Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy1374
Bob Metcalf wouldnt make the neccessary updates, i.e the concrete retaining walls. He wants to suck in as much money as he can and not do a thing to the track. 12 yrs ago he drew car counts in the high 200 to low 300 and now, from what I've heard, can't crack 150. Rumor has it they ran a Q16 race and the drivers solicited donations for the pay out!! Isnt that the track owner/operators job???
In Business First there was an article about a dragstrip being opened in the Angola NY area. That, I am sure, will be run better than NYIRP.
|
Jeez, Jeremy, I know you and your dad quite well and, for the most part, respect you both--but I gotta say you're way off on this one.
OK--"...not do a thing to the track"--your quote. Lets take on that one head on. As you probably already know, I've worked at NYIRP since 1987. Bob & Donna Metcalfe bought the track the year before. In that time there have SO MANY improvements made by these individuals (hey, I've been there, I've seen them) that I'm not sure I can name them all. But here goes:
1. Repaving of the Super Pro Pits
2. Repaving of the return road.
3. Concrete instead of asphalt out to 600' (not there when it was called "Empire Dragway")
4. New concrete burnout pads replaced at least 3 times in the last 10 years alone.
5a. Replaced original Chrondek system the track came with in 1987 with (first) a TSI Super System and then a CompuLink. The CompuLink software has been updated every year since.
5b. When the track first installed the TSI "Super System", the old "W" win lights at the end of the track were replaced by electronic scoreboards which still exist today.
5c. When the CompuLink was installed, the system wiring (from the tower to the finish line) was completely replaced to accomodate the new system. Added later were the "dial-in" boards.
6. Complete replacement of the PA system.
7. Installation of an FM transmitter hooked to the PA to reach the remote areas of the pits.
8. Complete upgrade of the lighting system for the entire track. This included installation of new poles and lights the entire length of the track, the addition of extra lights, replacement of the lights along the return road and conversion of the generator-powered shutdown lighting to "shore" power.
9. Complete rewiring of the track's main power due to vandalism of the building it is located in.
10. Remodeling of the buildings on the "tower side" including the opening of restrooms on that side.
11. Purchase of a new tractor with rotary brush on front and "rubber drag" setup on the back, similar to National Event units. (plus other miscellaneous track maintenance equipment).
12. Speaking of the guard rails, when the Melcalfe's got the track in 1986, the guardrails existed only to the finish line. It was wide open from there to the end of one of the longest shutdowns in the country. Bob & Donna finished the job so the rails went all the way down the track, both sides, to the end.
There are probably more that I haven't named but I believe I have made my point.
Certainly, many fans and drivers alike miss the National Events that were held at the track and, sure, so do I. Yet, no one other than the Metcalfes themselves know how much (or little) money (NET PROFIT, not GROSS) was made from it. You can point to the high car count, decent crowds etc, etc and GUESS how much might have been taken in GROSS. Do any of you know what it COST to put the race on? Does anyone know the EXACT agreement that IHRA and the track negotiated? Anyone know the "split"??? I don't have a clue and I work there.
My take on the decision to drop the National Event is this: the Metcalfes are the ONLY ones who operate the track and make the day-to-day decisions about anything that goes on there--NO ONE ELSE. SO--that means that Bob & Donna Metcalfe are the ONLY ones who get to make decisions about the operation of the track. If they want to run the track ONLY as a local and/or regional track, they alone have to right to do that because they OWN it. The fact that they chose to drop the National Event tells me that the PROFIT was not worth the effort. Yes, the fans, drivers and others who disagree can have an opinion about that but at the end of the day, no one's opinion is valid except the one held by the people who actually own the track.
One final note: I can admit to being a little biased here since I work for the track and I have seen first hand what has happened in the 20+ years I have worked there. No, I don't agree with everything that the owners have or haven't done--but I don't get to make those decisions.
In the interest of total disclosure, I would like to state that both Jeremy and his father are banned from NYIRP. I don't know the reasons why and personally, I don't care to know. I have stated the facts as I know them to be and revealed my bias...too bad Jeremy didn't do the same.
Regardless of anyone's feelings about whether dropping the National Event was a mistake, one FACT cannot be challenged--the Metcalfes have been giving WNY drag racing drivers and fans a decent place to race for 21 years straight. Somehow, they must be doing something RIGHT!
Admittedly biased but still trying to deal in FACT:
Mike Paz, Motorsports Announcer
http://raceannouncer.blog.com