46 replies to this topic

[TUNACAN]

Just saw Sportsman's wont be opening for the 2016 season....

[Walt Wimer]

So, where did you "see" this????

[Osmer Racing]

Walt, He called the club (Pa Vintage Modified Series) and thanked us for supporting them the last couple years and bringing so many cars each time.  He stated that with low overall car counts and almost no fans coming in the gate, that he just could not open up this year.  

[sundance]

I hate to see any track close, but I don't think anyone is surprised by this. They honestly had no idea how to run a racetrack.

[BRC27]

If they had no idea how to run a race track, then it would've been nice for someone to come in and help them a little.  It is sad to see them close their gates.  My cousin got his first and only win at that track.

[The Legend]

This is not a good time to be running a race track, especially not one in the middle of no where like sportsmans . They can't get the fans to afford to pay headline divisions and dans won't come to see support divisions .

[RACERSPASTOR]

I am not an expert in track managment but have spent a life time around tracks and I am concerned that what you have just heard may be the trend ,many are blaming car counts and fans not being there and that has some truth but until the entire industry takes a better look at the real reasons we only see more decline in tracks.

 

This is only my opinion but as we continue to divide the cars with more classes that only have very few differences the decline will continue the fans I have talked with all feel there are way to many classes now and we only continue to either create more or divide the present ones.

 

I have and will always have a passion for local tracks and pray for their success but sometimes we become our own worst enemy.

 

I wonder what would happen if our owners would do the Undercover Boss test and jus sit in the grand stands and listen to the folks paying to watch the races that are being promoted it may well be an eye opener for them, like it or not they are your coustomers and without them you will be faced with some hard decisions ,and it may be sooner than is expected.

 

Just my opinion

 

Chaplain Bill

[The Legend]

Bill the problem is most track promoters know everything and refuse to listen to criticism . Instead of using complaints constructively to make a better experiance for fans and racers they attempt to blame the complaints for their failures as a promoter . Looking in the mirror and realizing that many complaints have merit is the first step that needs taken.

[ramsey31]

I know there are a butt load of reasons.    One thing to keep in mind is that many local tracks are not ran by marketing people, or have any type of marketing plan in place.  The only level of marketing that is done, is usually toward the people who already attend the races, or the drivers by way of specials.    Ill place $$ that maybe 1 or 2 tracks in Western PA actually do anything to market to NEW fans.   I said years ago, race tracks have a huge niche.   They can seat/park a lot of people, they have announcing in place, and most are in the middle of rural areas.    Why not step outside the box and bring things such as bands, truck pulls, enduros, mud runs, flea markets, spectator races etc etc.   No one wants to take any risk, no one wants to step into the unknown, or be the one to try everything they can think of to bring $ into a facility. 

 

As Legend said, they would rather blame everything they cant control, yet never consider the things they can.  They know racing, and if it doesn't have anything to do with racing...well then it must be everyone elses fault. 

 

 

The other issue that no one talks about is supply and demand.    Up until recently, there has been enough supply of cars that even if you have a swamp, cars are lining up to race on it.   So many of these "promoters" were able to operate their business because people wanted their product-no matter how $hitty it was.   Now that the supply of cars has dropped, you are starting to see that those left are demanding more from a facility, and the choke n puke tracks are...choking and puking.

Edited by ramsey31, 31 December 2015 - 11:42 AM.

[jo73]

I look in the classifieds. I see cars that have been there for 2 years or more. Unless your running 1 of the top 3 divisions, and yes even these guys can't move there old stock. I just read a report that at today's closing bell, it has been the worst market hit in years. I'm not sure how you promote a speedway anymore. I'm talking about promoting for the future. The younger fan. What makes very plain common sense doesn’t work anymore. Promoters want to do what they want to do. Someone just made comment about sportsman closing, making direct comment about the promotor. What was the guy suppose to do. Keep losing money ? I don't think you've seen the last of the downfall. PPMS, struggles every week with car and fan support. I really don't no what keeps the gates open. Well, I think I do, it's just a lot more than what many understand about business corporate taxes. Mercer, went thru a rocky 2015 season. Hopefully there on a good rebound. Tri City, I think came back and looks to be headed in the right direction. Again, the worst could still be out there. You wonder how many can or will survive.

[spike]

I look in the classifieds. I see cars that have been there for 2 years or more. Unless your running 1 of the top 3 divisions, and yes even these guys can't move there old stock. I just read a report that at today's closing bell, it has been the worst market hit in years. I'm not sure how you promote a speedway anymore. I'm talking about promoting for the future. The younger fan. What makes very plain common sense doesn’t work anymore. Promoters want to do what they want to do. Someone just made comment about sportsman closing, making direct comment about the promotor. What was the guy suppose to do. Keep losing money ? I don't think you've seen the last of the downfall. PPMS, struggles every week with car and fan support. I really don't no what keeps the gates open. Well, I think I do, it's just a lot more than what many understand about business corporate taxes. Mercer, went thru a rocky 2015 season. Hopefully there on a good rebound. Tri City, I think came back and looks to be headed in the right direction. Again, the worst could still be out there. You wonder how many can or will survive.

Tri City collecting a $100 membership fee from the participants for the last race of the season was not a positive for us. And not starting the previous feature until after midnight was not a positive. Skipping the event however, was a positive.

[bhhracing]

Go to tyler county speedway, the watsons have been hard at work since frank wilson left. They have turned the place around with new series, partnering with series, improvements to the grounds when they LEASE it off the fair board! All kinds of stuff with new huge events,ect! The casual fan gets board of the same schedule year after yr from the local tracks. Seeing the same old local race.They will find something that is new and keeps their interest. 

[jo73]

You just can't keep throwing money at things and just hope for the best anymore. Budgets just are not there. I have seen guys say Ed Ferree could step up. I don't think you will ever see anything close to that happening. It's guy's that love this activity. Frank Benic from mercer is one. The guy has been around dirt racing a long time. He keeps mercer going because he loves the place. Hopefully, for years to come.

[94.3-RADRACER]

don't know about the rest of the tracks south of here, but eriez up north gets tons of peopl. bob has improved the track, and the racing is second to none. don't need all the other bullchit if your racing is great. need tostop up if you haven't been there lately...most passing of any track i go too..or race at.

[jo73]

94.3 I do not follow tracks up there. But, didn't stateline shut down mid year last ? Sometimes, it falls under to many tracks in a area and the survivor is the guy w/ the budget and solid business plan.

[Tommy]

don't know about the rest of the tracks south of here, but eriez up north gets tons of peopl. bob has improved the track, and the racing is second to none. don't need all the other bullchit if your racing is great. need tostop up if you haven't been there lately...most passing of any track i go too..or race at.

From an outsider, Eriez looks like it is doing good, paying good payouts and solid car counts.

[94.3-RADRACER]

stateline had that clown that was trying to run tracks through bullchit, without money. now, dave scotts dad bought it,and it should prosper. they will pay good and get cars also...

[Won11Virus]

Didnt the reopening of Sportsman start with a guy agreeing to a lease, doing some upgrades, and then having the rug pulled out from under him when the owners suddenly decided to open it?

[Skull]

Didnt the reopening of Sportsman start with a guy agreeing to a lease, doing some upgrades, and then having the rug pulled out from under him when the owners suddenly decided to open it?

 

Glenn Hinkle is his name, own the #77 Modified. They did a job on him.

Edited by Skull, 01 January 2016 - 11:54 AM.

[The Legend]

Sounds like the ole banana in the 2 trick