question for the old timers
- Thread starter 20rocks
- Start date
Red70Racer
Jeff Palazzolo
It has as much to do with butts in in the stands as concern for the drivers and crews
Just the facts of life in today's economy
ExRacer
Wildman
Your are correct Red. Back in the day the stands were full every Saturday Night at Tri-City. We had a blast putting on a show for the fans.
Tex Cactus
New Member
Jeffrey has it correct!
back then in my opinion it was more passion in what we were doin and less of the business side plus the economy was not what it is today now a days you have to run the cars more as a business plus the cars where more opened up and the air flow was a little better through the cars
HUH?
Say WHAT???
Bottled water?!?!?! Ha!
Yes, we raced and fans filled the stands to watch. We did it minus the drone of gasoline
generators running air conditioners in enclosed trailers. The first guys in line got the pit
spots with a little shade. No coolers full of sports drinks and bottled water. We used to stop
at Prairie Farms, get ice and gallon containers of lemonade and dump it in an igloo drink cooler.
The 1/2 ton pickup truck towing the open trailer didn't have air conditioning either!
Yes, we raced and fans filled the stands to watch. We did it minus the drone of gasoline
generators running air conditioners in enclosed trailers. The first guys in line got the pit
spots with a little shade. No coolers full of sports drinks and bottled water. We used to stop
at Prairie Farms, get ice and gallon containers of lemonade and dump it in an igloo drink cooler.
The 1/2 ton pickup truck towing the open trailer didn't have air conditioning either!
Exactly, Well put. It's the computers now days got people spoiled. Can't withstand the heat when they get out. And almost every lap is announced. So when it is hot, what better way to find out what is happening without leaving the air conditioning.
And back in the day fans could bring coolers, we cold afford o bring the kids and grand kids. Go to a basic concession and allow coolers, more people will attend. I know myself being laid off can't afford a here dollar hot dog. Shoot, I eat bologna sandwiches everyday at lunch just so I can go to the races. And while at the race I can't afford to eat and by time I leave I'm starved. Coolers will drive revenue up for all tracks. Maybe not food sales but fans in the stands. Can't wait till the first promoter does this, I'll be there every weekend.
Three dollar hot dog
ExRacer
Wildman
I also remember one night that it was so dang hot that I kept overheating. Did that stop me from racing NO!! To tell you the truth alot of these guys have so damn easy that they wouldnt know what to do back in the day. When I see Don Kline pulling his Late Model it bring back memories. A pick-up and a open trailer.
don hoener
don hoener
Racing in the old days was a whole different ballgame. People had nothing else to do for one thing. at most tracks the racers got paid a percentage of the crowd that showed up to watch. Big crowd big pay. Small crowd alot less pay.
Todays fixed purses are a deterrant to racing when weather is questionable or hot like it is this week. Its a fact that the crowds just dont come out when its like this and promoters cannot take the huge losses created in these instances. If you see tracks canceling it is so they can keep their businesses afloat so you can enjoy future racing at those facilities!
How many of you would hold an event if you knew you were going to lose 5 to 10 thousand dollars!
When you go to your local track count the fans. If you count less than 750 the track your at is losing money that night.
It is so important right now for all promoters, fans, drivers and crew members to highlite the good things about the sport we all love and do our best to bring new people to the shows!
Lastly more people worked out in the heat and were alot tougher in the old days. Each new generation gets softer or smarter.
Todays fixed purses are a deterrant to racing when weather is questionable or hot like it is this week. Its a fact that the crowds just dont come out when its like this and promoters cannot take the huge losses created in these instances. If you see tracks canceling it is so they can keep their businesses afloat so you can enjoy future racing at those facilities!
How many of you would hold an event if you knew you were going to lose 5 to 10 thousand dollars!
When you go to your local track count the fans. If you count less than 750 the track your at is losing money that night.
It is so important right now for all promoters, fans, drivers and crew members to highlite the good things about the sport we all love and do our best to bring new people to the shows!
Lastly more people worked out in the heat and were alot tougher in the old days. Each new generation gets softer or smarter.
As an open wheel o'ld timer' (Lordy, how I am coming to hate that term), I can speak from experience and agree with Donnie H. In the 50's, we regularly had a 13 car midget field for a $500 purse and if the crowd didn't cover this the promoters paid us 50% of the gate. Sometimes that was a $300 purse and then on some nights like that, that half the field opted out. Of course those cars that stayed felt that they made a lot of money. they were usually the cars that ran at the tail end of the field and they hit a jackpot by running up front and making $75 to win.
Fans that now pay $15-$25 per ticket won't stand to suffer in the heat. Unfortunately BV has an added obstacle with the covered grandstands. We love the place but those stands hold a lot more heat than tracks like TC adn I-55 with the open stands when you have people and added body heat packed in there.
I applaud Donnie for taking his position. If a fan passes out because of the heat do you realize how hard it would be and how long it would take to get that person help and to a cooler place? You can always reschedule a race but the safety of the people comes first.
Fans that now pay $15-$25 per ticket won't stand to suffer in the heat. Unfortunately BV has an added obstacle with the covered grandstands. We love the place but those stands hold a lot more heat than tracks like TC adn I-55 with the open stands when you have people and added body heat packed in there.
I applaud Donnie for taking his position. If a fan passes out because of the heat do you realize how hard it would be and how long it would take to get that person help and to a cooler place? You can always reschedule a race but the safety of the people comes first.
Darkstar44
Active Member
I remember the days of getting paid by a percentage of the gate. When it was that way, the drivers and car owners tried hard to get people to come to the races. That helped take some of the pressure off of the promoters. It was a win, win. Now the drivers and car owners expect their full pay no matter how much the promoters lose. Don is right. It was better back then because the dirvers and car owners worked together for the common good. As far as the heat, yeah it was hot. But, this week was record temperature heat. 108 degrees? I don't remember it being that hot back in the day. It makes you wonder about all this global warming stuff.
Brian #44
Brian #44
Racin_4
Member
Cancelling the races due to heat didn't even seem like a thought back then, if it wasn't raining we were racing but like Donnie said it is a business and it seems like the car and fan counts are down at almost every track in the St. Louis area and I would suspect that is because of the economy being in the crapper.
99
Active Member
But at least they'd be doing something they enjoyed!!!!
THANX RICH
People say I'm getting crankier as I get older. That's not it. I just find I enjoy annoying people a lot more now. Especially younger people!!!
Tonight was one of the smallest crowds I have ever seen at Pevely for a big show. It was a great show but I hope they had a good enough gate to cover expenses and turn a profit. Highland didn't race but Aaron Klein was the only Highland regular I saw there besides me. Michael Kloos, Mike Harrison and Rob Shaw were the only Highland cars that I can remember off the top of my head.
