Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Pretty amazing that just over a week out and it's still a TBA on USAC page. You'd think that if they could do it. word would be out or both car and fan attendance would suffer.

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Pretty amazing that just over a week out and it's still a TBA on USAC page. You'd think that if they could do it. word would be out or both car and fan attendance would suffer.

It’s over a month not a week.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by cowboyhar69:
It’s over a month not a week.

You know how us old folk get.....

Nevermind.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by Nut'n but Dirt:
They should have worked with Scott and Bernie last year to keep what they were trying to do. Instead they fought with them trying to make improvements. Fair Board either needs to figure out if they want to race or not!

Always remember, you only know 1 side of that story. There is always a lot more to the story!

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by 767:
Always remember, you only know 1 side of that story. There is always a lot more to the story!

The story was, They weren't even breaking even and felt there was no point going forward.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by 767:
Always remember, you only know 1 side of that story. There is always a lot more to the story!

Really? If what was posted by Mr Kelly on facebook is accurate and we have no reason not to believe it, then the fair board is a problem. Expecting a promoter to come in and make infrastructure improvements to property the fair owns is absurd. The fair is responsible for the condition of the property, much like any landlord is for rental property. No promoter is going to take such a risk without a rent break or some piece of the concessions/parking action, so they can at least recoup costs.

It would be like renting an apartment or home and having the landlord tell you I'm charging you full rent, but you have to put in new plumbing and heating. Now who is going to think that's a great deal?

I suspect the Hut is done. No one lining up to take it on. Fair board doesn't want racing there, want to sell the land.

Dysfunctional Fairboards = Iowa State Fair, Indiana State Fair.
Focused Fairboards = Knoxville,
Port Royal!

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by oppweld:
Dysfunctional Fairboards = Iowa State Fair, Indiana State Fair.
Focused Fairboards = Knoxville,
Port Royal!

Calistoga. Not looking good folks for 'Stoga. may be gone soon

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Calistoga. Not looking good folks for 'Stoga. may be gone soon

If there's a resurrection I will be there!

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
The story was, They weren't even breaking even and felt there was no point going forward.

This is undoubtedly true, but somebody made some questionable decisions on changing dates like moving the Hulman Classic for example. Then there was the weather. It was very uncooperative and little could be done about that. The dates USAC has left open seem to mirror the old schedule and hopefully if this all works out, Mother Nature will be on our side.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by oppweld:
Dysfunctional Fairboards = Iowa State Fair, Indiana State Fair.
Focused Fairboards = Knoxville,
Port Royal!

I would add Attica to the focused list. Things are sounding promising, but announcing something before all the i's are dotted and the T's are crossed can cause real problems. The promoter may want to make a big announcement to generate publicity. I plan on being there on April 16. If it doesn't happen, I won't be there.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by Rapid Rick:
This is undoubtedly true, but somebody made some questionable decisions on changing dates like moving the Hulman Classic for example. Then there was the weather. It was very uncooperative and little could be done about that. The dates USAC has left open seem to mirror the old schedule and hopefully if this all works out, Mother Nature will be on our side.

The Hulman Classic was Bob Sargent's date and he moved it to Circle City. Forced THAT to move to the day before.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

I sure hope that whoever the promoter/team may be they are able to hit the ground running and they have realistic expectations for the first couple of races. We are FIVE weeks and 5 days from April 16. That is a very limited amount of time for preparation and promotion, acquiring concessions and concession workers, and race day ticket people.

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Im guessing USAC's renting it and both work on finding the people to prep it.

Met Don Smith in 2010. He said him AJ and Hulman were good friends and would spend time at his compound hunting, fishing and more likely drinking. Also said the racers made him, not the other way around, It was his job to not screw it up.

Got to see his collection, Building two was almost all pace cars he had for the track. Some Indy garage doors from before the fire and some one offs and eclectic stuff.

RIP Don Smith.

Your guess is wrong

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by Bill Angel:
Your guess is wrong

Until it's proven wrong, It's still my guess.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by racefan20:
The Hulman Classic was Bob Sargent's date and he moved it to Circle City. Forced THAT to move to the day before.

Another factor was the fair wanted more weekend races. That is tough to do with all the other tracks competing.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by Charles Nungester:
Until it's proven wrong, It's still my guess.

Even if it is proven wrong, it is still your guess.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by oppweld:
Dysfunctional Fairboards = Iowa State Fair, Indiana State Fair.

Please educate me... Without including their decision on changing the track. (Which I do not agree with. But, understand why.) What makes the Indiana State Fair Board Dysfunctional? Am at the fairgrounds about 30 to 40 times a year.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
Even if it is proven wrong, it is still your guess.

No, He said it's wrong without offering the facts. So until then, It's as true as anything else out there. He may not be able to say what the facts are now, and I respect that.

I did see something of FB that The ink's not dry yet. but looking positive.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

:44:

Destroying a Historically Significant mile dirt track in the name of horse racing that will fail soon enough.

Originally Posted by oppweld:
Destroying a Historically Significant mile dirt track in the name of horse racing that will fail soon enough.

Historical significance typically isn’t too involved in a business decision. Let’s be honest here, the Hoosier 100 and the other few events they held at the State Fairgrounds didn’t justify the need for a mile dirt track to remain. I would imagine the costs were greater than the revenue.

I will also be in the minority of all the older folks but I went to the Hoosier 100 several years back and never felt I needed to go again. I can appreciate the history but the history doesn’t pay the bills…

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Thank you responding Oppweld. Even though you weren't truly able to answer the question I put forth. Just like you I am disappointed that it is gone.

It's gone because they don't value racing, (in the capital of racing). The horse track will be gone before you know it .

What was the excuse before Flo? Allstars and Woo stream every race as does most of PA Sprints and they have packed houses every race. Maybe , just maybe it’s the track .

Regarding the Indy mile,

When are race fans going to admit that one racing event a year, that luckily drew 5,000 fans and pit members, wasn't going to cut it. How do you make a profit on that? And the infrastructure of the Indy mile was in dire need of repair. Fencing, cabling, caution lights, and worn out light bulbs were all needing replaced. Who was going to pay for that?

Regarding Terre Haute,

How is track prep going to be done for 3 events a year? Let's hope someone will groom that dirt before the day of each race.

Originally Posted by Grocery Guy:
Regarding the Indy mile,

When are race fans going to admit that one racing event a year, that luckily drew 5,000 fans and pit members, wasn't going to cut it. How do you make a profit on that? And the infrastructure of the Indy mile was in dire need of repair. Fencing, cabling, caution lights, and worn out light bulbs were all needing replaced. Who was going to pay for that?

Regarding Terre Haute,

How is track prep going to be done for 3 events a year? Let's hope someone will groom that dirt before the day of each race.

I’m sure track prep will be done more than one day before a race whether it’s 3 races or 6 races. Bill Hopton’s group did it as well as Bob Sargent and Scott Ronk’s group. Only one I can think of that that didn’t do much track prep was Dave Allison.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Back in the day the fair board thought they had a good promoter with the banker. The improvements to the racetrack were being done as needed. That was until they found out that what it cost for the improvements was being paid for by the banker and the banker was putting liens onto the property for that amount. Someone discovered that the banker was about to pay the liens and take over the property. So several rich farmers came and paid the lien. This was the story from a USAC racer who lived in Terre Haute at the time. The truth is that no money can be made by any promoter who takes over the racing at THAT. Half mile dirt tracks are a thing of the past as it costs more to race on a half mile than 1/4- and 3/8-mile tracks, these tracks are where the action is.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by DaleDuBois:
Back in the day the fair board thought they had a good promoter with the banker. The improvements to the racetrack were being done as needed. That was until they found out that what it cost for the improvements was being paid for by the banker and the banker was putting liens onto the property for that amount. Someone discovered that the banker was about to pay the liens and take over the property. So several rich farmers came and paid the lien. This was the story from a USAC racer who lived in Terre Haute at the time. The truth is that no money can be made by any promoter who takes over the racing at THAT. Half mile dirt tracks are a thing of the past as it costs more to race on a half mile than 1/4- and 3/8-mile tracks, these tracks are where the action is.

BS on the last part. The bigger tracks separate the men from the boys. THAT, Port, Perris. Awesome racing and the more laps they get they better they get. I've seen tires look like new at the end of 30 laps at THAT and I've seen em bald and blowing as the race went on. Track prep has everything to do with it and a Quarter mile will eat tires just as fast if it becomes abrasive. I've seen two races at Bloomington that the first one to blow his RR tire was the one who won. Because everybody else did too.

Im really hoping that more will race at THAT now that the ARMCO eliminates the possibility of landing on or hitting a hard edge concrete block

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by DaleDuBois:
Back in the day the fair board thought they had a good promoter with the banker. The improvements to the racetrack were being done as needed. That was until they found out that what it cost for the improvements was being paid for by the banker and the banker was putting liens onto the property for that amount. Someone discovered that the banker was about to pay the liens and take over the property. So several rich farmers came and paid the lien. This was the story from a USAC racer who lived in Terre Haute at the time. The truth is that no money can be made by any promoter who takes over the racing at THAT. Half mile dirt tracks are a thing of the past as it costs more to race on a half mile than 1/4- and 3/8-mile tracks, these tracks are where the action is.

Im not sure how you can honestly say that 1/2 miles are a thing of the past and promoters cant make money.

Port Royal just announced they are increasing their payout this season for weekly shows to $5000 to win. A promoter loosing money doesnt do that.

Of the top of my head Knoxville, Eldora, Williams Grove, Volusia, and Devils Bowl are all going strong as 1/2 mile race tracks.

Re: THAT-Surprised no one has seen this
 

Originally Posted by brown11b:
Im not sure how you can honestly say that 1/2 miles are a thing of the past and promoters cant make money.

Port Royal just announced they are increasing their payout this season for weekly shows to $5000 to win. A promoter loosing money doesnt do that.

Of the top of my head Knoxville, Eldora, Williams Grove, Volusia, and Devils Bowl are all going strong as 1/2 mile race tracks.

I get his point in a way. Eldora used to draw well over a hundred for a major LM race. Now in the 60s but the same can be said for the jackson 100, north south 100 etc. It's not necessarally the tracks but number of cars . Tons of tracks out there of many sizes running seven classes of ten cars each.