Annoyance at the Keystones

Greg Gay · 10-23-2015, 09:02 AM

I didn’t mind sitting in my van in a hayfield in the rain for two days; no one can control the weather. And I didn’t mind that the NHRA chose to lead off on Saturday with the Pro’s; they are the primary reason that the spectators are there. I didn’t even mind waiting until Monday to complete the race. But what really annoys me is paying someone a dollar to hand me a paper towel each time that I go to the bathroom. The first time that I ever saw this was at Englishtown, but it seems to have spread, like the plague, to Atco, Maple Grove, and Cecil County, I believe.

Now, I’ve been to upscale motels where the maitre D hands you a towel, but they were never looking for a tip. And I know that half of the racers today have motor homes and can escape this nuisance. But if NHRA’s true customers are the spectators, then why allow them to be subject to this fleecing? Wouldn’t it be better for the tracks to have their own personnel to take care of the bathrooms, and pay them to do so? If 15,000 people really show up for one of these races, and each pays just a quarter, there’s almost an additional $4000 being coerced from your customers.
Maybe I’m just too cheap, but for spending 5 days at Maple Grove, this is what annoyed me the most. And it annoys me every time I see it at other tracks, too.

Greg

Superfan1 · 10-23-2015, 09:10 AM

Greg, I don't tip them anything; at Maple Grove, E-town, or anywhere else. Just because there is a container for tips, doesn't make it mandatory to put something in it.

SSDiv6 · 10-23-2015, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Gay

I didn’t mind sitting in my van in a hayfield in the rain for two days; no one can control the weather. And I didn’t mind that the NHRA chose to lead off on Saturday with the Pro’s; they are the primary reason that the spectators are there. I didn’t even mind waiting until Monday to complete the race. But what really annoys me is paying someone a dollar to hand me a paper towel each time that I go to the bathroom. The first time that I ever saw this was at Englishtown, but it seems to have spread, like the plague, to Atco, Maple Grove, and Cecil County, I believe.

Now, I’ve been to upscale motels where the maitre D hands you a towel, but they were never looking for a tip. And I know that half of the racers today have motor homes and can escape this nuisance. But if NHRA’s true customers are the spectators, then why allow them to be subject to this fleecing? Wouldn’t it be better for the tracks to have their own personnel to take care of the bathrooms, and pay them to do so? If 15,000 people really show up for one of these races, and each pays just a quarter, there’s almost an additional $4000 being coerced from your customers.
Maybe I’m just too cheap, but for spending 5 days at Maple Grove, this is what annoyed me the most. And it annoys me every time I see it at other tracks, too.

Greg

This is next!!!

Myron Piatek · 10-23-2015, 12:02 PM

I think it's more of a "Northeast" thing rather than NHRA. They do that at the bigger events at Budds Creek, MD as well, an IHRA track.

We are already paying good money to be there to race. But it seems like EVERYBODY is trying to find little "add-ons" to charge, like phone companies, airlines and more. There was a Choice Hotel near Dinwiddie that had a hidden fee for "toiletries" - soap, shampoo, etc. Stuff that's expected to be part of the advertised rates. When I wrote the company, I got a form letter back saying that some hotels are privately owned, they can't control what the charge, blah, blah, blah!

dartman · 10-23-2015, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

This is next!!!

I would be happy to pay $1 to go in a clean $.hiter. but that's just me.

Jim Wahl · 10-23-2015, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dartman

I would be happy to pay $1 to go in a clean $.hiter. but that's just me.

Is it really too much to ask to expect a clean "$.hiter" to use when you pay anywhere from $250 - $350 to enter a race without having to pay extra? No wonder they can't get any spectators! Jim

.

Mike Pearson · 10-23-2015, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Wahl

Is it really too much to ask to expect a clean "$.hiter" to use when you pay anywhere from $250 - $350 to enter a race without having to pay extra? No wonder they can't get any spectators! Jim

.

Jim,

You hit the nail right on the head. Most tracks facilities are dirty and gross. There is no excuse for the restroom facilities to be run down and dirty. It sure doesn't help to get spectators in the stands.

Bob Don · 10-23-2015, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Gay

I didn’t mind sitting in my van in a hayfield in the rain for two days; no one can control the weather. And I didn’t mind that the NHRA chose to lead off on Saturday with the Pro’s; they are the primary reason that the spectators are there. I didn’t even mind waiting until Monday to complete the race. But what really annoys me is paying someone a dollar to hand me a paper towel each time that I go to the bathroom. The first time that I ever saw this was at Englishtown, but it seems to have spread, like the plague, to Atco, Maple Grove, and Cecil County, I believe.

Now, I’ve been to upscale motels where the maitre D hands you a towel, but they were never looking for a tip. And I know that half of the racers today have motor homes and can escape this nuisance. But if NHRA’s true customers are the spectators, then why allow them to be subject to this fleecing? Wouldn’t it be better for the tracks to have their own personnel to take care of the bathrooms, and pay them to do so? If 15,000 people really show up for one of these races, and each pays just a quarter, there’s almost an additional $4000 being coerced from your customers.
Maybe I’m just too cheap, but for spending 5 days at Maple Grove, this is what annoyed me the most. And it annoys me every time I see it at other tracks, too.

Greg

x2

SSGT Mustang · 10-23-2015, 04:39 PM

That's been going on for a long time and yes it's annoying.

It's a race track, not the Four Seasons.

SSGT Mustang · 10-23-2015, 04:50 PM

One more thing. The bathrooms are disgusting at most tracks in D1. Most of the time you have to deal with port a potties that even worse. It's bad enough that money spent for a points meet doesn't include clean bathrooms. To have disgusting bathrooms at a national event is over the top.

10-23-2015, 09:02 AM	#1
Greg Gay Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 348 Likes: 8 Liked 218 Times in 48 Posts	Annoyance at the Keystones I didn’t mind sitting in my van in a hayfield in the rain for two days; no one can control the weather. And I didn’t mind that the NHRA chose to lead off on Saturday with the Pro’s; they are the primary reason that the spectators are there. I didn’t even mind waiting until Monday to complete the race. But what really annoys me is paying someone a dollar to hand me a paper towel each time that I go to the bathroom. The first time that I ever saw this was at Englishtown, but it seems to have spread, like the plague, to Atco, Maple Grove, and Cecil County, I believe. Now, I’ve been to upscale motels where the maitre D hands you a towel, but they were never looking for a tip. And I know that half of the racers today have motor homes and can escape this nuisance. But if NHRA’s true customers are the spectators, then why allow them to be subject to this fleecing? Wouldn’t it be better for the tracks to have their own personnel to take care of the bathrooms, and pay them to do so? If 15,000 people really show up for one of these races, and each pays just a quarter, there’s almost an additional $4000 being coerced from your customers. Maybe I’m just too cheap, but for spending 5 days at Maple Grove, this is what annoyed me the most. And it annoys me every time I see it at other tracks, too. Greg

10-23-2015, 09:10 AM	#2
Superfan1 VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bridgeport,CT. Posts: 1,946 Likes: 1,547 Liked 2,344 Times in 409 Posts	Re: Annoyance at the Keystones Greg, I don't tip them anything; at Maple Grove, E-town, or anywhere else. Just because there is a container for tips, doesn't make it mandatory to put something in it. __________________ Bill Seabrooks - superfan1 Bridgeport, CT

10-23-2015, 12:02 PM	#4
Myron Piatek VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,538 Likes: 34 Liked 132 Times in 48 Posts	Re: Annoyance at the Keystones I think it's more of a "Northeast" thing rather than NHRA. They do that at the bigger events at Budds Creek, MD as well, an IHRA track. We are already paying good money to be there to race. But it seems like EVERYBODY is trying to find little "add-ons" to charge, like phone companies, airlines and more. There was a Choice Hotel near Dinwiddie that had a hidden fee for "toiletries" - soap, shampoo, etc. Stuff that's expected to be part of the advertised rates. When I wrote the company, I got a form letter back saying that some hotels are privately owned, they can't control what the charge, blah, blah, blah! __________________ LOCOMOTION Racing

10-23-2015, 04:39 PM	#9
SSGT Mustang Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Posts: 359 Likes: 35 Liked 203 Times in 53 Posts	Re: Annoyance at the Keystones That's been going on for a long time and yes it's annoying. It's a race track, not the Four Seasons.

10-23-2015, 04:50 PM	#10
SSGT Mustang Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jersey Posts: 359 Likes: 35 Liked 203 Times in 53 Posts	Re: Annoyance at the Keystones One more thing. The bathrooms are disgusting at most tracks in D1. Most of the time you have to deal with port a potties that even worse. It's bad enough that money spent for a points meet doesn't include clean bathrooms. To have disgusting bathrooms at a national event is over the top.