Time to Upgrade Facilities -- Farmer City/Fairbury/Etc....

[thexfactor0210]

First off, I am a diehard dirt late model race fan. I attend approx. 40-50 shows per years and have been involved in the sport all my life. I cannot help but think we will never draw a younger crowd, more females, big money sponsorship, better TV deals, etc. without a better facility to race at.

I am directing my attention towards Farmer City and Fairbury in particular. These are two tracks which are in my area and I attend quite frequently. I cannot believe the condition that some of these facilities are in. I know for a FACT that Fairbury makes big $$ on a lot of there big shows. They draw huge crowds, with huge car counts and pit passes being bought. The fairboard seriously needs to consider putting some of that money back into the track. The bathrooms are just plain bad. If you have ever seen a good set of bathrooms, such as Wilmot or Peoria, then you will understand what is needed. Younger crowds are impatient and do not want to stand in a line or go into a nasty bathroom. These are just the facts of today. Spend a few thousands and put some decent toilets in a newer, cheap building. Farmer city has approx 3 toilets for there WoO Illinois show where 5,000 people show up.

The grandstands at both facilities are in need of an upgrade. The front stretch stands at both tracks are in poor shape, the view is just bad, and they need to be closer to the track. In this day and age, it is hard to excite the younger crowd with all of the action, and movies, and so on. Therefore, we need to get them closer to the action and that means closer to the track. We need a nice, clean set of stands and facilities to draw them in. This is turn I believe will help bring in more sponsors and more money overall for the facilities. I have ran successful businesses and this idea model has worked in the past.

I am not saying this is the end all, be all idea but what do you all think about this? I am not whining or complaining, I am just putting some opinions on a message board to try to better our sport. Please include opinions....

[dirt crow]

Making my 1st visit to FALS for PDC. It sounds to me like my local track, Talladega Short Track. Horrible facilities but good racing. Or in yalls case, horrible facilities and awesome racing. Looking forward to finding out. ...seems like all tracks could do some type of improvement year to year during the winter even if it's small. Always puzzled me. TST hasn't done any improvements in over a decade. It's a shame. ...but on a lighter note, it reminds me of what Earl Baltes said once back in the day in a drivers meeting. When ask when he was gonna upgrade the bathrooms he replied "sir, did you come here to race or did you come here to sh!t." LOL!

[Aftershock]

Making my 1st visit to FALS for PDC. It sounds to me like my local track, Talladega Short Track. Horrible facilities but good racing. Or in yalls case, horrible facilities and awesome racing. Looking forward to finding out. ...seems like all tracks could do some type of improvement year to year during the winter even if it's small. Always puzzled me. TST hasn't done any improvements in over a decade. It's a shame. ...but on a lighter note, it reminds me of what Earl Baltes said once back in the day in a drivers meeting. When ask when he was gonna upgrade the bathrooms he replied "sir, did you come here to race or did you come here to sh!t." LOL!

FALS facilities are a long ways from horrible. Having been to both TST and FALS, you'll be impressed by what you see. Is it Knoxville? NO, but having been to about 85 different tracks in my life I'd still rate FALS in the top half for facilities.

[dirt crow]

FALS facilities are a long ways from horrible. Having been to both TST and FALS, you'll be impressed by what you see. Is it Knoxville? NO, but having been to about 85 different tracks in my life I'd still rate FALS in the top half for facilities.

Well your right. Horrible was probably the wrong word to use for a place I haven't been to. I'll just keep horrible on the TST side.

[shaferz]

Have you seen the sponsor signs at FALS lately? I really do not think additional/remodeled bathrooms are going bring on additional sponsorship.

You are at a dirt race track, not a Ritz. IIRC, they bring in a plethora of porta-johns for the big shows.

I will agree it would be 'nice' to have upgraded/updated facilities for restrooms on both sides of the track, but pushing the point by trying to suggest it will bring in additional sponsors may not be accurate.

[thexfactor0210]

Fairbury does have a good amount of sponsors for their track. With all the sponsorship, they should have the funds to put a little of that money back into the track. The place is absolutely packed for PDC, Summernats, and a few of their other shows. If they added more grandstands, they could possibly attract more fans. I am talking about sponsorship on a big level. I am not referring to a sponsor that pays $200 for a billboard for the race season. For example, there are tracks on the West Coast which bring in corporate money for in excess of $10,000. Also, there is a track in Illinois which had a brand new, very nice scoreboard paid for in its entirety by Coca-Cola. All the track had to do was have a Coca-Cola sign on the scoreboard. Farmer City does not even have a scoreboard anymore and they are trying to host the Illini and Summernats?

Like I said earlier, I am fine with everything and it not stop us fans from going. I am just referring to the future of the sport and the younger generation, as well as females. I have taken several younger individuals to races and they cannot believe that some places are just a complete dump. Now don't get me wrong, the racing was great and that matters most of all. However, if a girlfriend or child that you bring along does not want to go because of the facilities, then we are all losing out.

I generally refer to us as a "minor leagues" when discussing racing with a fan who is clueless about it. However, when you look at a minor league baseball stadium or even high school football stadiums, they are in better shape then some of these dirt tracks which are paying $10,000 to win. I think the potential is there for sponsorship, advertising, fan base expansion, etc. However, if we continue to just it and use an outdated, small, or downright poor facility then we are really hurting ourselves.

[kidrock]

Xfactor you make some valid points, I know of a couple prominent drivers that won't go to certain tracks because,of the bathroom and it's not because of the drivers but, because of their wives refusing to go. The wives say there is no way I'm going to go or have my daughter go there because,of the bathrooms are so nasty.

They don't have to be state of the art but, they do need to be clean and kept by stocked throughout the night women and kids don't like to use the ports potty and I know some are going to say don't come then and that's exactly what the xfactor is trying to say here.make it so they want to come

[Fairbury Speedway]

Myself and a slew of other workers just spent all day last Sunday pressure washing the entire inside of the Grandstands, we are planning on a fresh coat of paint this Sunday. You could easily spend a half million dollars on upgrades and hardly notice. We are always looking for ways to improve, you do have valid points on some of your subjects and things are being addressed as time and funds allow.

[Jet Jockey]

Xfactor you make some valid points, I know of a couple prominent drivers that won't go to certain tracks because,of the bathroom and it's not because of the drivers but, because of their wives refusing to go. The wives say there is no way I'm going to go or have my daughter go there because,of the bathrooms are so nasty.

They don't have to be state of the art but, they do need to be clean and kept by stocked throughout the night women and kids don't like to use the ports potty and I know some are going to say don't come then and that's exactly what the xfactor is trying to say here.make it so they want to come

Preach on brother. If mamas not happy nobody is. Just clean, serviceable bathrooms would make a world of difference. The wife would want to go to more events, which means I get to go to more events.

[dirt crow]

I heard a guy once say I want the bathrooms to stay awful so my wife won't go. Lol

[Aftershock]

Fairbury does have a good amount of sponsors for their track. With all the sponsorship, they should have the funds to put a little of that money back into the track. The place is absolutely packed for PDC, Summernats, and a few of their other shows. If they added more grandstands, they could possibly attract more fans. I am talking about sponsorship on a big level. I am not referring to a sponsor that pays $200 for a billboard for the race season. For example, there are tracks on the West Coast which bring in corporate money for in excess of $10,000. Also, there is a track in Illinois which had a brand new, very nice scoreboard paid for in its entirety by Coca-Cola. All the track had to do was have a Coca-Cola sign on the scoreboard. Farmer City does not even have a scoreboard anymore and they are trying to host the Illini and Summernats?

Like I said earlier, I am fine with everything and it not stop us fans from going. I am just referring to the future of the sport and the younger generation, as well as females. I have taken several younger individuals to races and they cannot believe that some places are just a complete dump. Now don't get me wrong, the racing was great and that matters most of all. However, if a girlfriend or child that you bring along does not want to go because of the facilities, then we are all losing out.

I generally refer to us as a "minor leagues" when discussing racing with a fan who is clueless about it. However, when you look at a minor league baseball stadium or even high school football stadiums, they are in better shape then some of these dirt tracks which are paying $10,000 to win. I think the potential is there for sponsorship, advertising, fan base expansion, etc. However, if we continue to just it and use an outdated, small, or downright poor facility then we are really hurting ourselves.


The "future" of our sport better look at ways of curbing costs of racing before making venues that are comparable to the cowboys stadium IMO. What fairbury does with their money is put on numerous specials to help the average driver keep racing. Compare their purses to surrounding tracks.

[Cardirt0]

I have too say I been too FALS way more then once, and the Bathrooms Are not that bad ( at lease the one by the North east gate) .. If you compare them too some you are at the Ritz....They Have been clean are easy too get in too every time I have been there.. Do not know whats on the west or North side stands.....And have seen PO pottys in more then 1 place.. Code if you Build new ones, They have too be to code, The word Code means lots of money..If we want NFL bath rooms we may have too pay NFL prices too get in...Most Kids too day will love or hate racing or not...Kids there Phone gos dead and there life is over.. Things keep going south in the World some of them kids may be p i s s ing in the woods just to go... or maybe all the fans need too get in a large group and go build them so the Kids will go too save there Track....Seams people want More More and don't want too pay no more.. the same seats I use to pay for at ILLINI BB games 20 years a go 35 bucks last year same seats for the Ohio st game 200 bucks each.. this year cant get them cause there I fund seats, I have too give 2000 bucks a year be for I could buy them..I am the first too get mad at High prices cause I am old and on fix income.. But if I was not Sick I be the first one out there helping them build them... My 2 cents worth....

[vande07]

Totally agree, racetracks (and I will go on record and say 90% of them or more at all levels of racing) need to upgrade facilities (particularly the restrooms).

My wife and daughter won't go to ANY races due to the bathrooms (and that's at Knoxville which if are as decent as the men's room are light years ahead of every other dirt track I've been to and better than Daytona and Indianapolis too).

Racing as a whole doesn't realize that their competition isn't other racetracks, they are competing for ENTERTAINMENT $$$'s, so their competition is concerts, arenas for basketball, hockey, homeshows, etc., etc..

The problem is MOST racetracks think of themselves in competition with track XX that is 100 miles down the road as opposed to being in competition with events (this weekend in the DesMoines area there are the following options: Kacey Musgraves concert (Nitefall on the River), Iowa Cubs Baseball, Prarie Meadows (Horse Racing and Casino), Knoxville Raceway, Marshalltown Speedway, Iowa State Fair Speedway, 80/35 Music Festival, Boone Speedway and a host of other events). Every one of these is in competition with each other for paying customers.

The sooner ALL racetracks realize this, the sooner they will become better venues and attract larger crowds IMO. Some are doing better than others while others continue to stick their head in the sand (or a part of their anatomy) and ignore the fact that people choose where to spend their $$.

[thexfactor0210]

I am glad to know that Fairbury is continuing to make efforts to improve their facilities. I hope they continue in the future. I am not bashing on any track or looking to point them in a negative light. I love both tracks and both provide EXCELLENT racing most of the time. Thanks for everyone's input and opinions!

[Cardirt0]

(My wife and daughter won't go to ANY races due to the bathrooms (and that's at Knoxville which if are as decent as the men's room are light years ahead of every other dirt track I've been to and better than Daytona and Indianapolis too).))))))
Sounds Like they just don't want too go.. and found a way too do it....
We as a people have become so spoiled cant even go camping with out the 100000 $ camper witch ant camping....

[CMatich]

Obviously every race track in America, just like any other business, has a wish list of what they want to improve. Some will accomplish them and some won't. Some will thrive without the improvements, some will fail. Some will thrive with improvements, some will fail.
Farmer City is doing what ever it can to bring itself back to where it was. Will that be overnight, a few years? Nobody knows. We all should be just glad they are trying.
Fairbury is another story. Very successful and they are making improvements. New bleachers, scoreboard, ticketing website, etc. Those improvements need to get paid off before taking on more of a debt load.
I am sure both facilities are crunching numbers to see what they can do in the future.
Both of these facilities are ran by volunteers. These volunteers must put their money where their mouth is when they sign promissory notes/loans. Pretty big stuff when a person signs for something that could come back and bite them personally.
Also I take exception to the comment by xfactor "I am not referring to a sponsor that pays $200 for a billboard for a race season". Excuse me? The company I work for pays far more than that at both tracks for our billboards. Get the facts straight before spouting generalizations. Also for a person who "ran a successful business" (congrats to you!) you seem to have no comprehension of money since " spend a few thousands and put some decent toilets in a newer cheap building" A few thousands isn't going to get you anything. I agree Peoria did a great job on the bathrooms as you said. If you can do that for a few thousands drop off a proposal at both tracks please.
Trust me when I say there is only so much money in the pot to be divided up amongst business' willing to sponsor, especially in small town USA. You fail to realize the number of potential big sponsors who are talked with and they say no without even setting foot on the property. But on the other foot, well run facilities do get big sponsorships without them even setting foot on the property.
There are a ton of great points in this thread made by xfactor and yes improvements need to get made. It's just not that easy and if it was every track in America would do it.
Great topic. Keep it going constructively........

[WisWildManFan]

Xfactor you make some valid points, I know of a couple prominent drivers that won't go to certain tracks because,of the bathroom and it's not because of the drivers but, because of their wives refusing to go. The wives say there is no way I'm going to go or have my daughter go there because,of the bathrooms are so nasty.They don't have to be state of the art but, they do need to be clean and kept by stocked throughout the night women and kids don't like to use the ports potty and I know some are going to say don't come then and that's exactly what the xfactor is trying to say here.make it so they want to come sounds like those drivers need to ditch their b!tches lol

[Cardirt0]

FarmerCity If you seen it 3 years a go, you go O my God.. I have seen the things they have done ITS a lot.. All the people that run the track DO not get paid.. I have seen Lance out there all day mowing the Grass. Then hes out there the next day working on the sound then hes out there the next day working on something else.. Why HE LOVEs the place...Say If a 100 people gave just 1 day mouth.. and go out there and help him.. Think of all the things that he could fix... Its time the people that say they love there track too prove IT.....My dad said one sat you want to go too the church with me I need too help fix the doors..I jumped too go just so i could do something with my dad....Them were the days...Grab your kid and go help.. its a great way too be with your KID....HELPING some one

[thexfactor0210]

First off, thanks for your input! This is a discussion not an argument. When I say a few thousand for a bathroom, I was referring to getting help from sponsors to each help pitch in for something such as a new bathroom, scoreboard, camping hookups, etc. Once again, I am not speaking for myself but others and how to attract new fans in this day and age. I just want these places to continue into the future and I know it is getting harder and harder to bring in new fans. If we can pull some women or younger crowds I think that could help a lot.

I know the people that work these tracks love it and bust their butt. I wish they could get rewarded a little more than they do. I think they could be with more fans is my point.





Obviously every race track in America, just like any other business, has a wish list of what they want to improve. Some will accomplish them and some won't. Some will thrive without the improvements, some will fail. Some will thrive with improvements, some will fail.
Farmer City is doing what ever it can to bring itself back to where it was. Will that be overnight, a few years? Nobody knows. We all should be just glad they are trying.
Fairbury is another story. Very successful and they are making improvements. New bleachers, scoreboard, ticketing website, etc. Those improvements need to get paid off before taking on more of a debt load.
I am sure both facilities are crunching numbers to see what they can do in the future.
Both of these facilities are ran by volunteers. These volunteers must put their money where their mouth is when they sign promissory notes/loans. Pretty big stuff when a person signs for something that could come back and bite them personally.
Also I take exception to the comment by xfactor "I am not referring to a sponsor that pays $200 for a billboard for a race season". Excuse me? The company I work for pays far more than that at both tracks for our billboards. Get the facts straight before spouting generalizations. Also for a person who "ran a successful business" (congrats to you!) you seem to have no comprehension of money since " spend a few thousands and put some decent toilets in a newer cheap building" A few thousands isn't going to get you anything. I agree Peoria did a great job on the bathrooms as you said. If you can do that for a few thousands drop off a proposal at both tracks please.
Trust me when I say there is only so much money in the pot to be divided up amongst business' willing to sponsor, especially in small town USA. You fail to realize the number of potential big sponsors who are talked with and they say no without even setting foot on the property. But on the other foot, well run facilities do get big sponsorships without them even setting foot on the property.
There are a ton of great points in this thread made by xfactor and yes improvements need to get made. It's just not that easy and if it was every track in America would do it.
Great topic. Keep it going constructively........

[kidrock]

I think some people took this personally and I'm sure xfactor did not mean for it to come out that way. We have to admit he made some valid points. Some tracks have and do keep making improvements and these 2 tracks are included in that. Like I have said the profit margin for these promoters or tracks and in some cases razor thin. Some tracks operate on a month to month basis if not week to week.
Hence the reason to maybe and try and attract bigger sponsors. I realize easier said then done but, you have to keep trying because you never know when that big sponsor just might sign on the dotted line. Like I said clean and stocked bathrooms throughout the night is a must. I don't think anyone is expecting the ritz carlton but, something the wife and kids can to and not be grossed out from. Plus a place for handicapped people to be able to access and watch the races from. With that comes to mind handicap bathroom stalls if a track does not have one already. I'm sure most do.

[huskerdirt]

My wife and daughter won't go to ANY races due to the bathrooms (and that's at Knoxville which if are as decent as the men's room are light years ahead of every other dirt track I've been to and better than Daytona and Indianapolis too).


Wow.......

[vande07]

Wow.......

They used to go from time to time, but the bar has been raised by competing entertainment venues on what is acceptable. Having HOT water to wash your hands is #1 on their wish list. I don't think that is asking a lot. Men's room doesn't have hot water either.

[Clayton_Wetter]

Have you seen the sponsor signs at FALS lately? I really do not think additional/remodeled bathrooms are going bring on additional sponsorship.

You are at a dirt race track, not a Ritz. IIRC, they bring in a plethora of porta-johns for the big shows.

I will agree it would be 'nice' to have upgraded/updated facilities for restrooms on both sides of the track, but pushing the point by trying to suggest it will bring in additional sponsors may not be accurate.

Maybe Donald Trump can open up a chain of Ritz-Carlton Speedways and ID illegal aliens while he's at it. lol

[Highside Hustler25]

While I will not disagree that either track could use some restroom improvements, I've been all across the USofA hitting dirt tracks over the years and I will say this. Farmer City and Fairbury are above average compared to a lot that I have seen. Hope nobody takes this personally, but I've seen some real schit holes out East. They were very old tracks that looked like they have not had any kind of upgrade since they were built.

FC and FALS are the Taj Mahal's of dirt tracks compared to some.

[huskerdirt]

if you want go to a fancy place go to lucas oil this weekend if you want to see good racing go to fairbury etc

They don't have hot water...... So I guess it's not good enough.

[huskerdirt]

While I will not disagree that either track could use some restroom improvements, I've been all across the USofA hitting dirt tracks over the years and I will say this. Farmer City and Fairbury are above average compared to a lot that I have seen. Hope nobody takes this personally, but I've seen some real schit holes out East. They were very old tracks that looked like they have not had any kind of upgrade since they were built.

FC and FALS are the Taj Mahal's of dirt tracks compared to some.

Well said.... We could sit here all day and pick apart every track. There are tracks I don't support. Not because it's a schithole, but rather on how the show is run and things of that nature.