Have to give the staff at OSW an attaboy and attagirl as they tried to get the races in tonight but were hampered by one of those nagging Florida drizzle type rains that just would not stop. Races finally called at 8, just after the rain looked like it may have stopped but started up again. By the cars in warmups it looked like it was going to be another great E-mod race. Well we will be back in two weeks to see the E-mods and the rest of the divisions. Thanks so much for trying to race OSW!!!
tried—
I, too, tried to get there, but at 7:58pm, heading eastbound on Hwy 50, saw racecar haulers heading wastbound on Hwy 50. That’s usually is a sign to do a u-turn, and go back home, or anywhere else. Maybe next time/month.
They should have had the courtesy to have someone answering the phone to inform of the rainout, or a recorded message saying so. After several phone calls getting a busy signal, we kept heading for the track. When it finally did ring through, nobody bothered to answer. Kept checking Karnac for an update too. Nothing.
I appreciate that they TRIED. I don’t appreciate that when they gave up, they didn’t bother to tell the people who were already on their way, or at least a way to get an answer if they were running or not. Wasted gas, and wasted time because nobody took 5 minutes to record a message.
I got thru and they told me it had rained out.
I called at 7:15 and got through on the first ring. Jerry is right, even though it didn’t work out for him this time, someone needs to be near the phone on these questionable nights.
They also did a first. Although there was just a few people in the stands (many stayed in their cars waiting to see if they would race) they came around and personally asked all of us to take cover as lightning was predicted and you could see some streaks way off in the distance. Took the courtesy of speaking to each one of us and keeping us informed. Really appreciated their concern. Frass 118, maybe this is the time period during which you called…
I had really hoped that Orlando would get to race last night but when it started to get real dark and cloudy here before 8, I always know that it has been there before here. I am sure everyone is disappointed but this is Florida and if you look at the forecast for this next week, everyday has rain in it.
Many years ago I wrote a story for karnac about Orlando and making it an airboat racetrack because of all the rain. We rained out every weekend it seemed like for months. But back then we had our Saturday show also, and somehow, they lucked out much better than the Friday night show and alot of times they got to race where the Friday night guys didn’t.
But let’s hope the Rain Gods give Orlando a break soon and they will race. Orlando is a great bullring, alot of fun, many good times spent there in the stands and in the pits. But sorry you didn’t get to race last night.
NO MORE RAIN FOR ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD:):)
so who is going where tonight?
Well, I WAS going to take a car to the opening of Elliston, but the weather is a little sketchy for a 200 mile tow. Since I’ve been working in the heat all afternoon, I’m looking forward to some air conditioned seat time in the truck! Auburndale? New Smyrna?
They did try to get it in. They did NOT call it quits early. And so far as not answering your phone calls that is BS. The phone was ringing non stop and I personally saw the staff answering calls as soon as another one came in.
Find something else to bitch about. WE asked OSW to not call the race early unless seepage was the problem. Last night they did what they could.
Now…Butch mentioned at the drivers meeting that he knows what the weather is going to be on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day but has no idea about this time of year.
Could this be a start of a real push to race when the weather is NICE like the winter?
OSW could make more $ running a three month every week schedule in the winter than the longer season being run right now. Cars from other tracks, cars from up north, etc.
Right now it is silly.
Lizzard… I never said they gave up early. Around 7:00 I called Kim Brown, who called Butch, who said it was dark and windy, but so far dry and practice was going on. Although it didn’t look good, we kept heading for the track. We started calling around 7:30 and got busy signals every time. Around 7:55 the phone actually rang and NOBODY ANSWERED. How can you possibly call that statement BS…?
I KNOW they tried… that’s why WE tried. There is no controlling the weather, but they CAN control letting people know what’s going on. We kept driving until we saw racecars headed away from the track.
How hard would it have been for SOMEONE to put a 15 second recording on the machine? “Sorry Fans, we had to cancel for tonight, but we’ll see you next week”.
As we walked out ,the concession was telling everyone that the prepared food was reduced to a dollar until gone. A hot dog and order of fries for a buck apiece. Can’t remember last time I went to any sporting event and ate for two dollars. Another nice gesture for the fans that were there. BTW, I saw Ted Head’s mod for the first time. Great looking white #92. As far as tonite, hoping for NSS as I really want to see the mods on ten inch tires. Even if only a half dozen show up, still want to see how they hold in the turns. As the weather closes in, and the TV radar shows where storms are, I may very well head to Citrus for the trucks, although not ruling out Auburndale. So guess I am still undecided although hoping for NSS.
Well, I find the staff very courteous. At 7:55 they were out telling the people in the pits to take cover from approaching lightning. The storm I drove through going home was the worst conditions I have ever seen. I guess they didn’t know you were calling.
It doesn’t matter WHO was calling, because nobody was ANSWERING.
Just suppose the races weren’t rained out. Without someone answering calls, most of us would assume nothing was going on, if the employees aren’t even there.
I was not there but the races start at 8 pm. They said they cancelled at 8 pm or a little after 8. One would think everybody was already there to get the news.
Hey Bone
good call. We were finally rained out at Ellisville at about 8pm…
-JIM-
There will always be somebody bitching about something at the track. Hindsight is 50/50 but at least they tried.
Frasson, next time call first to let them know you will be calling.
Not sure if this is the answer you are looking for or not…or if even this was the case…
I have a little knowledge of the phone system at OSW
If a call is coming in and you are already on the phone…the answering maching…and yes it was a machine will not pick up…could it have been they were on the phone with someone else when the call or calls came in?
You are right there Rusty since I spent many an hour answering that phone and telling people the races rained out. Eventually we did put a message on the phone for the rainout. But it can get very crazy in that office on the phones but we always did our best to help everyone. And we did have problems with our phone going out too from weather. But nothing is perfect and I am sorry they got rained out. Maybe they do need to go to winter racing which they had when I first started going to Orlando many years ago and it was great fun. You might have had to take a blanket or two on some nights but it was fun. But in the racing world, you can’t make everyone happy but I know that the employees do their best to try and make people happy.