Kokomo Construction

Rpracing1 · 4/28/25, 1:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtTrackTherapy16J

We generally have a group of 20-25 people and only 7 of us attended the race, the rest was at home watching it on Flo.

Why were the 17 other people in your group at home watching Flo?

Charles Nungester · 4/28/25, 2:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rpracing1

Why were the 17 other people in your group at home watching Flo?

Because they can. No Drive, No Cops. All the beer brats and burgers you can make.

Chief Wahoo · 4/28/25, 2:39 PM

Well that didn't stop the dirt Zamboni from cleaning the walkway on the front stretch during down time even tho nobody was sitting there. Unbelievable.

DirtTrackTherapy16J · 4/28/25, 5:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rpracing1

Why were the 17 other people in your group at home watching Flo?

Bc they chose to do that...they find it more affordable to subscribe to Flo, stay home, and eat and drink at home. Although it can be argued that is true, and not only do you miss the experience of being there spending time family and friends, it's still the principle of that drives people out of the seats, which hurts a track. That's only one group as well. So how many people do that each race, each track? Smackdown its 100s...Okay some can't make it due to health or care taking of others, kids and their activites, that's understandable. But just to save money...doesn't that hurt a track over a period of time???

And back to the original question, especially for those with more experience of racing and traveling, why were the bleachers so so spacious for a doubleheader with USAC Midgets and Kokomo Sprint Cars, not horrible weather, not too many support classes, no fender cars, at arguably one of the best 1/4 miles in the country??? Where were all the USAC fans and fans of Openwheel racing? Is this the norm for Midget racing? Hasnt been a Grand Prix since 2021 and that was the turnout??? I've seen a regular show more packed then it was this weekend...just baffles me and puzzles me.

Crankin · 4/28/25, 5:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Wahoo

Well that didn't stop the dirt Zamboni from cleaning the walkway on the front stretch during down time even tho nobody was sitting there. Unbelievable.

??? Besides maybe optics, the problem with this is what exactly???

Chief Wahoo · 4/28/25, 5:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crankin

??? Besides maybe optics, the problem with this is what exactly???

I could care less. The question is why bother?

Chief Wahoo · 4/28/25, 5:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtTrackTherapy16J

And back to the original question, especially for those with more experience of racing and traveling, why were the bleachers so so spacious for a doubleheader with USAC Midgets and Kokomo Sprint Cars, not horrible weather, not too many support classes, no fender cars, at arguably one of the best 1/4 miles in the country??? Where were all the USAC fans and fans of Openwheel racing? Is this the norm for Midget racing? Hasnt been a Grand Prix since 2021 and that was the turnout??? I've seen a regular show more packed then it was this weekend...just baffles me and puzzles me.

I would take a guess that the fact the front stretch bleachers were closed was the factor that kept the crowd away. Folks were probably worried that if they got a seat, they would feel like sardines in a can ( yes i know it's pack during ISW and everyone knows that who goes, but this isn't ISW ). It's a great event and deserves a great crowd. How many will that back grandstand hold? Fans that have to travel a few hours also might have been worried that once there and if the back was already filled up, then what do you do? Turn around and go home. I believe that was the main factor. Of course those poor souls that have to work on Monday most likely aren't going to travel 4-5 hours round trip.

Rpracing1 · 4/28/25, 6:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtTrackTherapy16J

Bc they chose to do that...they find it more affordable to subscribe to Flo, stay home, and eat and drink at home. .

You’re missing my point. Is this the first race that your 17 friends have boycotted? Do they hate midgets? Do they hate USAC? Koko?
You change deodorant? Anything?
Are they gone for good due to Flo?

Please clarify the actions of your 17 friends that were No shows. I mean that is a big percentage of your normal race crew that decided not to attend that they apparently usually went. ???

Crankin · 4/28/25, 6:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtTrackTherapy16J

And back to the original question, especially for those with more experience of racing and traveling, why were the bleachers so so spacious for a doubleheader with USAC Midgets and Kokomo Sprint Cars, not horrible weather, not too many support classes, no fender cars, at arguably one of the best 1/4 miles in the country??? Where were all the USAC fans and fans of Openwheel racing? Is this the norm for Midget racing? Hasnt been a Grand Prix since 2021 and that was the turnout??? I've seen a regular show more packed then it was this weekend...just baffles me and puzzles me.

Good questions in there, as well as your other post.
One thing for sure is Midgets rarely draw good crowds… Which is a total shame because racing quality is more times than not, top notch! Midget Week draws good crowds, but after that, there are no other National Midget races in the state??? There’s probably a lot of answers to those questions in that alone.

Heck, the biggest Midget track in the country (Sun Prarie) hasn”t had a Midget only race in probably over a decade. Yet for 70 or so years, it was Midgets only. Almost all of their races now have some form of Sprint Cars with the Midgets.
I have often wondered if a field of Midgets being driven predominantly by “kids’ has hurt grand stand attendance? Please don’t roast me for that, it just something I’ve always kind of wondered, and those “kids” put on some fantastic racing. With that said, in my lifetime it has gone from Midget only races to multiple classes. From 40 lap features to 30 lap (and some are 25). And, from being able to watch a race from the stands, go into the pits afterwards, and have a beer with the heroes you just watched. To a lot the drivers not old enough to drink a beer. Again, not putting anyone down, I’ve just always wondered if that had any affect on attendance?

Another thought is the decline in the amount of Midget racing in the country. In the early 80’s, i can think of 15-18 Midget sanctioning bodies running all over the country, off the top of my head. Now, I believe there’s only 5 National dirt Midget sanctions.

At first, i was on the other side of the fence about Flo. I thought all the exposure was great!
It still is for maybe the Chili Bowl, but i am starting to think that it is hurting attendance at tracks. I could go on for awhile on this, but I’ve babbled on too long already.
One thought i did have, which probably won’t be popular, is area blackouts within a certain amount of miles from the track. I do realize there is technology to get around being blacked out, but it could help getting some butts in the seats at these tracks? Not just the blackout, but no replays in that region either, for 2 weeks.

Just some thoughts that your post provoked.
Then of course there is the cost of Midget racing, and what that’s done. But that would be a whole other book.

leftrear · 4/28/25, 7:07 PM

I am guessing they were keeping that front stretch clean so it didn't muddy up the new seating area by the workers.

4/28/25, 7:07 PM	#30 Re: Kokomo Construction
leftrear Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 99	I am guessing they were keeping that front stretch clean so it didn't muddy up the new seating area by the workers.