Advice for eldora speedway
 

Now I'm not one that runs around shooting his mouth off, but I have flat out lost my patience with Eldora speedway and their dumb A** track crew!!!!! I sat in the grand stands at 615 pm pointing out every single mistake they made prepping the track that should have been done waaaaaaayyyyy before 6pm....... FINALLY!!!! after 3 damn hours, the track still wasn't ready, watched 300 laps of push trucks, 4 rediculous running the bottom single file sprint heat races and all the junk that couldn't run 5 consecutive laps........ then they call the show due to fog visibility........ MAYBE IF YOU WOULDN'T HAVE JACKED OFF FOR 3 DAMN HOURS RUNNING THE TRACK IN YOU COULDA GOT THE SHOW IN!!!!!!!!!

Tony bit off way more than he can chew on this speedway... he definitely has the wrong personnel that ABSOLUTELY HAS NO IDEA how to prep a track... this s*** happens every damn year!!!!! FLAT OUT SICK OF IT.... ILL NEVER BE BACK. THATS FOR DAMN SURE!!!!!

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

sounds like a mess. I'm glad I didn't get off work in time to go.
What is the situation for tomorrow?

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

charged everyone tonight full price for a half a** show,,, saturday night their starting the show with the b main, and a main sprint car to finish the friday show, then full saturday show

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

When is Tony going to make changes so all the dumb @@@@ stops happening.Lets hope USAC stops getting a show in the spring.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Meanwhile, Those of us unable and now unwilling to make the return trip got taken. A webcast of at least the features we paid to see is bare minimum for my desire and expense and time to visit what used to be a great track and a great show.

Three Bombs in a Row, Last years opener, Four Crown second night and tonight. IM done.

500 all work on the track stopped except push trucks A
couple sheepsfoot on the track and a extra hour from 7-8 and this show'd been over at 10:30 Hell the one flip they had was because the just refused to do anything like CLEAN THE WALL so a driver could see it.

Again, I really can't blame USAC, You couldn't see the wall and by the time they were ready for consis at 1200 midnight the fog was so thick you needed windshield wipers (REALLY)

And BTW, WHO THE HELL IRONS UP A DIRT TRACK? I've never seen that ANYWHERE! Kudos to all the push truck drivers and cars who came to try to put on a show, who at least TRIED.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

For someone like me, who can not return for Saturday's program, are the only ones being hurt by this decision. For someone going to Saturdays program only will get to see 5 Features for the price of 18 bucks.,,,now that is a pretty good deal.... I thought if the B MAINS were NOT complete then it was NOT a completed show??? I am very Confused and Frustrated to say the least.

__________________________________________________ __________

I think Eldora Speedway has made the right choice in honoring friday admission ticket for another race this season. You can check there website for the information.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

:15:i have tried too to talk to tony! I said for 3 years larry kemp would not make a pimple on a promoters ass!!!!! If you can find a promoter????? He was a mistake from day one!!!!!:14:

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

What a Joke! Again the whole track prep and management of the show was terrible. What used to be one of the best tracks in the country is now one of the worst. USAC and Eldora are inept and totally unfocused on the fans. Anyone who continues to patronize them deserves what they get.

I don't understand why Tony would want to be associated with this kind of operation after all his years in racing.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Considered going out from Reading Pa glad i didn't go.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

The big screw up was lack of track prep that was started way to late. I have defended Eldora for years now and I just cant do it anymore. Tony, you have serious problems from the new ticket system screwing all the regulars to lack of track prep for almost every race. I did not renew my Suite or any of my season tickets this year and never heard a word from Eldora.35 years of going up there every sprint race, entertaining customers, supporting in every way and Im now just sick of it. A million places to spend money, Eldora obviously does not care about me spending it there.

Im amazed how you can screw it up so bad last year and turn around and do it again the next year at the same race. The few fans you got to come back this year, you definetly lost them this time.

Lawrenceburg here we come tonight. Maybe Dave can send them a manuel how to run a track!

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Sounds like they need to send their crew to some of the bullrings here in the Hoosier state to see how it's done! I was really hoping Tony would get a handle on that place and not let it fall apart, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. Sad!

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

It sucks for all of you that went last night, I am so glad I didnt go, it wont be run tonight, it just started raining in Indy and alot coming from the west.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Junk? You mean race cars? show respect

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Sad to here the news from Eldora. I don't know how much track prep went on before Friday, but I can tell you that Tommy Helfrich has probably put a few hundred laps down at Tri State Speedway this year working the track and they haven't had a show there yet. I live within a few miles of the track and he spends many night working the track. Keith Ford does a great job at Paragon, but totally different than Tommy. Keith works the track then leaves it alone for the night, usually unless unforseen event happens (rain). Tommy is always is messing with the track thru the night trying to make the best he can for the show. I will admit I have complained more than once about the "Haubstadt Tractor Show", but the show makes it worth my money and time, just like Paragon.

My thought was that the reason Tom, Keith, and others are so successful in making a great racing surface is they have been at the same place most of if not all of their lives. I know Tom spent his entire childhood making laps in a tractor or a racecar at TSS so he knows that place and every square inch of that facility and surface. Keith has been at Paragon about 40 some years if I'm not mistaken, plenty of experience with making it a great surface. I don't know who is in charge of track prep at Eldora, but give them a break. Everyone has been comparing the last couple of years to what Earl did in a lifetime devoted to a track, he assured the track was the best it could be with what he had and that was good enough most nights, and spectacular many nights. I don't know all the goings on behind the scenes at Eldora, but they have twice the amount of surface and facility to take care of that Haubstadt and Paragon have, so twice the chance to screw it up. Much like Terre Haute has been the last few years, many problems because of the changes in personnel/management, but it is getting better It just takes time, effort, and a little help from the weather. My hope is that Tony doesn't give up on Eldora, and more importantly the fans/drivers don't give up on Eldora, it would be such a tragedy.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Gotta say that anyone that was at the Memorial Day weekend race at Haubstadt last year remembers the monsoon of a storm that came through and totally drenched the place, and Tommy and crew still got the race in. I heard his boy Blake talked him into keeping the night going but that's dedication and effort right there.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Just a note from an old guy who has been going to Eldora since JR broke both of his arms...Have made my last trip over there...with gas, a ticket and concessions...spent around a hundred bucks and what I saw was horrible...only go to the USAC shows because I don't care for tintops and wings...there are too many great tracks here in Indiana to waste my time and money on that kind of a mess year after year...at least mother nature finally solved the dust problem that they have never been able to solve! Hope SUPERDUKE can get to talk to Tony and try to explain a few things to him.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Only took about 50 years to learn this not the place for me to go anymore. Others will learn the hard way as I did.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Originally Posted by Modocer 57:
Only took about 50 years to learn this not the place for me to go anymore. Others will learn the hard way as I did.

You mean that the first class suites, reserved seats, scoreboard and Jumbotron didn't make the racing way better?:2:

I guess I don't understand how they get it right at the Prelude but not at the USAC races?

I am on the down side of attending races after 56 seasons. But I gave up on the Big E 3 or 4 years ago.

I can't drive at night so that cancels my ability to attend 95% of my beloved USAC races. But I don't miss the Eldora Speedway at all.

I say sell it back to Earl.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

I will be there tonight for sure, 2 features in 1 nite hell ya! I was there last night and there were just as many passes in the heat races as the whole night at North Vernon. Didnt see a bunch of posts on here ******** on how horrible last weekends train races were. But if it would have been that dusty last night you guys would have been on here going crazy. Get over it! Its spring time racing in the midwest. Weather happens! If there wasnt a race a eldora in the spring you guys would be the same people on here ******** that there wasn't. Hope to see you guys there tonight when the best non wing drivers in the country get it on!

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Speaking of advice for Eldora and their track prep, one of the members of this board posted a comment to a photo of them working on the track yesterday and said "KEEP SCRAPING AND THE DUST WILL BE FLYING." Good call. Maybe if they had scraped a little more, they would have completed the show last night before the fog.

I've tried to stay with the place through these last few years, but I think I'm done for until I see some improvements. I don't care about all the facility upgrades. The surface (including prep) needs improvement. I always feel like if I skip, that I'm going to miss something good. I don't feel that way anymore.

As far as tickets go, I think last night's ticket should be good for all of tonight. Give us SOMETHING for last night. If they race, I might just watch last night's features and then go home. Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

If I'm not mistaken, Attica and Gas City both cancelled early. Atleast Eldora tried. You wouldv'e bitched even more if they hadn't. They probably couldn't put equipment on the track any earlier because it was too wet. They probably ran it in from the bottom because it was too slick to get up the banking. For 60 plus years at Angell Park Speedway in Wis., once they completed all the heat races it is considered a complete show- no refunds and no make up features the next week or night and no one bitched because we knew that goin in. 99% of the people that went last night can go back and see a bunch of extra racing tonight. What a great deal, even though they are gonna get more rain today so we'll see. That's April for ya!

Sounds they are going to Pull the plug on tonights show. To much moisture already and more rain on the way . I hope Attica runs.
Posted using Mobile Device

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

for all you idiots thinking were doing nothing but ********,,,(JCC) understand why dumba**......... were not pissed cuz they cancelled it,,,, were pissed cuz if the track crew had their head outta their A** they coulda got that race in way before the fog rolled in............... This is eldora speedway for christ sake!!!! it should be ready by 2pm that day... a bunch of damn idiots.... i guarentee to any damn body i coulda ran a crew to have that track in racing shape 100 damn times better than them idiots did last night...

nothing like busting your a** to get outta work on friday to make it up to eldora speedway,, only to walk in and watch 600 laps of push trucks and listen to an announcer say dumb a** ****..... eldora is a DAMN JOKE!!!!

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Is Eldora as bad or worse then THAT was the last few years before the Kokomo people did the last few? I never been there, just trying get an idea of how bad it is.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

trust me i watched on my computer til the bitter end last night, but no one can control the weather. sorry we let you down. i have the upmost confidence in my staff and watched them do everything they could to get it in last night. there are many more variables in what happened last night that usac dictated an was out of eldoras control. i love usac but the show in april seems to make more people unhappy than happy and the weather sucks in april. maybe we should stop running this event. we lose money on it every year. we do it for the fans but seems like thats not enough anymore. sorry

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Originally Posted by sprinterfan:
for all you idiots thinking were doing nothing but ********,,,(JCC) understand why dumba**......... were not pissed cuz they cancelled it,,,, were pissed cuz if the track crew had their head outta their A** they coulda got that race in way before the fog rolled in............... This is eldora speedway for christ sake!!!! it should be ready by 2pm that day... a bunch of damn idiots.... i guarentee to any damn body i coulda ran a crew to have that track in racing shape 100 damn times better than them idiots did last night...

nothing like busting your a** to get outta work on friday to make it up to eldora speedway,, only to walk in and watch 600 laps of push trucks and listen to an announcer say dumb a** ****..... eldora is a DAMN JOKE!!!!

And were are you incharge of track prep at? Lawn Chair track prep got to love it. Tony I hope you still try to have the race every year. Just never know what the weather will do. I look forward to this race every year. I tells me racing season is here. Went to Perris to end the season then to Ocala to start the season. But to me the season dosn't start until the USAC race at Eldora.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

As long as you keep the PIZZA BURGERS. I will be back in September looking forward to the 4 Crown

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Good job guys, now you may lose a show. Enough is enough, you people always complain last week it was Twin Cities this week Eldora, what's next? It's pathetic, p-iss and moan. I remember my first race ever starting on the pole in a heat in 1998 at THE Eldora Speedway. Parents in the stands everything was great, after the race they complained about be covered in dust. I laughed it's a dirt track that will happen. I also remember vividly one year sitting in the line up chute at 1a.m. waiting for my first heat race of the night, yes 1 a.m. for the first heat race. Guess who ran the show during these times?? Earl and Larry, I can remember several times when we started late, had dust, whatever the case it was racing.

The problem isn't the track, the crew or whomever owns the property. Chit happens and you can either roll with the punches and look forward to the next time or you can cry and whine and stay home. Coming on this board and crying only makes it that much easier to say 'WHY BOTHER' no matter what you do someone is going to come on here and cry like a 'well you know'. Then you'll be on here crying that another track closed down, what's the deal? You just can't win with some people.

I guess I'm crazy :10:, but to me the saying is true 'A bad day at the race track is better than any day at the office.'

Tony thanks for all you do! Eldora is a very special place to me and a lot of folks out there, don't let a few bad apples spoil the bunch :9:.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Originally Posted by OpenwheelRob:
Good job guys, now you may lose a show. Enough is enough, you people always complain last week it was Twin Cities this week Eldora, what's next? It's pathetic, p-iss and moan. I remember my first race ever starting on the pole in a heat in 1998 at THE Eldora Speedway. Parents in the stands everything was great, after the race they complained about be covered in dust. I laughed it's a dirt track that will happen. I also remember vividly one year sitting in the line up chute at 1a.m. waiting for my first heat race of the night, yes 1 a.m. for the first heat race. Guess who ran the show during these times?? Earl and Larry, I can remember several times when we started late, had dust, whatever the case it was racing.

The problem isn't the track, the crew or whomever owns the property. Chit happens and you can either roll with the punches and look forward to the next time or you can cry and whine and stay home. Coming on this board and crying only makes it that much easier to say 'WHY BOTHER' no matter what you do someone is going to come on here and cry like a 'well you know'. Then you'll be on here crying that another track closed down, what's the deal? You just can't win with some people.

I guess I'm crazy :10:, but to me the saying is true 'A bad day at the race track is better than any day at the office.'

Tony thanks for all you do! Eldora is a very special place to me and a lot of folks out there, don't let a few bad apples spoil the bunch :9:.

Sounds like your sucking up to Tony...can't iamgine that! Best race I ever saw at Eldora was in March....but, things just didn't work out this time. Oh well.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

For those that think everyone likes to *****, many on here have been involved with racing for 20-30 years. We have seen good and bad. We truly want what is best for the sport that we love. We don't want it to go away. Racing is a job for some and entertainment for others. The spectator wants to enjoy themselves and come away feeling good about the experience. Those responsible for providing the entertainment need to do everything they can to make it a good experience for the racers and the spectators. When that doesn't happen you feel angry and you can walk away or try to get it fixed. A track can't be successful on just the front or back gate alone. If this was just a couple complaints or new fans that had no perspective of the sport you could turn a deaf ear. "Where there's smoke there's fire" These issues apply to both Eldora and USAC.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

T Stewart - One important thing Promoters/Sanctioning bodies should take note of is that you are losing/pissing off long time loyal fans , In this environment I would think Ya'all would get it together & work towards solutions to this

Every One has challenges in this economic times , Fans , Car Owners, Sanctioning bodies , I would like to see more solutions on how to turn this around , instead of every one pointing out the problems I think we all all aware of

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Originally Posted by racerjim2:
Sounds like your sucking up to Tony...can't iamgine that! Best race I ever saw at Eldora was in March....but, things just didn't work out this time. Oh well.

If that's what you think fine, it's your opionion and you're entitled to it. I don't care if it's Tony or Earl or Whoever else I love that TRACK and my issue is with the bashing that goes on about it. I was merely trying to point out that even under the all mighty Earl stuff didn't run perfect. However, I would like to say thanks for bashing me and not the track.:2: While I'm sucking up I like that Bozo Rudisell too!

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

April is April and anything could happen. I didn't take the time to compare schedules but some times just a couple weeks of time passing can make a huge difference weather wise. Could this show remain on the schedule but just be put two or so weeks later? April still has three weekends left, i know Easter is one of them but good Friday is a day off for a lot of people and is a good time to hit a race without using a day of vacation. Just an opinion.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Originally Posted by Tony Stewart:
trust me i watched on my computer til the bitter end last night, but no one can control the weather. sorry we let you down. i have the upmost confidence in my staff and watched them do everything they could to get it in last night. there are many more variables in what happened last night that usac dictated an was out of eldoras control. i love usac but the show in april seems to make more people unhappy than happy and the weather sucks in april. maybe we should stop running this event. we lose money on it every year. we do it for the fans but seems like thats not enough anymore. sorry

thanks for responding. going back to the first post about the trucks running in the track. the guys running in the track have always seemed to be clueless of how this should be done. two or three are on the bottom playing in the slope. some are in the middle and some are on the top, where every one should be playing follow the leader and pushing the mud down the hill. they take twice as long as would seem needed because of playing around like a bunch of drunken hillbillies. if there is some rain during the show, were screwed. this has been this way since long before you took over. i've been going for 33 yrs and it seems like no one ever knew how to run in a track. making the show last 1 or 2 hours extra because of this is annoying. when the show is over most everyone has a 1 or 2 hour drive or more and this just makes that drive longer. done complaining. anyway, i'm one person that would like to say thanks tony for all the improvements you've done to eldora.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Originally Posted by Modocer 57:
Only took about 50 years to learn this not the place for me to go anymore. Others will learn the hard way as I did.

Haven't been back to Eldora since 1977. Big tires, slick track, dust clogging my eyes and nose, follow the leader driving, etc. was the end of an era for me at Eldora. The great Earl of Eldora and now Tony can't turn back the clock on tire "progress" and the biggest motor on the slick wins from the front. My memories of Eldora 1967 to 1977 sustain me as I travel far to the Hoosier state to see real sprint car racing at Gas City anf Kokomo. Its tough to get old and long for the past but the best racing is just a state away. Once I retire and I can sell my home, I will move to Indy to finish out my years enjoying non wing sprint car racing at the Burg, LPS, Blooomington, Haubstadt, Paragon, Gas City and Kokomo. Oh, the future is bright and inviting in Indiana! Eldora... is simply a faded memory of racing days long gone.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

Originally Posted by Will Shunk:
Haven't been back to Eldora since 1977. Big tires, slick track, dust clogging my eyes and nose, follow the leader driving, etc. was the end of an era for me at Eldora. The great Earl of Eldora and now Tony can't turn back the clock on tire "progress" and the biggest motor on the slick wins from the front. My memories of Eldora 1967 to 1977 sustain me as I travel far to the Hoosier state to see real sprint car racing at Gas City anf Kokomo. Its tough to get old and long for the past but the best racing is just a state away. Once I retire and I can sell my home, I will move to Indy to finish out my years enjoying non wing sprint car racing at the Burg, LPS, Blooomington, Haubstadt, Paragon, Gas City and Kokomo. Oh, the future is bright and inviting in Indiana! Eldora... is simply a faded memory of racing days long gone.

Will makes a good point. As a fan who began attending races there in '64, I can attest that the track surface problems go way back.
My opinion is that it all began when Earl sold out to the Ted Johnson school of hard, slick as the WoO became his cash cow. Tire changes, big h.p and, perhaps, safety concerns also played a part. Surely the generally better conditions at other,lesser funded, tracks in the area show that it's not rocket science.
My biggest disappointment is that my favorite Tony has failed to solve the problem and seems to deny it's existence. I took newbies to Eldora for many years, some of whom became regular fans. Today, I don't dare as the last few groups were totally turned off for good-getting home at 4AM covered with dust so bad that at times we couldn't see the track. I've been fortunate to see sprint races at literally hundreds of dirt tracks and none have had the consistant dust problems as Eldora.
As always, JMHO and I'm hoping for improvement so I can again start taking newcomers to my favorite sport.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

My advice, a start would be offering a round the clock track camera. If you guys are working so hard on the racing surface lets see it.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

I'm not surprised about this weekends fiasco, just more of the same. Talked to Larry Boos at a car show a couple of weeks ago and was told track was being worked and was in good shape, should not be any problems that we have seened in the past for the opener. Just another puppet saying what he is told too. Stick with the Gokarts or get another job Larry.

Re: Advice for eldora speedway
 

As a racer in the late 70`s to late 80`s ALL the decisions were Earls ..no one else ..he made the call and stuck with it ..from banning Rick Ferkel to " incimmite" weather. To save Eldora ONE and only ONE person needs to call the shots and ..end of story