Atco is done

[B Parker]

Originally Posted by tavirace

I attended a event locally with a friend, they said I don't think it should cost this much just to watch. I reminded them the vast majority of the year this property doesn't earn a nickle, even then it depends on the weather. NHRA lodrs series and the recent sportsnationals definitely show they don't fill the stands. I recently visited Dragway 42 in Ohio, they have a very large and varied schedule, it's interesting to look at.

Drag racing in general don't fill the stands. Unless you have fire coming out of the headers. I think a lot of the track owners expect to just open the gate during a LODR and fans should know about it and show up. Well the ones that understand this is not the 60's and 70's and work at getting fans in the seats still do ok. Sportsman racing is the greatest traveling car show on earth. Have you ever heard a track use those words to promote it? BP

[cad]

An unrelated artice that I came across stated that Copart is targeting former race tracks because they can purchase the land with less EPA restrictions revolving around oil contamination that pre-existed/grandfathered, and will not impact cars being stored on the property.

[Henrys Toy]

Originally Posted by B Parker

Drag racing in general don't fill the stands. Unless you have fire coming out of the headers. I think a lot of the track owners expect to just open the gate during a LODR and fans should know about it and show up. Well the ones that understand this is not the 60's and 70's and work at getting fans in the seats still do ok. Sportsman racing is the greatest traveling car show on earth. Have you ever heard a track use those words to promote it? BP

Good afternoon Barry and to all,
You've said a mouthful my friend. You were at Maple Grove for the points race and there was spectators! Besides adding some improvements to an already good facility they got people into the stands. People that eat food, buy T-Shirts and pay admission, maybe there plan should be one to look at and follow. Lebanon Valley also had spectators , Okay - the place wasn't packed , but there was people there and that's a "good sign" !
Yes its going to take some work, people want to be entertained and if the "people" don't feel there're getting enough bang for there buck - they aren't coming back. I'm sure racers feel the same way. After all Stock Elim. is the Original Small Tire class in Drag Racing, there has to be a way to capitalize on what we already have.

Respectfully,
Henry Kunz 1534 H/SA

[B Parker]

Virginia is a long tow if your coming from the New England area. It would make a lot more sense to make that the double. I know a of lot you guys from the Jersy, Pa area like the races in your backyard and don't want to travel hours to a race. Welcome to the of world of the racers that live in New England. BP

Flame away but first take a look at the participation at the Epping Nationals and Divisionals for the last several years.

[JOE ZOOM]

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

[Tom P]

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

[rboyle]

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