Also please note I love this sport and have been going since the seventies and have a good friend who is a very strong runner currently at Sunset; I only want to see it get stronger and better as time goes on. I hope my comments are seen just as that.

Thank you the the comments Wesley Motorsports, you seem to be very knowledgeable about the sport we both love. There is no danger of me deciding not to attend upcoming invitationals because as a true fan, I just have to go, you now how it is, its in your blood. I would also be afraid of what I missed at an event, the potential of what might happen. I am just wondering about how to make these events better; I would if I were a promotor, attempt to get committments from other tracks/drivers so that they could actually confirm and market the event better; do drivers pay to enter? If so, cut that fee or waive it if you register by a certain date, ideas like that. More care = more fans = more money and happiness for all. I understand all of that issues as well around this for teams; travel and dollars make it difiicult for some, I just think there are better ways to do these things; are there too many now, should the tracks each do one and work together for those events? Just my opinion of course.

There's a couple of challenges in what you're asking promoters to do. Yes, teams pay their way in, often at what many consider ridiculous rates. A team that has a crew of 5 plus driver can add up in a hurry, let alone family and friends. I've seen teams wind up paying $500.00 + just in entrance / admission fees for a single event. The business model changed years ago when racing had new entertainment competition and casual spending habits of consumers drastically changed - let alone the economy. The entrance fees alone could take up pages and pages of debate. But it is what it is.
Late Model racing costs for a single night easily - without damage are automatically $200.00 to $250.00 (1 tire, 1 admission fee, 5 Gallons of "race" fuel) - and you haven't even got to the race track yet. Some teams travel 2 to 3 hours every Friday or Saturday. Fuel for the hauler, add $25 to $50.00, and let's be honest, that's the minimum costs. Thunder cars aren't far behind. In fact, I would debate it costs just as much to run a Thunder as it does a Late Model and in some cases cost MORE to fix if they get into a wreck. Thunder / SS car counts often are higher, thus the odds of getting into a wreck are the same if not higher than a LM. $$$$

Everybody involved wants lower costs and while there are some some opportunities to do so in some parts of a race track operation, in general terms, all the services required to operate it are going up, it's that simple. Take insurance as just example. Ever since 9/11, policies have skyrocketed.

From a car owner perspective, the costs have also gone up dramatically. Balance is impossible to achieve - or so it seems. The logic of your ideas are sound ones, been tried many times across North America. In some areas they can and do work, others, it simply a mathematical impossibility.

Car owners have screamed for two decades that purses have not gone up with rate of inflation, let alone break even. Sponsor dollars come and go. Rules change, etc.. This is another epic debate that has filled CRO's forums in the past and will continue to do so. If I had to pick two elements concerning the same issue that has impacted the cost of car owners, it's fuel. Fuel for the race car, hauler, generator, going to get parts, etc.. The faster the cars, the more the fuel costs. SLM's running $1,000.00 for a 45 gallon barrel of race fuel is insane. $1.05 to $1.25 for Sunoco 94 is taking its toll. 100 LL Avgas - yikes....

And then there's the weather, which can kill a track operator. Consumers love predictability, which racing can not offer. Period. Never happens... A promoter would LOVE to build a business model that showed that it will be promised good weather, fan attendance, etc.. The purses would then go up, but they never have. You could have ticket prices at $2.00 all day long, even sell out, but if it rains...then what... or worse, it rains in the morning, might in the afternoon, but clears in the evening, which by then, people have made other plans. Viscous circle to be sure.

Barrie Speedway has dramatically increased it's championship points fund for its premiere Late Model division. That should have seen improved car counts and fan attendance because of the action it should incite. But it has not done so - at least so far. As you have no doubt read, they've reduced fees (or eliminated them all together) for car owners registered for the full year. The reaction by car owners has not changed, raising more than a few eyebrows.

You've heard all this before. Racing is like going to Vegas, it's a money losing proposition for about 99.9% of the people that go to gamble - but they still go. In good years they go a lot, in others, the place is like a ghost town. Take last year, which has seen Casino's barely make it, let alone all the ones that were under construction come to a screeching halt - for now.

After this latest recession, in my opinion there's no question, the economics of racing has to change and critically, the cost to run a race car and purse money percentages have to change or the potential to have a healthy recovery may be in jeopardy for 2011. Payouts for all classes and positions has to improve. Promoters have to genuinely understand that both sides must work better together or fans like you may finally say " enough is enough "

Your post W Motorsports basically in a nut shell is the state of motor racing today.
We have in London Western Fair for the first time disabled people will have to pay $5.00 admission as well as $5.00 for their attendant. We are seeing some extreme rises in hydro, water, smart meters, gas and the HST coming all at once with no real promising full time work coming into play. The stimilous packages although supportive in some way will produce few new jobs if any when it runs out. Stock car racing sees very little government support for the jobs it provides in the part sectors it would be nice if some gains could be made there.
Like W Motorsports says you will have lean years along with the good and racing has survived in times like this before. I guess you could say this is a year that you have to do the best with what you have got.

i just watched the video , and looked at the results , was there not a rule in place that you had to race 50% of the races at your registered track to be able to race any of the invitational races  or did this rule get thrown out  ?  if it did  , it would have been smart to post it somewhere for guys to see that . if it didn't  get thrown out i guess it's a who you are rule .

That rule is the rule the 5 tracks decided on for the Stefco/McColl race series. Sunset has no such rule. Steve Slaughter could verify that i'm sure if you were to call him.I'm sure i speak for all sunset fans when i say no racer that meets sunset rules would ever be turned away,Mark,Linda and Steve would make sure of that.

I'm starting to wonder if these Invitationals are really worth it for all involved. Don't get me wrong here, I am one of the sports biggest fans and attend most of the local events but sometimes leave a little disappointed. Take yesterday at Sunset for example; 16 or so late models, the race fairly boring as Witty leads flag to flag with no real challenge from anyone. On a regular night at Sunset you have 20+ lates and usually the show is much more exciting. The super stocks usually end up putting on the best show and that too was the case yesterday but really there were not alot of visiting cars. Same for the 4cylinders as many of the strong runners were not in attendance and Butler ran away once the 34 car was done for the night. I have been to other invites at other tracks and found the events similar; the only one to me that works is Fall Colours and from complaints over the last few years, I wonder if it will continue to draw strong numbers of cars too. As I mentioned in the beginning, I love racing and love to support these extra events but do they really turn out the way they are hyped for the most part?

With all the different specials being run on sunday at so many of the Ontario tracks,i thought the car counts were exceptional and most of the provinces top drivers in all three classes making an appearance at sunset was well worth my price of admission.I will definately be at the next one.