39 replies to this topic

[3799]

A lot of people do not realize there has been an agreement in place between Sharon and Bill Altman. Sharon agreed not to run 410 sprints against Mercer and Mercer agreed not to run big block modifieds against Sharon and not race at all against the Lou Blaney Memorial. If somebody buys Mercer that agreement does not go forward to a new owner. Dave Blaney wants to see sprint cars back at Sharon. You do the math.

[Sparkler]

I heard the owners of sharon are looking to purchase mercer and close it down. Then they will have free rein of the only track in the area. NO COMPETITION= more $$$.

[spike]

All Don Martin had to do was buy the lease for Butler Speedway.    All the owners of Sharon need to do is hope whoever buys the property isn't buying it for a race track. That way they save $600,000 +.

[dirtstudent2]

Below is what I'd like to see happen.

 

Friday Lernerville as it is now except dump having to join WoO and start 24 in all classes.

Saturday Sharon with Sprints, I figure Big Blocks will be there also and what ever they choose and start 24 in all classes.

Sunday Mercer with Sprints and what ever they choose and start 24 in all classes.

 

All tracks Sprints, Big Blocks and Super Lates when ever each runs them is $125 tow money.

 

All three tracks $250 minimum or maybe $300 to start for Sprints, Big Blocks and Super Lates when ever each runs them.

 

Reduce top payout for Sprints, Big Blocks and Super Lates when ever they have them to $1000/$1100 or $1200 at most.  IMHO with $250 maybe $300 to start ain't nobody going anywhere else because top end payout has been reduced.

 

The crowds I've seen at Tri City in the past on Sundays tells me if >>Mercer<< runs Sundays they are not going to be hurting for front gate fans racing Sunday's.

[Walt Wimer]

I think Mercer would run into a lot of trouble with residents if they tried to run on Sundays!!  Tri-Cty is in the middle of nowhere, where Mercer is right in town!!  BIG DIFFERENCE for Sunday racing!!

 

GOOD RACING TO ALL!!

 

Walt

[Cool1]

Why talk about Mercer? Whatever happens ,happens. No one has listened for years, and they won't start now. Why worry about it.

[dirtstudent2]

I think Mercer would run into a lot of trouble with residents if they tried to run on Sundays!!  Tri-Cty is in the middle of nowhere, where Mercer is right in town!!  BIG DIFFERENCE for Sunday racing!!

 

GOOD RACING TO ALL!!

 

Walt

 

 

Then if Mercer can't and shuts down next year I'd be fine with back to Try City every Sunday and the same deal with sprints and payout I suggested.   But I think it would go crazy with interest if Mercer could do it. 

 

Three tracks with an hour and a half of each other, guaranteed $250 to start and $125 tow at each, YOU'D HAVE SPRINTS LINING UP DOWN THE ROAD TO GET IN AT EACH TRACK, Friday/Saturday/Sunday.  $375 in just tow to travel and run all three and if you just make features at all three it would be minimum of $750. 

 

The tracks for that money would draw at least 30+ cars each night.  And with a close three track venue grandstands would fill like the old days.  Adult fans and kids would have something to hitch their wagon too!

 

edit:  If Mercer could run on Sunday it would be a lock and crowds for all three especially if PPMS closes.  If it would go with Tri City instead of Mercer on Sunday, eventually with the success I see for all three someones going to try to cut in on it and open Mercer back up again.  If Mercer could go to Sunday and does, it' would mean an end for all hopes of Tri City running a weekly show.  Tri City would be stuck only able to run special shows and and probably end up failing again.  Try City is far enough away from Mercer and the Eastern Ohio/Western PA area to be able to draw from other areas.  But with Mercer running on Sunday and the likely loss of support from the Eastern Ohio/Western PA, their chances for a successful weekly show in my opinion would be slim.

 

ps,  didn't sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night but did book our Holiday Inn Express rooms for Charlotte WoO world finals today.    Sure hope this global warming stuff continues through November 6th without rain this year.  Last year was FANTASTIC weather.  Maybe see you there Walt?

Edited by dirtstudent2, 11 October 2017 - 05:33 PM.

[Cool1]

Buy it!!!! Can't go wrong, if your right.

[3799]

I think Mercer would run into a lot of trouble with residents if they tried to run on Sundays!!  Tri-Cty is in the middle of nowhere, where Mercer is right in town!!  BIG DIFFERENCE for Sunday racing!!
 
GOOD RACING TO ALL!!
 
Walt

I doubt Mercer would ever become a Sunday track, but if they did, Mercer Borough could do nothing about it. The track is not located in the borough. It is in Findley Twp. The Township has very few residents near the track. I would be surprised if they tried to impose any kind of ordinances on the track. Additionally the track would be grandfathered in against any new laws as long as it continuously operates as a race track.

[dirtstudent2]

Buy it!!!! Can't go wrong, if your right.

 

Had an offer to go halfers with someone last weekend but I don't have the money.  In this northeastern Ohio/northwestern PA area especially the northeastern Ohio part of it the asking price is way too high.  Eastern Ohio area for that kind of money you can buy an 1st class pretty much brand new and at least modern by today's standards horse farm.  One with a huge 20 stall heated with all the goodies barn and a 4000+ square foot first class newer house on acres and acres of beautiful land.  In Mercers the area it's just too much money.  If it was closer to Pittsburgh, Cleveland or anywhere else but the five county area of three in Ohio and two in PA, it would be decent deal.  The five counties of Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana plus Mercer and Lawarence are like the black hole of our countries dump.

 

 

edit:  yeah I know there's fantastic property in all five counties.  But those same five counties historically in my opinion have been over looked and not kept up with the nation in general.  If your working good and live in the area or hit the jackpot on gas speculation your in good shape because of the great cost of living.  But the great cost of living is only there because your living in a depressed area.

Edited by dirtstudent2, 11 October 2017 - 05:55 PM.

[D1RT]

Anyone ever think that fewer tracks could possibly make for stronger car and fan counts??

Just a thought.......

[Walt Wimer]

Some drivers would head to further away tracks, but many would just call it quits rather than tow an hour plus to a further away track.  And the same would be true of fans.  I know there are many on here who think nothing of driving to central PA or Attica-Fremont many times a year for races, but  fully believe the bulk of the attendance at any track are those who live within a half hour or so from the track.   Lernerville is probably an exception since they have all 3 top classes and therefore draw from a larger area.

 

GOOD RACING TO ALL!!!

 

Walt

[dirtstudent2]

Some drivers would head to further away tracks, but many would just call it quits rather than tow an hour plus to a further away track.  And the same would be true of fans.  I know there are many on here who think nothing of driving to central PA or Attica-Fremont many times a year for races, but  fully believe the bulk of the attendance at any track are those who live within a half hour or so from the track.   Lernerville is probably an exception since they have all 3 top classes and therefore draw from a larger area.

 

GOOD RACING TO ALL!!!

 

Walt

 

 

Lernerville is also in the highest populated area.

 

If Mercer or Tri City along with PPMS don't open next year, it does nothing to change tow distance for 90% of the racers in the western PA/eastern Ohio area.  And if your coming from east of Pittsburgh it makes no difference weather you head east a bit to Mercer and Sharon or head south to PPMS and Lernerville.

 

I've done a one day to and from within fan daily driving distance of Susquihanna, Lincoln, western NY, Hagerstown, Attomic, Lawrenceburg, southern Michigan, Eldora, Fort Wayne indoors, many tracks in southern Ohio and WV and all points in between.  All can be done within a 4.5 hour drive and some pushing it to 5 hours. 

 

Tow is another thing totally.  For most anyone unless your equipped to the hilt and got lots of cast 3 hours is about the limit.  Sharon, Lernerville, Mercer and Tri City are within 3 hours tow for a lot of racers.  My idea and point is if the three which ever it turns out to be all put up good tow and start money, racers beyond 3 hours tow would head here for the weekend.  Ask any sprint racer and they'll tell you when times are down and car counts down out east, it's worth the tow there just for feature start money.  That is unless your totally heading out there in a first class way with a $1000 a night cost just to haul in the back gate.  If you want car count, a fan base and young and old in the stands you have to look beyond the shinny, well funded and well branded cars. 

[dirtstudent2]

deleted

Edited by dirtstudent2, 11 October 2017 - 08:25 PM.

[rob0170]

Below is what I'd like to see happen.

 

Friday Lernerville as it is now except dump having to join WoO and start 24 in all classes.

Saturday Sharon with Sprints, I figure Big Blocks will be there also and what ever they choose and start 24 in all classes.

Sunday Mercer with Sprints and what ever they choose and start 24 in all classes.

 

All tracks Sprints, Big Blocks and Super Lates when ever each runs them is $125 tow money.

 

All three tracks $250 minimum or maybe $300 to start for Sprints, Big Blocks and Super Lates when ever each runs them.

 

Reduce top payout for Sprints, Big Blocks and Super Lates when ever they have them to $1000/$1100 or $1200 at most.  IMHO with $250 maybe $300 to start ain't nobody going anywhere else because top end payout has been reduced.

 

The crowds I've seen at Tri City in the past on Sundays tells me if >>Mercer<< runs Sundays they are not going to be hurting for front gate fans racing Sunday's.

just where are all these cars going to come from, they can't get a full field of cars  to the race track now. tow money and start money are not going to bring any more cars 

 

to the track. You have to have more money on the top to entice more cars to tow farther than their home track and you can't run the top 3 classes at each track because

 

you can't afford to run them on the same night and make any money.

[davem]

I don't agree with the thought process that we have to many race tracks . What I do believe is we have to many divisions in this area.  We have a lot of drivers in the area but they are all broken up. in this area we have at least 18 divisions.  just my thought

 

 

Dave Murdick

[dirtstudent2]

I agree. I also think one person both caused the majority of the increase in types of cars and the trend to raise the amount of classes to purposely increase and control the cost to race. Follow that person and you will travel the path of the problem.

[Walt Wimer]

Dave......You are right on here!!!  I have said this many times and it is a big reason for low car counts in many support classes at some tracks!!  However, the promoters just don't pay any attention!!

 

GOOD RACING!!!!

 

Walt

[Cool1]

Agree 100% guys!!!!

[jo73]

The to many divisions has been a problem for years. Instead of 2 promotors coming up with a card that would benefit both tracks. They want that back gate and refuse to look beyond that. The rush people are getting involved in every division out there. That is not good for the sport period. Mercer in limbo, ppms for sale, forever, tri city a maybe, Marion center the family could just say we had enough. So, if these track do pull the curtain down I don't think your going to see to many of the lower division guys go far from home.