Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

And their policy is probably the fairest policy, as it gives more people a decent chance at getting a prime seat. As long as they post it at the gate and communicate it as many places as they can, I think most people could live with that. The tracks that allow it, to a certain degree but try to set guidelines, to keep it from being abused (and we've all seen it be extremely abused) have the best idea. Again, communication so everybody knows what the rule is, is key. But, no matter what they do, somebody's not going to like it.

Jerry

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

let me be clear on this, I too am not a big fan of the blanket policy. However, I am simply stating that the way the whole thing was handled was bad business. For the people that drove in from out of state and arrived before noon, who ASKED the track if they could put blankets down and were told YES they could.Then they go back to their car/camper and rested, only to find that their blankets were taken away, because a sign appeared at the gate around 2:00. Not good! And to keep the fans standing in line like herded cattle made no sense to me. Race teams lined up back to the highway to get into the pits because they didn't open up until the same time as the spectator gates was another bad idea IMHO. I would ask what was gained from this?? I would think that the sooner you can get butts in the stands and teams in the pits, the more concession revenue would be generated. I can only tell you what I saw- and that was a lot of upset fans.The OConnors generally do a fine job, however I think they dropped the ball last night.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

That's just not true. With the exception of perhaps a WoO race I show up just before hot laps and put one down there every time.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

Dadgum Jerry you sure would have liked that winged show they put on at The Field a couple of weeks ago then. It was awesome. That Larson kid sure hasn't missed a beat.

I will settle this, I was the one who took the blankets down. 😜🏁

***** and complain at a who is keeping a track alive? What sense does this make! Thank you to the o Conner's for keeping hope at gascity!

The midget square tail tank post has the most views with over 75,000

I have three of the top 15 posts as far as views :) shameless self plug lol

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

I haven't been back to Kokomo since 2006 over the way I was treated at the search gate to get in. I didn't complain I just never went back. Now I just spend my money at other race tracks.

The Banker's Life Midget race has to be up there, and man was that a nasty thread once the racing got started lol. I know it had upwards of 200 maybe 250 posts, not sure about views.

Wait till Charles finds out 😏

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

Let us not start another topic on the person at the front gate at Kokomo and Gas city.We all know who we are talking about. I do not believe I have ever seen him smile and you are always greeted with You can't take that in.Once again the beginning of a great fan experience.I think some people on here are drinking the Kokomo kool aid.Let us hope the rest of sprintweek is better.than the start.

The Kokomo Kool aid tastes great! Hasn't let me down yet!

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

It almost seems that you guys cant wait to screw up the racing your so lucky you have.
I totally agree with folks being upset about the blankets, but the mention of boycotting races because of it is shooting yourself in the foot in the long run.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

I am another person that hates people putting down blankets. It is high on my list of pet peeves. I have never been to GC, but I know at many tracks that the blanket seats are actually taking away money from the promoters. How many times have you seen prime seats saved for someone in the pits. They take some of the best seats, and will seat in them for one heat and one main event. The rest of the night the seats are empty. People have to take really bad seats/ no seats while the prime seats are not being used.

I am one of the people that think there should also be reserved seating at every track. Price it reasonably. Another 2 or 3 bucks to have the best seats in the place. Devils Bowl in Dallas has been doing this for decades. Also, no pit wristbands in the reserved seating.

I also find it amusing that when the O'Connors took over promotions at Gas City, it was generally accepted with open arms. They took it from being shut down to an operating track again. Now they are horrible people? Get real.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

This was several years ago and I haven't been back since. I have no desire to go back after looking at taped blankets from top to bottom. I'm not going back to see if things have changed. Sorry.

Kokomo is absolutely jammed packed tonight. If your not here your missing out!

Couldn't get there til later so didn't go cause I didn't want a crappy seat

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

It takes a lot now days to make me lose my temper, but that would have done the trick. :7:

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

I personally get annoyed with blankets but my 100% honest opinion is absolutely no saving seats in pits and if you do you get kicked out of the pits for that night. I've seen it a few times that people save seats in the pits and only go up there when their class is running so the other class crew members can't find a seat because stands are full and seats are saved.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

Makes sense to me. I can see how people would get upset about policy changing after blankets were already down, but c'mon... win from back row? I would have been thrilled to see that.
But I've never gotten to a track in time to put down blankets early, live too far away
Good racing trumps convenience, no? You can be comfortable & not wait in any lines sitting at home....

I had to good of a time at the Frolic last night but man...this makes for good reading waiting for this A to roll off at Kokomo lol

Hey guys me and my wife both have full time jobs,so we got there late, sat 5 rows up and loved our seats cause there was no seats left. It was 1 of the best shows I have ever seen. I feel like you folks got short changed, but there is not a bad seat in the house at G.C.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

You have missed some really good races

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

The way GC went about the blanket policy really sucks, if that's the way they wanted it there should have been a large readable sign on the LOCKED gate. The thing that really gets me is the way someone described how a deputy handled the elderly gentleman with the oxygen tank, that should have never happened. :7:

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

Why would I care? This in response about what thread has the most views ever.

Had a great time tonight at Waynesfield, With my cooler, with my stadium seat, was said hi too by at least five track staff and the sanction promoter. I got no problem saying some of the reasons in the thread is why I chose this option. I honestly don't care how great a product is if your business isn't appreciated A thank you when you buy a ticket or have a great night. A hello or a kind resolving of track policy when entering the gate. A thank you upon buying something inside the gate.

Im not out to hurt any track, But some people make it sound like they could piss on you all night and as long as they called it rain, IT's OK.

Chuck, going to take a lot of flak for this one, Maybe it will set a record? Again, I don't care about that. I care that people find the tracks as enjoyable as the racing and if some (SIMPLE) steps were taking just to say Welcome or thank you. It would go a long way toward making people want to come back or visit in the first place.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

1) This one won't set a record.

2) PITCART has already taken blame for pulling up the blankets.

3) If you were at Kokomo, no one boycotted the event and there were no protesters out front.

4) To those that placed blankets and had them taken up. I'd probably have been upset to. I'm not sure what it's worth coming from me, but I apologize for your troubles. Please enjoy the rest of ISW.

5) Those were two great days of racing.

Ultimately this thread was about what appeared to be a rule change mid-game. And that is never a good thing. However I believe, that there had to be some kind of communication breakdown (cue the Led Zeppelin) that caused the problem. I am sure that the folks in charge are well aware of the miscues and I'd bet you won't see the situation reoccur. A couple other observations, I have been to kokomo many times, although not as much as I would like to, and never have I been treated without a smile and a thanks at the ticket window. As for the blanket thing, I've been on both sides. I don't have a problem with putting down blankets as long as they are used and don't take more than you need. I put some down today. I had almost as much fun outside the track talking to some really cool people as I did inside the track. I went in for qualifying and told the people I was saving seats for "if you ain't in by the first heat I'm pulling up your spot". Now these are my friends but fair is fair. I got there early to get the better seats but have no desire to abuse it

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

I didn't even bother to read more than the first page of of this ridiculous thread!
Gas City was the one race track that I only needed to visit once to know why it can't seem to make it and the answer is because it had pizz poor management.
You drive for hundreds of miles to see a show only to find that most of the seats had been taped off long before the first green flag ever waved that year and at least half of them don't get used until the feature.
The mud in the stands and in the catch fence was terrible,the parking lot a mud bog and the food was just ok.
Who do you blame, the management that's who. Well that's not the way we always did it when Gas City was open, and that's why it's not open.
Along comes the O'Connor crew to try any make a go of it and give folks another track to see a race and all you can do is *****, well why don't you take over that dying/dead track and make a go of it yourself.
I used to go to Eldora for years until Earl sold it and the new owner turned it into a winged NASCAR track.
Kokomo speedway is a premier dirt track with great maintenance,good food and excellent management.
You will never hear me complain about anything the O'Connor crew does because they do it right.

SOME FOLKS WOULD ***** IF YOU HUNG THEM WITH A NEW ROPE.

Feather duster you mentioned Eldora becoming a winged nascar track. It's threads like this that keeps usac being there only 3 times a year. Way to many people complain about the track conditions.

I was a Kokomo regular for over 15 years until my recent move. Prior to the O'Connors purchasing the track it was a mess, bad track prep, poor attendance, low car counts, etc. They came in and turned things around very quickly likely saving the facility. Now the racing is second to none with the best teams and drivers routinely present. I was always greeted with a smile at the ticket booth and by other family members. There is only one grumpy guy I have encountered and he has been commented on in many threads. BTW, I always greeted him with a smile and said hello just to see if I could get him to respond in kind...never really got much beyond a nod. I will be making the trek from NC for Smackdown and cant't wait. To each their own.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

I can not believe you use a stadium seat. People who use these are very inconsiderate. Last night Kokomo was as full as I have ever seen it. A guy sitting 2 rows in front of us had a stadium seat. He was leaning back in it to the point that no one could sit behind him. People were even having trouble walking behind him. Every time someone would bump him, he would give them a dirty look.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

I don't believe I said anything regarding track conditions.

People make me sick. This is the problem with everyone you want it now your way pretty much the blanket thing is there will be no reserve seats it makes it fair to all. What the hell you people do if you couldn't complain because it's not your way. I work with the public and it's getting very hard to make them happy anymore . Complain about something that is important!!!!!!
Grow up realize how stupid this is

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

Not sure what Kokomo policy is but Gas City you never could have em and I follow the rules. Wasn't a problem at the Field as there was elbow room. Isn't a problem at the Burg as it has seat backs anyway. Wasn't a problem at Putnamville, (I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY LET LAWN CHAIRS) :) Not a problem at THAT. Makes the hillside stands at Bloomington bearable.

Like I said, I follow the rules of the track, Montpillier asked for Midget week only that no Stadium seats and I didn't take it.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

I love non wing sprintcar racing at all tracks. Thanks oconners for 2 great nights made me and the wife grateful to be alive to see it. :8::31: :10:

You're right Brent, you're there a lot more than I but I can't remember a larger crowd. I bolted as they came off turn 4 to the checkers so almost all the cars were still parked. I couldn't believe how far north they were parked. There were too many cautions, and I got dustier than usual, but the only complaint I have is I wasn't able to BS with you some. I am still in awe of the great racing I saw last night!

We were amazed at how far away people parked last night. I think that's the largest crowd we've ever seen there. The race was outstanding. So, so excited for Kyle to get his first USAC win.

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

Thats right dont lose your core fans, I know of at least 4 people who will not go back to bloomington!

Re: Gas City / OConnors
 

For what it's worth, I'm not a fan of saving seats anyway. It's definitely discouraging to new fans who may be making their first trip to the track and find nothing free but the bottom when the top half of the stands is technically "empty". If you want a top row seat, get there early and plant your butt.

I've been noticing that the dirt world is very inward-focused. You've got to keep the existing fans happy, but we focus way too much on marketing to existing fans while generally ignoring newcomers and outsiders, who find it much easier and user-friendly to just watch NASCAR. Thankfully we've got some good people working hard to move things in the right direction, though.

Funny josh, of the 8 seats I saved, 5 of them were for people that had never been before, so it worked out for them. I never used to save seats but finally was able to free up enough time to get there early enough to do so. If you can't beat em join em. Now the next race I'm going to be able to make I am leaving straight from work, and I'll take whatever seats are left when I get there, no complaints, unless someone wants to save one for me;)