Thank you Mel for trying
 

Just wanted to say thank you to Mel for trying to save Gas City.

Jerry

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Is it closing down ?

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

I agree that Mel stepped up to take on a very difficult task and I too am thankful, but the way you worded it.....does it mean that his trying has failed? I sure hope not.

We have been there for 2 midget shows and have been treated great and races done by 10:15. Great tracks and quality midgets as well. Great announcer. Keep it up Mel

Michael Koontz

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Did Gas City race Midgets last night? How did the race turn out?

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Car counts were ok last night. But if you look into the grandstands you'd think a bomb went off. Couple hundred people? Goes back to support your local race track, so many dont show up but want to know whats going on via internet. The way it s going at gas city you wont have to check for internet updates too much longer.

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Mel got hurt by the weather last night. The storms at times were literally close enough that you could see it raining hard a mile away. I wasnt too confident that I would see a feature but it only sprinkled and we got lucky. I drove from Indy and took the chance but maybe there arent as many that are as crazy as I am :) Either way it was a hell of a race and those that decided not to go missed a good one.

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

From what we were told when Mel closed the gate his family left with him not to come back.

We will see what happens from here


Jerry #66j

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

He also cleaned out the snack bar .

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Guess he feels like most of us out there right now>>>> just too many lemons and not enough people who can afford lemonade.

If I owned the track I would be approaching him with a killer rental deal just to keep the place open, I don't see a big factory sprouting up there in the next few years.

Honest Dad himself:6::6:

Sad to hear this but the radar kept me at home last night.

So does this mean the $4k to win show next week is canceled? We were planning to run it.

If anyone knows officially if they are done please clear up the speculation. Otherwise I imagine we will be there Friday

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

I would make other plans for the next couple of Fridays. Word is there may be someone stepping in but not for a few weeks. Maybe a two day show in Oct.

Jerry

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Think maybe we should wait for some official word from the track before making other plans? Just sayin.......

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Do what you want but I am not going to hold my breath.

And just for the record when have I ever said something this bad and it was not true.

Jerry

Jerry April fools was months ago.

What surprises me is that it's not that far from montpelier and they have a great turnout there but not at gas city. Last weekend when we ran the tqs there the car count and attendance were poor. Again I think weather played a part in it to a certain extent. Hopefully something works out I really like that place.

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

I wish It was an April fools not just for the fans and drivers but for Mel and his family they really wanted this to work.

I was told this by a very reliable person had it just been in the air I would have never posted an early warning as to do further damage to the track.

We started racing at Gas city the very first race for Sprint cars before running water or nice restrooms, four metal wall no roof and gravel to pee on, I do take this news very serious.

And just for the record John when was the last time you seen anything posted about Gas City from Gas City.

I tried to give a heads up do with it what you want.

Jerry

The sad news is we knew this would probaly going to happen. I am trying to decide on buying a boat or go chase wing sprint cars.

Just never thought he would quit. Oh well **** happens. Bring jiggs and phil back they are there at the races anyway.

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Theres probably a big difference in Quit and being able to lose your ass multiple times.

I quit any negative talk over a month ago knowing it wasn't helping anything.

For now, I can only hope it isn't true, but have the feeling it is.

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Sad. I've only been to GC about 10 times, but I completely enjoyed each visit and have some great memories from there. Like Jerry said, THANK YOU Mel for trying.

I talked to Mel last night before I left the track and thanked him for all he's done this year. Usually a pretty upbeat guy when I've been around him he seemed discouraged last night.

It really is a shame more cars don't show up and more people don't come out, I've been at just about every show this year and the track has been great every night except one and have seen some great racing.

I hope the track can keep running but unfortunately I know that money dictates.

The downward trend of this track and the support of race fans and teams started long before Mel took over. The only fans left are the diehard sprint fans that only go to see sprints and midgets each week. While that is a crowd you need, there are so many open wheel options in Indiana on any given weekend that you can't rely on that group alone to keep your gates open. Fans are naturally going to stop coming when you've ran the exact same show for 6+ years. Sprints, mods, and a handful of stocks every Friday night. Nothing different to generate interest from fans of anything else, or to give the fans that had been going every week something different to see. The peak years of this track saw a variety of different events throughout the year, and a tremendous effort by Jiggs Thomason and his staff to get new fans to the track every single week. When that changed around 2006 or 2007, things started to move in the wrong direction. It is truly a shame because it is a great facility, and there are some wonderful people that have worked and raced there. Hopefully someone with the financial means necessary can step in, learn from what has led to the decline of the track, and help get back to what made it successful to save the place.

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Mel has tried that this year...it doesn't seem to help. People often complain not too many tracks run midgets, he's brought midgets back. He's tried bringing in that AMCS series and other smaller series' to race. He's doing this bike race thing trying to get kids there and last night did that exhibition but to no avail. It's just a shame all around. I realize the weather was working against the track last night but as you said this isn't a new development.

You are right that he is trying a few things, but the problem is that it is too late now to make a substantial difference in the way things are going. I don't think Midgets were the solution because Montpelier already has them, and other groups like TQ's and mini-sprints aren't going to attract a lot of fans that wouldn't already come. As we both mentioned, this is something that started a long time before Mel took over. It will take a while to regain the support of the fans that have stopped coming and for things to start moving back in the right direction.

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

It was pretty much the same a week earlier. I left home with sprinkles and when I got out of the car at Gas City it started sprinkling as well. The racing was good but the crowd was down.

If you want to fix the front gate at gas city fix the grand stand. Gas city has great racing but i am not willing to spend my money to sit there and be uncomfortable. I am equal distance from two friday night tracks. If i was able to watch comfortably then gas city would definitely be my choice. Until then my money goes south on friday and in my pocket for special shows.

The city will not let them put new bleachers in from what I have been told. They have normal bleachers also right out of turn 4 plus the bleachers pit side. Please tell me what track you sit at that the bleachers are so comfy.

Compared to gas city... Lawrenceburg putnamville Kokomo bloomington... Ive have also heard the city won't let them rebuild the bleachers. Regardless of the political atmosphere i am going where i am comfortable. I like gas city's racing. I dont lije being uncomfortable. As far as the turn 4 bleachers. They are more comfortable but only about 5-6 rows hugh compared to the main grandstand. (Lawrenceburg is probably not a fair argument in this conversation)

Its also worth noting my wife, who is less than five foot tall, is comfortable in the gas city grandstand

Talledega, talledega short track, speedrome, anderson, lorp, ims, richmond international Speedway...

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

come on out to Perris if you want comfort,grand stand is 1/2 full on a good night and you only have to wait 4 to 6 week between sprint car shows and w/20-30 cars you won't have to deal with all that annoying noise ans dirt.

ROB

Perris speedway is on my bucket list. However, they dont dont have as much competition as tracks in Indiana do. I love the racing at gas city i am just not comfortable in the grand stands. All i am saying is if u are not the only option you must make yourself the desirable option. Gas city and bloomington are equal distance from indianapolis (where i live) with similar products. I am going to the track where i can be more comfortable. My mind and eyes love both tracks. My back, hips and knees definitely prefer bloomington.

I am hoping someone will step up and try there hand at the track.. Yes the city won't let them rebuild the grandstands.. Have been over this many times. But the car count last night was a lot better than i would have expected.. Just a ghost town in the stands. Its a shame and it's really nothing Mel had done. He is a great promoter..things just didn't work out..we lost kiss and midget week.. Those hurt and the races we did get in it seemed like weather was always in the area..sure they don't have late models anymore or big mod shows but he stepped up to the plate with the midgets..and the 3 shows we got in they got more midgets than Montpelier so he was doing something right. I hate to hear that the track may be closing it has been a major part of my life since I was 10 my dad took me out there in 96 and I have been hooked since..I am hopeful we will run some again this season.

Tyler

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

So true Rob , I've told a lot of people back the 2nd time you complain about anything back here they should be required to spend a race season in California .:32::32:

90% chance THEY ARE running next Friday!! I really hate to see this track go away but the times are changing.

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

See post from Gas City I 69 Speedway today Sunday 8/3/2014 Very good chance someone has taken over and the may run next Friday.

Great news

Jerry #66j
stida.com / Halfmoon Resturant & Brewery
www.joshspencer.com and on Facebook @ Spencer racing

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Bleachers are important but I cant recall their being a deciding factor in going to Gas City or any other speedway.

Re: Thank you Mel for trying
 

Does anyone know the reason the city won't let them install new grandstands?