Chapter 1: What Would You Do If You Were the Track Promoter

[fryefan]

A show running from 7:00-12:30 seems okay to you? I can gurantee you that is one reason why the sport is dying. No one wants to sit on a wooden bleacher for 5 and half hours past midnight. Then you have to drive home afterwards. Also, kids cannot attend then and won't be awake to see drivers in the pits which is an awesome thing in the sport. A hotlap start time of 6 with the show done by 10:00 p.m. is ideal in my opinion.

Agreed. Most promoters could learn a lot by going to a Bob Sargent ran show. He starts on time, has a well prepared track and completes his programs in a timely fashion.

[GrocMax]

https://www.race-monitor.com/Results/Race/89276 Look there for an example of doing it WRONG. From last night. Note start time and finish time. 10+ hours, 3AM preliminary night finish time. No intermission to speak of, and they try to run the show quickly. Its just too much. I stay away, and its the best facility south of Knoxville, including Wheatland. I'm tempted to go tonight for the final, but experience tells me the late model main won't roll till after midnight, and I stay away. Oh and the track prep is historically bad, deep hole over the tunnel, etc.

[Dlmfan123]

Was checking out Texas on google earth and looking at some pics/videos, looks like a super nice place

[backspace]

TS3G,,,time limits may work for your area but not mine,,,,It is not drivers fault for wreckers taking enormous amount of time to tow off car or not their faults for enormous amount of time for track workers get cars lined up,,,,just saying

[Illtsate32]

Running a business is what's killing dirt racing, $$$$$$$ is all people think about, racing foe a HOBBY is what grew dirt racing and made it what it is today. The business side is what's killing it..

[backspace]

They are hiring engineers at dirt racing levels,,,wow

[GrocMax]

(Forum posting tools broken) "Oh and the track prep is historically bad, deep hole over the tunnel, etc." Looks like I was dead wrong on the track prep, vid sez they did a good job considering the laps run- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc7Pcct7EG0 Good for them.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

There are tracks here that can get a five class night done from hot laps to final checkered flag in just over three hours. Six hours is crazy for a weekly race.

Six hours is I won’t be back. Barring an electrical outage, fence torn down, rain shower, no excuse

[chupp n bloomer fan]

Running a business is what's killing dirt racing, $$$$$$$ is all people think about, racing foe a HOBBY is what grew dirt racing and made it what it is today. The business side is what's killing it..

But the track has to be ran as a business. It isn’t some charity. Run a fast, efficient, cost effective show, and take baby steps to have bigger events. And do special things for the fans, young and old. Think outside the box. You don’t run a track as a business, you won’t have it long.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

They are hiring engineers at dirt racing levels,,,wow

Most definitely.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

My two cents. I agree with starting the show on time. To me 7 oclock is reasonable time to start hotlaps. The show should have a steady pace. But i dont dont understand why people want the show to only last a couple of hours, especially when people are complaining about not getting there moneys worth. Going to races is a hobby and it usually takes place on Saturdays which means there is no work that day or the next day for most people, there is no hussle and bustel of the world, so I dont understand why people get bent out of shape for being there more than 3 hours because we go to race to enjoy ourselves and get away from the real world for a while so I am not any big hurry to return to the real world especially when I am having fun. I really dont want to stay all night either so I think 12 to 12:30 is a resonable time to end a show. I am also a driver and when a track is rushing through the line up it makes it really hard to get the car ready between each runs, most weekly drivers dont have a bunch of people helping turn wrenchs and if a problem occurs through out the night it makes it hard to make repairs when the track is rushing.

Because we also have home lives and families. Not getting home from a track till 1-2:00 or later in the morning, and trying to have a productive Sunday, plus be ready for work Monday isn’t ideal for most of us. Sitting on bleachers for five hours plus is zero enjoyment. Weekly show, 3-4 hours and classes. Pay them well, and don’t have three types of the same car. Why they don’t get good car counts some places.

I understand your point too. My brother races. If they stagger them correctly, you should be fine.

Somewhere that has made great strides in their program the last two years is Sharon Speedway. No joke, car count, everything. Especially the track.

[3 wide]

I have been going to dirt track races for 50 years now every race track close to me wants to run 8,9 & even 10 classes my health want allow me to sit there for 6,7 or 8 hours.

[GrocMax]

https://www.race-monitor.com/Results/Session/6826186 As predicted, Texas Motor Speedway (dirt track) first main didn't roll out till after midnight. Mains not finished til after 3AM. 7PM-3AM. Glad I wasn't there, but sorry I missed a local event. Prime example of what not to do.

[DIRTisREALracin]

Everyone obviously wants to have a "fast" show. Let me ask this:

How do you handle the drivers/crews and have them be lined up and ready to go? How do you curtail the antics/refusal to line up correctly under caution? Many guys will be willing to help, but there will always be guys that think that since they have the $xxx,000 toy, they can do whatever they want and they don't owe you a drop of effort.

Fines/penalties won't fly in the long run. If you tick off the drivers and crews, they will find another place to run. You will probably get blasted on social media, so you will be viewed negatively throughout the dirt world.

I hate to say it, but promoters have it rough in the modern dirt scene. There is almost no way they can win without angering either the drivers or fans. To strike a balance, you appease both groups and just kinda go half way with everything and that has been shown to be a financial loser.

It's not a simple answer...

[backspace]

Check out USRA for drivers not wanting to line up,,,,,they give you one lap to correct yourself or else