USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

I've read all the posts on a couple of message boards. I've looked at the photos from Friday. If USAC had the kahunas, they need to place Eldora on probation thru 2011. During this time period, if Eldora has a repeat episode they will be dropped from the schedule and the races will be moved to another facility.

This situation has been getting worse year by year. The last few sprint races at the 4 Crown were almost impossible to see unless you were in the infield.

There is no excuse for this lack of track prep. Why is it that Tony gets a break? Because he's such a good partner to USAC? A good partner to USAC would not allow this to occur. Tony is no less accountable than DA was. USAC finally took action against DA and it's time they put their foot down on Eldora. That would go a long way toward maintaing respectability.

I've read that USAC is not responsible for track prep. Not true. USAC may not be responsible for physically working the track, but they are ultimately responsible for where they choose to hold events.

I'm just damn glad that I didn't decide to head up there this year. I can't imagine how I'd feel today knowing I'd thrown that kind of money down the drain and I know now that I will not be attending the re-schedule or the Four Crown until I see conditions improve.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by AlkyMadness:
I've read all the posts on a couple of message boards. I've looked at the photos from Friday. If USAC had the kahunas, they need to place Eldora on probation thru 2011. During this time period, if Eldora has a repeat episode they will be dropped from the schedule and the races will be moved to another facility.

This situation has been getting worse year by year. The last few sprint races at the 4 Crown were almost impossible to see unless you were in the infield.

There is no excuse for this lack of track prep. Why is it that Tony gets a break? Because he's such a good partner to USAC? A good partner to USAC would not allow this to occur. Tony is no less accountable than DA was. USAC finally took action against DA and it's time they put their foot down on Eldora. That would go a long way toward maintaing respectability.

I've read that USAC is not responsible for track prep. Not true. USAC may not be responsible for physically working the track, but they are ultimately responsible for where they choose to hold events.

I'm just damn glad that I didn't decide to head up there this year. I can't imagine how I'd feel today knowing I'd thrown that kind of money down the drain and I know now that I will not be attending the re-schedule or the Four Crown until I see conditions improve.

Sounds like you all ready didn't go. How do you put a track on probation? Nice to know you got all the facts. After all you looked at pictures AND message board posts. I cannot imagine a way to be LESS informed. By the way I was there and it was a mess, but from my seat I see no blame to USAC.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by AlkyMadness:
I've read all the posts on a couple of message boards. I've looked at the photos from Friday. If USAC had the kahunas, they need to place Eldora on probation thru 2011. During this time period, if Eldora has a repeat episode they will be dropped from the schedule and the races will be moved to another facility.

This situation has been getting worse year by year. The last few sprint races at the 4 Crown were almost impossible to see unless you were in the infield.

There is no excuse for this lack of track prep. Why is it that Tony gets a break? Because he's such a good partner to USAC? A good partner to USAC would not allow this to occur. Tony is no less accountable than DA was. USAC finally took action against DA and it's time they put their foot down on Eldora. That would go a long way toward maintaing respectability.

I've read that USAC is not responsible for track prep. Not true. USAC may not be responsible for physically working the track, but they are ultimately responsible for where they choose to hold events.

I'm just damn glad that I didn't decide to head up there this year. I can't imagine how I'd feel today knowing I'd thrown that kind of money down the drain and I know now that I will not be attending the re-schedule or the Four Crown until I see conditions improve.

What's USAC going to do? They do not prepare the track; if they chose to race, and someone got hurt badly, or worse, we'd all be bashing them for that decision.

From what I read on Eldora's FB page, the track crew was unable to get on the track until late in the week, this week, due to heavy rains making the surface too soft. So what are they supposed to do? Cancel a race when it's 80 degrees and sunny? Yeah, I can hear the noise over that....It's a dirt track, and stuff happens. I'm willing to give Tony, Larry, and company the benefit of the doubt here....

Were a lot of fans disappointed? Absolutely...

Would they have been as disappointed had the race been cancelled due to rain? Probably not, but there'd still be some ticked off folks...

Is there a logical explanation for what happenned? In my perspective, yes.

Like I said, it's not USAC's race track.....

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

WOW! Somehow USAC is taking a beating for scheduling a race at a track that last week would have been on everyone's top five list.

I will give you that they did a horrible job on track prep. I will give you that they lost their mind for not having a play day, or a local race night before having a two day national event. Most tracks have play dates for both the drivers and the track.

However, let's have some perspective. In today's enviroment, how many other tracks have had as many capital improvements over the last three years as Eldora? How many other tracks have an owner as committed to dirt track racing?

If you want to blame Tony, go ahead. If you want to blame the track promoters, go ahead. If you want to blame the track prep crew, go ahead. There is deffinitely enough blame at Eldora to go around. However, to say USAC did something wrong is a mistake.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

I for one am no longer a USAC supporter, I was at the Midget week deal at Union County and I haven't been to a USAC race since, there's plenty of good NON USAC racing around. HOWEVER, there is no way this is USAC's fault. The fault lays 100% with the track failing to provide a good racing surface. As far as all the capital improvements go, it's not much good if the track is in too bad of shape to be raced on or if the track SUCKS. I could care less about suites, jumbotron, scoreboards etc, I go to watch RACING, and that my friends takes place on the TRACK.........

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Where the hell did I say it was USAC's fault? As usual, you post one thing and folks read another.

USAC needs to take control of a situation that seems to be sliding further downward with every event.

The fault lies entirely with Eldora, but this isn't the first USAC sprint show at Eldora that has been a mess. This is just the lowest of the low.

IMO, the fault will lie with USAC if they continue to tolerate a track with conditions like this. Why is this any different to Terre Haute a few years ago?

How do you put a track on probation? You advise the track management that specific conditions were unacceptable and have to be improved. The track either complies or they don't. You take appropriate action after that. Nobody can say you didn't give the track a chance for improvement. Seems pretty simple, can't believe it has to be explained. Or do you believe that USAC should do nothing and take no action to guarantee the racing surface is acceptable.

As far as my commenting on an event that I wasn't at (didn't have the cash to put together for a 18 hour round trip and hotel), I'm a USAC fan who has attended this Eldora event and would consider attending again. I was at the dust bowl 4 Crown last year. I'm making my comments as a suggestion on how to deal with this situation. I'll feel free to make my comments anytime when I think I have something to offer beyond complaining.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by AlkyMadness:
....

I've read that USAC is not responsible for track prep. Not true. USAC may not be responsible for physically working the track, but they are ultimately responsible for where they choose to hold events.
....

I wonder why people think that you are blaming USAC.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Alky:

I agree with you.

WHile the track is the responsibility of the owner, USAC's image gets tarnished by poor conditions or poor show management. Ultimately, USAC's product is affected. USAC and Eldora will need to work this out.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

If they want to fix the problem, don't gamble that the weather will allow a race this early in the season. More times than not the freeze will not be out of the ground long enough, and the ground will not be dry enough to gamble on scheduleing a race in the midwest on the first weekend of April.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by popham:
if they want to fix the problem, don't gamble that the weather will allow a race this early in the season. More times than not the freeze will not be out of the ground long enough, and the ground will not be dry enough to gamble on scheduleing a race in the midwest on the first weekend of april.

they race in pa in feb!:15:

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

I am out of the loop, what happened? All i seen was Dean's facebook photos showing drivers on the track. Did they race at all?

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by Jonr:

However, let's have some perspective. In today's enviroment, how many other tracks have had as many capital improvements over the last three years as Eldora? How many other tracks have an owner as committed to dirt track racing?

Lawrenceburg has spent MILLIONS on their track. The promoters could not be more committed to dirt track racing as they were last year when they offered three 10k to win sprint car shows and FIVE sanctioned national USAC shows. (Midget week, Sprint week, Dick Gaines Memorial, and a show in April and September.) Unfortunately the FANS DID NOT SUPPORT some of these shows well at all. Fans continue to flock to Eldora who plays on reputation and refuse to come to The Burg when they have been busting their ass to become the finest dirt track in the Midwest. The City of Lawrenceburg has been a great owner and promoter Dave Rudisell has busted his ass and stuck his financial neck on the line and received mediocre fan support. Something to think about?

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

I couldnt have said it better. Before you know it The big E will be a Venue instead of a racetrack!

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by SUPERDUKE:
they race in pa in feb!:15:

They've only been succesful something like once or twice in the past five years.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by BrentTFunk:
Sounds like you all ready didn't go. How do you put a track on probation? Nice to know you got all the facts. After all you looked at pictures AND message board posts. I cannot imagine a way to be LESS informed. By the way I was there and it was a mess, but from my seat I see no blame to USAC.

If you can't tell from "pictures" and ALL these people that have complained in writing about the conditions and YOU are confirming it too in your last sentence, how can you say this guy is "LESS informed"?:15:

I agree with you it may not be USAC's fault, but they have the authority to make some changes.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by Motormasher:
If you can't tell from "pictures" and ALL these people that have complained in writing about the conditions and YOU are confirming it too in your last sentence, how can you say this guy is "LESS informed"?:15:

I agree with you it may not be USAC's fault, but they have the authority to make some changes.

My point was half the people wern't there so why comment?

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by brenttfunk:
my point was half the people wern't there so why comment?

amen :9:

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

I was there with my 2 kids and the old lady you want to talk about pissed off, USAC should say to hell with eldora. Tony wants to make it a concreate jungle for nascar anyway and he 90% of the way there

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Nah DTJ Eldora was concrete in Earls last years, Tony has actually tried to put some dirt on...unfortunately his employees dont have the skill to get it to work correctly. Next time they need to get clay instead of fill dirt and hire someone to do the job for them.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by racefan20:
Nah DTJ Eldora was concrete in Earls last years, Tony has actually tried to put some dirt on...unfortunately his employees dont have the skill to get it to work correctly. Next time they need to get clay instead of fill dirt and hire someone to do the job for them.

I agree 100%. I'm tired of hearing about how everybody thinks they should fire the Larry and Larry show but lay off of Larry Boos, he doesn't have anything to do with track prep. He busts his butt to do all the behind the scenes work and works 7 days a week. Laying down new clay or dirt in the fall and hoping that come spring time that everything will be cool is not how it works. I love seeing the spring race on the schedule but sometimes i wonder if a non wing race should be the first show of the year? The test and tune was cancelled so basically no laps were turned on the track. Maybe a WoO or late model race should be scheduled first to get some laps on the track before the USAC guys have at it? Just an opinion on my part so go easy on me when you shred me like a right rear tire on a dry slick track.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by racefan20:
Nah DTJ Eldora was concrete in Earls last years, Tony has actually tried to put some dirt on...unfortunately his employees dont have the skill to get it to work correctly. Next time they need to get clay instead of fill dirt and hire someone to do the job for them.

And tonys added more, i'll agree it looked like fill dirt not clay, track prep should have been done

---------- Post added at 10:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 PM ----------

Tim - it wouldn't have mattered what the hell was on the track friday the track would have SUCKED, it was not ready

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

The last time USAC put its foot down with Eldora (1978), the World of Outlaws filled the vacuum.

Re: USAC Needs to Respond to Eldora Fiasco
 

Originally Posted by tim watson:
i agree 100%. I'm tired of hearing about how everybody thinks they should fire the larry and larry show but lay off of larry boos, he doesn't have anything to do with track prep. He busts his butt to do all the behind the scenes work and works 7 days a week. Laying down new clay or dirt in the fall and hoping that come spring time that everything will be cool is not how it works. I love seeing the spring race on the schedule but sometimes i wonder if a non wing race should be the first show of the year? The test and tune was cancelled so basically no laps were turned on the track. Maybe a woo or late model race should be scheduled first to get some laps on the track before the usac guys have at it? Just an opinion on my part so go easy on me when you shred me like a right rear tire on a dry slick track.

tim i have been going to eldora since it become a 7/16 of a mile and race there 1964 to 1987 and a lot of sunday afternoon races! And first races of the year! I have never seen the track as bad as its been in the last 4 years! We have raced in march there and in pa and never was it dusty!!!!!!!!!:15: