Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

It's hard to watch a place that was run so well for so long be slowly managed into the ground. When taking over a successful operation, why change it? To be fair, I think some of the changes, like adding affordable racing divisions like Crate Lates may pay off in the future, but so far the new management has also:

Cancelled the non wing nationals.

Cancelled the swap meet

Lowered purses

Treated push and tow truck drivers so bad that they stopped showing up. (The red,, track owned, tow truck was too weak to pick up Brett Miller's sprint car. It must be getting frosty in hell when I find myself saying "I miss Wes Brown".

Covered the track in dirt so bad that they have to remove it all after two weeks.

Somehow lost WoO sanction on the Mini-Gold (probably over the tire deal) after it gets added to WoO's schedule.

Friday night I paid twenty bucks to watch a race that, with 360's, Spec Sprints and Modifieds, looked a lot like a twelve dollar Friday night show. It sure felt like a twelve dollar show. Everyone who has been going to Chico for years has tried to be understanding during the transition away from John Padgen. We know that change is inevitable and hoped that by handing the reins to someone previousely involved, that the transition would be seamless. It wasn't. We are now out of patience.

In the end, there is always that one last thing that sends a fan down the road to Marysville. Mine was a frustrating attempt to buy a hot dog. I timed the line right, as there was just one guy in front of me. After what seemed unusually long for the guy to get a soda, I then had to wait while my server finished texting before taking my order. She then handed me a bun, took my money, and sent me down to a group gathered around some young men running a BBQ, who had no hot dogs cooked. I missed the next race while I waited for them to cook a hot dog. It now takes longer to get food with no line that it used to when the line went past the beer stand. WTF?

This is the hot dog that broke the camel's back.

No thanks. I'm done. Good luck.

So, New Management, when confronted with a decision like: "Should I have a bunch of hot dogs ready to go in boiling water, or have a customer wait ten minutes to get their food after having paid?", ask yourself; "WWJD?"

What Would John Do?

AMEN, I had the same experience that you had, but I paid $25 to get in!

I too thought the price was a bit expensive at $25.00 on Saturday night.I think $18.00 would have been appropriate.

"Checker's or Wrecker's"

Save the Dirt Oval's around the globe and protect those
with
the passion that keep them in racing condition week in
and week out!

Was not going to chime in on this issue but decided otherwise.

Lowered purses? Pretty sure they are the same or raised for each of the races they've put on. If not I'd like to see a comparison on payout but pretty sure the advertised purses this year were high than the payout last year.

Treating push and tow trucks poorly? Seems to me there were plenty of push trucks there this past weekend. Maybe some help on the tow portion would have been necessary if they didn't think their track tow truck wasn't going to be sufficient.

The dirt issue last year? Was discussed thoroughly on this board and another. Promoter tried to bring in dirt he thought was similar to the same dirt he already had. Once delivered realized it wasn't screened like he thought so there was large rocks and debris in the track. For safety concerns the dirt was removed and a race was cancelled. Would you have rather been sitting in the stands worried about large debris coming up? Not me!

WoO mini tire deal, thoroughly discussed again. And really wouldn't have mattered seeing as the whole thing got rained out anyways.

If you can see a friday night race at Chico with 100+ cars please let me know when. I'll be there even if the wife is having a baby. If you really felt that was like a Friday night race you must not have been watching the same event I was. $20 to see 100+ cars seems a fair price to pay to me.

Lastly, you are complaining that instead of a boiled hot dog thats been sitting in a warmer for who knows how long, you got a grilled one to order? Really??? I had a cheeseburger and it was the same deal, order at the window pick up at the grill. It was 100% better than any burger I've had at the place before, I'm happy to wait to not have a pos burger that costs too much as it is.

Thank you...end rant

The racing was great in all 3 classes at Silver Cup when I was there on Friday and by all accounts it was just as good on Saturday so I don't see how the event couldn't be considered a success. Best of luck to Alan and everyone this year. I know it'll be a great season. See everyone on April 23 at the $.

www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com

Careful kylenap, you might get "censored" by someone!

The fat lady has some strong allegations.

I think I would give the new "top dog" a little time to get things in order. Sure, it is easy to do it Sunday-Thrusday but when the "action" starts on Friday and/or Saturday you have to make some adjustments.

Personally, I never went to Chico for the food. In fact, only one race track (out here) has a good variety of food and that (to me) is Perris.

I'll wait for comments from posters who have a more "objectionable" reports on the actual happenings at Chico, et al.

Would love to take in a Friday night race at Watsonville. I understand they have things "in order" over there.

To all...just enjoy the races. The way the tree huggers are taking over Cali we are lucky to have ANY track that has weekly racing!

leon

TSA...It's not a GROPE...it's a Freedom Pat!

The food @ the PAS may be good, but it is expensive. The racing is great!

"Ralphie, Senor, muchas gracias por una mas cerveza"  -
Scott Daloisio @ the PAS

I am no way affiliated with this track or any other in the area. I find it interesting that whenever someone points out a counter to arguments that they must have a connection to the side they are providing arguments for. I simply point out facts. I hate to see promoters get bashed on message boards with them being the only ones trying to keep racing going. Without them and their hard work we wouldn't be racing. You coming on a message board to bash them and their hardwork doesn't do anyting to help promote the racing.

Racing surface is garbage 90% of the time? If anything the racing surface is too hooked up 90% of the time. That track is fast. Track record was broken by 3 or 4 different cars on Friday.

Their Safety crew, I totally agree with. Arguably one of the worst for a track of their stature.

Bomber cars? Are you talking about the modifieds? If you didn't stay to watch their race it was one of the best of the night. Silver Dollar doesn't run "bomber" cars if you look at their divisions.

$3k to win is disgraceful for a 360 show? Would you rather run for $1k-1.5k at any other weekly show in the area?

I am simply a fan. Not associated with any track or any car/driver. Thank you and have a nice day.

Triplcrown....So.Cal....so that explains those "high prices" for food!

TSA...It's not a GROPE...it's a Freedom Pat!

I watched that video. It did look like good racing. But......maybe it's just the camera angle, but in the whole clip, I only spotted 2 people in the bleachers. There was one guy at each end of the bleachers. (Maybe everybody else was in line waiting for a hotdog?)

Should have never had the nonwing sprints. That would kill anything.

Joe, please tell me you are "KIDDing!"

TSA...It's not a GROPE...it's a Freedom Pat!

I was at silver cup on Sat. night. I originally was not going to attend, but a buddy and I decided to go anyways. I admit 25.00 seems steep, but as a spectator the racing was spectacular. Best race of the night was mods, unfortunately most everybody left after winged sprints. I have to admit, I was there for the sprints, but after seeing the mods run for first time in a while, was impressed, lots of passing, and competitive. Show was run very efficient, in my opinion management did a good job. I don't know why there were so many empty seats, (25 bucks to get in mabe). If thats the case, why not have like a family special to encourage more people to attend, personally I don't' mind paying a little more if i'm getting my moneys worth, and I got my moneys worth on Sat. By the way, no waiting for corn dogs

Do you think "Ed Too-Tall Jones is too tall?

Do you think the Waltons take too long to say goodnight?

Do you think the "fat lady" might have an axe to grind...and Chico is her "chosen" track?

Just wondering!

And someone please shoot that stupid Geico frog!

TSA...It's not a GROPE...it's a Freedom Pat!

Do you realize how much the fire crew gets paid???? $000000

You expect these guys to risk there life and get zero? Maybe Handy needs to pay them like all the other officials and quit bein cheap! As far as the tow truck...heard it had no brakes and is on its last leg...you would think they might have a quality tow rig just in case no other "free" tow trucks show up

Did you look at the pay for the rest of the divisions? The wingless and mods got I believe $200 for 5th and $100 to start...who can race and pay $40 at the back gate and get 100 to start? I believe they paid more money but it went all to the 360's.

I think it is great that they have a bbq now...but you would think they might have a few dogs and burgers cooking instead of making everyone wait for 10 mins and missing races...what happens when 50 people come down on a break...alot of races will be missed = pissed off fans.

$20 and $25 is way too expensive and the fan base showed....the bleachers were empty and the stands lacked alot. Yes it was cold but many people cannot afford $50 for 2 nights of racing.