Speed Racer
aka "mach5driver"
Associated Press
Posted: 1 hour ago
ROSSBURG, Ohio (AP) - An electronic scoreboard and splashy billboards have sprouted at Eldora Speedway, a dirt racetrack in rural western Ohio that has operated for more than 50 years with few bells and whistles.
A track in Missouri is sporting spacious state-of-the-art bathrooms, fans at an Indiana raceway can watch the action behind glass as they wait in line for food and a track in New Jersey is selling roast chicken and spaghetti dinners at a new pavilion.
Traditionally known for hard wooden benches, spartan restrooms and take-it-or-leave-it surroundings, auto dirt racing tracks have tried to become more fan friendly in the past few years. Increasing competition for the entertainment dollar - from minor league baseball to cineplexes - is forcing the change.
"This industry has just taken for granted people will show up on Friday and Saturday nights," said Guy Webb, president of the All-Star Circuit of Champions, a Champaign, Ill.-based group that organizes sprint-car races in 18 states. "If we don't upgrade, we're obsolete."
Dirt tracks began popping up in the 1920s, but really took off after World War II when veterans returned from overseas. Some races were held on horse tracks at county fairgrounds. Others were run in more primitive rural surroundings.
"You basically plowed up some dirt and invited the neighbors," said Larry Boos, director of operations for Eldora Speedway.
Earsplitting engine noise and flying dirt were part of the deal.
"Old-timers say you've never really been to a dirt race until you've got mud in your beer," said Bill Holder, who has traveled to numerous tracks and written books and magazine articles on the sport.
Yet people in search of entertainment have become accustomed to clean, modern, comfortable facilities.
"You don't want to go into a john that has moss growing in it," Holder said.
Eldora was carved out of a farm. A low-slung green wooden building hides the bowl-shaped track from the main highway. The parking lot is gravel. In the grandstand, worn wooden benches are marked with hand-drawn seat numbers.
In the unfolding makeover, a $75,000 electronic scoreboard was installed in April. Track officials are thinking of replacing the wooden grandstand seats with aluminum ones with back supports and adding hospitality suites, a move that would cost $1.2 million.
"We've got to keep up with the Joneses," Boos said.
According to a forecast by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Americans will spend $43 billion on sports this year. That compares to $51 billion on casino gaming, $37 billion on films and $11 billion on theme and amusement parks.
Track operators say attendance has increased at the upgraded facilities.
"Would you rather go shopping at a flea market or would you rather go to Macy's?" asked Jim Nier, who added a luxury box with theater-style seating, a playground and a souped-up menu at K-C Raceway near Waverly in southern Ohio.
"These people are used to going to NASCAR facilities, where everything's clean, neat and in place. And that's what I'm going after."
Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey said attendance has increased 30 percent since it spent $1.5 million on 14 sky boxes and other upgrades. At Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, Ky., fans are renting VIP booths - built four years ago atop the bleachers - for $2,000 a season.
"We've got people standing in line for them now," said promoter David Ferrell.
Billy Daniels, owner of Union County Speedway in Liberty, Ind., said higher attendance enables him to keep the ticket price at $10. The track is replacing its wooden bleachers with aluminum and recently built a new concession stand, keeping fans in mind.
"The whole front of it is glass so they don't miss anything while they're walking through the line," Daniels said.
Shavonne Hale, 46, of Charleston, W.Va., who has been to more than 30 tracks, likes the installation of luxury boxes at some tracks and also would like to see such things as handrails on bleachers and more cover from the sun.
Other fans prefer the gritty, no-frills atmosphere that has been part of the sport since it began.
Luxury boxes?
"That takes away from dirt racing," said Tony Blanton, 32, of Rarden, Ohio.
At Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., top-shelf liquor and margaritas are sold at the concession stand. Yet it's the restrooms - with upscale fixtures, red stalls and black-and-white-checkered tile floors - that get the most attention.
"We get more comments on our bathrooms," said owner Howard Schrock.
Posted: 1 hour ago
ROSSBURG, Ohio (AP) - An electronic scoreboard and splashy billboards have sprouted at Eldora Speedway, a dirt racetrack in rural western Ohio that has operated for more than 50 years with few bells and whistles.
A track in Missouri is sporting spacious state-of-the-art bathrooms, fans at an Indiana raceway can watch the action behind glass as they wait in line for food and a track in New Jersey is selling roast chicken and spaghetti dinners at a new pavilion.
Traditionally known for hard wooden benches, spartan restrooms and take-it-or-leave-it surroundings, auto dirt racing tracks have tried to become more fan friendly in the past few years. Increasing competition for the entertainment dollar - from minor league baseball to cineplexes - is forcing the change.
"This industry has just taken for granted people will show up on Friday and Saturday nights," said Guy Webb, president of the All-Star Circuit of Champions, a Champaign, Ill.-based group that organizes sprint-car races in 18 states. "If we don't upgrade, we're obsolete."
Dirt tracks began popping up in the 1920s, but really took off after World War II when veterans returned from overseas. Some races were held on horse tracks at county fairgrounds. Others were run in more primitive rural surroundings.
"You basically plowed up some dirt and invited the neighbors," said Larry Boos, director of operations for Eldora Speedway.
Earsplitting engine noise and flying dirt were part of the deal.
"Old-timers say you've never really been to a dirt race until you've got mud in your beer," said Bill Holder, who has traveled to numerous tracks and written books and magazine articles on the sport.
Yet people in search of entertainment have become accustomed to clean, modern, comfortable facilities.
"You don't want to go into a john that has moss growing in it," Holder said.
Eldora was carved out of a farm. A low-slung green wooden building hides the bowl-shaped track from the main highway. The parking lot is gravel. In the grandstand, worn wooden benches are marked with hand-drawn seat numbers.
In the unfolding makeover, a $75,000 electronic scoreboard was installed in April. Track officials are thinking of replacing the wooden grandstand seats with aluminum ones with back supports and adding hospitality suites, a move that would cost $1.2 million.
"We've got to keep up with the Joneses," Boos said.
According to a forecast by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Americans will spend $43 billion on sports this year. That compares to $51 billion on casino gaming, $37 billion on films and $11 billion on theme and amusement parks.
Track operators say attendance has increased at the upgraded facilities.
"Would you rather go shopping at a flea market or would you rather go to Macy's?" asked Jim Nier, who added a luxury box with theater-style seating, a playground and a souped-up menu at K-C Raceway near Waverly in southern Ohio.
"These people are used to going to NASCAR facilities, where everything's clean, neat and in place. And that's what I'm going after."
Bridgeport Speedway in New Jersey said attendance has increased 30 percent since it spent $1.5 million on 14 sky boxes and other upgrades. At Bluegrass Speedway in Bardstown, Ky., fans are renting VIP booths - built four years ago atop the bleachers - for $2,000 a season.
"We've got people standing in line for them now," said promoter David Ferrell.
Billy Daniels, owner of Union County Speedway in Liberty, Ind., said higher attendance enables him to keep the ticket price at $10. The track is replacing its wooden bleachers with aluminum and recently built a new concession stand, keeping fans in mind.
"The whole front of it is glass so they don't miss anything while they're walking through the line," Daniels said.
Shavonne Hale, 46, of Charleston, W.Va., who has been to more than 30 tracks, likes the installation of luxury boxes at some tracks and also would like to see such things as handrails on bleachers and more cover from the sun.
Other fans prefer the gritty, no-frills atmosphere that has been part of the sport since it began.
Luxury boxes?
"That takes away from dirt racing," said Tony Blanton, 32, of Rarden, Ohio.
At Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Mo., top-shelf liquor and margaritas are sold at the concession stand. Yet it's the restrooms - with upscale fixtures, red stalls and black-and-white-checkered tile floors - that get the most attention.
"We get more comments on our bathrooms," said owner Howard Schrock.
