are a lot of classes out there, if you watch other tracks schedules, you can find nights thats certain divisions are off at thier home track and weave together a schedule that offers something different while still drawing your core group of fans and racers.  Running fewer divisions also allows for better payouts for the divisions that you do run.

[BaconBits]

I like the idea of running on Friday nights.  And I also agree with bacon and some others, don't over do it on divisions.  In my opinion, two or three divisions on Friday night is plenty.  My personal preference would be late models and street stocks (using the rules that hesston used for thier shows), and then one different division each week.  Sprints, 305 sprints, non-wing sprints (BOSS), E-mods, Modifieds, Vintage Mods, Semi-lates, Pure Stocks ect.  There are a lot of classes out there, if you watch other tracks schedules, you can find nights thats certain divisions are off at thier home track and weave together a schedule that offers something different while still drawing your core group of fans and racers.  Running fewer divisions also allows for better payouts for the divisions that you do run.

Grandview has run two regular divisions with random visits from various third divisions for years, and it's a very successful track. It's a business plan that obviously works.

[RocketRide]

Yea,but there are alot of variables involved also,like locatiion, other tracks in your area,,a 2 class program isnt gonna cut it when you have all of these tracks in a small radius, it more so comes down to what classes you decide and more importanatly what nite, a good announcer that reaches out to the fans doesnt hurt either

[Skull]

Skull your saying they need to race Sunday because the other tracks race Friday and Saturday .... So either the cars will have to run multiple nights a week or skip Friday and Saturday to run Sunday ... You didn't say the cars had to run multiple nights but your logic of why they should race Sunday implies it

My logic implies that they'd have a better shot drawing cars on what is an off night for them (Sunday) than competing with two tracks on Friday and two on Saturday for both fans and cars. That logic doesn't preclude teams from preparing for racing for one night only if it's a better fit to race at TMS on Sunday.

 

The Geers raced on Fridays before against DHS and Lernerville and the track closed. Not enough information to know for sure yet, but what we have read here suggests that the new management isn't changing much of anything. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing the same way multiple times expecting different results. Draw your own conclusions.

[thewick2w]

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BLM PR
28 Aug 2014
For Immediate Release:
Thunder Mountain Speedway
Bo Lockwood Motorsports


Friday Night Thunder Returns to Knoxdale in 2015

Brookville PA, (August 28, 2014) In recent days the owners of Thunder Mountain Speedway and Bo Lockwood Motorsports have reached a five year agreement to return racing to the Knoxdale oval. The track will be slated to start early 2015 with a full race schedule on the menu. Although racing classes have yet to be decided, the focus will be turning this facility into something new. Its a promoters job to come up with new concepts that will keep its drivers and fans interest. We will work hard to deliver a program that is directed away from the norms of plain weekly programs. Says new track promoter Bo Lockwood.

A complete renovation is planned for the Knoxdale facility. Headed by Brooks services LLC the race surface will see a facelift. The track will be reconstructed as needed, screened and re clayed, new drainage to allow for a magnitude of precipitation on race day, pit reconstruction, and a complete overhaul of the grandstand area. Reconstruction will begin immediately, as well as, construction of all social media outlets to allow for drivers and fans to view progress.

The 2015 race season has a lot of new in store for it. The track promoters mission is to personally contact local race tracks to work on ways to make running at multiple facilities less of a problem and more enjoyable for drivers. Bo Lockwood explains, This will be an awesome way to spend a Friday night! Not only will the drivers and teams enjoy our great track but my goal is to also create a fan experience like none other in local dirt track racing. This will be the place to bring your family to eat and enjoy a Friday night of Pennsylvania racing!
Here you go skull official press realese sounds like they changing a lot the guy is also a hell of a promoter he promotes the Derbys for Jefferson and clarion fairs has made them both a must watch demos who is to say that he can't make this go learnerville is nothing to us up here most of us don't race at learnerville and dog hollow thunder mountian ran them out the only reason it closed was family issues

[Benny K]

Actually Grandview has run a three division show for the last two years or so. 358 Mods, Sportsman Mods, & Limited Lates

[snooky]

I wish Mr lockwood all the best and will support them when I can. I hope they have time basic tech.