So it’s been close to 50 days since the departure of the Delaware Speedway management team and its only 5 weeks to the start of the racing season and what do we know? We know they are having a hard time finding management that want to work in untenable working conditions. He are my thoughts on the subject.
No Management . . . .
No Improvements . . .
The Show. . . It’s all about the Show . . . .
Why do the fans come to the racetrack? They come for the show! It is no secret that Delaware Speedway is hurting financially. There were just not enough people in the seats. The owners would like you to believe it is because of the weather. I believe its because the race track is not producing a very good show. They need to identify the problems, and invest to fix the problems.
Yes, the weather can keep people away from the ticket window. Was it the worst summer for weather at Delaware Speedway? No, not even close in my opinion. I would say it was average season weather wise. The owners should know weather is a variable that you cannot control. Since it wasn’t a disaster year for weather, I do not believe it should take the blame for Delaware Speedways financial troubles. I suggest looking at the show and you will find your answer to why the attendance numbers are down.
The show can mean many things. For anyone who has ever been to any major professional race know what this show can entail. It’s a lot of stuff, both on and off the racetrack. This is one of the problems with the track in my opinion.
There was a time when the big bad guy named Tony Novotny ran the track. He made a show both on and off the track. There pit stop competitions in downtown London, Fan Fest Parties at local restraints, interactive displays on the top of the hill, vintage car cruise nights, fan autograph sessions. It’s the sideshow! It brings in the fans and allows them to be interactive with the teams. It’s an added benefit to the fans to encourage them to attend the show. Many fans love these attraction, but for myself I only car about what is on the track.
The on track action sucked this year, or at least when I was there. Yes, the cars are now faster but that does not mean it’s going to improve the quality of racing. Usually it makes it worse, because it reduces the driver’s comfort level inside the car. They no longer have the comfort to make that outside pass or that daring pass that you have seen before.
The track condition is compounding that problem. It is the major reason why you don’t see a good product on the racetrack. Maybe they can bring in motocross. The track is very rough and does not produce very much grip. It has outlived its usefulness. Consider it like the roof on your house, when it leaks you put a bucket to catch the water. This works for a while, but if you don’t fix it soon stuff starts to mould and then everything is wrecked. I can smell the mold at Delaware, you can smell it at the concessions, in the washroom, on the grand stands, and certainly see it looking at the track.
What are they doing to eliminate the mould or prevent it from spreading nothing? In a business sense Delaware Speedway is in the harvest mode. Your sales (attendance) is declining, and your profits are getting smaller and smaller. A business has the choice to continue with status quo with the old product, reduce costs and harvest what kind of profits they can make off it until its is no longer profitable. That is what Delaware Speedway current state is in!
The other choice is to change or improve the product. Make it new or interesting to your consumers. Well they announced that they are no longer going to pave / grind the track this year, they are reducing costs (no big shows or big touring series), and with no big special shows or touring series it will not draw new fans into the seats at the track.
What is there direction? Is it as positive as they want us to believe?
This is why I am still skeptical. Yes, its open for 2007 to finish harvesting but what about the future?
I tend to agree!
There is a difference between a manager and a promoter. Novotny was a promoter.
Apparently, there is going to be an announcement in the next few days with the NEW manager/promoter. Lets hope it will be a promoter!!!!!!!!
There were just not enough people in the seats.
Where's that come from, these boards?? Attendance has increased over the past 2 - 3 years. (Even with the rain-outs)
Major professional race.
Sorry , they only get those in Quebec with federal sponsorship money.
The on track action sucked this year, or at least when I was there.
You should come when the regular divisions are running, not on the special when the professional race sanctioning bodies (touring series ) are in town. Oh yeah, they sell themselves with promoters.
Yes, the cars are now faster but that does not mean it's going to improve the quality of racing. usually it makes it worse, because it reduces the driver's comfort level inside the car. They no longer have the comfort to make that outside pass or that daring pass that you have seen before.
What???? If your not comfortable because your going fast you shouldn't be a race car driver. I can't think of a driver that's uncomfortable because they're going fast. If you are, you are probably the same person wearing the hat and white knuckling it down Oxford street in the snow. Stay home.
The track condition is compounding that problem.
Now this I agree with. Advancing the cars so they will stick and go faster doesn't help when you have 4 wheels off the ground.
The other choice is to change or improve the product. Make it new or interesting to your consumers.
The way things are has been bandied about dozens of times on these boards. How about a suggestion. Make it new or interesting to the readers.
This is why I am still skeptical.
I've found that anyone can be skeptical about anything. I've also found out that nothing has ever been accomplished by being skeptical. If you have some suggestions, post them, let someone know.
You've made some good observations but this has all been done before. What can you do to change the situation. That's the question.
Hey, I know what you can do, how about , for a week, you stop posting anything thats negative. Come on , give it a shot, you'll feel better.
I think Retired Speed Racer has some valid points, but I think you're being kinda hard on the track as well.
I agree about the ontrack single lane stuff, but only in the late models. There is no outside groove for the fast divisions, but the trucks and street stocks put on some of the best shows I've ever seen. They're nuts! (thats a compliment)
Delaware Speedway is an old facility. Pit road sucks. Hence, no long races requiring pit stops.
The track needs work, but I think 50 per cent of the short tracks in the north east are in that boat, at least from where I've been. Sure, there are some awesome facilities, but some are aging not so gracefully. Sorry, but from the super series days edmonton road course and NBIS come to mind.
The weather in 06 sucked. Not so much rainouts, as threatening weather that kept people from the track. Rainouts are good. They don't cost a track near as much as a race that you run under threatening skies with no front gate. Payouts are payouts whether there is anybody there to watch or not.
You guys have got to quit hammering on Delaware, and get pulling in the same direction or you won't have a race track. Spivaks appear to be behind the continuation of business (not sure if they are leading the way with their wallets or not), so the competitors have to get on board too.
Why do you think the track is struggling to find somebody? Unteneble conditions? No. Competent track managers / promotors don't grow on trees. I would hazard a guess that qualified candidates within a driving distance of Delaware could be counted on one hand. People that THINK they could do the job would number considerably more.
Until they can do the capital improvements required, they need to admit that Delaware is a grassroots race track, and focus on enduro, street stocks, and trucks, and maybe start a division between enduro and streetstock, like a thundercar. The payouts are less, and the fans are hard core, dedicated, and dont care how cold or soggy it is. A lot of travelling shows aren't worth what they cost, and if they are, the racing surface won't let them strut their stuff. The Delaware late models ARE too fast for the current track conditions, and they have to admit it.
The track does need to get the lead out, and provide confidence to racers that there will be a full season, or else there will be no paid billboards, no nightly sponsors, and lots of bare fenders and hoods. But one thing I don't think they will do is rush out and hire the first person that says "I can do that!"
Lets just hope the next manager will continue what Kevin succeeded at doing, and advance what Kevin did not do so well at, before it is too late, and the golf course gains another 18 holes.
2 cents from the cheap seats.
many of Ontario race tracks are the equivalent of going to a movie theatre with a torn screen, breaking film interuptions, broken seats and stale popcorn. How long would a theatre last with conditions like that last? The promoters still don't seem to understand they're in the entertainment business. As far as grass roots racing, 1/2 miles tracks are hard on grass roots equipment!
One wag on the Raceny site had it correct when he said weekly short track racing is becoming like being in a bowling league. You pay to join, play other teams, and might get a trophy at the end with a few people watching.