Bulls Gap

[Dirt Clod]

Brsteg, I had a similar experience. I had two first timers with me. We drove 7 hours and I had my buddies all pumped up about Volunteer. We did not attend Bristol Sat afternoon, so we could not wait. We arrived at 7pm and got a great seat. Then reality set in.

Practice session after practice session. Then as B1eagle said, they qualified everything but the water truck. Many if not all were individual or 2 cars at a time. The announcer was so proud that Volunteer had nearly 120 cars in the pits. Took forever. And as you say, we had a prayer sermon. The first race hit the track about 9:35 or 9:40pm. I kept telling my buddies to hang on......the super late model feature hit the track about 12:05 am, finally getting done about 12:35am. Ridiculous. The young girl behind us was asleep under a blanket. Her parents must have known what was in store this evening. But wait.....we want young kids to attend races.

We wanted to get something to eat. Concession lines were 30 minutes long with just two windows open and some carnival type trailer selling $4 candy apples and $5 cotton candy. This how you take care of fans? But we were not allowed to bring food in. I could have left the grounds and driven to the McDonalds at the interstate and been back before I got food at the track.

As other posters have said, when will these promoters get it? It's not rocket science to run a good racing program. But some just can't figure is out. Needless to say my buddies don't want to go back. We sat at this track for over 5.5 hours. What baseball, football or basketball game do you have to sit this long? Readers can say......if you don't like it, don't come back. Guess many other race fans are taking this same recommendation based on the amount of short tracks closing. Sad.

[3 wide]

You got it dirt clod they don't get it 5 an half hours your lucky I've sat at some tracks till 1 an 2 in the morning an not seen the super race.

[Winston_Wolfe]

I thought the track was in the best racing shape I've seen it in a while. The McCarters are doing an outstanding job in my book. The issue with the back gate was unfortunate, but things happen. My biggest suggestion as always for special events, run the super late model feature earlier in the show. Those of us who want to get home at a decent hour for church on Sunday morning do not want to sit through too many caution-filled support classes.

[Jim11h]

Just observation but why in world do y'all down that way have sooooo many divisions of same cars? supers, crates, steel blocks, etc, etc......often see results and like 10cars per division. Start eliminating a few and people will move to class they can afford if want to race. Supers, sportsman, mods, stocks. Streamlined night and everyone happy. Eliminate qualifications or do it during hotlaps thru transponder. Invert & re-draw, not fastest on pole every time.

[fastford]

Just observation but why in world do y'all down that way have sooooo many divisions of same cars? supers, crates, steel blocks, etc, etc......often see results and like 10cars per division. Start eliminating a few and people will move to class they can afford if want to race. Supers, sportsman, mods, stocks. Streamlined night and everyone happy. Eliminate qualifications or do it during hotlaps thru transponder. Invert & re-draw, not fastest on pole every time.

you can blame most of this on the almighty " CRATE " motor , we use to only have two late model type classes , super and limited , then here comes the "affordable " crate 602 motor , now we have 3 , then after every one wanting to partake in this class bought one , they come out with the 604 , basically making the 602 obsolete and sales slowed on this engine , soooo , hence a new class , the 602 only sportsman class , thats four late model classes , also , you have the 602 street stocks and now the 602 open wheel mods , add in the buzz cars , which here lately is the largest class at our track and thats 7 classes , and some tracks even have a couple more support type classes that were there long before this crate deal and shouldn't be penalized , JMO , now , as to running supers last , thats crazy , run one support class first to get things going and then run the suppers , the ones that are there for the support classes will stay and the ones there for just the suppers will get out early and be happy , besides , the track has every ones money any way......

[3 wide]

That's a good idea Winston Wolfe but they don't think that far ahead they don't care if your going to church I'm going to a race sat night the are going to run 8 classes you think they will start super feature before midnight I don't think so but I'm going to give the a chance.

[callmez]

They did run two features after the supers, and even I gave up and left early -- I rarely leave before an entire show is over. The McCarters did a great job with the track, the feature racing was really good, and I know they are trying to give everyone their money's worth which they certainly did. But somebody above said they qualified everything but the water truck, and that's about right. On top of that, there might just be one too many classes. Run supers, crates, sportsman classes, an all late model show, but only qualify supers and maybe crates. If you run the classic class, no qualifying and no heats, just a feature and give the drivers enough laps to sort it out. They've got the track working and are getting the cars for a great show, they just need to resist the temptation to cram so much stuff into one night.

[Jim11h]

Y'all would love Ohio. 3 or 4 divisions, heats, consi's as needed, features. Start 7-8 and gone by 11-12 and full 20 car fields

[3 wide]

That is the way it should be the race tracks in the south can't understand that you can run 4 classes pay out the same amount of money and draw the same amount of cars.