Author Topic: Team entrance to pits getting crazy. (Read 4181 times)

all-in · « **on:** July 09, 2008, 08:55:19 AM »

Word is out that Flamboro will be charging $35.00 a head to get into the pits this Saturday. Any comments?
The teams that have a race there have no choice. TQs are there and it is Grisedale Triple Crown second leg. But what if you and your team just want to run your 4 cylinder race and don't even care to watch the other events. I wonder what they are charging for the grandstand! As usual the pits will be full and the grandstand sparce!
It will be a good night of racing if all beats the curfew. Every team of 5 members will pay $175.00. We are the entertainment paying to watch ourselves. Sounds more like a club than a sporting event for spectators. And yes I have to go and yes I will and yes I will pay it.
But I'll bet famillies are rare in the grandstand.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46795#msg46795

CanadianRacingOnline.com · « **on:** July 09, 2008, 08:55:19 AM »

mike32 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2008, 09:51:03 AM »

problem is lazy promotion. Ask David Elliot how he feels about the way the track is promoted. If you don't make an effort to get the spectators in, it puts the onus on the participants to pay more than they should be to keep the lights on at the place!
Track admission for spectators is 50% more than nearby Ohsweken and Merrittville. Advertising is almost non existent and radio ads in an overly saturated market don't cut it. Food service is clumsy (3 lines-tickets- drinks & fries - burgers) and expensive. I could go on. The sound system can't be heard above row 8.
I used to love the place and actually owned a hobby car that ran there for two years in 70s (back when you had to get there at 6pm for a 7:30 show to get a seat). Perhaps the equipment being so equal there has made for freight train racing in the major classes, but this doesn't seem to have affected the dirt tracks in the same manner. I'm still disappointed that, when the track was repaved, it couldn't have been reconfigured for better side by side racing.
Is the asphalt community aware that Lucas Oil is now the major sponsor at Merrittville (replacing Havoline) and that they now sponsor Pete Bicknells 358 modified? Maybe that says it all.......................

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46800#msg46800

MoeskerRacing · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2008, 10:36:37 AM »

We travel to a different track every weekend, and none of them come close to Flamboro's pit admission. I think Barrie is like 25, Peterborough is 25, Sauble is 17, and Grand Bend is 15.

It would be one thing if the show was better at Flamboro, but my team and I were disgusted at the special 50 lap late model race last month. Between the autograph session and the by-laply cautioned race - it took them over 2 hours. 2 hours for the least entertaining 50 laps I've ever seen.

Hope those "Big Shot" late model drivers learn how to put on a decent show for this weekend, because most of them should've been embarrassed of their last 50 lapper.

But ya, getting back to the original topic.. Flamboro doesn't deserve more pit admission money than any other track in Ontario, if you ask me.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46802#msg46802

CanadianRacingOnline.com · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2008, 10:36:37 AM »

oldbill · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2008, 11:09:53 AM »

A couple of points of clarification -
The pit entrance this week is $30 or $25 if you have a pit membership. Memberships cost $25. Front admission is $20.
Regular weeks the pit admission is $25 or $20.

The last Grisdale 50 lap race I thought was fairly entertaining. There were a lot of cautions but It was not the worst race I ever saw. The field was probably the best LM field that you will find at any asphalt track in Ontario.
The crowd at the last race was decent. The track does advertise the Grisdale races fairly heavily on radio in the area.
The food lines moved very quickly and the food quality is not bad & prices are comparable to other places.

I was at Flamboro every Saturday night in the '70's and never had to get there at 6 to get a seat. The crowds were bigger.

Not that we got the facts straight , carry on!

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46804#msg46804

MoeskerRacing · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2008, 11:36:16 AM »

Quote from: oldbill on July 09, 2008, 11:09:53 AM

A couple of points of clarification -
The pit entrance this week is $30 or $25 if you have a pit membership. Memberships cost $25. Front admission is $20.
Regular weeks the pit admission is $25 or $20.

The last Grisdale 50 lap race I thought was fairly entertaining. There were a lot of cautions but It was not the worst race I ever saw. The field was probably the best LM field that you will find at any asphalt track in Ontario.
The crowd at the last race was decent. The track does advertise the Grisdale races fairly heavily on radio in the area.
The food lines moved very quickly and the food quality is not bad & prices are comparable to other places.

I was at Flamboro every Saturday night in the '70's and never had to get there at 6 to get a seat. The crowds were bigger.

Not that we got the facts straight , carry on!

Being with the CanAm Midget Club, there's no point buying a membership, as we're only there 5 times. $30 is still way too much to charge the people that put on your show.

You said it was not the worst race you ever saw, that still doesn't say much for the race, as you've been going to Flamboro since the 70's.

Good car count.. yes. But I believe it's better to have a field of 15 talented drivers than a field of 25, with maybe only 10 talented drivers.

Food quality was not bad? Prices are comparable to other tracks? I like your honesty, but your facts still would'nt bring me out to Flamboro if I wasn't already racing there.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46808#msg46808

all-in · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2008, 08:51:46 AM »

I am still hearing a last minute posting of $35.00 will greet you.
And at even $30.00. That will cost my team $150.00 to entertain whatever crowd is there and other series teams that feel like walking to the wall to watch.
We are there 4 times as well so membership does not make sense.
You think that at least the actual drivers should get a break?

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46859#msg46859

rossevans30 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2008, 03:00:58 PM »

30-35 is crazy. That the tracks punish you for the more crew you bring is also silly. It should be an entry per car. More crew simply means a better show. If your purse isn't covering your entry, its time for a new track...

what you guys should do is get together at the track. Say lower the price or we arn't showing up. Not everyone is going to go for it, but for guys that are not in the points, or have enough points to hold their position can do it. Pick a week that you all agree is a good week to take a vaction and or visit another track. Let the promoter know.

No cars = no show, don't underestimate your power.

I believe Hanley said he skipped the Flamboro Oscaar race because of pit entry on Racetime Radio...

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46873#msg46873

LM18Fan · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2008, 07:44:21 PM »

Quote from: rossevans30 on July 10, 2008, 03:00:58 PM

what you guys should do is get together at the track. Say lower the price or we arn't showing up. Not everyone is going to go for it, but for guys that are not in the points, or have enough points to hold their position can do it. Pick a week that you all agree is a good week to take a vaction and or visit another track. Let the promoter know.

No cars = no show, don't underestimate your power.

I believe Hanley said he skipped the Flamboro Oscaar race because of pit entry on Racetime Radio...

You obviously haven't met John Casale. He couldn't give a &&&& what you or any group of drivers say. Threaten to stay away, better drivers/groups have and John C is still there....he'll just smile and drive away on his cart with his dog as if nothing ever happened.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46889#msg46889

oldbill · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2008, 07:50:54 PM »

Oddly enough despite all the bitching and complaining, Flamboro has better car counts than any other track around.
Why is that?

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46890#msg46890

JonnyQ · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2008, 09:27:09 PM »

I only make it to Flamboro a couple of times per year, and I love it! I think the burgers are great there, and I buy one as a treat for myself everytime I go. Car counts are great, and the racing has always been entertaining. It is too bad that they can't get more bums in the grandstands. I don't know John Casale, but I will tell you one thing, Promoters/owners come and go at most tracks, and maybe last five or even ten years if they're lucky. Casale remains!

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46903#msg46903

Mobil1fan · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2008, 10:16:44 PM »

Why does Flamboro draw cars?
1 - Location
2 - Race night (both for itself and who its not against)
3 - Tradition
4 - Relatively stable rules

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46909#msg46909

oldbill · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2008, 10:22:32 PM »

I'll add a couple more -
- relatively fair & consistent officiating
- good & effective tech'ing

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46910#msg46910

Racer43 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2008, 10:29:00 PM »

Im not sure about those two, but heres a couple more..

- its a fun track to race on
- there's a ton of teams close by that want to race

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46914#msg46914

oldbill · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2008, 10:58:58 PM »

After reading all the comments on CRO about incompetence and favouritism in tech & officiating at other tracks, Flammy seems like a dream!

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46919#msg46919

Racer43 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2008, 11:21:54 PM »

If thats how you want to put it. I would say Flammy is the same.
I hate to break it to ya, but there will always be incompetence and favourtism in officiating and tech from the racers point of view at some point.

Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=7842.msg46923#msg46923

CanadianRacingOnline.com

News: