I hope this does not come out sounding like I am some kind of “know it all” because I am not. What I am, first and foremost, is a race fan. I have been a driver (not a very good one), race track employee, and race track promoter. I have raced motorcycles, ATVs (three-wheelers and quads), karts, mini sprints, and UMP modified. I have worked for three different race tracks in various positions and was the promoter/race director at one of those tracks for a year and a half. But it all started because I’m a race fan. By now I know you’re wondering “what’s your point” so I’ll get to it.

I can’t or don’t get to as many races each year now than I used too, but I like to try and go to at least one track a year that I have never seen a race at before. Years ago I would pick up the phone and start calling people, usually drivers, to get an idea of what the track was like. I would always ask the same questions; how well is the track prepared, do they run a well organized show, what is the food like…. After a few phone calls I would have a pretty good feel for what to expect. Then came the internet, and with it the “message board”. I love message boards. Now all I have to do is search for the track, find a message board, and get answers almost instantly. You can even keep up with who won, who broke or crashed, who did whatever…. You also get to see how stupid all the promoters! How bad the track “always” is! How the races are never as good as they were in the good old days! How everyone got screwed out of the money by the prompter! How so many “true race fans” will never go back to that hell hole ever, ever, ever again!!!!! Even though they love the track and want it to stay open forever!

The bad part about this is that people who may have never been to a race in their life, who are thinking about going to the races may see this too. They also have computers. They know how to search out information about the local track. And what better source is there than the message board full of race fans… you know… the experts… that go every weekend…

If we want the local race tracks to survive and continue to provide us with the sport we all claim to love we have got to quit bashing and slamming these people and places out in public for everyone to see. I’m not saying you can’t complain, just do it to the right people, in the right manner. Send the track and/or promoter an email, or an old style hand written letter. Try and call them on the phone. But don’t jump all over them, just talk to them. I guarantee they have all ready been yelled at more than once about something. These people are just humans, trying to promote the sport they love. They are not getting rich although they should be making a few dollars for their time and effort. Until you have been in their shoes you have no idea how much work goes into a simple weekly show, let alone a big special event.

I have been to tracks and once I get home look on the internet and see people running down the place to the point that I wonder if I was at the same place. This does not help put butts in the seats. And that is what a track has to have to survive. If a first time spectator asks about a track, tell them the truth. But do it in a way that makes racing sound like fun. Instead “The last time I was there we did not get home until two in the morning and I swore I would never go back. Tell them “That track has some pretty good racing but you may want to consider going to “GOOD TIMES SPEEDWAY” for your first race instead.” If they like what they see maybe they will go back, then before long they may become a fan. Then they may decide to go to another track and so on… We as fans owe it to the sport to try and stay positive and help attract new fans, so the promoters can make a couple of bucks for their effort, and the drivers will have a place to race, and we will have a race to watch, and the drivers will have a place to race, and the promoters can make a couple of bucks for their effort, and we will have a race to watch……

At least that is the way I see it…..