I think that all sporting events are down on attendance because of the lack of play money. Not in the budget to go spectate. I personally race at waynesfield raceway park and attendance has dropped a little bit over the last 5 years. Not all dirt tracks have the perfect race surface but most of the time it's the best racing that money can buy. I was at Eldora Friday night helping a street stock driver and the track was awesome. Wasn't there for the next night for the 4 crown so can't say much about the track that night.
The drunks used to congregate in the area between the seats and concessions. The Patio seats seem to have ended that. We are in Section E of the Patio and I have not witnessed any excessive drinking in our section or immediately in front of us. I have witnessed security escorting people out of the section to our left which is in front of the announcers booth. My wife said she witnessed a person being removed this year and I recall seeing the police taking a man out in handcuffs last year. Of all the tracks I have attended over the years, I believe that Eldora would have to rank at the top for excessive drinking. The only thing I can think of that might cause this is the large number of people who camp and have a lot of time on their hands and they drink to relieve the boredom.
Come to the Williams Grove Natty Open if you want to see excessive drinking. I"ve been to some big races at Eldora and seen some pretty drunk people, but not quite as many as at the Grove outlaw races. I like to enjoy a few beers at the races myself, I'm no saint. Like someone posted above, I wish people would know when to say when. Problem drinkers are one thing that keeps me from going to big events. I spent 12 days in the midwest this spring for some pretty big races and I didn't see anything like the drunken fans of PA. Sometimes I am ashamed of the fans of my home state.
Originally Posted by jonboat15:
Like someone posted above, I wish people would know when to say when. Problem drinkers are one thing that keeps me from going to big events.
Me too.
You laugh because I'm different. I laugh because you're all the same. Copied from the back of the #16 supermodified.
Yes you can avoid some of the drunkies over on the front stretch. My reserved seat is on the top row of the backstretch though. Its quite a drunken guantlet getting to my seat there from the backstretch parking lot. Usually I find an idiot outlaw fan in my seat and the they usually are drunk and mouthy so things can get ugly. I decided to save myself some money and hassle so I will not attend the 3 day follow the leader slot car fest.
I understand if u don't want to attend a race, but ..... maybe constructive criticism with solutions might be more of benefit so the sport we all love, USAC open wheel thrives at Eldora.
Even watching PPV on the west coast, IT"S TOO LONG A NIGHT OF RACING. One possible idea, skip qualifying, run it like the midgets did. I've been told, qualifying is harder on a track than heat races. Another solution, qualify, put the top 12 directly into the main, and rest run a last chance race. This was the format for Turkey Night at Ascot. Another idea, qualify the cars early in the day, redo track, and start heat races at 6 or 7.
If I was a race fan with a family, I WOULD not likely attend this race. When I see families leave the races early because the night is too long, I cringe. I see a potential new fan (kids) not getting to see the best race of the night.
? for those that attended, how many families attend this race and do they stay all night. Seeing families at races is rarer and rarer with long nights and costs.
imo they either need to run qualifying at noon and completely rework the track then heats at 7-730 or run the wings and sc on 1 night and sprints and midgets on the other night
