Cleveland Speedway (Just Don't Understand)

[MRM]

This has always been the problem with the Gobbler no matter the format they run. When it was a one-day show, it would be almost two hours between SLM qualifying and their heats. The SLM feature wouldn't be over until midnight or later. I know they want to give all their classes a chance to run the last race of the season. But when you have over 100 late models and they all qualify and heat race all of them, that makes for a long program. At least Saturday went by pretty fast compared to Friday.

[Winston_Wolfe]

I agree Saturday was much better. However, the point remains. DO NOT HOLD SLM FANS HOSTAGE through all the support classes! We will not buy another hot dog at that point and you are only preventing fans who have a longer drive from deciding in favor of your race next time. PLEASE run only enough support class races in front of the SLM feature to give them time to prepare their cars. Running the SLM feature earlier helps with traffic and provides us the option of staying for other parts of the show when we do not long drives or need to be up for church the next morning. I really think promoters would attract more fans than they realize if they would make this easy format change. As it stands now, the Gobbler is on the "Never again" list for us.

[upaginit in North GA]

Yes, it has always been a problem for the Gobbler and Shamrock, but it doesn't have to be. It don't matter if you have 300 cars in other classes, you qualify the supers, its already dark. Let a B-hobby class run their two heats, run the super late model heats. WA-LA, then if other fans want to stay all night watching the road warriors and ponies, have at it.

[W2Racing09]

They had 31 supers 50 crates and 30-40 limiteds that shouldve been enuff support for two day race when I seen the car count Idwoutdve ask the other support classes to pack em up or ran them sunday or thursday and had a practice for the lates after IMO

I'm certain that would be the last race, or close to it that you ever promoted. Tracks need the smaller classes to survive all season when they don't have the big SLM guys in town. How do you think those smaller classes (who are still putting a lot of money in their cars) would react to being told to pack it up? They possibly traveled for the race too, do you think they would be cool if you said "Our car counts are too high, I'll run your feature in a couple days... its no problem you can just get a hotel room right?!". I'm sure that would figure into the decision making process on what track that driver runs at next season.

They certainly should have moved the SLM up to the front of the running order, especially if it is just heat races that night. But moving divisions off the schedule would be a horrible move.

[Hoosier]

If Obama loved America, he'd issue an exec order: Late Model feature must start before 10:00 p.m. (9:30 preferred). Real Americans don't want a five or six hour show.

[goofyville]

Ok, I hardly ever reply on here but , if you're bi%#/^%#in about a race in late November, I find it hard to feel sorry for you. Just my 2 cents.

[Late_Model_Mark]

I went last Saturday night to the Gobbler. I had not been to the track in 6 years. I read about the previous nights long show but that did not even for a minute deter me. I wanted to see a race at another track to close out 2015 for me. One thing, it sure seemed like a long haul up there. Myself and the Coca Cola man rolled into the track at 5:45p.m. and hot laps were underway. We parked out back, walked up to a fast moving ticket line, got in easy and grabbed a seat near turn 1. There was one unusual thing right off the bat, no announcing. I went up to the tower to see who was announcing and to touch base with those folks I had not seen in some time. It was nice to see Rick Eschelman and Chris Tilley. They were working on the pa system, every time Ric would turn it on the thing, it sparked and cut out, ouch! It came back on later during the event.

Back to the seats for SLM hot laps. After that I thought the races were well run and events were lined up and ready to go. Early features were run then the Super Late cars ran a clean race, lot's of green flag laps as we all know Madden smoked 'em but had to work traffic a lot. At around 9:15p.m. it was done and we hit the road for the long drive home. Drove right out. I enjoyed myself as I was free to just spectate, consume some frosties and not do the driving.

Bottom line I had fun, got to see some late season racing at a different track, and the whole deal was enjoyable. Also I wanted to get back to Cleveland as you never know what the future may bring to that track. One thing I noticed is that those dogs in t-1 were gone.



Late Model Mark
Talladega Short Track Announcer

[waaac77]

Too many support classes that no one gives 2 sh!ts about these days. Promoters think dragging shows out brings in more concession sales but it only pi$ses people off and they don't come back. In the good ole days there weren't 27 support classes and racing was fine. Now there's too many classes and not enough to pay out for everyone and they go all night. You don't need support classes. Look at Knoxville. I go to the Knoxville nationals to see super late models not warriors or b mods or street stocks. Just lates. Promoters: give the fans(customers) what they want and not what you think they want and racing will be a lot healthier. I have nor the time nor the desire to be a promoter but I can't believe some of the choices they make. People are going to the track see Owens, Madden, etc.... not Pete Gustafson go for his 3rd hornet feature win in a row racing a dodge neon with no windows

[chupp n bloomer fan]

Too many support classes that no one gives 2 sh!ts about these days. Promoters think dragging shows out brings in more concession sales but it only pi$ses people off and they don't come back. In the good ole days there weren't 27 support classes and racing was fine. Now there's too many classes and not enough to pay out for everyone and they go all night. You don't need support classes. Look at Knoxville. I go to the Knoxville nationals to see super late models not warriors or b mods or street stocks. Just lates. Promoters: give the fans(customers) what they want and not what you think they want and racing will be a lot healthier. I have nor the time nor the desire to be a promoter but I can't believe some of the choices they make. People are going to the track see Owens, Madden, etc.... not Pete Gustafson go for his 3rd hornet feature win in a row racing a dodge neon with no windows

Lol, good post

[4EyedRacer]

Wow! I`ve always wanted to go to this race. Well, not always, just the 27 years they`ve been running it. Thanks for letting me know what to expect. Maybe next year I`ll finally be able to make it.

[Kwd1253]

Well myself I enjoy all classes of racing. Sorry but if they just late models create, limited, supers and 2 hours later they done, I feel ripped off paying $35 for pit pass. But I guess I'm just not hardcore late model fan since I like watching all classes and don't b@tch because I look what all classes they are running smh.... if you only want watch 3 classes then maybe should look at what all classes they going be running. 6+ classes it's always going run to mid night, its logic if you have that.