BJ's Blog: What Makes A Racetrack Good?

[Bobby Kimbrough]

The grass is always greener - or perhaps the clay is always tackier - at the other tracks. Racers are racers, and we wouldn't be racers if we didn't complain about the tracks. I've had my fair share of complaints about different tracks, and I've heard just about every complaint possible from other drivers about the different tracks. I decided to compile these complaints and take a deeper look into their validity. Why, you ask? I wanted to come up with a measuring stick to gauge whether or not a race track can be considered a good track.



*Note to the drivers: Why yes, I am an expert. Thanks for asking.

*Note to track owners and promoters: I'm from the government and I am here to help.

What Makes a Good Track?

A Track that is Open

We've been seeing tracks close at an alarming rate in the past year. Not just any tracks - big time, historical tracks that have hosted major events. When Manzanita Speedway in Arizona shut its doors this year, it sent reverberations throughout the entire Southwest. So, the number one criteria on my list? A track should be in operation to be considered "good." Give a track that is open a score of 100 points. A closed track gets nothing.



Trophy Girl

This is more important than you might think. Besides, it's my list and I can arrange the list in any order of importance that I want. To be eligible for consideration as a good track, there must be a trophy girl. No trophy girl, bad track. Very bad track. However, the trophy girl herself can degrade the track's status, depending on quality. If the trophy girl is the track owner's slutty daughter, then the track deserves extra bonus points. If the trophy girl is from the local Hooters Restaurant, they get average credit. If the trophy girl is the track owner's sister or aunt, score them a zero.

Dirt - Gotta have Dirt

Asphalt is a "no go." Score that -100 points. Concrete is the same. A good track will have dirt, clay, sand, gravel or most likely, a mixture of all of these. All dirt is not the same. West Coast dirt tracks are vastly different than East Coast Dirt tracks, because of the clay content in the soil. So to make this quantifiable, let's just say that if it has dirt, it can be considered a good track.


Dirt. Gotta have good dirt.

Track Surface

We've all raced at that one track where only the bottom line works - everything above that is out of bounds. Everybody gets in a single line and freight trains it around the track, trying to spin the guy in front of them so they can take his position. Zero points, because that's a bad track. A good racetrack is one that’s racy and allows lots of room for passing. It can be a tacky track with lots of speed and be racy, or a dry slick track and still be racy. Either way, it's gotta be racy to be a good track. A track that only has one racing line gets no points. Tracks that have multiple racing lines get +10 points for each additional racing line.


A good track will have a wide racing surface with multiple racing lines.

Facilities

Let's say that your local track is simply a dirt oval cut into the back forty, with no real paved parking for spectators, no well manicured green belts, and no free standing buildings, but it does have a flag stand and some seating for fans. I can respect that. That's where the roots of our sport came from. The track gets points for being historically accurate. But......if your track is a fairgrounds that is shared with the local Future Farmers of America, 4H and the local rodeo riders club, you can subtract points for all the cow pies and road apples left by the livestock. If your track has free standing buildings in really bad shape and a barbed wire fence that make the place look like Auschwitz, you get a zero.

Sound System / Public Address System

This is easy. Does the public address system sound like the speaker at a fast-food drive-through? It gets zero points and the designation of being a bad track. Does the PA system consist of the track promoter carrying a bull horn? Two points and the designation as a mediocre track. Obviously if the track's PA is booming and clear, it's a great track, +100 points.

Taking Care of the Drivers

Another easy area to judge. If you still haven't been paid for last year's races, you have a bad track, -100 points. Remember the old days when the racing was over and the drivers all stood in line at the pit shack to get their payout? If your track still operates that way, give them +100 points. If you get your check by mail within a month of the event, your track is just average, +5 points.

Taking care of the drivers includes communicating with them through the track's website. If the track doesn't have a website, it's a very bad track, forget about the points and just don't go there. If the track's website hasn't been updated in months, -50 points. If the website isn't updated four days after the last event, -25 points. If the track's website is constantly updated and current, let me know because I want to race there.

Now you know what makes a good race track. Before you go running around to the track promoter proudly proclaiming, "See? I told you so!" think about this: What makes a good driver? Perhaps the next blog will evaluate the things that make a good driver, from the aspect of the fans and the track promoters.

[Kdawg33A]

From a Driver's standpoint I think you nailed this article, However I think the only thing missing is the Food. At lot of people will overlook certain things if the food is good. Now, I guess that's more for the fans, and not drivers, but I think you have everything else listed here.

Looking forward to your Gubment report on what makes a Good Driver. I always enjoy your articles on telling me how to think.

[C.Wenzel46]

Hmmm.... with the exception of a consistant...... consistantly HOT trophy girl, You basically described VAR perfectly. Wide racing surface, good crew, hometown feel.... ahhh perfect!!!

[z-lightning]

letz not forget enforcement of the rulez by management! it keepz the whining down in the pitz and a better show from the standz.

[NC Ghost Hunter]

If the racing is good they will COME!!!! Have you ever walked out on the front stretch of your local track and looked down? I would wagger that in a twenty foot circle you could find a bolt, 3 rocks, and a few riviet heads. I have dug up half pound chunk of a broken brake rotor before. Safe to say all tracks need to dig up their tracks and run them through a trommel to screen out all the trash. At least put bar magnets on the packer cars and pick up the junk after the nights racing, takes what 15 minutes at most. It would let the drivers know that the track cares and is doing its part to help with flats. I know, I know, most tracks get a kick back on tires.

Most tracks need to add sawdust and a bunch of it. It holds moisture and helps to keep the track from chunkin' up. When the Dirt Track at Lowes first started they had the best facility in the nation. But the racing, well it just blowed. Deep ruts going into 1 & 3. Lots of tore up cars. The added over 25 tandem dump truck loads of saw dust a few years back in the late fall and plowed it in not tilled, PLOWED it in. That give it all winter to do its magic. DECOMPOSE!!! This one thing worked wonders on the track. It is usually multi-groved, fast and racey. Oh don't go the chemical conditioner route either.



Most tracks need to upgrade their lighting. Especially in the corners. Now don't go crying it costs too much. This project can be spread out over a couple of year. Get the poles up, the higher the better at least 40' tall. Then as the budget allows add fixtures. We have a track back here in NC, 311 Fastrack that has 122 high intensity lights covering a 1/2 mile track. They don't need any infield lighting. As for the PA, a low power FM transmitter should be at every track. It does zero good to have a first class announcer calling the action if the fans cant hear him. A system is less than $500 on the internet and builds a huge amount of goodwill with the fans. At every new track I go to thats the first question I ask.

Next on the list is addmisson prices. I now that putting on weeekly shows is not a cheap propisition. One figure at a local track quoted to me was $10,000. That is purse, lights, police, food, EMTs and track payroll. A World of Outlaws Late Model show will set you back around $70,000 for a $10,000 to win show. I got that tidbit at a track that called their show before it rained. The track operator opted to not open and eat the advertising cost versus having a mid-week make up toward the end of the season that would have had poor attendence and lose his butt...like last year. My only advice to track operators about gate prices is that 4,000 butts in the stands @ $10 a head is alot better than 3,000 @ $12 a head. Thats $4,000 ahead on the gate plus another 1,000 mouths to feed and pontential sovernier sales. Most tracks in my area charge $10-12 for weekly shows and $25-30 for specials (Regional - National tour shows). Pit passes run you $20 for a weekly and $35-40 for specials.

Finally, and this is a big one for me, Clean Restrooms! I know its a dirt track but put a hose bib in and wash them out every week. It ain't rocket science. Also a fresh coat of paint every other year would not hurt.

Ok Mr B you can have ya soapbox back.

[Kdawg33A]

Very well stated Ghost Hunter.

I didn't realize what exactly the saw dust was for. It made sense to me that the wood would hold moisture, but the decomposition I never thought of. that would actually change the soil.

Agree 100% about the lights, VV is ~OK~ on lights,(2008) but there was a few nights we took the green and coming out of turn 2 looked Almost nightmare like. Wish I had pictures of it from my perspective inside the car to show you. everything kinda goes quite and you looking for the first car to get turned sideways. Eerie I guess is the right word.

And finally, the Ticket prices. I don't have the slightest clue what it takes to run a speedway for a night, but I've seen the crowd counts at current prices and think the crowd is tiny. I must also say that I only made it out to a couple races this year, maybe it picked up mid season or something.

Is there anyone who is a promotor or has been a promoter, that would be able to explain the thought process?

Do you figure your crowd count and prices based off the amount of cars you expect? or do you price competitively (as in theater vs race track).

I use a theater in Apple Valley as an example. 2 adult tickets for regular showing is $9 a head or a $20 spot to get in. Plus an inevitable popcorn and soda to share (in my case) which for the most part kills another $20 spot.
If the price was $20 for my family of 5, I would still spend the other $20 and most likely more in concessions.

Like I said, I don't have the first clue in running a racetrack, I was just curious.

Great read Ghost Hunter.

[Dietzsch_Racing25]

I have had opportunity to race at 4 tracks this year, two on a regular basis this year. It is interesting to see how differently each track is run.

IMO Mike at VV is doing the best job right now. He has improved the track surface itself A LOT by adding banking and clay and has transformed a 1 groove DG track in to a track that has a great multi-groove surface. A track that may have had the best surface I have ever raced on a couple of times this year. I think he is trying to offer classes that are popular with the drivers (one set of customers) and the fans (his other set of customers). He brought LMs back to VV. He doesn't attempt to squeeze too many classes into a night of racing, his entry fees are reasonable and he makes the drivers feel welcome and appreciated. The place isn't perfect but it is a lot better than it was when he took over and I think the car count and crowds have reflected that.

Bakersfield is also seems to be well run. They have good car counts, great crowds and a lot of history. There seems to be a lot of drama there, but they (drivers and officials)have always treated me fairly. I must say the track surface is not nearly as good as VVs though.

Perris on the other hand is the best dirt track facility I have seen. The track surface is big, wide and mormally very nice, the stands are beautiful, and pitting in the center of the track is great for the racer and the fans. Unfortunately, the promoter there makes me feel unwanted and unappreciated. A facility that had great car counts and good crowds 5 years ago now struggles to get people in the stands and is lucky to have a full field of cars in 2 of the 7 classes it runs each "stock car" night. They raised the price of a pit pass and cut the purse for every class this year (how's that for making you feel welcome) and then blamed the ecomomy for the sagging car counts. It sounds like he has a few plans to try and turn things around (lowering ticket prices to $10 and making common rules with other tracks) for '10. I am rooting for him and hope it works.

[C.Wenzel46]

I remember the best lighting in turn two at VAR I have ever seen was when Kev. And his bro Jason brought their light tower out and parked it in two. That was the brightest it has ever been.

[Kdawg33A]

Thanks for the Opinion Curtis. Your opinion seems to mirror everything I have heard from guys that race different places.




XXXL, I must give credit where it's due. The light tower was soley because of Fifty9fordman. Without him, there would have been no light tower. Well Thomas and Clairemont Equipment that is. Great group of Guys!!

[always34]

Sorry, no picture :~(
I have raced at 6 dirt tracks - sprint cars at Brown Field (Otay Mesa), Corona and Yuma. Sport Compact at Perris, Victorville and Bakersfield.

The best ever track was Perris in 2005. This was the last year the track had real clay. It would stick to your car like snot, and the track would not dry out during the race.