52 replies to this topic

[The Legend]

Bankers club gets you just as drunk as grey goose

[Guzzo]

Last weekend my Facebook news feed was bombarded with Matt Miley posting All Star Sprint ads on every local 'whats happening' and 'classifieds' page. Maybe instead of trying to get a couple new customers, he should sit back and think about the hundreds of past long time and loyal customers who have stopped patronizing PPMS?  

 

Customers = drivers, crew, drivers family, sponsors, fans and even the various racing series 

Without those customers, you don't have a business as they are the ones paying your bills and putting the $$ in your pockets. 

 

Even The Legend should stick up for me there - if he doesn't have customers, he has no business.

 

If you don't keep your customers happy, they're not going to patronize your business.  

If you don't give your customers good products and services (racing and facility), they're not going to patronize your business. 

If you continuously tell your customers "if you don't like it, don't come back!", guess what?  They won't come back. 

If you overprice your products or services, customers will take their business elsewhere.  

All basic economics.  

 

Why should I pay $25 for a $3K to win 25 lap late model race when I can pay $15 to see those same 25 laps other Saturdays? 

Why should I pay $30 for a $5K to win All Star Sprint race when I can pay $25 for a $10K to win race at other tracks with same drivers and series?  

Just because the name Tony Stewart is part of the series & ads, Matt Miley feels he can overcharge his customers.  Thank goodness there are other tracks who don't rip us off because they're the tracks who get my $$ instead.   

 

The decline of customers at PPMS is not because the sport is dying.  Look at how Lernerville thrives every Friday night.  The grandstands and pits are full.   The love of dirt track racing is in the blood of all of us and it doesn't just go away.  Unfortunately overpricing the PPMS facility just drives us to go elsewhere to spend our money instead of feeling like we're getting ripped off. I will drive out of my way for hours just to see a race instead of going to PPMS which is so close to home because the gate fees have driven me away.  

 

I, like many others on this forum, grew up at that place from day 1 opening night. The place holds a very special place in my heart.  Faithfully there every race night for years and years even missing family weddings to go to the races instead because of my passion for the sport.  These past few years, you can count on 1 hand how many times I've been there.  Not because I've lost interest in the sport but because I choose to patronize other racing facilities who truly care.   

 

One thing I will praise is Mr. Red Miley.  He was a true businessman who cared about his facility and his customers. He was there to smile, to interact with his customers and often I witnessed him thanking his customers for being there.  Sadly he is missed.  And unfortunately his traits failed to be passed along to some of the others in the family. 

 

The facility is just falling apart before our eyes.  It's getting to the point that it's so far gone it's in trouble of being repaired.  The 1 time I was there this year, I did notice many new boards in the grandstands but the need for hundreds more.  But the lack of care in other places is a real concern.  Weeds and trees are growing in the infield.  There are boards laying across the top of the uke tires down the front straight are very unsafe if a car wrecks into that tire and the driver is impaled by the board.  I sure hope they have been moved and if not, will be moved!  The spotty lighting in turns 2 & 3 has to be a concern for safety.  From the grandstands the lighting is awful. I sure hope some work goes into the place before the Pittsburgher.  I'm actually embarrassed to tell my out of town racing friends who are coming in special for the race this is my hometown track. I always wanted to see the likes of Jimmy Owens come to my hometown track for his first ever visit but now I'd shutter to ever tell him it was my favorite hometown track at one time.  

 

Like others, I'm sure my comments will also fall on deaf ears or I'll be bashed.  Maybe just once someone will listen.  In my career, I ask my customers every single day what I can do better, I take their free advise and act on it because I want to keep them happy and keep them coming back. If only PPMS would consider the same.  

[Chrome Horn]

Some very good points are raised throughout these posts. I like others want to see this place stick around. In order for that to happen, some changes need to be made. For one, the Miley family needs to be in the background. Ben needs to stop racing, they need to get someone to be the face of the track as far as PR and promoting. Some of the things they can do just take some a little bit of effort. Shouldn't be hard to get the weeds on the wall and in the pits cut. The turn 1 section has been closed since the start of the year, no reason it shouldn't be open in August! It looks like no work at all has been done on it. The road coming into the grandstands is like going off roading in the baja desert. Shouldn't be hard to get the grader and smooth it out. The lighting is in bad need of upgrading. The scoreboard did not work last weekend other then the laps completed. Instead of getting defensive when people who have been going there a long time such as Danny Rich or Gearhead offer input, maybe they need to understand honest feedback is the best thing you can get. Nobody expects them to dump 2 mil into the place overnight. But some things you can do like facilities, bleachers, weeds can be addressed and can show you have a little bit of pride in your facilitiy. 

[Miley Motor Sports]

Thanks for the input. The article was written by someone else, not to be construed with the opinions of me or Miley Motor Sports. Just some food for thought. We move on. I can always be reached at mmiley99@comcast.net and respond if you give your identity.

Miley Motor Sports Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Pittsburgher 100 right around the corner! Thanks for the tremendous support of Sprint fans we had for both Tony Stewart's All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car events at PPMS. Was awesome watching Danny Holtgravet driving from 16th to 3rd in a star studded field in a non stop race. Congratulations to Dale on the win.

Thanks and as Walt says, Good Racing!

[Vigoda Motorsports]

Thanks for the input. The article was written by someone else, not to be construed with the opinions of me or Miley Motor Sports. Just some food for thought.

Oh please. This is the second time this year that you posted an article that construed EXACTLY your opinions, that you then take a beating for here because your opinion is ridiculous and goes against pretty much any common business sense, i.e. The customer is always wrong and are a bunch of whining ungrateful bullies. You then claim the article(s) you plaster multiple times to bludgeon your subtle message home are merely a conversation piece and not meant to be taken literally and don't reflect your opinions at all. Do I have it straight?

Just stop.

Edited by Vigoda Motorsports, 05 August 2015 - 05:26 AM.

[starboyshady]

Matt ..... What is the purpose of you needing to know a persons "identity". ? So you can retaliate against them ? I just see absolutely 0 reason for this ...... The main concern should be maybe they have a good idea . Maybe check into it , not all people are idiots & they can have more value to you than just a few bucks in your pocket , from a ticket sale !

Edited by starboyshady, 05 August 2015 - 10:31 AM.

[dirtguy200948]

Starboy you hit it right on the spot! Retaliation!

 

 

Also provide your social security number so he can verify it is you!

[RmiT]

Preachin' to the Chorus Line...

 

[starboyshady]

I was going to keep my 2 cents to myself but I just watch this stupidness and it irritates me to no end ...... Moral of the story here is : it is his playground , he does what he wants , when he wants ...... And no one is going to tell HIM what to do . You can't make someone "want" to work hard or harder than they actually want to , just the same that you can't make someone a "Leader" , if the were born a follower , that is what they are , forever. Or a Salesman , there are some that can sell WaveRunners to the people in Alaska , and make a ton of $$$ ,and his customer is happy about the deal they got.... then there are the ones that could not sell ice or water to people in the Desert , they just don't have the "People" skills . You see , the difference is one figured out how to "sell" his product and the other , well .... Even though he had what the people wanted and needed, can't seem make the connection to make it work for everyone involved .....

[realgearhead5y]

We need an intervention........The first step to solving a problem is first admit you have a problem.....  Once that admission is made great things can happen....  Imagine what could happen if someone on the PPMS team would say boy we have an opportunity to do better....followed by a statement of what can we do to do better...... followed by we might need some help to do better........  if those steps could be followed maybe there would be a chance to take the place to a new level.....

 

Wow....starts to sound like an AA meeting....

 

Its amazing how those involved can raise lap money for big races but cant figure out how to do a similar thing to raise money to help fix the place up......Maybe an idea where you have a RACE NIGHT for an IMPROVEMENT program.....Example: The Race on August 8th has a Race Co-sponser from Big Johns Painting who gets this PR for doing painting improvements.......The Race on August 15th is Co-Sponsered by the Carpenters Union who get some PR that night for some bleacher wood work they would......and so on.....Doesnt seem like rocket (or bullet if you prefer) science.......

 

first step is you have to ask for help - - - or be stubborn and lonely

[RmiT]

We need an intervention........The first step to solving a problem is first admit you have a problem.....  Once that admission is made great things can happen....  Imagine what could happen if someone on the PPMS team would say boy we have an opportunity to do better....followed by a statement of what can we do to do better...... followed by we might need some help to do better........  if those steps could be followed maybe there would be a chance to take the place to a new level.....

 

Wow....starts to sound like an AA meeting....

 

Its amazing how those involved can raise lap money for big races but cant figure out how to do a similar thing to raise money to help fix the place up......Maybe an idea where you have a RACE NIGHT for an IMPROVEMENT program.....Example: The Race on August 8th has a Race Co-sponser from Big Johns Painting who gets this PR for doing painting improvements.......The Race on August 15th is Co-Sponsered by the Carpenters Union who get some PR that night for some bleacher wood work they would......and so on.....Doesnt seem like rocket (or bullet if you prefer) science.......

 

first step is you have to ask for help - - - or be stubborn and lonely

Pretty much, exactly what I have been saying, for about 10 years... They just refuse to hear it.

 

[Habs33]

A prime example of how to fix up a racetrack is what Pennsboro Speedway has been doing to try to get opened back up. If you look at their Facebook, they recruit volunteers every single weekend to clean the place up, they hold numerous fundraisers, and they've set up a system for donations. As a matter of fact, they just had Shop n Save donate around $11,000 to the cause. That place has been closed almost 15 years, they could hardly save anything from the old track, yet they're miles ahead of ppms in terms of being on the way to making improvements. Just imagine if ppms tried to do any of these things, I have no doubt there would be supporters just from seeing everyone on here who wants to see the track be as great as it should be.

Edited by Habs33, 05 August 2015 - 11:52 PM.

[racer67x]

A prime example of how to fix up a racetrack is what Pennsboro Speedway has been doing to try to get opened back up. If you look at their Facebook, they recruit volunteers every single weekend to clean the place up, they hold numerous fundraisers, and they've set up a system for donations. As a matter of fact, they just had Shop n Save donate around $11,000 to the cause. That place has been closed almost 15 years, they could hardly save anything from the old track, yet they're miles ahead of ppms in terms of being on the way to making improvements. Just imagine if ppms tried to do any of these things, I have no doubt there would be supporters just from seeing everyone on here who wants to see the track be as great as it should be.

imagine if this was dropped off at PPMS..wishful thinking I guess,maybe we should start with lightbulbs and go from there,lol

[jo73]

It's not the racetrack that they care about. It's the property. Someone comes in and gives them the $$$ they won't blink an eye. The place may be done well before that. You can only put bandages on for so long until the bleeding is unstopable. The racers and the fans are not going to change management's plans for the place. It is a shame. PPMS will never be what it was. Sure the place will probably be packed for the pittsburger, it only helps them keep the place a float longer. We talk because many of us new what the place was. It fuels there laughter. Stop talking about the place and let er roll over and sink. I wonder if Red Miley is laughing.

[GEARHEAD]

The problem is when you volunteer to help they refuse it.  There was a guy who offered to cut all the grass in the parking lot, and they told him no because they claimed Brian likes doing it.  Guys have offered to fix the entrance roads in exchange for a couple of pit passes for the year, which is a huge bargain, and they were told no.  They could have gotten free labor by having the Vo-Tech come in and replace the bleachers, they wouldn't even bother to make the phone call.  They create their own problems.  If Red and Dale had not been screwed out of the track they would have had plenty of volunteers out there weekly making sure the place was in great shape.  The track would be an absolute showcase for Pittsburgher weekend.  But with the Miley's horrible attitudes, who would want to help them now?

 

Matt has been told on more than one occasion that the lights behind the grandstands don't work anymore.  When people are leaving it is pitch black as they head out to the gate.  One night as I was walking out a kid in front of me tripped on a rock and cut his hand.  His parents commented on how dangerous it was to be walking in the dark while walking on rocks.  And they wonder why people don't come back.  PPMS is also one of the few tracks where you have to drive through the baja and trash your car.  That is not a good first impression for a casual fan.

Edited by GEARHEAD, 06 August 2015 - 06:16 AM.

[Skull]

Why should anyone have to volunteer to help them with anything other than patronizing the place? When I go to a restaurant, I don't feel the need to help cook meals or wash dishes. Or go golfing and offer to mow the fairways. Sorry, but it is not normal, nor does it make the owners look good when things are so bad people feel the need to donate time and money to their business. I think it's safe to say that they don't have any desire to put any money into the place.

[old man d]

Just wondering how meany of you think Lucas Oil will return after this years Pittsburgher. After seeing what things are like at PPMS. My guess NO they won"t return.

[Habs33]

Just wondering how meany of you think Lucas Oil will return after this years Pittsburgher. After seeing what things are like at PPMS. My guess NO they won"t return.

With a whole section of bleachers closed, lighting that makes me wonder how the drivers can even see, weeds infesting the entire place, and a scoreboard and sound system that don't work, they'll probably find it in their best interest to take their business elsewhere. And that's a shame.

Edited by Habs33, 06 August 2015 - 10:33 AM.

[The Legend]

Old man d they would run at amp if the owner puts up the money

[old man d]

I guess you"r right. Money talks BS walks.