Live from New England Dragway- Lucas Oil Series

[BKSG1198]

Originally Posted by Jack Matyas

Spoken like a true race promoter- except some of your talking points aren't true- I was at the gate to give them my money so I was there to make them money and didn't have ten secret people in my vehicle - I was planning on doing the TNT but the weatherman said rain ( can't believe he was right) - next I don't have a multimillion rig and most don't- this was a track operated TNT so NHRA had no one working - yes , the track had an employee at the gate but had to be there anyway to collect the Lucas Oil money - and I didn't see the notice on Facebook so I got blindsided .Lastly since Stock is almost always out first how much time would I have to get ready if I came thru the gate early Friday morning .Oh BTW $15 isn't the issue - they just found a new way to get it from us .PS- you would be amazed at how many people that move pissed off .

Not saying you were Jack, just saying I've seen people sneak people in trailers, in bathrooms, etc to save a few bucks and I've also seen where a track allows the racers to come in and park and have the honor system to come back and pay the next day and either they don't or only pay for themselves. It's just the point of the matter that we're seeing more and more tracks disappear (Just saw Skyview in NY is for Sale after re-opening this year) and you have to think the expenses to run these events are becoming insane. I got the P&L from my event at a track last year and it shocked me the amount of crew / spectator passes that were sold; I said this has to be a mistake, there was way more then 275 people as crew / spectators. I asked a few racers where their bands were.....Oh we don't pay, nobody checks anyways.... guess where that cost goes, to the promoter or to future events. I think the last real person who checked wristbands at a Lucas Race was at Maple Grove a few years back.

I do agree, a little communication goes a long way and sometimes that's the weak point of some organizations, I completely agree saying "Gates open at 5pm to 7pm but there is a $15 parking charge" would have changed some people's minds as to when they leave / arrive but, also in today's world you post that on Social Media and you have every Keyboard Cowboy form here to Sweden giving their input. I get yelled at all the time that I post too much for my series but, racers are informed, the less questions rolling into an event, I think it runs 10x more efficient. I look at is as everyone is a customer, and I am here to give them a good experience for thier money.

[Jack Matyas]

Originally Posted by BKSG1198

Not saying you were Jack, just saying I've seen people sneak people in trailers, in bathrooms, etc to save a few bucks and I've also seen where a track allows the racers to come in and park and have the honor system to come back and pay the next day and either they don't or only pay for themselves. It's just the point of the matter that we're seeing more and more tracks disappear (Just saw Skyview in NY is for Sale after re-opening this year) and you have to think the expenses to run these events are becoming insane. I got the P&L from my event at a track last year and it shocked me the amount of crew / spectator passes that were sold; I said this has to be a mistake, there was way more then 275 people as crew / spectators. I asked a few racers where their bands were.....Oh we don't pay, nobody checks anyways.... guess where that cost goes, to the promoter or to future events. I think the last real person who checked wristbands at a Lucas Race was at Maple Grove a few years back.

I do agree, a little communication goes a long way and sometimes that's the weak point of some organizations, I completely agree saying "Gates open at 5pm to 7pm but there is a $15 parking charge" would have changed some people's minds as to when they leave / arrive but, also in today's world you post that on Social Media and you have every Keyboard Cowboy form here to Sweden giving their input. I get yelled at all the time that I post too much for my series but, racers are informed, the less questions rolling into an event, I think it runs 10x more efficient. I look at is as everyone is a customer, and I am here to give them a good experience for thier money.

We could go on and on about having racers sneak in or others just not pay isn't the reason we are losing tracks - it's because their land as a race track is not it's best use-that is one of the first lessons I learned in my Real Estate career.As for the $15 new fee what you're not addressing is the fact that once it catches on that number will surely change - soon it will be $25 then $35 and God knows how high it will get in the future- all that plus soon we'll have special RV parking fees .That money will not save race tracks .

[BKSG1198]

The land and trying to find people who want to keep the tracks running, I travel Route 40 near Cowtown on the way to Cecil, what used to be all farmland for the longest time with roadside stands is now all becoming warehouses, the older generation is cashing out or the younger generation is getting rid of what their parents worked on for so long because someone rolls up and throws a million dollar check in their face....it's a shame.

[Chris1529]

Originally Posted by BKSG1198

The land and trying to find people who want to keep the tracks running, I travel Route 40 near Cowtown on the way to Cecil, what used to be all farmland for the longest time with roadside stands is now all becoming warehouses, the older generation is cashing out or the younger generation is getting rid of what their parents worked on for so long because someone rolls up and throws a million dollar check in their face....it's a shame.

We came through there too late July and we always stop at Grahams Jersey Fruit Market on the way to OCNJ for Beach vacation. I was shocked.

I wish there was a better way to protect farmland. What is happening right there is a shame. If I had a farm like that, I would try to get it put in a trust, or wording put in the deed that it can't be used for anything other than farmland, and if my kids weren't interested in farming, I would sell it to a farming familty that will farm it.

That being said, these tracks are likely all going to start doing these extra fees. Even with no prep and only 1/8 mile racing, many local tracks seem to be struggling way more than they should. From their perspective, its hard for someone with a $150+K race car and a $ 300,000 rig that to say they can't afford $15 to camp. Its $110-$170 per night at Disney Fort Wilderness.

[Chevy55]

Originally Posted by Chris1529

We came through there too late July and we always stop at Grahams Jersey Fruit Market on the way to OCNJ for Beach vacation. I was shocked.

I wish there was a better way to protect farmland. What is happening right there is a shame. If I had a farm like that, I would try to get it put in a trust, or wording put in the deed that it can't be used for anything other than farmland, and if my kids weren't interested in farming, I would sell it to a farming familty that will farm it.

That being said, these tracks are likely all going to start doing these extra fees. Even with no prep and only 1/8 mile racing, many local tracks seem to be struggling way more than they should. From their perspective, its hard for someone with a $150+K race car and a $ 300,000 rig that to say they can't afford $15 to camp. Its $110-$170 per night at Disney Fort Wilderness.

On Long Island the County will buy the development rights to the farm land and the land will then be restricted to farming and what structures can be built on it.

[Jack Matyas]

The Chevy Twice guys were out yesterday in SuperStock

[Jack Matyas]

Good morning and welcome to race day here at New England Dragway - today was to be a 10 o'clock start but at this hour the fog is still settled in so it's doubtful but a lot can happen in two hours .

Yesterday most of us got two Q runs in and because of incidents on track we got bumped from our promised third shot - no bid deal for most as the track was in good shape most of the day .This morning when we do get started juniors will come out first followed by Stock .

For those of you that thought they saw a ghost yesterday it really wasn't ---- It was former Division 1 certification member Jim Bowen that came out of retirement to help out a short staffed team - thanks from all of us Jim .