Atco is done - Page 5

Chevy55 · 07-19-2023, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

More like an influx of communism over the last 3 years that created high costs and killed local businesses.

That is funny! 🤣

Mike Schwartz · 07-19-2023, 05:55 PM

Damn. That's another track I've raced at that's now closed. That makes Englishtown, Strato Rods, Atco, York, 75-80, just in the NE

NJMP easily has the room for a 1/8 mile track on their front stretch, but it would take a lot of work for anything longer. Improving Island depends on how much unused land they own or could acquire for more parking. But neither facility would work as a big show spectator-oriented venue.

I've even looked at the Meadowlands. Something on the likes of Pomona Fairgrounds, where everything but the stands and track are dual-purpose. It's an large industrial/commercial area and the nearest residences are at least a mile away. But it's flat ground, with urban development rising to the west, and sound will carry.

B Parker · 07-19-2023, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

Damn. That's another track I've raced at that's now closed. That makes Englishtown, Strato Rods, Atco, York, 75-80, just in the NE

NJMP easily has the room for a 1/8 mile track on their front stretch, but it would take a lot of work for anything longer. Improving Island depends on how much unused land they own or could acquire for more parking. But neither facility would work as a big show spectator-oriented venue.

I've even looked at the Meadowlands. Something on the likes of Pomona Fairgrounds, where everything but the stands and track are dual-purpose. It's an large industrial/commercial area and the nearest residences are at least a mile away. But it's flat ground, with urban development rising to the west, and sound will carry.

Mike than I would ask you to stop racing. Please don't come south. Thanks you BP LOL

Billy Nees · 07-19-2023, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

Improving Island depends on how much unused land they own or could acquire for more parking.

I don't want to have the Kowalick/Demarcy/Milano family angry with me but..........
Island Dragway is part of a 499 ac. tract. The track itself is on a 26+/- tract. IF....IF it was financially advantageous, if the track were turned on a 20/30 degree angle to the left (from the starting line) a track about a mile long could be built. Easily a Natl. Event caliper track! But why? Where is the financial incentive for an investment like that?

B Parker · 07-19-2023, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I don't want to have the Kowalick/Demarcy/Milano family angry with me but..........
Island Dragway is part of a 499 ac. tract. The track itself is on a 26+/- tract. IF....IF it was financially advantageous, if the track were turned on a 20/30 degree angle to the left (from the starting line) a track about a mile long could be built. Easily a Natl. Event caliper track! But why? Where is the financial incentive for an investment like that?

Billy when did you start caring about making others angry. I've been in sessions with my wife over some of your post directed at me!! And yes she is a professional. What I like is she can prescribe medication as needed. BP

Nick Heath · 07-19-2023, 06:47 PM

Doesn't NHRA's mission statement say something about improving the business conditions of and promoting and advancing the sport of drag racing?

Carl Juliano · 07-19-2023, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

I don't want to have the Kowalick/Demarcy/Milano family angry with me but..........
Island Dragway is part of a 499 ac. tract. The track itself is on a 26+/- tract. IF....IF it was financially advantageous, if the track were turned on a 20/30 degree angle to the left (from the starting line) a track about a mile long could be built. Easily a Natl. Event caliper track! But why? Where is the financial incentive for an investment like that?

Island Dragway could copy the Galot Divisional. Galot runs the .90's and Top classes to 1000', Stk/SS and comp on the 1/8th. Both tracks have the same shutdown distance. I raced TS at Galot and had a good time, no issues. The only thing is, Island would need to invest in jersey barriers in order to have a Divisional or an Open I believe.

JOE ZOOM · 07-19-2023, 10:53 PM

Would have been nice if they could have at least finished the 2023 season...wtf!!!

Tom P · 07-19-2023, 11:35 PM

Apparently the owner is a prick who could care less about racing. Anyone decent would have given plenty of notice.

rboyle · 07-20-2023, 02:47 AM

It’s a business. If anyone set this business model up for review by an investor how do you think it would go?
I have roughly 50-100 acres of land and open for business 3 to four days a week. My business sees roughly 100-250 customers per day we are open but most of those customers purchase the minimum such as food, drink tshirts and souvenir's. My maintenance crew includes an ambulance with emt a-tractor, tow truck, along with roughly 5 to 10 support vehicles, trash removal, epa inspections, noise complaints, law suits, curfews and if the weather doesn’t cooperate I have to give makeup dates or refunds. But I do it for my customers because I am passionate about it even though most of my loyal customers only patronize my business twice a year.
What would most or all of us do then if an offer Don Corleone put together would eliminate all those headaches and let us live the lifestyle most consider rich?
Just understand what we do is not a good business model for most and the amount of bashing that goes on is really sour grapes.
Many a racer will go to a race, park on test n tune day but skip the tnt so they don’t have to pay for it, park their motor home and stacker across the equivalent of 4 spots, buy race fuel from an outside source instead of the speed shop on premise, bring food in the motor home and grill it up in the pit, dump it in the race tracks garbage change the oil and dump it in the race tracks oil repository. Never visit the concession stand or t shirt stand, and expect the track to have a manned gate all night to accommodate the comings and goings of them and their crew. Then break the rules like no minors driving pit vehicles, or no noise before or after a curfew, or don’t dump your RV waste here. Top it off with rudeness and complaining about track conditions in person and on social media platforms. I include myself in some of these abuses.
We have to be better customers. It’s an expensive sport, hobby, business or whatever but let’s not abuse the privilege when given it.
Sorry if I offended anyone but have empathy for the track owners, most started doing it in spite of the bad business model that it is because they were passionate about racing too

07-19-2023, 05:55 PM	#42
Mike Schwartz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 533 Likes: 129 Liked 248 Times in 89 Posts	Re: Atco is done Damn. That's another track I've raced at that's now closed. That makes Englishtown, Strato Rods, Atco, York, 75-80, just in the NE NJMP easily has the room for a 1/8 mile track on their front stretch, but it would take a lot of work for anything longer. Improving Island depends on how much unused land they own or could acquire for more parking. But neither facility would work as a big show spectator-oriented venue. I've even looked at the Meadowlands. Something on the likes of Pomona Fairgrounds, where everything but the stands and track are dual-purpose. It's an large industrial/commercial area and the nearest residences are at least a mile away. But it's flat ground, with urban development rising to the west, and sound will carry. Last edited by Mike Schwartz; 07-19-2023 at 05:58 PM. Reason: Cleaned up.

07-19-2023, 06:47 PM	#46
Nick Heath Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 358 Likes: 1,440 Liked 564 Times in 134 Posts	Re: Atco is done Doesn't NHRA's mission statement say something about improving the business conditions of and promoting and advancing the sport of drag racing?

07-19-2023, 10:53 PM	#48
JOE ZOOM Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 176 Likes: 71 Liked 43 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Atco is done Would have been nice if they could have at least finished the 2023 season...wtf!!!

07-19-2023, 11:35 PM	#49
Tom P Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 707 Likes: 30 Liked 239 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Atco is done Apparently the owner is a prick who could care less about racing. Anyone decent would have given plenty of notice.

07-20-2023, 02:47 AM	#50
rboyle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 604 Likes: 1,454 Liked 586 Times in 162 Posts	Re: Atco is done It’s a business. If anyone set this business model up for review by an investor how do you think it would go? I have roughly 50-100 acres of land and open for business 3 to four days a week. My business sees roughly 100-250 customers per day we are open but most of those customers purchase the minimum such as food, drink tshirts and souvenir's. My maintenance crew includes an ambulance with emt a-tractor, tow truck, along with roughly 5 to 10 support vehicles, trash removal, epa inspections, noise complaints, law suits, curfews and if the weather doesn’t cooperate I have to give makeup dates or refunds. But I do it for my customers because I am passionate about it even though most of my loyal customers only patronize my business twice a year. What would most or all of us do then if an offer Don Corleone put together would eliminate all those headaches and let us live the lifestyle most consider rich? Just understand what we do is not a good business model for most and the amount of bashing that goes on is really sour grapes. Many a racer will go to a race, park on test n tune day but skip the tnt so they don’t have to pay for it, park their motor home and stacker across the equivalent of 4 spots, buy race fuel from an outside source instead of the speed shop on premise, bring food in the motor home and grill it up in the pit, dump it in the race tracks garbage change the oil and dump it in the race tracks oil repository. Never visit the concession stand or t shirt stand, and expect the track to have a manned gate all night to accommodate the comings and goings of them and their crew. Then break the rules like no minors driving pit vehicles, or no noise before or after a curfew, or don’t dump your RV waste here. Top it off with rudeness and complaining about track conditions in person and on social media platforms. I include myself in some of these abuses. We have to be better customers. It’s an expensive sport, hobby, business or whatever but let’s not abuse the privilege when given it. Sorry if I offended anyone but have empathy for the track owners, most started doing it in spite of the bad business model that it is because they were passionate about racing too