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TommyBahama 4/2/10 11:58 PM

Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
Just got home, can't wait for others there to add to this. I love this place, that's why I am posting. I have never in my 40 years of going to Eldora witnessed anything like tonight. Do the powers that be even give a ****? New clay goes on last year and they wait to this week I'm told to start working it in? When we walked into the pits you could tell this was going to be an epic disaster, the track was very loose dirt, not packed at all, and wasn't packing. Along the fence were softball sized chunks of dirt, very deep and you could tell they had not been touched. To waste the fans time and resources like this, as well as making the drivers hot lap twice on this farm field, unforgivable!

The suites are I am sure very nice, we've got more bleachers on the front stretch, the jumbo tron in turn two, awesome stuff. Great amenities and worst track surface. What an absolute shame, such a proud famous institution that a man dedicated his life to is being turned into a laughing stock embarrassment. Mr Stewart, please for the love of this sport, put someone in charge of this place that actually gives a ****. Oh by the way, Mr Kemp has a really cool little cart with fancy wheels to ride around in, another thing obviously more important than the damn track.

SUPERDUKE 4/3/10 12:07 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by tommybahama:
just got home, can't wait for others there to add to this. I love this place, that's why i am posting. I have never in my 40 years of going to eldora witnessed anything like tonight. Do the powers that be even give a ****? New clay goes on last year and they wait to this week i'm told to start working it in? When we walked into the pits you could tell this was going to be an epic disaster, the track was very loose dirt, not packed at all, and wasn't packing. Along the fence were softball sized chunks of dirt, very deep and you could tell they had not been touched. To waste the fans time and resources like this, as well as making the drivers hot lap twice on this farm field, unforgivable!

The suites are i am sure very nice, we've got more bleachers on the front stretch, the jumbo tron in turn two, awesome stuff. Great amenities and worst track surface. What an absolute shame, such a proud famous institution that a man dedicated his life to is being turned into a laughing stock embarrassment. Mr stewart, please for the love of this sport, put someone in charge of this place that actually gives a ****. Oh by the way, mr kemp has a really cool little cart with fancy wheels to ride around in, another thing obviously more important than the damn track.

he is a joke i said it two years ago when i said tony fire the larry and larry show! Hire jack hewitt to run this place! He will get it right!!!!!!!!!!!!:22:

JakeMoore 4/3/10 12:12 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
I have been to some **** hole dirt tracks. I have ran 600s and some little bitty places and never seen a bigger disaster. This shouldn't happen at a place like Eldora. Its sad to see and I'm dissapointed to say it but I don't see myself going back.

Charles Nungester 4/3/10 12:57 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
At least Barnhorst gave us our money back to those wishing to go that route. I didn't even get that respect. Not a notice or apology one from the PA. Matter of fact about two minutes total talking on the PA after 800 pm. Drivers to your cars. AS YOU CAN SEE. WERE CANCELLED. TOUGH ****!

I got a ticket I'll sell someone for ten thats supposedly worth 18 toward any show this season. Rest assured, I will not be back. 25 years and Earl canceled several but never treated us like that.

Even worse than the NST Allison debacle At least they ran that show..

That is all, A Apology now would be worthless to me.

darnall 4/3/10 1:02 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
Wood chips.....good god....

I know, lets schedule a sprint car race in a sawdust pile...Oh crap, someone beat me to it!!

Wonder why the track kept coming apart...don't your wifes garden mulch lay down as hard as concrete when someone steps on it??? NO, it doesn't!!!!

petey 4/3/10 1:08 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by darnall:
Wood chips.....good god....

Sounds like a Helfrich home recipie but he knows how to get it right. Like Darland said "Needs more wood.":3:

RichH 4/3/10 1:19 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
I'm finished. Too many late nights and terrible track conditions. This isn't really new, just a new low. Earl sold out to the Ted Johnson school of hard, slick many years ago, IMO, and this crew really haven't a clue. There's no excuse for this-clear skies, no threat of rain all week.
First race at Eldora: April 5, 1964
Last race at Eldora: April 2, 2010

See you at the 'Burg!

mikew 4/3/10 1:42 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
I will be mailing my ticket stub in to the track next week with a short letter expressing how grateful I am for past events like the million. But I will close by suggesting that they refund my money, because there is no chance that I will be going back to Eldora this year. Maybe never again. We shall see. I would be understanding if the event was rained out, but this just smacks of Dave Allison style track prep.

Too bad really for the big E. Great crowd tonight. The jumbotron was a surprise, as were the new seats under the main grandstand.... Too bad with all these new additions to the track, they can't get it right for a USAC show.....

Downey44 4/3/10 1:43 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
Well I had'nt been to Eldora since Stewart took it over. Had heard the horror stories about track conditions. But what I seen tonight was a disgrace to "what" used to be one of the premier tracks in the country. As Chuck stated the announcer was pathetic! He needs to attend Bloomington or a Lucas Oil Late model show and listen to James Essex or Chris Nunn. He may get a clue of how its supposed to be done, because he has none now, ZERO! As we were getting in truck to come home I heard someone on the PA with an apology to the fans for tonights total disaster. Could have sworn I heard them say it was Dave Darland. Some one please correct me if i'm wrong.

racefan20 4/3/10 1:48 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
I was sitting in turn 4 just below the suites and during hot laps the entire track just disappeared. Pretty sad. USAC made the correct decision. I also heard that a lot of rocks were getting kicked up during hot laps too. My guess is if it even sprinkles there tomorrow its a rain out. I cant see how they can fix that track in 20 hours especially if a line of storms come through.

Dustin Proffitt 4/3/10 1:49 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
I like how the announcer was all hyped about the Saturday night race coming up in less than 20 hours. Like they're gonna get it together. Good luck getting anyone to show up for that. They'll be lucky to get it fixed by the Prelude. I would hope there will be some serious ass chewing going on tonight. I thought I saw Tony's uncle there tonight. Wonder if Tony was there in one of those suites? I was able to get my money back though which was good although the announcer never actually said you could over the PA. Only that you could use the value of your ticket towards another ticket ANYTIME this season. :34:

STIDA.com 4/3/10 1:57 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
Dave was on the PA but I could not hear what he said. 250 miles round trip for me so like a lot of other people a lot of money spent tonight.....but the pizza steaks are still delicious and got a few souvenirs....time to rest up and head to Vernon....

gas city gal 4/3/10 1:59 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
Dedfinitely agree with terrible track conditions and the amount and size of the rocks was scarry. Also heard coffee pot broken in pit - no spare (how much money was lost - let alone not serving your customers)???? A pit crew stated they couldn't get gas for cars as the pump stopped working but it would be fixed tomorrow - it turned out it wasn't a big issue as they did not race but........ To top it off, one option after races were cancelled you could get your money back. When I went up to window with my pit bracelet I was told I would only get $18 (regular admission ticket price) instead of the $25 I paid for pit pass. I told them if they gave regular admission ticket holders back all their money that I wasn't leaving window until I got my $25. After informing others that were still in line they wouldn't get their pit pass money back, some anger was brewing. I said I wanted to talk with whoever was in charge. They did go talk to someone and then they were allowed to give money back if your bracelet was a certain color. They asked if I bought my bracelet from USAC - I told them all I knew was that I purchased my bracelet at the Eldora race track for $25. WHAT A NIGHT OF NONRACING....TONY HAS SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY - LIKE BEFORE TOMORROW'S RACE!!!

sloppyjoe 4/3/10 3:04 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
Can't believe you typed all of that out. Go back to Gas City and be happy.

Jerry Shaw 4/3/10 3:24 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
To say this night was bizarre would be the understatement of the year. I've seen a lot of races and till tonight, had never seen one dusted out. Have seen many a track spend money for something to improve their racing surface, but have never seen an "upgrade" completely blow up in a track's face, like it did tonight. From pillar to post, this night at the track was like being trapped in an episode of the Twilight Zone. From the sudden explosion of dust that was so severe that it looked like it was a computer-generated effect, from a disaster flic. To the looks of stunned disbelief plastered on seasoned, grizzled lifelong race fans. Ones who have seen everything, a thousand times. IMO, the fact that it was so over-the-top and excruciatingly bad, helped bring to light something that exists in this sport, but we don't get a chance to see demonstrated all that often. That is that the majority of those who follow this type of racing, when push comes to shove, are pretty good natured. And have a sense of humor. Because many a mob that size, when dealt the hand we were tonight, would have reacted differently. It could have been ugly. But it really wasn't. Most weren't happy by the way the night went, but just left in disbelief. And weren't so mad that they couldn't stop to joke with, commiserate with and say goodbye to their racing friends, as they were leaving.

Myself, I'm not done with Eldora. I'll be back. But not until they have solved this mess.

Jerry

SUPERDUKE 4/3/10 7:31 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
:5:

Originally Posted by racefan20:
i was sitting in turn 4 just below the suites and during hot laps the entire track just disappeared. Pretty sad. Usac made the correct decision. I also heard that a lot of rocks were getting kicked up during hot laps too. My guess is if it even sprinkles there tomorrow its a rain out. I cant see how they can fix that track in 20 hours especially if a line of storms come through.

do you think they should change the date just for dust?:5::3::10:

Barr 4/3/10 7:52 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
The only way for this track to improve is to get rid of Larry Kemp. He is useless, and has not done one thing to improve this place. They had the same problem 4 years ago on opening night with USAC. Do you all remember that night? ( it wasn't a dust storm) but they had ruts in the track so big it looked like a motorcross track. Same problem new clay and wood chips (Kemps idea!!!) Tony Wake up!

NERFBAR 4/3/10 7:53 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
glad i stayed home also...i havent been since smoke took it over......smoke = dustbowl

Mud Packer 4/3/10 8:05 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by Barr:
The only way for this track to improve is to get rid of Larry Kemp. He is useless, and has not done one thing to improve this place. They had the same problem 4 years ago on opening night with USAC. Do you all remember that night? ( it wasn't a dust storm) but they had ruts in the track so big it looked like a motorcross track. Same problem new clay and wood chips (Kemps idea!!!) Tony Wake up!

If memory serves me correctly, Larry Kemp came from a pavement track background. I don't believe that he had any dirt track experience prior to taking over at Eldora. Might help explain why the track is in the shape that it is in?

SPD 37 4/3/10 9:23 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
If last night had happened at any other race track USAC would not go back, but since it's TSR and Eldora they will return. People shouldn't go back to Eldora.

During the drivers meeting a USAC official said, "about the track conditions, it's no one's fault" You have got to be kidding me!!

SPD 37

racefan20 4/3/10 9:32 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by SUPERDUKE:
:5:

do you think they should change the date just for dust?:5::3::10:

Damn sure a better reason than an autograph session. BTW I know a few that showed up at Maid rite, where were you?

i4bikes 4/3/10 9:49 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by Mud Packer:
If memory serves me correctly, Larry Kemp came from a pavement track background. I don't believe that he had any dirt track experience prior to taking over at Eldora. Might help explain why the track is in the shape that it is in?

If this is true Tony needs to fire Kemp. Anyone who even worked under Earl selling tickets would know more about dirt track prep than Kemp.:7:

Blitzman 4/3/10 9:52 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
New clay and woodchips? WTH happend during the off season that I missed? Iv always have said the Larry2 show needs to be fired..

REH24 4/3/10 9:57 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
[QUOTE=mikew;162918]I will be mailing my ticket stub in to the track next week with a short letter expressing how grateful I am for past events like the million. But I will close by suggesting that they refund my money, because there is no chance that I will be going back to Eldora this year. Maybe never again. We shall see. I would be understanding if the event was rained out, but this just smacks of Dave Allison style track prep.

Might suggest that instead of mailing complaints with ticket stubs to the track mail them directing to Tony at his Indy office address. I am sure knowing Tony that if he sees this many fans unhappy he will do something about it and improve track conditions.

REH

SUPERDUKE 4/3/10 10:49 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
:6:

Originally Posted by racefan20:
damn sure a better reason than an autograph session. Btw i know a few that showed up at maid rite, where were you?

did they like it? I had to go to celina ohio! Will for sure be in minster eagles at 4 pm come up and have a drink and some good food!:8:

---------- Post added at 10:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:49 AM ----------

Originally Posted by i4bikes:
if this is true tony needs to fire kemp. Anyone who even worked under earl selling tickets would know more about dirt track prep than kemp.:7:

dirt and pavement and they ran him out of iowa tracks!!!!!:14:

SprintManDave 4/3/10 10:54 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by SPD 37:
If last night had happened at any other race track USAC would not go back, but since it's TSR and Eldora they will return. People shouldn't go back to Eldora.

During the drivers meeting a USAC official said, "about the track conditions, it's no one's fault" You have got to be kidding me!!

SPD 37

Well, it must have been an act of God.No, on second thought ,even God wouldn't let that happen.

OnTheHammer 4/3/10 11:24 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
Tony Stewart needs to come out from hiding and issue a public statement.

Start with posting it on the Eldora website and it will spread via the internet like wildfire.

Any good CEO/OWNER would have made a public statement by now accepting the blame for the situation and detailing measures that are being taken to ensure this doesn't happen again.

I stayed away from Eldora for about 10 years. Went back 1 time last year and it wasn't too bad. Took my wife and 14 year old last night. They said even before things were canceled that they won't be coming back.

We are waiting Tony....Step up to the podium and speak......Before you lose multiple generations of fans.

duel 4/4/10 1:27 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
after the 1st set of sprint hot-laps two of my friends got their money back. one i had just talked into going last week after he vowed not to return from 2 years ago. i think Eldora lost that one. over 40 years coming to this place i can't remember having such good spring weather only to be screwed by a clueless bunch in charge of track prep. NO Excuses for that track not being ready. where in the hell are they getting this stuff from? the desert? what a beautiful facility for racing with a horrible surface. sell the jumbotron screen for some black fast tacky dirt please!:7:

rrc 4/4/10 1:48 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
I was going to make the 4 hr. one way trip for the USAC show as I have countlerss other times that USAC goes to Eldora. Unfortunately, some health issues cropped up and I couldn't make the trip. Little did i know it must have been my God looking out for me as i'm not sure I could have endured what transpired. TONY STEWART! quit worrying about all the wanna be NASCAR conveniences and get a track surface!!!!!! Thats what brings me to the races.

Damion Fan In Pa. 4/4/10 3:22 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
My 2 daughters and I drove 8 hours to get there spent the night in A hotel $25.00 each for pit passes and 8 hour drive back, and seen no racing. If the track crew was on top of their game we could of seen 2 awesome nights of racing.

rrc 4/4/10 4:29 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
had to be a LONG,DISAPPOINTING, ride home.... :(

Dyno Don 4/5/10 7:24 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by STIDA.com:
Dave was on the PA but I could not hear what he said. 250 miles round trip for me so like a lot of other people a lot of money spent tonight.....but the pizza steaks are still delicious and got a few souvenirs....time to rest up and head to Vernon....

I wonder what the dollar figure would be if you totaled all the money spent not to see a race or drive. Do not forget income lost by cancelled hotel rooms and eats and drinks not purchased.

I bet the total would be in the 100's of thousands dollars.

Hubie 4/5/10 8:52 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
I agree with the poster that stated Eldora has been horrible since Tony Stewart took over.

It has. But from the amount of hero worshipping and butt kissing when Tony is in attendance is even funnier!

I won't waste my time driving over there anymore. Not worth it with gas as expensive as it is. It's been a dusbowl for several years.

usache 4/5/10 7:17 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
tony needs to hire Matt Davis from kamps speedway, that guy has track prep figured out.......

SteveD 4/5/10 7:52 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
Between the conessions and the folks whom won't bother for the refund Tony still cleared enough for a new mud taxi....Way to go, Dude!

DIRT-TRACK-JUNKIE 4/5/10 8:05 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
SteveD you know how much tony loves his mud taxis, and I bet when he runs his mud taxi later this year at eldora the track will be in great shape :16

Tony Barhorst 4/6/10 8:29 AM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by usache:
tony needs to hire Matt Davis from kamps speedway, that guy has track prep figured out.......

That is pretty funny..what is he good for except a slicked off track for stock cars?

Dyno Don 4/6/10 1:59 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 
I bet the track will be in great shape for the Late Models a week from Sat. Any takers?

n8dc 4/6/10 2:19 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by Dyno Don:
I bet the track will be in great shape for the Late Models a week from Sat. Any takers?


Fenders make me itch and i get a runny nose! :20:
:42::
Dave

Hubie 4/7/10 2:31 PM

Re: Eldora Ineptitude....incredible
 

Originally Posted by usache:
tony needs to hire Matt Davis from kamps speedway, that guy has track prep figured out.......


HAHAHAHAHAHA!

You really have to be in the loop to get this one. Don't give them any ideas! :22:


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