Dirt Track Racing & Social Media Negativity. Good article to read.

[W2Racing09]

As they should 100%.

I agree with everything you said. When it comes to reviews though, if there is 100 good ones, and two bad, I'm going. If it's pretty well split, I'm not.

Even if it is split I might not go to a restaurant, honestly does anyone buy stuff on Amazon that isn't rated at least 4 or 5 stars? That is how I feel about pretty much everything - and if it is four stars I have to do additional research before I pull the trigger. That is all well and good but it seems like in racing the happy people don't read reviews. It is rare that someone comes home from a regular night at the races and goes to the track page and says they had a great time -- it just is what it is. That makes everything look negative (look at the posts here it is pretty much the same, they are either negative toward a track or they are not about a track -- very rare that people are talking about how great a track is -- especially if it isn't FALS or Eldora).

I just think it does hurt a lot, it isn't the sole reason tracks are hurting in most cases but it certainly is a contributor.

[Barbecueboy]

While I do agree that social media has it's place for discussion of various issues related to our sport, it seems that social media quickly moves to plain bashing by many uninformed people hiding behind computer screens.

Let's look at some posts from the Illini 100 weekend and talk about "zero accountability".

"Fairbury is owned by the town"......No
"I see this being it for the Illini"....why?
"from what I was told there are some drivers pulling out and going home".....did anybody actually leave?
"Fairboard don't support the track"....how wrong is this statement!
"not a good seat in the house"....in who's opinion and how in the he!! does it that get fixed anyways?
"hit or miss track conditions"....not really
"no scoreboard"...when did scoreboards become needed in dirt racing?
"why do they even have this race in the first place"....wth....to make $ for weekly shows and improvements
"Izzo probably laughing his ass off"....why?
"the race is now May 13th"....wrong
"I'm just glad I'm not sitting in FC today. They are going to collect money all day and then call the weekend".....wrong
"It was already called"...wrong
"they won't have anymore fans so they will end up calling it"...wrong

The above misinformed posts did nothing to help the event and probably did damage...since everything on the internet is true. How about holding the above posters accountable just like tracks are supposed to be?

Look, I'm all for having great discussions and disagreements, but only if those involved know the facts on the topics being posted.

Do race tracks need improvements? Yes!. Does FC need better bathrooms? Yes. The only way improvements happen is by fans supporting race tracks, not hiding behind a computer screen and bashing without knowing the facts.

I think we all forget that back in the old days we all drove to race tracks not knowing who was going to be there, what the weather was like etc. Guess, what? We didn't complain to the universe, we just took it all in stride as part of the fun we were trying to have. Seems to me the crowds were way bigger back in the old days as well. Coincidence?

Great post.......only thing I would say that might be considered a rebuttle or disagreement with it would be that no ,nobody complained to the universe.

It would have been hard to do from a pay phone or one of the old bag cell phones....info gets out much quicker to more people and much more clearly these days.

As for the crowds being bigger back then........too many other choice these days for families and especially kids that used to go with there families.

[Barbecueboy]

A good promoter reads the criticism and realizes what they have to work on. A poor promoter reads the criticism and blames it for their shortcomings. Around my way, I've seen it work both ways.

ALL over it..........just like always.

Great observation .

[MM90]

Great, another article about how social media is to blame for the demise of dirt track racing.........

When does the follow up article about poor mgmt, poor promotion, favoritism, rules enforcement, cost of goods and time management etc. going to be released?

I guess blaming others for your own demise is indeed the new American way.

There will always be hotheaded biased posts on about anything and on any forum......most true fans or curious interested fans know the difference between real constructive critisism and just a pissed off fan or crew member or whatever.

The tracks or attractions or restaurants or whatever's that blame their failure all on social media need to realize that it's them and their plan and execution of said plan is what brings on the true negative social media posts, not the other way around.

On the net You can blame anyone for anything, in reality the blame for failure normally lies at the doorstep of the group or person making , executing and working a bad plan to begin with.

Also to add... If these track promoters complain about social media, but then use it for their own promotion. You can't have it both ways.

[Barbecueboy]

Also to add... If these track promoters complain about social media, but then use it for their own promotion. You can't have it both ways.

Worse thing they can do is actually engage or respond in a combative nature to someone giving critisism about the program on line..........I watched ( from afar) a promoter/owner comepletely dismantel a successful operation at a great track that was once referred to as " the Daytona of dirt" because he is an idiot for one and because he would rather argue with paying fans on the net than address what needed addressing.

Place looks like you could open up a Sanford and son operation in it now.

Shameful

[WisWildManFan]

Just shut 4m down

[kidrock]

BS. The State Farm lady said its true

Your right I forgot about the State Farm lady lol.

[Cardirt0]

You can buy a web site now .. and you get 50 free good posts to it by people saying how great it is .. all of them by people that work for the web site that made it for you...So its all a lie....You can thank Your Lib. people that love are first Black Prez...Who has done More too hurt us then help us....USA is on its way down if we dont stand up NOW and say NO MORE......You can Lie on the WWW and It cool now.....4M dont need shut down We need too speak UP....End of Rant

[bonz45]

for most people, I would guess that it is much easier to take the time to write a review if it is fueled by anger or disappointment.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

You can buy a web site now .. and you get 50 free good posts to it by people saying how great it is .. all of them by people that work for the web site that made it for you...So its all a lie....You can thank Your Lib. people that love are first Black Prez...Who has done More too hurt us then help us....USA is on its way down if we dont stand up NOW and say NO MORE......You can Lie on the WWW and It cool now.....4M dont need shut down We need too speak UP....End of Rant

Right here. Accountability, blame it on someone else, don't look in the mirror.

[oldfart50]

If BBQ says it, it must be so. He is so smart...

[Cardirt0]

Right here. Accountability, blame it on someone else, don't look in the mirror.

Are you saying i need too look in a mirror...

[NormP]

I posted this same article 2-3 months ago from a different website.

[Barbecueboy]

If BBQ says it, it must be so. He is so smart...

Thank you Danielson......now get back to waxing my car.

[ptown]

So its all a lie....You can thank Your Lib. people that love are first Black Prez...Who has done More too hurt us then help us....USA is on its way down if we dont stand up NOW and say NO MORE......You can Lie on the WWW and It cool now.....4M dont need shut down We need too speak UP....End of Rant

God your ignorant.