Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway 2011

Vukie · 11/16/10, 5:03 PM

From the Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway Facebook page. I thought they had a deal with the Thomas group.

"The Vermilion county fair board is currently seeking a promoter for the Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway for the 2011 season. Please contact fair board President Al Peeler at 217-446-1530 before January 1, 2011 if you are interested. Serious inquiries only please."

Avon Open Wheel fan · 11/16/10, 10:37 PM

Maybe Thomas only wants to promote just a few special open wheel shows. The fair board maybe looking for a normal weekly show to go along with the few special shows. If that is the case I sure hope that someone will promote a weekly sprint car show again. Any night is better than no racing at all.

nathans1012 · 11/17/10, 2:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avon Open Wheel fan

Maybe Thomas only wants to promote just a few special open wheel shows. The fair board maybe looking for a normal weekly show to go along with the few special shows. If that is the case I sure hope that someone will promote a weekly sprint car show again. Any night is better than no racing at all.

Hopefully Not on saturdays. It might hurt some other tracks. could race midgets weekly. There isn't a weekly midget track in the region

RACE ON SUNDAY
*A good line-up*
Midgets or Late Models (UMP Super or UMP Pro Crate)
UMP Modifieds
Bombers
4 Cyl. Pure Stocks / Hornets

reeserx · 11/17/10, 3:44 AM

i dont think there is enough midgets to run on a weekly basis, and kokomo runs on sundays, i hope they do end up stayin open, vcs is a good track
Posted via Mobile Device

Wallsracing · 11/17/10, 8:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vukie

From the Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway Facebook page. I thought they had a deal with the Thomas group.

"The Vermilion county fair board is currently seeking a promoter for the Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway for the 2011 season. Please contact fair board President Al Peeler at 217-446-1530 before January 1, 2011 if you are interested. Serious inquiries only please."

HERES THE REST OF THE STORY

Or the track will be demolished if a promoter isn't in place by the January 1, 2011 deadline.

mscs20 · 11/17/10, 10:02 AM

Like everyone else, I want to see Danville continue. That's why I got involved this season. My goal wasn't to be "the man", but to find him or her.....or them. And the search continues. And I will continue to help anyway I can.
Kenny Brown from Powri and I have been working on some dates for next year that involves sprints, midgets, and 600's. But we still need a full time promoter. And there has been some interest, so don't lose hope yet.
Joe Spiker from LPS attended our last show in Oct and we had a long talk afterwards.....there are a lot of goofy things that goes along with promoting VCS that no other track offers.....and I now understand a lot more of what happend last season (2009) that concerned his departure. But things in 2010 were even different yet, it isn't easy at all........but it is do able.
I personally would like to see the fairboard run it themselves since they own the track, and just hire people for certain positions. They ran the concessions and did a good enough job to sell out of everything, but they don't want the risk either. Maybe forming a club with drivers, owners, fans and crew members......electing officers and positions could be the answer. It works at Charleston IL at the 1/8th mile track. CCMMA I believe is still the club. Also the American Legion has operated Fairbury Speedway track for ever...and own the track to my knowledge.....it's all volunteer. And you have to be a vet to be in that deal.....think about that the next time you have to pay dues or a membership fee.
I realize everyone has an opinion, and your input was heard and considered. But Danville needs something fresh to be successful, not the same old stale program that has failed most years.
I don't think weekly midget racing is a bad idea, but with 200 sprint cars in our region....70 run on Fri nights, 180-200 run on Sat and only 18-22 run on Sunday. Of the 2 races we had this fall, sprint cars out drew all other divisions combined. Kokomo is 120 miles away via the 2 lane, 149 mi if you try to use the interstate. Just something to ponder.

Steve Thomas
217 766 7889

Avon Open Wheel fan · 11/17/10, 3:15 PM

First off I would like to thank Steve for working so hard in keeping the racing alive at Vermilion County Fairgrounds. I really do like his idea on a club. It will take some thinking outside the normal box to make this work. What if they have a fee to belong to this club? Then it would could give anyone a chance to be a part of promoting the racing. This would also make it more affordable since it would not be placing all the financial burden of succeeding on just one person. You could make it to where if there was any profits that it would be used to pay the drivers at the end of the year and to make any needed improvements.

Maybe they could also do like sports teams and try to sale season tickets. This would at least bring in some steady revenue.

I know that this would not be a simple task to even start let alone to make happen prior to the 1st of January.

onthegas7j · 11/17/10, 4:02 PM

Charleston has not had a board since 03... It is fully run and promoted by the Cobble family who own the track... The Coles County Stock Car Association at Ctown was done for many years back in the 60's until Larry Martin bought it then it was gone until 2003 when they brought it back for a year and abolished again. Donnie Dow sold the track to the Cobble family the next year. Charleston is my home track... I love Danville and hope it stays open I have alot of great memories from my childhood at that place...

mscs20 · 11/17/10, 5:06 PM

The Charleston track I refered to is the mini sprint/micro 1/8th track on IL 316, not the stock car track. Mike Popham is an IOW member and he could shed some light on the concept of a club owned/promoted track. Maybe have dues around $30 a year..........$5 off pit pass or grandstand ticket for club members. 6 shows you would have you dues back. Just thinking out loud.
Posted via Mobile Device

Avon Open Wheel fan · 11/17/10, 10:34 PM

I think that the club is a great idea and I for one would have no problems paying the 30 dollars as a fan. The few dollars off of tickets would also be a nice perk. They could even try to have some picnics or other functions at the track just for the club members.

I was born and raised in the Danville area so I grew up going to Danville and Sprigfield Speedway.

The million dollar question is how would someone even go about heading up this effort to see if its realistic or not?

11/16/10, 5:03 PM	#1 Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway 2011
Vukie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,310	From the Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway Facebook page. I thought they had a deal with the Thomas group. "The Vermilion county fair board is currently seeking a promoter for the Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway for the 2011 season. Please contact fair board President Al Peeler at 217-446-1530 before January 1, 2011 if you are interested. Serious inquiries only please."

11/16/10, 10:37 PM	#2 Re: Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway 201
Avon Open Wheel fan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,272	Maybe Thomas only wants to promote just a few special open wheel shows. The fair board maybe looking for a normal weekly show to go along with the few special shows. If that is the case I sure hope that someone will promote a weekly sprint car show again. Any night is better than no racing at all.

11/17/10, 3:44 AM	#4
reeserx Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 1,612	i dont think there is enough midgets to run on a weekly basis, and kokomo runs on sundays, i hope they do end up stayin open, vcs is a good track Posted via Mobile Device

11/17/10, 3:15 PM	#7 Re: Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway 201
Avon Open Wheel fan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,272	First off I would like to thank Steve for working so hard in keeping the racing alive at Vermilion County Fairgrounds. I really do like his idea on a club. It will take some thinking outside the normal box to make this work. What if they have a fee to belong to this club? Then it would could give anyone a chance to be a part of promoting the racing. This would also make it more affordable since it would not be placing all the financial burden of succeeding on just one person. You could make it to where if there was any profits that it would be used to pay the drivers at the end of the year and to make any needed improvements. Maybe they could also do like sports teams and try to sale season tickets. This would at least bring in some steady revenue. I know that this would not be a simple task to even start let alone to make happen prior to the 1st of January.

11/17/10, 4:02 PM	#8 Re: Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway 201
onthegas7j Senior Member Race Count This Year: 48 Race Count Last Year: 31 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 302	Charleston has not had a board since 03... It is fully run and promoted by the Cobble family who own the track... The Coles County Stock Car Association at Ctown was done for many years back in the 60's until Larry Martin bought it then it was gone until 2003 when they brought it back for a year and abolished again. Donnie Dow sold the track to the Cobble family the next year. Charleston is my home track... I love Danville and hope it stays open I have alot of great memories from my childhood at that place...

11/17/10, 5:06 PM	#9
mscs20 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 967	The Charleston track I refered to is the mini sprint/micro 1/8th track on IL 316, not the stock car track. Mike Popham is an IOW member and he could shed some light on the concept of a club owned/promoted track. Maybe have dues around $30 a year..........$5 off pit pass or grandstand ticket for club members. 6 shows you would have you dues back. Just thinking out loud. Posted via Mobile Device

11/17/10, 10:34 PM	#10 Re: Vermilion County Fairgrounds Speedway 201
Avon Open Wheel fan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,272	I think that the club is a great idea and I for one would have no problems paying the 30 dollars as a fan. The few dollars off of tickets would also be a nice perk. They could even try to have some picnics or other functions at the track just for the club members. I was born and raised in the Danville area so I grew up going to Danville and Sprigfield Speedway. The million dollar question is how would someone even go about heading up this effort to see if its realistic or not?