First Memphis, then St. Louis, Seattle and Brainerd next???

[Kris]

Kris: Me thinks you don't spend enough time in the stands. This year's attendance was down from even last year. And Sunday was absolutely terrible even with the best weather of the 3 days.

Chris: you missed 1: The Storm!!!

I was in the stands all afternoon Friday and was quite surprised at the turnout. I was not at the track as long on Saturday and we had the baby with us, so, perhaps I was not as observant as I normally would be but it seemed pretty crowded to me given the state of the economy. Still. (On a side note, I am really sick of saying the phrase "in a down economy" but I digress.)
And, as I noted, I wasn't there Sunday for a couple of reasons. First time in a while I haven't been on Sunday. And you know it's hard to judge attendance based on what you see on ESPN2.
When I am there, though, I do tend to have my camera in hand so I am literally looking at things through a different lens.
I guess I had really low expectations for this year's event seeing as how attendance has been down everywhere all season long. Perhaps I am being glass half full because it wasn't a ghost town.

The Storm are awesome! I mean, they did just have a 19 game winning streak. Not that I watch them... but, that's another discussion for another thread. LOL.

If I ever get enough time to go dig around I'll see if I can find attendance numbers for the past few years, if for no other reason than my own (and possibly the 'Maters) edification.

 

[rocketman]

back in 1978 or so, my dad took me to the Fall Nationals up at Seattle International Raceway. There was less than half the people you would see at a recent national event held there today. No lines getting in, the stands were never packed and you could walk right up to any of the pro cars in the pits. Let's just say that 64 funny cars attracted a much bigger crowd than the Fall Nationals did and the NHRA never went broke. That year the Hawaiian won and I think Rob Bruins was runner up in top fuel. Can't remember who won top fuel. Again in 1981 it was the same, a fairly low turn out compared to recent years. In 81, Shirley won Top Fuel and the Blue Max won funny car.

The difference is that back then you could see Top fuel anywhere so it wasn't a must go race like it is today. Now you can only see the fuel cars once a year so everyone goes to the Seattle race once a year to get their top fuel fix.

So what's the moral to the story? The race in Seattle in the 70's were not as well attended as even the most recent race. But I'll tell you, what I'd take the race in in 79' and 81' over any of the nationals events of today.

 

[clwill]

Anybody see this posted on the front page of Pacific's web site? It's their plan for a $135 million expansion.

Pacific Raceways - Where The Excitement Is Accelerating.....For The Entire Family!

I'd put this very close to the Tulare strip on the probability scale. Hard to imagine any kind of revenue stream that would provide any reasonable ROI on a project of this size. Just a reasonable interest rate on that kind of investment is ~$7m a year, let alone some kind of return to the investors.

 

[Wayne]

Anybody see this posted on the front page of Pacific's web site? It's their plan for a $135 million expansion.

Pacific Raceways - Where The Excitement Is Accelerating.....For The Entire Family!

I'd put this very close to the Tulare strip on the probability scale. Hard to imagine any kind of revenue stream that would provide any reasonable ROI on a project of this size. Just a reasonable interest rate on that kind of investment is ~$7m a year, let alone some kind of return to the investors.

ROTFLMAO!!!
Is that the homepage from April 1st???

 

[mw6789]

A number of options are being looked at including running Gateway as a drag strip with a road course. There’s an option to possibly sell the track. Then there’s the option to close. All of those options are being looked at equally,” confirmed Brandon Mudd, Director of Media Relations for Gateway International Raceway.

I saw so many KH cars there I thought it might already be sold

The problem with selling the track may be the same as I am told the situation is with Memphis. The overall operation was losing money---and scaring off potential buyers. Drag strip was profitable, but the oval track was a loser. Be real hard to explain that to potential investors being told by their accountants that it was a money losing deal. I am also told that there were a couple of solid offers to buy the drag strip at Memphis, but they were told it was buy all or none.

 

[Kris]

Anybody see this posted on the front page of Pacific's web site? It's their plan for a $135 million expansion.

Pacific Raceways - Where The Excitement Is Accelerating.....For The Entire Family!

I'd put this very close to the Tulare strip on the probability scale. Hard to imagine any kind of revenue stream that would provide any reasonable ROI on a project of this size. Just a reasonable interest rate on that kind of investment is ~$7m a year, let alone some kind of return to the investors.

Yes. It's been there since 2006. I wrote about it. And virtually nothing has happened since.

 

[clwill]

Yes. It's been there since 2006. I wrote about it. And virtually nothing has happened since.

Thought it looked different to me. You'd think they'd take it down...

 

[Wayne]

Thought it looked different to me. You'd think they'd take it down...

Chris I think you're right. They probably did change it to fool all of us.
And they won't take it down; they want us to believe that they are ACTUALLY doing something!!!

 

[Kris]

Thought it looked different to me. You'd think they'd take it down...

I am pretty sure they haven't updated it at all... all that has happened on the property in the past couple years is the addition of the go kart track and some other minor modifications (repaving, changes to parking, one new set of grandstands, etc.) that are barely noticeable.
It's a shame because the property has SO much potential. But, I don't know what's going on because it is IMPOSSIBLE dealing with the people at the track. Getting a direct line to Jason Fiorito is apparently above my security clearance and even getting a meeting with him is difficult. Multiple calls and e-mails have proven fruitless.
But, I'm not bitter.

 

[clwill]

To call them clueless would be generous. For example: there's the big divisional race there next week. Traditionally divisional races are fri, sat, sun, with parking on wed, and a track-run test & tune on thursday. But all that's on the web site is fri/sat/sun. And it's been announced that the rained out Mission divisional (which only completely rd. 1) will be completed at this race. No info on that.

I call them today to ask "hey, when can we get in to park, will there be a t&t, what's the Mission completion plan, etc.". Response: "we haven't posted that because we're just working it out". Don't wait to the last minute or anything, it's only just a week away.

So they have a plan, completed in the last day or so, and ask me to post in on the Pacific Northwest Super Comp Association web site (http://pnsca.com, I'm the webmaster), and to "spread the word". "Sure, but maybe you should post it on your web site?" "Ummm, that's hard".

Wow, I know running a race track isn't child's play, but it sure doesn't seem like it has to be that hard...

 

[Kris]

To call them clueless would be generous. For example: there's the big divisional race there next week. Traditionally divisional races are fri, sat, sun, with parking on wed, and a track-run test & tune on thursday. But all that's on the web site is fri/sat/sun. And it's been announced that the rained out Mission divisional (which only completely rd. 1) will be completed at this race. No info on that.

I call them today to ask "hey, when can we get in to park, will there be a t&t, what's the Mission completion plan, etc.". Response: "we haven't posted that because we're just working it out". Don't wait to the last minute or anything, it's only just a week away.

So they have a plan, completed in the last day or so, and ask me to post in on the Pacific Northwest Super Comp Association web site (http://pnsca.com, I'm the webmaster), and to "spread the word". "Sure, but maybe you should post it on your web site?" "Ummm, that's hard".

Wow, I know running a race track isn't child's play, but it sure doesn't seem like it has to be that hard...

Sigh. I'm not sure who the general manager of the track is these days. But, whoever it is, they don't seem to be doing a very good job if this is how the staff is handling things.

I plan to swing by that race, too, to visit with the TAFC team I wrote about in advance of the national event. I didn't get a chance to intro myself last month. And, despite all the negatives, I do enjoy going out to the track.

 

[clwill]

I plan to swing by that race, too, to visit with the TAFC team I wrote about in advance of the national event. I didn't get a chance to intro myself last month. And, despite all the negatives, I do enjoy going out to the track.

If you do get out there, stop by and introduce yourself. Hard to miss us, find the car and/or trailer that matches my avatar.

Chris

 

[None]

Anybody see this posted on the front page of Pacific's web site? It's their plan for a $135 million expansion.

Pacific Raceways - Where The Excitement Is Accelerating.....For The Entire Family!

I'd put this very close to the Tulare strip on the probability scale. Hard to imagine any kind of revenue stream that would provide any reasonable ROI on a project of this size. Just a reasonable interest rate on that kind of investment is ~$7m a year, let alone some kind of return to the investors.

Isn't this the same propaganda they put out several years ago? In reality old man Fiorito has no interest in any drag racing unless somebody else is promoting and they get their money. They made a ton of money on the excavation and seem to be sitting on it or???? I seem to recall there is also a time limit on the use permit from King County to get it all done or it will go away. Their little high school drags and the few things they do promote are always small stuff requiring no man power or low overhead to get them running. It's a real disappointment the way it's been handled the past years.

 

[Kris]

Isn't this the same propaganda they put out several years ago? In reality old man Fiorito has no interest in any drag racing unless somebody else is promoting and they get their money. They made a ton of money on the excavation and seem to be sitting on it or???? I seem to recall there is also a time limit on the use permit from King County to get it all done or it will go away. Their little high school drags and the few things they do promote are always small stuff requiring no man power or low overhead to get them running. It's a real disappointment the way it's been handled the past years.

To my knowledge, there are no permits for construction and no applications for permits per King County DDES.

I will try and get a meeting set up with Jason Fiorito and see what the deal is.

Christopher, I know exactly what your stuff looks like, I saw your set up when I was out at the national event on Thursday night. Jason, Lyla and I met up with a friend of mine whose dad races ... among other connections to the sport. Anyway, I will come by, I'm looking at Friday so I can go visit with the guys from Ashwell Racing. They run a TAFC.
In fact, I bet you know my friend.