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Your Florida Dream Track

Location: Blogs Running Wide Open
Posted by: Joe VanHoose	9/10/2007 9:26 AM
The local racing season is just a few months from wrapping up, and track owners across the state already have their minds on 2008. Scheduling eight months of non-stop racing is no easy task, not to mention putting together rulebooks and figuring out what classes to run. That being said, let's set up a little hypothetical situation. You, the race fan, are starting up a local racetrack for next year. What's it going to look like? Will it be dirt or asphalt? What classes will run there? How much will it cost to get in? Will you run qualifying sessions or heat races or just features? What kind of special events would you like to have? Keep in mind that your budget for all this is modest, so you can't have a NASCAR race. After spending a year talking to local race fans, I know you have opinions and think that you could put a winning program together if you had your chance. Well, here's your chance. What's your big plan? I'll be collecting ideas until the end of the month, so you have a little bit of time to think about this. To send in your idea, go to the Running Wide Open blog at blogs.myspaceocala.com, and post a comment under the "Your Florida Dream Track" entry. You can also send me your ideas in an e-mail to joe.vanhoose@starbanner.com. I can't wait to see what you come up with. Something tells me a few track owners may also be taking a look.

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Re: Your Florida Dream Track

By Jerry Binner... Frasson118 on 9/11/2007 9:40 AM

First of all, it would positively be a dirt track. The cars are much cheaper to maintain, and week-to-week expenses are much lower.This translates into more cars on a weekly basis. In the case of the Ocala area, I would race on Fridays, trying to pull cars from the Volusia, North Florida and East Bay tracks, which all run on Saturdays. I would also schedule "Holiday" specials... Monday races on Labor Day, Memorial Day.... mid-week for the 4th of July, etc.. They are VERY successful shows in other parts of the country. Find a way to capitalize on all the racers that come to Florida for Speedweeks each February. As for classes, I would have 1 4-Cyl class, 1 Hobby Stock V-8 class, UMP style-Mods (there are literally thousands of them out there running, and many for sale at a reasonable price. Keep the engine-claim rules that IMCA uses), a Crate Late Model class, and a full-blown Super Late Model class. The only thing you'd need to move from Crates to Supers, is the bigger engine. Schedule the Sprints once a month, and bring in the ASCS series in February and in October, piggybacking with East Bays events. Every one of those guys from Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, etc... all drive right past the 326 exit off of I-75 to get to Tampa. An admission price of $10 per adult is reasonable, but make it very cheap, if not free, for kids. Have an area for kids/teens to hang out. They are more likely to WANT to go to the track if they know they'll see some of their friends there each week. Sitting all night with Mom and Dad, is not a kids idea of a fun night out! I would do everything possible, to get my entire show done in 3 hours... give or take a little. When you see parents carrying sleeping kids out before the show is over, you likely will not be seeing them again. Why dio you think most movies are 2 hours long, rather than 3 hours! Too long of anything will lose interest. Schedule a few 2-day shows, encourage camping at the track, and make it a party... live band, BBQ, trivia contests, etc... The people that come to those things are very fanatical and loyal. Plus, they ALWAYS buy tickets for both nights. Take a look at Eldora, Syracuse, Snowball Derby or the Gatornationals.... race fans as far as the eye can see! I can't stress enough how important it would be, for the track to be dirt, to be successful. Asphalt tracks are hurting just about everywhere... for cars, fans and sponsors. Far too expensive for the average blue-collar worker. For what it's worth, Mike Peters was at Volusia on Saturday, and left the option open that Ocala may once again become a dirt track. Although I think they have a good thing going the way it is, I think it could become much bigger if they covered it with dirt. It would take some time, but in the long run, would become much more profitable for the track, and much more affordable for the racers. I realize this isn't an opinion of how to run Ocala Speedway, and is strictly hypothetical, but the combining of the 2 theories could work well for the track that's already there! Getting long-winded here, but these are a few things I would try.

Re: Your Florida Dream Track

By Rex "boneman" Hollinger on 9/11/2007 10:52 AM

I'd build 3 tracks in one: a 1/2 mile banked dirt track that surrounds a 1/3 mile flat, paved oval. The paved oval would also have a figure 8 course built-in. With a track like this you could have the following show: dirt sprints on the 1/2 mile, junker figure 8's and assorted classes on the pavement. The pits would be outside the track for better visibility, but would be visible from parts of the stands because there is a show going on in there too. I like parking, camping and tail-gating all around the outside of the track, so there would be power and facilities for that. Victory Lane would be on the grandstand side. This way the fans can see it, and it keeps the show moving quicker. Gotta have a playground for the kids, portable concessions for convenience and variety, and inexpensive hospitality booths that would be affordable for local businesses or groups. How about a jumbo-tron on the start-finish line for video replays, NASCAR races (I know, copyright issues), even aim a camera at the stands like Seaworld does. I'd add covered grandstands, and covered parking in the pits like Daytona has. I would build in mini-storage units so racers could keep their cars at the track. Why not? Some of them only get worked on at the track anyway. Add lots of air-conditioned bathrooms!

Re: Your Florida Dream Track

By Dana Barlow,Fire Ball 4 on 9/11/2007 12:53 PM

There just nothing at this end of Fla. anymore,Miami needs a 1/4 mile drit track & a 1/4 mile dragstrip as part of small roadrace track as well,any bigger then 1/4 for the ovel and upkeep of both cars and track is to high for long trem. Needs to be hooked in with the Micasukie's(spelling?)help there youth program out etc. Racing gets all kids intrested in tech and sportsmenship. This maybe the only way far south Fla. will ever get a auto race track complex again that has any shot at staying around. 1/4 drit is key to a great show at low cost,takes less $ for everything,so you get a far better show that normal guys can run,and that's also why kids can reach this type of racing,they sure can not get into NASCAR,too much bucks. As for parking; each track is spec. packing for when the other are racing,and the layout so pit is shaired to all tracks.

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