Ask yourself, have you ever had any lesser class race cancellations because of curfew or rain? I have not, but I have had three "Features"  ruined by both. Where is it cast in bronze that says the "Feature" always run last. There is only one Promoter that I know of doing anything about this problem and that is the new man at Victorville. He is running his sprint show before the lesser classes. This way if you travelled three hours to see a "Feature" you will see it and if you want to stick around for the lesser classes, it will be your choice, not the Promoters. I have heard and read in a Ventura paper that the fans at Ventura are not happy with having to watch four lesser classes before the main event. Evidentually attendance is down. Why not have some of those lesser classes at the end of the program? The fact is that all tracks especially those with curfews should not keep there "Feature " for last. This is one chage that will almost guarantee the PAYING FANS and those with children and traveling long distances the disappointment of missing the "Feature". But until our Promoters change there decades old thinking that the "Feature" has to run last, these shortened races will contine. The promoter has no control over the races when a red light situaiion  occurs causing a long delay because of serious injury or in the case of  a race with lots of yellows and restarts. You will have unaccounted for delays such as power failure, over which the Promoter has no control.

I have been gooing to and involved in racing since the mid fifties, from the East coast tracks to the Ascott on the West coast. I moved to the central coast in 1997 and at that time at least for me, the racing demographics changed dramatically in two categories. The first being the many classes of cars being run for every show. I was used to one class with an occasional midget race added. The other change was the number of children, babies in strollers and pets attending the races. No one uses baby sitters any more, thus as the evening affects these families for what ever reason, they start to leave around 9:00 PM. It is getting cold and the children are tired and bored. These parents normally did not come to see the lesser classes but the "Feature" for which if it is a 410 Sprint or Super Late Models carries a higher price tag. With curfews and drawn out programs, they are leaving and I do not think they are happy campers. If the line ups were changed, ever so slightly, they might have a chance to see the race they paid for and the curfew will not be a factor.

One other problem for racers today is the cost of fuel, both for the haulers and cars. The long haulers are usually the sprints and Super Late Models, as most, not all, lesser classes are locals. Promoters should try to schedule programs on Friday and Saturday with other tracks near by to minimize travel costs. They should also try to book the same "Features" for two nights of racing to make it worth their making the trip. A recent Santa Maria program only had four ASCS sprints for a "Feature" race.

My last suggestion is to have the Promoters pass out questionaires to the fans, soliciting there input on, races to be scheduled, hours of operaton, menu options and any other questions and suggestions they may have.

We will survive, but we are going to have to work harder and together. The Promoter is not becoming wealthy doing what he does; in most instances a break even night is a victory. And before you submit a complaint; just ask yourself, would you change places with him. I would not.