Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulldozed
 

A sad day indeed! I didn't make it to alot of shows there, but I can say the on track action was always top notch. I never saw a bad race there. They should run one final open competition Sprint and midget show and send her out in style!

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

This is sad. When Spiker had that place, it became one of those tracks that week in and week out, was producing great racing. You could count on it. Hard work, but also a nice track configuration.

Jerry

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

Other than the southern il center, Only other track in IL i've been too. IL sprint week 2009

Another historic racetrack gone. Just not enough interest in racing these days for many reasons and will only get worse as I see very few of the younger generation have interest in it at all. Enjoy it while you can and attend as much as possible!

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

I'll have to agree, must be gold or something there, where that track is located, or so I remember, wasn't really prime for anything else, wasn't all that hard to get to, and had a friendly atmosphere, I think that was my first track to run my TQ on, we'd been rained out so many times that season, twice there already, I'll never forget the feeling, when that jeep rolled up on my rear bumper, hell's bell's, we were already going too fast before we even hit the track for my first ride, and my oil pressure was slow getting up, I finally signaled him off about halfway down the front straight, and about that time my oil pressure came up, and I didn't have to exit, I had not had it started since I bought it, so it took a while, but that is etched in my memory, just like on a hard drive, it was so funny, later, and even yet today. Does that mean the Fair grounds also? As I recall, as far as Fairs go, it was pretty low on the list. Yes, racing doesn't seem to interest a lot of folks anymore, and most you see at the tin top crowd are sitting high on the hill, in their hi end motorhomes, that just ain't where it's at for me.

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

Some fair boards you can work with and some you can’t. Giving the different people that have tried to work with the SAME fair board, from a distance, it looks like it’s the one constant that’s the problem

This is the second track in the illili state to cease racing LaSalle also

LaSalle will probably be back.

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

Tracks can make it just fine at a fair grounds, but everyone involved with the race track has to understand that at most fairgrounds today, the track is pretty much there as a courtesy and typically the amount of rent a track provides isn't what could be generated from an alternate use of the space. That's just the reality.

The economics and entertainment options a fair needs to survive have changed. We are in a trend where Concerts seem to be the big draw at fairs. I know at Jacksonville, the concerts are and must be the priority to our fair board - and there's no doubt that the structure of the race track is less than optimal to putting on a real concert.

Personally, I think it's when the race track operators and fans lose perspective on the big picture when the track/fair board relationship tends to fall apart. Our policy at Jacksonville - and well-known to our fair board is that they can do whatever they need to do to the property without getting gruff from us and we will make it work. We do ask that they at least consult with us about changes that might affect the track so we might be able to suggest alternatives that have less impact on the track operations. Everything related to our race track is portable - so it can be out of the way for the concerts. Even our scoring stand is on skids.

Fortunately, we have a great relationships with our fair board - because we know we know where we stand in their list of priorities. We also volunteer during their fair to do a lot of the heavy lifting since we are the ones most familiar with where to turn the lights on etc. Tommy is out there every day of the fair taking care of things for them, watering, moving things etc.

But everyone in the racing community needs to know that at a vast, vast majority of fairgrounds, the race track isn't the main priority to the survival of the fair. The track is a guest.

Here's our race track being put to its highest and best use...

https://www.enjoyillinois.com/assets...oncert-TOM.jpg

That won't happen, but at least the last race they ran there was the MSCS race back in July 2018.

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

If I could just have Kenny Dobson's outlook and understanding on everything, my life would be much more simple! We need more "big picture" promoters and supporters in the racing community!

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

How well I know, some it doesn't hurt, some it's a drop dead, gone deal for one or the other, we've had ongoing problems with fair boards, and the rides and stands owners. at the small fairs, when the race track starts, the fair goers, go to the race track, and pretty well shuts down any revenue for the food booths and stuff, it is a 2 way street, especially at fair time, a majority of the rest of the time, the track gets used pretty often, it helps pay the upkeep and light bill anyway, so if you look at it as that, then you begin to see it maybe more valuable real estate than the track alone. Maybe they can work something out, but sounds like it's pretty much done this time.

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

Thanks Mr. Dobson for your insight on how fairs and track need to work together to co exist. One hand washes the other. I gotta say you are one of most interesting and transparent promoters out there today.
Thank You!

I think they could delay wrecking ball to honor Bubby Jones and the Cannon Bros.

Best post on this thread right there!

Re: Vermilion Co Speedway (Danville, IL) - Track Being Bulld
 

You will not find many better and harder working promoters than Kenny Dobson. This man will move heaven and earth to get a race in at Jacksonville Speedway. I have often wished he would hold a class and teach the next generation of promoters how to do it. While I may not get to the track in person as often as I used to, I tune in to his youtube channel ever time he streams the race. I will be there for the Herb Barlow memorial race this year. I know it will be the best race of the year that I attend. For that, I can't thank him enough.