so I am hearing they are closing the Lakeland drag strip . anybody else heard anything? I know it was run by the same guy that took over osw . which doesn’t surprise me its closing after what happen to OSW.
Went for Night of Destrution
Went to night of destruction a few months ago at OSW Both Rest Rooms were nasty. Stands had new wood. Track was ok till the end when we left track was a mess. had deep cuts in pavement do to sled race
As an fyi, the sale and closure of Lakeland has nothing to do with Ozzy even though he is the easy target. The property was purchased from theowner Roy Spiker to the people developing the logistics center on the old USA Speedway site for a little over $3,000,000. Its going to be used for parking from what I hear.
Well FYI from what I know since he took over osw the Racing went down the drain FACT !!! And I also have it from a good source the track is pretty much run completely in the ground nasty mess .nothings been done to take care of it. so what?s your point? Phil
So quick to the defensive on that. Just stating a fact because I know someone would climb down Ozzys throat even though I really don’t give two shits about what he does with his tracks or money anymore, just making sure any blame is rightly pointed. OSW was in trouble before Ozzy got there. At least he uses the facility still and it’s not leveled. Count your blessings, it could be like Lakeland or even Hialeah.
I will say this, every drag strip Ozzy owns and runs, is successful. He owns many (OSW, SGMP and Emerald Coast). I do wish he would apply that effort to the OSW oval like he did the SGMP oval, but personally, I think everyone here shit on him so much he has no desire to care at this point.
If you want to hold on to any hope for OSW… Rusty Marcus just stepped down from US Legends Cars and a birdie told me he may land at OSW. Nothing confirmed but for those who still hold OSW close to their heart, look at it as a glimmer of hope.
You say osw had troubles Before he got there .well I went there every Friday night for last 30 years and they always raced even when the car count was low . And when he took over he did nothing he said he was going to do fact !! I remember one of the last times there went to concession stand limited on food actually was nasty! couldn?t even get a soft drink no cups at all . Track lights not working bathrooms nasty . Grass not mowed. it was never like that before he took it over.
Osw
Speaking as a local and helped on cars at track i have to agree.
Osw
Speaking as a local who helped on a few different cars at OSW i agree with ShortTracker
At the end of the day, it’s a business. In a business, your goal is to make money. It’s clear Ozzy didn’t believe he would make money with a Short Track Racing Program. The problem with your anger towards the situation, is you are not looking at this from his perspective in any way shape or form. For him, drifters are easy money. They come in, do their thing and leave. They don’t care if the lights all work, the drainage is fixed, bathrooms are perfect or stands are great because the only real crowd they bring is themselves. It’s an easy buck for him. You guys have to understand this stuff. I GET IT. I UNDERSTAND THE ANGER. I love OSW… I lived in O town for a year and went there every race I could.
That drag strip brings him money every time it opens. Whether it’s an event like World Street Nationals or a Test & Tune night. I was on that side of the fence for a long time before migrating to my true passion in oval racing. It’s an easy sell and it has an enormous following, especially now with Street Outlaws on TV it’s only growing. Sure would be nice if we had something on TV that made oval track look good at a grass roots level… Madehouse made us look like a complete JOKE!
I have been told MORE THAN ONCE that all it will take to get the OSW Oval Track operating again regularly, is someone willing to come in there and lease the property and operate it as such.
Ozzy is a business man. It’s his business what he does with his property and he’s in the business of making money, not losing it. Right now in FL, the strength isn’t there for another regular track. Half of the tracks are doing well, half the tracks are struggling. OSW could sustain as a special event facility very well I believe. Just need the right person to do it. FACT
“I think everyone here shit on [Ozzy] so much he has no desire to care [to reopen Speedworld] at this point.”–PJ
Maybe other northerners place blame for others for their actions, but surely not you, Philip…
“I have been told…that all it will take to get the OSW Oval Track operating again…is someone willing to come in there and lease the property and operate it as such.”–PJII
Yes, Ozzy thank you for not tearing down Speedworld. We think you are great for that (truly). Now please lease it dirt cheap to someone that can improve your grounds for you. Like $500 a month cheap.
Surely that will do it, eh?
Nobody is willing to put their money where their mouth is… so… Guess we will never know lol The Melbourne guys had something going a year or so ago but they ran out of money from what I hear. Pretty much tells me exactly what I said above is true. It’s just not a profitable venture.
Enjoy the tracks you have while you have them. This isn’t a Florida problem, this is a Short Track Racing problem. It’s happening everywhere sadly.
Except that…Yoho resurrected Sunshine, same with Citrus, same with Bronson, same with 417, or 714(!), or whatever.
It would appear that it is not profitable to have to pay the asked-for rent, and rebuild the place, and lose money on the purses until the Bithlonians/Orlandians populate the stands (which they never really did…).
SO, the rent has to be bottom dollar. What I do not understand is why someone would not take the bottom dollar over no dollar.
But they would be really great if they did! I am certain I speak for many.
Then once everything is rolling and clearly making money, the rent could be raised incrementally–keeping in mind that the promoter has a living to make also.
Seems simple enough.
“This isn’t a Florida problem, this is a Short Track Racing problem.”--Phil
We all know it’s the carpetbaggers. They came in and stole our wealth and the Northeast got rich.
When is the restitution getting here?
Phil the track sits there and is falling apart . Ozzy never wanted to put money in it fact! has nothing to do with people shiting on him . He made a lot of promises he never made good on . They said be patient that was 4/5 years ago . NASCAR drop it because nothing was done at the track .He never had any interest in circle track Racing . He should have let someone Come in and run it for little or nothing and let someone else do something with it . And he would not have had to worry with it or spend a dime . Instead let it sit there and fall apart . I like how you don?t even live here and you all ways have something to say about our track problems down here . Maybe if Rusty moves here he can do something I know a lot of people would come and volunteer for Rusty .
Unfortunately I know the current state of the track well. I stopped by it in Novemver and ill probably stop by again this week. It is what it is. There are two sides to every story. Yes he made empty promises and that was wrong, but no business owner can successfully operate a business based on a promise. There needs to be support. He, at the time may not have seen the support he had hoped for and pulled the plug. Not trying to defend him but just looking at it from his perspective a bit. Unfortunately he caused so much damage by this that nobody trusts him and therefore nobody wants to be involved with him.
Its a moot point. OSW oval racing is the past. Time to move on and support the tracks that are well run and currently operating.
osw
Thank you Old School I agree. In the last few months some people from other tracks tried to get the Wheelman series at OSW to no response from Management:fragend005:
Ows
Let’s move Lake Land Drag Strip to new post for drivers and owners input. Just sayin OSW new post
“[Ozzy], at the time [SIZE=“3”]may[/SIZE] not have seen the support he had hoped for [the oval track] and pulled the plug”. –Phil Jacques [bold added]
Or…
I grew up at short tracks. Drag racing got popular, and I went with some friends. “Bwaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh”…and, they’re way down there.
Wait for the sign to tell you who won. Now wait 20 minutes and…repeat.
One night was enough to see the writing on the wall (for me). I ran a few races, and learned to “powershift” without lifting off the gas in between gears, and attended a few more events, but basically, found it boring compared to circle track racing.
Now, if I bought a circle track and the drag strip could not sustain itself easily…well, it would be easy for me to simply look at it as “that strip of asphalt over there”.
And if the drag racers said negative things, it would not matter one way or the other.
As it would be my deal, not theirs.
On the other hand, I do believe I would rent them their strip of asphalt with non functioning lights for $500 a month if someone offered it.
I could put the money into my circle track, or spend it on my other toys or vacations.