ohh I like it like that, she movin that back…slow motion for me
Let’s be fair, Uncle Don…
…the race track wasn’t what brought Stimus down. The track was really just a tool in the grand scheme of things for him. I used to call it the “Maytag Motodrome”…because it was really just a giant-sized washing machine for the other businesses he had going. And no, I don’t mean the car lots.
BUT…he did do what he did best and promoted the HELL out of it while his name was on the sign. Largest weekly crowds I’ve ever seen at any Florida short track and, to a point, took care of the racers needs. Payouts were great. Families would flock to the track for the great racing PLUS the giveaways and promotional gimmicks that were a weekly fixture. The grounds were kept up. There were areas that catered to the kids, the drinkers, the hard core race fans, the racers themselves and the concessions were good AND reasonably priced.
Yes, (all misty eyed) it was a magical time.
Bubba and Stimus are actually quite a lot alike. Tom didn’t know squat about racing when he bought the track. But he knew people and he knew how to promote. One of his favorite things to say was that he didn’t care if people liked him or hated him…just that they remembered who he was. Isn’t that kind of how Bubba operates his “empire”? Does whatever he wants and damn the torpedoes? Well, maybe that what racing needs these days. Now, I’m an adamant, NON fan of his radio gig but I’m also not ignorant enough to think that the racing atmosphere of the era I grew up in will somehow make a comeback. Racing has evolved since then and to tell the truth, probably needs to evolve again.
Maybe Bubba and his army are what racing needs right now.
A new product for a new generation of race fans.
Maybe.
[QUOTE=Osmosis Jones;70955]…the race track wasn’t what brought Stimus down. The track was really just a tool in the grand scheme of things for him. I used to call it the “Maytag Motodrome”…because it was really just a giant-sized washing machine for the other businesses he had going. And no, I don’t mean the car lots.
BUT…he did do what he did best and promoted the HELL out of it while his name was on the sign. Largest weekly crowds I’ve ever seen at any Florida short track and, to a point, took care of the racers needs. Payouts were great. Families would flock to the track for the great racing PLUS the giveaways and promotional gimmicks that were a weekly fixture. The grounds were kept up. There were areas that catered to the kids, the drinkers, the hard core race fans, the racers themselves and the concessions were good AND reasonably priced.
Yes, (all misty eyed) it was a magical time.
Bubba and Stimus are actually quite a lot alike. Tom didn’t know squat about racing when he bought the track. But he knew people and he knew how to promote. One of his favorite things to say was that he didn’t care if people liked him or hated him…just that they remembered who he was. Isn’t that kind of how Bubba operates his “empire”? Does whatever he wants and damn the torpedoes? Well, maybe that what racing needs these days. Now, I’m an adamant, NON fan of his radio gig but I’m also not ignorant enough to think that the racing atmosphere of the era I grew up in will somehow make a comeback. Racing has evolved since then and to tell the truth, probably needs to evolve again.
Maybe Bubba and his army are what racing needs right now.
A new product for a new generation of race fans.
Maybe.[/QUOTE]
X2 bro, I couldn’t agree more, it will be interesting to see where it all goes. You hit the nail on the head about Stimus as well, I was there for all of the madness, I remember parking all the way down in the field off turns 3 and 4, what is now pit area and walking all the way to the front gate, if you got there late good luck finding a seat. That place was rockin when Stimus ran the show.
There are a few drag strips that have friday night gimmicks like that, meaning, wet t-shirt/bikini contest. live dj’s, different contest, ect and usually on test and tune or grudge night and they pack the house whenever they do it.
Man, Bubba has just posted some pretty big news on Florida Flag Stand and facebook, but I haven’t seen a comment here. Some of the news:
They will be racing Saturday nights except for the first night back, which will be a Friday.
The first race back will be a $5000 to win Late Model race.
The Powell Memorial will be a two day event paying $10,000 to win.
The track will stay dirt.
And more.
I will not mince words. We have supported NFlaSp since Phil and Liz reopened it. We have won races in 3 classes and feel we have always been treated fairly That said my concern with Bubba Speedway is not his attempt to raise the bar on payouts I know of tracks paying insanely low purses especially for open modifieds. His move to Saturday night will reduce participants at all the other DIRT tracks he would be competing with. So given his agenda to improve the payout and treatment of racers it appears that while he might pull it off the drivers may end up with only one venue. You had Friday all to yourself and could have really demonstrated a difference setting yourself apart and forcing the other promoters to come up to your level. I truly wish you well as your facility is one of the best I only hope your success is not at the expense of all the others.
all bs aside i hope he does well any track that stays open is a good track.i dont follow his show to much but i do know he drive or did drive a latemodel so hes got a good perspective from the drives stand point … good luck bubba
One thing I think Bubba WILL do, is bring in a ton of younger fans. That is a problem nationwide, and a subject of many Promoters meetings… “How to deal with an aging audience”.
He has the tools and audience to bring in a whole lot younger crowd than, say, advertising on the local Country radio station.
I predict, at least to begin with, you will see a MUCH larger crowd, mainly young, loud and rowdy people that had NO previous interest in coming out to ANY local track. They will LOVE the Thunder Stocks (mainly for the sliding and crashing), and a bunch of them will wind up building cars to race there themselves. Hopefully, some will fall in love with the sport and eventually move up a class or two. A few might even have the budget to put a Modified or Late Model on the track.
In the long run, I’m not sure this is a good thing or not… but for the short-term, there will be a BUNCH of new blood pumping at Ocala. The problem I see though, is that it will be much different than the long-time fan is used to… it may run a bunch of them off.
Think of the local small-town country bar, that different generations of the same families have supported for 30 years. All of a sudden it turns into a dance club. The place will be initially be packed, the regulars will disappear, the fad wears off, and management has to beg the old crowd into giving them one more chance after the experiment tanked.
Short-term… this will be huge.
Long-term… the next new owners will be begging the old crowd into coming back.
HELL YES! This is going to be super =)
I agree Jerry. Short term huge! Long term???, with Ocala moving to Saturday nights, can the other dirt tracks keep their doors open long enough for the new management at Ocala to understand the business. We could possibly see Ocala as the only game in town north of I-4 a year from now. The only tracks that could make Friday night work are Ocala, Volusia and Putnam because of the cars that live between them. North Florida wouldn’t stand a chance on Friday. Too far away from the majority of the racers.
Bubba has a very big name and lots of public access, but there have been bigger people with more money knocked down by the racing business. In the end, how much is he going to cost the other Florida dirt tracks to compete against his sponsors and investors money during their learning curve. And when it’s all said and done, and they move on (and they will), whats left of the racing business in Florida?
I’m with everyone that something has to change, but time will tell if this is right or not.
The one thing I am the happiest about in this whole deal is that Mike and Angie got out alive. Two very good people!
If it’s loud, rowdy people, strippers, unlimited drinking in the turn 4 stands and wet T-shirt contests, consider this fan officially run off. And I’m just one person, so maybe it’s not a big deal. But it’s not the atmosphere I’m looking for when watching a race and it is definitely not a place I’m going to bring my son.
i agree if he does that he will run off a lot of fans and it will be all his fault for being a moron