Changes Ongoing At Speedworld - Winter Heat For 1/5/08

PLENTY OF CHANGES UNDER WAY AT ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD AS WINTER HEAT RESUMES
SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Fans, drivers and crews will notice a lot of changes that have either been
completed or are under way as they return for round three of Winter Heat
Saturday afternoon at Orlando Speedworld.
The pit entrance area has been re-worked and now includes a gate at the pit
ticket booth that will remain closed until the time posted when the pits will
open. “We will open the pit gate at 10AM Saturday morning and no one will be
allowed in until then,” says Speedworld General Manager Rusty Marcus. Marcus
is hoping this will be just one of several “steps in the right direction” that
will make it easier for the track to operate. “It’s been such a hassle to
clear the pits at a particular time. This way everybody starts coming in at a
specified time, then we can get practice sessions under way on time without
having to have our track personnel check the pits and then re-check for arm
bands,” he says.
Several old trailers have also been cleared from the main pit area which have
added another six to seven parking spaces for race teams.
The biggest changes going on heading into the 2008 season are on the
grandstand side of the race track, particularly in the concession area. The
entire area has literally been gutted over the past two weeks and will give
Speedworld’s midway area a totally new look and feel by the time the regular
season opens in March.
The biggest change will be the new Front Stretch Bar and Grill presented by
Budweiser. When completed, this new track lounge will have central air and
heat, a bar and a sit-down table area where fans can relax with both food and
drink assisted by their hostesses, the Budweiser Girls. Eventually everyone
will be able to sit down, order food and drink and enjoy some “bench racing”
at any time before, during, and after the races.
Additionally the main concession area is being completely re-done, plus an
outdoor beer garden will also be installed just behind the main grandstand in
the turn one area. Picnic tables are also going to be placed throughout the
midway area as well.
“I’ve been told time and again that this race track lacks atmosphere but that
is all changing for 2008,” explained Marcus. “We have a lot of areas roped off
right now for the construction but it should not affect the fans at all during
Winter Heat,” he says.
This Saturday, the new concessionaire has opted not to open at a reduced
level, but will instead bring in a couple of trailers to accommodate fans as
well as those in the pit area. “Don’t worry,” says Marcus, “Nobody will go
hungry.”
Another big change is really not a “change” but more like “bringing back the
old times,” as Marcus puts it. The pay out window for the drivers will return
to the grandstand side of the track beginning with the start of the regular
season much like it used to be when late Track Owner Clyde Hart enjoyed paying
the drivers from the window just outside the old track office.
“The reason for this is very simple,” says Marcus. “We want the fans to get a
chance to interact with the drivers after the races. Plus with the new Front
Stretch Bar and Grill, the drivers and crews will have a place to chill out
after the show, get something to eat and maybe a Bud or two to calm their
nerves,” he says.
Other things going on are a full renovation of the track tower along with a
portion of the main grandstand just below the tower area being designated as a
“family section.” No alcohol, smoking or profanity will be allowed in this
section and it “will be enforced,” says Marcus.
Pit gates will open this Saturday morning at 10AM with racing beginning at
1PM. Grandstand gates will open at noon, but fans can come out earlier to
watch practice which begins at 10:30AM. Any class of race car is invited to
compete with RaceCeiver Legends, Bandoleros, Strictly Stock/Hurricanes, Super
Stocks, Pro Challenge, Mini Stocks and much more expected to be on hand.
Track GM Marcus says the next three Saturdays can be looked upon as a chance
to prepare for the upcoming season. “With everything going on, we’ll probably
only be able to schedule one, maybe two, open practices before the regular
season kicks in March,” says Marcus. “During Winter Heat, you not only get to
practice, but get to race as well and there’s no better way to see how you’re
doing than by actually racing… plus you might end up with a nice trophy
too,” he says.

The new concession and beer garden area sounds cool, hopefully the food quality is being upgraded as well.

Haven’t made it for the Winter Series but wanted to know if the restrooms on the pit side have been redone yet or is this not part of the new changes.

Will we still be able to park our personal vehicles along the side road into the pits and in the back of the pit area for the coming season?

Not letting people in before pits open is going to SUCK. When it gets hot we are all going to stand in that line? That line is SLOW SLOW SLOW. I don’t know why it takes so long for people to sign their name, hand the money and MOVE.

I always tried to get there before opening just to be IN. The I go back and sign in later.

I hate to say this - but that is not going to work.

You’re right John… much easier for us to have to chase people out… catch them hiding in haulers… and then take the chance that something happens to someone that never signed in to begin with…

j/k! :]

It will take some getting used to and some adjustments I’m sure on both sides but in the end… it is the right thing to do and the right way to do it…

:ohmy:----WARNING : NORTHERN REFERENCE FORTHCOMING----:ohmy:
Up North they would NEVER let you in before the scheduled time without signing or paying! :stuck_out_tongue:

JT has a point. How about adding a few hands there for an hour or two that can circulate the clipboards through the line to get as much done as possible ahead of time? A little shade would be helpful too.

[QUOTE=OrlandoGraphix;3070]You’re right John… much easier for us to have to chase people out… catch them hiding in haulers… and then take the chance that something happens to someone that never signed in to begin with…
[/QUOTE]

You can get in to NASCAR races at 3am, as long as you have a pass.

As far as people hiding in haulers - sheesh if they want to do that whatever. If you can afford a HAULER, … but I digress.

I remember people checking me for my armband when in line for practice. That works for me.

Suggestion

Instead of the drivers having to go to two windows, one to pay and get armband then over to the other window to tell them what class they are in to race that night, have it that the driver only has to go to one window to pay, get armband and sign in to race in their class that night. Have everyone else go to the other window to pay and get armband.

crash -a -rama orlando speedworld

any body thinking about demo derby at speed world they don’t pay you for winning - they disqualify you and give it to flagmans little buddy

we ain’t only one that want be back

You may not like the new way of doing things but here are the hard, cold facts from this Saturday… Although the car count was down quite a bit, the money taken in at the pit gate went up by 20%… Looks like some people finally paid to get in…
Rusty is working on things and is making some changes that will get the line moving quickly every night…

is making some changes that will get the line moving quickly every night…

good on im.

So Rusty is responsible for all the ant beds!!! There is a difference between a line moving quickly and a line moving quickly in the right direction!!!

Just some humor. Not to be taken seriously. On a real note. Kudos to Rusty and the whole crew at OSW. They have show they are a track that wants racers to have fun.