This is crazy calling a race before every measure is takin is just poor management!
<snip>
Delaware need to go back to the do everything possible to get the show done (everytime no exceptions)

Heh, well...sounds like you're pretty good at spending other people's money too.

Bet the tune would be different if you were faced with taking a 20,000 dollar gamble (out of your own pocket) on which way the clouds were gonna go. Didn't your Dad ever remind you it doesn't grow on trees?

And FYI...a group of about 25 fans that still showed up got a tour, free programs, and a few of them got some comp tickets too. I'm sure they walked away happy.

Shadow i usually agree with alot of what you say however today you are losing me.
There were alot more then 25 fans that showed up good for the one'sthat got the tour and goodies i think that is great but there were alot of fans that got nothing.
I agree it is a chance on the weather but this is the business they chose to get into so those are things you risk.
Who expected the huge turn out for the 1000.00 to win king oif the hill? Thats right no one so you take the good with the bad.
I agree money does not grow on trees and the race teams that spent alot getting ready for a night that paid well would agree but they deserved the chance to have their pay day!
Now shadow there is no way you can disagree with that can you?

G'day everyone,

Just to hit on a few chords that have been touched on in this thread, I thought it might be nice to drop in for a few minutes and address a few of the concerns that have been expressed.

Rainouts suck. :-

When & how do you call an event a rainout?  This is a question that faces promoters whether at Delaware, Flamboro or any other speedway in Ontario.

If the rain comes the speedway will not make a call on an event until 3:00 PM the day of the event, UNLESS it is totally clear and evident that there is zero chance of running it.

The speedway uses all manner of technology to acquire information to help us in our decision making.  The Weather Network, Intellicast Radar, the Exeter Radar, and local meteorologists all aid in this process.

3:00 PM is the target time which is used at Delaware.  This puts us in a position to possibly make a call before competitors who travel from Windsor, Sarnia, GTA, Tillsonburg, St. Marys etc leave home or work.

On this particular Friday, July 27 at 3:00 PM the race track was good.  Vehicles were practicing.  This reported over the phone to fans who inquired.

Next update is at 4:00 PM.  At this point again at the Speedway, the weather was okay.  At 4:30 a light rain began.  At approximately that time race director called all car owners and drivers in the facility to the tech garage to discuss the course of action.

5:00 PM, when the back gate normally open (collecting money from racers), the rains were extremely heavy in the speedway.  Tech Garage had 1" of water in places.  Pit lane was flooded from turn 1 to turn 4 approximately 10" deep where the cars would normally go onto pit road.  Local Meteorologist was contacted and could not guarantee that we would have a clear window of opportunity from 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM to run the program.  The gathered teams, drivers & owners along with track staff, given the information at the time from all sources, reached a consensus:  There was no way we would be able to complete the whole program.

The reason it was called at 5:00 PM was because the competitor gate had not open, therefore we had not taken any revenues from drivers or fans.  We did not feel it would be fair to continue with the program without practice, qualfying or being able to complete both 75 lappers plus the modified feature before 11:00 PM.  At 9:00 PM race officials inspected the speedway - although it had not rained hard since 5:30, it was overcast beforehand and the track was still wet with some standing puddles of water.

We do not have a jet dryer - - there were no treaded tire classes here to try to dry the track (ie. Trucks, Super Stocks, Enduro).  It would not be fair to make slick tires dry the race track and risk damaging equipment or endangering participants.

I'm not releasing this information to attempt to convince you we made the right decision on Friday.  After the fact, it is very easy to second guess.  However, at the moment, the best decision was made given the information at hand in the interest of the drivers & teams, and to put on the best program for the fans.

Would fans be happy if we had attempted to dry the track, taken everyone’s money started late at 9:00; had cautions & wrecked cars because of track conditions, and had to call the program at 11:00 PM regardless of what race was on (time curfew)?  At which point, because of the speedway official weather policy, 1 feature was complete: we keep everyone's money?  No win situation.  Fans lose the show (and money), drivers lose a race (and money), track keeps everyone’s money...

So, ultimately who was the call made for?  The answer is EVERYONE.  If we can not guarantee that we can complete the program because of the weather, we do not want to start the program.  If the rains came after we had taken peoples money - - we would have done everything in our power to make that event go.

This event was the Friday rainout of the year.  Even Junior Racing League has only had one rainout.  The weather is treating us very well…  But the farmers need the rain.

After the rainout was called, speedway staff remained at the facility to meet and explain to fans who did show up what had occurred.  Fans were very understanding, many applauding the speedway for at least standing up and making a call – whether they agreed or not.  Shadow is correct, I did lead a tour of 20-25 people around the facility.  We understand and are sensitive to fans who travel the distance, and do everything we can to make sure everything goes off without a hitch: but the weather is an element that we cannot control.

Thanks for reading! 🙂

-John Houghton
Announcer / Public Relations
Delaware Speedway

This message is to John ( Cascar Jr 52 ) as aconcerned race fan I have a couple of questions reguarding your message.
1) In your message you say no monies changed hands in the pits if so fine but your message said cars were practising at 3 P.M. does that mean you did not charge them. If the answer is yes no charge then that would mean any car could come into the track before the pit gates offically open and practice.My understanding Gates open at 5 P.M. and practice at 6 P.M.or does this practice give preference to certain race teams.If so you have a big problem (Favortisum )
2)In your message you say the target time for cancelling is 3P.M.
so as a race fan if this time hits and it looks like rain (Spotty showers). I the fan should change my mind about coming to the track ( especially if I am from out of town ). There is a big issue here when the travelling shows ( ISMA, ARCA Trucks, ETC) come do you use the same procedure I dought it as there are no rain dates set for these shows. You would have to get it in or insome cases you would loose your apprences fees if any.Here is the problem if you could not do it for the Twin 75 why can you not wait like you would for these travelling shows ( If this happens ).Shadowracer said $20000.00 gamble out of your pocket I would say you would wait till the late night to cancell these shows but not with the Twin75
Question 3
On another subject is this track considering of putting the Twin75 Purse ($17925.00 )  into the pool for the APC300 See Reply #32. If not would you expane if you like to.Iknow this is a business and as a business personmyself and avid race fan I thought is should ask these questions.

I don't know if it's the same this year, but last year the track did have rain dates marked down for the ARCA Trucks, APC 300 and the ISMA show...