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Topic: Thanks to PAS, Don K, mgt for a fun night at the races Saturday Email this topic to a friend | Subscribe to this TopicReport this Topic to Moderator
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jdfast
May 06, 2014 at 02:26:42 PM
Joined: 12/16/2004
Posts: 956
Reply

I just wanted to say thanks to EVERYONE at the PAS Saturday Night for a fun night of racing.  It seemed to me, PAS made a conscious effort to speed up the program, especially running the CRA main much earlier.

 

I can be one of the critics of any track, but when a track does something right, I try to compliment them also  Smile

 

My frequency to going to the PAS has been greatly reduced for the last couple years, because of the horrible traffic/long drive home, cost, lack of cars, and the long drawn out night of racing.  PAS can not control the traffic, but its nice to see the effort to finish earlier and i will reward them with more business if they continue doing this.  On the cost side, other tracks have been raising their prices, so the PAS does not seem as expensive as it did, damn inflation is creeping up everywhere it seems.

 

On the other thread, I saw some critism.  I can not say I totally disagree, but ...... PAS is moving in the right direction.

 

The problem is, PAS needs 3 support classes to make a profit, and with 4 classes, no matter what you do it is going to be a long night.

 

Couple of suggestions

 

I think any sporting event should try to finish their event in less than 3 hours, meaning CRA should start at 7pm for heat races, start the CRA main event by no latter than 9:30, and try to finish by no latter than 10pm.  FIT THE SCHEDULE AROUND THIS TIME FRAME if you want to keep or increase the fan base.

1. Start on Time.   To me, On time means pushing the first heat off at 7pm sharp ie the anthem is at 6:55.  I do not believe the first heat pushed off till 7:10 last Saturday, lost 10 minutes.

2.  Push the cars off in the order they start the race.  Instead of running several laps trying to line up the cars, they can start the first time by, or at worst the 2nd time by.  Running several laps at PAS under pace car speed for every race adds up.  (Lost at least 10 or more minutes)

3.  I've seen this at SEVERAL tracks that run multiple classes, as soon as the race ends, push off the next race.  I saw 4 classes of racing with 3 or 4 heat races for each class, start at 7 pm and finish by 10 pm at Jacksonville raceway in IL (WOO is racing there Wed).  (could gain 10 minutes in the evening although I gotta say Pas did a better job Sat. Night at this).

 

4.  If you have too, run the heat races for Senior and Young guns, earlier in the night, and just run their mains in the eveining, (Hopefully they get to run their main on a good track)

 

With discussion (sometimes heated), hopefully the promters understand the frustations of some fans, and fans can also understand what promoter go thru.  As a fan, its a hard sell for me to spend $100 to $150 a night (gas/food/tickets/parking), 4 to 5 hours of drive/traffic time (damn 210 traffic in Pasenda keeps getting worse), 4 - 5 plus hours at the track, and getting home past 1 am most nights if not later, thankfully I was home around 12:30 last Saturday This all  MAKES IT A HARD SELL FOR ME TO ATTEND PAS.  But I am more inclined to go, if the PAS finishes the CRA main by 10.  I would hope PAS can find a way to run/finish 4 CRA heats, semi and main within 3 hours,  prefearble sooner.

 

But I do want to finish by saying PAS does put the effort towards a better program.  They should also be complimented for putting the CRA main earlier in the evening, and even with a hot and windy day, the track was really racy for the CRA main.  Thanks for the effort to everyone at the PAS.

 




Nose 2 Tail
MyWebsite
May 07, 2014 at 01:45:19 AM
Joined: 03/07/2011
Posts: 520
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: jdfast on May 06 2014 at 02:26:42 PM

I just wanted to say thanks to EVERYONE at the PAS Saturday Night for a fun night of racing.  It seemed to me, PAS made a conscious effort to speed up the program, especially running the CRA main much earlier.

 

I can be one of the critics of any track, but when a track does something right, I try to compliment them also  Smile

 

My frequency to going to the PAS has been greatly reduced for the last couple years, because of the horrible traffic/long drive home, cost, lack of cars, and the long drawn out night of racing.  PAS can not control the traffic, but its nice to see the effort to finish earlier and i will reward them with more business if they continue doing this.  On the cost side, other tracks have been raising their prices, so the PAS does not seem as expensive as it did, damn inflation is creeping up everywhere it seems.

 

On the other thread, I saw some critism.  I can not say I totally disagree, but ...... PAS is moving in the right direction.

 

The problem is, PAS needs 3 support classes to make a profit, and with 4 classes, no matter what you do it is going to be a long night.

 

Couple of suggestions

 

I think any sporting event should try to finish their event in less than 3 hours, meaning CRA should start at 7pm for heat races, start the CRA main event by no latter than 9:30, and try to finish by no latter than 10pm.  FIT THE SCHEDULE AROUND THIS TIME FRAME if you want to keep or increase the fan base.

1. Start on Time.   To me, On time means pushing the first heat off at 7pm sharp ie the anthem is at 6:55.  I do not believe the first heat pushed off till 7:10 last Saturday, lost 10 minutes.

2.  Push the cars off in the order they start the race.  Instead of running several laps trying to line up the cars, they can start the first time by, or at worst the 2nd time by.  Running several laps at PAS under pace car speed for every race adds up.  (Lost at least 10 or more minutes)

3.  I've seen this at SEVERAL tracks that run multiple classes, as soon as the race ends, push off the next race.  I saw 4 classes of racing with 3 or 4 heat races for each class, start at 7 pm and finish by 10 pm at Jacksonville raceway in IL (WOO is racing there Wed).  (could gain 10 minutes in the evening although I gotta say Pas did a better job Sat. Night at this).

 

4.  If you have too, run the heat races for Senior and Young guns, earlier in the night, and just run their mains in the eveining, (Hopefully they get to run their main on a good track)

 

With discussion (sometimes heated), hopefully the promters understand the frustations of some fans, and fans can also understand what promoter go thru.  As a fan, its a hard sell for me to spend $100 to $150 a night (gas/food/tickets/parking), 4 to 5 hours of drive/traffic time (damn 210 traffic in Pasenda keeps getting worse), 4 - 5 plus hours at the track, and getting home past 1 am most nights if not later, thankfully I was home around 12:30 last Saturday This all  MAKES IT A HARD SELL FOR ME TO ATTEND PAS.  But I am more inclined to go, if the PAS finishes the CRA main by 10.  I would hope PAS can find a way to run/finish 4 CRA heats, semi and main within 3 hours,  prefearble sooner.

 

But I do want to finish by saying PAS does put the effort towards a better program.  They should also be complimented for putting the CRA main earlier in the evening, and even with a hot and windy day, the track was really racy for the CRA main.  Thanks for the effort to everyone at the PAS.

 



Vary well said  and vary true. ,,,, Having the USAC/CRA Sprint car show over buy 10:00  will bring more fans back into the stands. ,,,,, especially the fans that have a long drive home !!!!!   Don K.  please start the show 1 hour earlier. ,,, 6:00 pm . ,,, I think would solve a lot of the problems of running so late. ,,, 6:00 to 10:30. ,,, Thats 4 and half hrs to get all 4 div run. ,,,, PLEASE think it over. ,,,  DON,,,,  Iam sorry for all the bad mouthing. ,,, I just want to get home at a descent time. ,, THANKS . ,,,,,,JOHN JENSEN.



jac15
May 07, 2014 at 03:32:32 PM
Joined: 12/02/2004
Posts: 116
Reply

Dear Nose:

You have made your point over and over and over.The PAS has heard you and the very next race they implemented one of your and others suggestions. Just sit back and give them a chance. If they don't get it to your liking, just SHUT UP AND DON"T COME BACK. 




NonwingMick
May 07, 2014 at 07:49:36 PM
Joined: 03/20/2014
Posts: 2
Reply

Yeah a lot of people talk smack on the way things are being run , but don't realize how much don k is putting out and not getting back. He has kept sprint cars around in so cal through some ruff times and without the pas it wouldnt be here. So I think for one we need to get more people out here especially the younger crowd because a lot of people I talk to never even heard of sprint cars. I took three of my buddys from my neighborhood to the oval nationals and they were hooked. We need more advertising if anything. But I always feel the cra main should run last but I'll be there regardless. Thank don and the pas for always putting on a good show! 



rickrwp
May 08, 2014 at 01:53:17 AM
Joined: 12/05/2004
Posts: 138
Reply

I know this will no doubt piss some people off, but I am sorry, I think some of you SoCal folks are just becoming a bit jaded.  You should be thrilled that you have a facility the caliber of the PAS and traditional 410 Sprint Cars running there.  But instead the biggest bitch around seems to be, oh gosh.... I get home so late!


If you are a real fan of Sprint Cars, you should not really care if you just saw a good race, no matter what time it ended.  I have been down to the PAS for shows and driven all the way home from the races 60 miles north of Sacramento and was thrilled to death because I saw some awesome racing.  I have never looked at attending a race like I would a movie, in that it starts at 6:35pm and ends at 8:55pm, it just does not work like that.

Should you voice your concerns as to how they run their show, yes.  If they waste too much time, they should be told about it.  I also believe that on a night that the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars are running, they should be the finale event of the evening.  Nothing like going down to the track and/or pits after the race to see the guys that made our evening special.  When there are multiple divisions running, the support classes and the preliminary sprint car events should be under strict time constraints, do not allow these classes to take 15 attempts to complete a lap, yes, we have all seen it happen.  If the drivers cannot adjust to the track conditions and put together laps, then throw the checkers and the event is complete, and immediately push off the next event.  The staging and flow of the preliminary events is the biggest area that can waste time in the evening.  There needs to be rules, and if you are not lined up and ready to go, you are OUT.  They will only let that happen once, and learn to be there and be ready.


But I really feel that the Sprint Car Feature needs to be the closing event on nights that they are running, period.  But whatever you do, do not bash the operator of the PAS, you folks down there have something very special, don't let it slip away.  You could be stuck like NorCal where if you want to attend a Sprint Car race... you may have to drive 100 plus miles each way easily just to do it.  In my years when I was a car owner and team member up here in NorCal, 4:00am was the average get home time after a night of racing, and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

I wish the PAS well, and am oh so looking forward to getting down there soon to seem some REAL Sprint Cars running!

 

Rick P



Nose 2 Tail
MyWebsite
May 08, 2014 at 06:57:22 AM
Joined: 03/07/2011
Posts: 520
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: jac15 on May 07 2014 at 03:32:32 PM

Dear Nose:

You have made your point over and over and over.The PAS has heard you and the very next race they implemented one of your and others suggestions. Just sit back and give them a chance. If they don't get it to your liking, just SHUT UP AND DON"T COME BACK. 



Well jac15 , ,,,,, Iam glade to see that you got it. ,,,, Whats it gonna take for the track to get it. !!!!!!!!!  And I cant come back. ,,,, I haven't been there yet this year. !!!!!!! 




BCB64
MyWebsite
May 08, 2014 at 04:48:34 PM
Joined: 12/11/2013
Posts: 32
Reply
Reply to:
Posted By: rickrwp on May 08 2014 at 01:53:17 AM

I know this will no doubt piss some people off, but I am sorry, I think some of you SoCal folks are just becoming a bit jaded.  You should be thrilled that you have a facility the caliber of the PAS and traditional 410 Sprint Cars running there.  But instead the biggest bitch around seems to be, oh gosh.... I get home so late!


If you are a real fan of Sprint Cars, you should not really care if you just saw a good race, no matter what time it ended.  I have been down to the PAS for shows and driven all the way home from the races 60 miles north of Sacramento and was thrilled to death because I saw some awesome racing.  I have never looked at attending a race like I would a movie, in that it starts at 6:35pm and ends at 8:55pm, it just does not work like that.

Should you voice your concerns as to how they run their show, yes.  If they waste too much time, they should be told about it.  I also believe that on a night that the USAC/CRA Sprint Cars are running, they should be the finale event of the evening.  Nothing like going down to the track and/or pits after the race to see the guys that made our evening special.  When there are multiple divisions running, the support classes and the preliminary sprint car events should be under strict time constraints, do not allow these classes to take 15 attempts to complete a lap, yes, we have all seen it happen.  If the drivers cannot adjust to the track conditions and put together laps, then throw the checkers and the event is complete, and immediately push off the next event.  The staging and flow of the preliminary events is the biggest area that can waste time in the evening.  There needs to be rules, and if you are not lined up and ready to go, you are OUT.  They will only let that happen once, and learn to be there and be ready.


But I really feel that the Sprint Car Feature needs to be the closing event on nights that they are running, period.  But whatever you do, do not bash the operator of the PAS, you folks down there have something very special, don't let it slip away.  You could be stuck like NorCal where if you want to attend a Sprint Car race... you may have to drive 100 plus miles each way easily just to do it.  In my years when I was a car owner and team member up here in NorCal, 4:00am was the average get home time after a night of racing, and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

I wish the PAS well, and am oh so looking forward to getting down there soon to seem some REAL Sprint Cars running!

 

Rick P



Thanks for joining the conversation. You have brought some good ideas. You referred to “real sprint car fans” not caring about what time the races end. I agree. Back in the 80’s we had 3000 plus “real sprint car fans” that went to Ascot  almost every Saturday night. Then Ascot closed and we went for 6 years without a local track while Perris was being built. During that time some of those fans drifted away from the sport. Starting in 1996 a lot of the remaining “real sprint car fans” made the pilgrimage to Perris almost every Saturday night. A lot, but not all since some fans that lived less than 30 minutes from Ascot were now 2 plus hours from Perris. Over the next 10 years the number of “real sprint car fans” continued to decline and then the “great recession” just about killed the sport. What is left of those “real sprint car fans” still go to the races but there are not enough of us to make running a sprint car race financially viable for a promoter. I know we have gained a few new fans along the way, but not enough. All promoters had to deal with this problem and they focused on adding more classes with smaller or no purse in order to sell more pit passes. This is a stop gap measure at best because costs continue to rise but there is a finite limit to how many racecars you can put in the pits. Adding “stock cars” and / or “circus acts” (monster trucks, demo derbies, etc,) does not increase crowds because these are, for the most part, 3 different groups of fans and they only like 1 type of show. I give Perris great credit for realizing this and making each of these events a stand alone show. So what we have now is a program that tries to run 4 different open wheel shows in the time frame allowed for a single show. The problem is not the number of cars, it is the number of races. Lets look at the money side of this. 1 filler class racecar in the pits will sell 4 pit passes and will sell about 4 spectator tickets to friends and family of the racer. Lets assume that you have 10 senior sprint cars and 10 young guns. We will ignore the lightning sprints because that is a package deal to the track and the pit passes connected to that class will cover the cost of the package (hopefully!).

4 pit passes X 20 cars X $40.00  = $3200.00

4 tickets X 20 cars X $20.00 (average) = $1600.00

$3200.00 + $1600.00 = $4800.00

Now lets divide $4800.00 by $20.00 average ticket price.

$4800.00 / $20.00 = 240

So all we need to do is sell 240 more tickets to offset the need for the filler classes and go back to a professional CRA only sprint car show. That should be something we can do. Maybe just going to a 3 hour CRA only show would do it. I think a professional show needs at least 30 racecars and it looks like we are just about there now thanks to the new tire rule. These new people will be spectators not fans (see dirttrackautoracing.com for definitions), but we can turn them into fans with a good show run in a timely manner.

One last point. Nobody has talked about the fact that there is a large tract of homes right across the street from Perris. The earlier the noise stops the less ammunition they have to try to shut the track down. If they are able to close Perris, discussing what time the races end is a mute point.

 

shorttrackautoracing.com





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