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

Ok, without flaming or anything...  When i took my daughter with me to ISW she discovered the little playground behind the bleachers at Gas City, and i know that Lincoln has a sandbox in the infield, but do any other tracks have anything like that at them?  Isn't there some sort of something back behind the grandstands and concessions at Port?     Is there anyplace else?    Don't matter what they run there just looking for info.  Thanks

the ins companies detest playgrounds at race tracks,,,paul

Yeah i know......    the most expensive ride to insure at the fair is the moonbounce.................... but just looking 

LoneStar Speedway in Kilgore TX has a playground area for kids. It's been in place for about 4 years and haven't really had any problems. But we request adults supervise their child, so that seems to keep things in check.

i90 Speedway in Hartford, SD used to have a playground. It has been a few years since I have been to a race there so I am not sure if they still do or not.

I-96 Speedway has a playground and a large sandbox for kids.

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Atomic Speedway in Ohio has had a playground for a long time now.  The Nier family installed it during their first ownership tenure.

Signature here.

Deer Creek Speedway has a sandbox.

  Sunset Speedway in Banks, Oregon has a play area.  My daughter would takes binoculars so she can watch me from the top of the slide!

34 raceway at Burlington,Ia had a playground inc an old late model kids could sit in. Not sure if it is still there as I am usually in the pits.

new egypt (nj) speedway has a playground between the bleachers in turn 1

The funny thing about the sandbox at Lincoln is that more kids race around it than play in it.  Quite entertaining at times.

Lake of the Ozarks had one, not sure they are even open these days, think not.....

I have a problem with playgrounds at race tracks.

1) Our sport needs the kids to want to go to the track because of the racing, not because there's a playground

and

2) Parents need to want to take their kids to the track to share and enjoy the racing with them, not because the track provides a free babysitter.

My $.02 anyway.

Thats your opinion.... and your welcome to it.    i take that comment kinda personal in a way ....   What i am trying to do is get my kid to "get into" racing... i have know need for free babysitters... But asking for info about tracks that have alternatives for when the attention span lags..... what should i do?  Should i leave after the bmain because my kid is starting to get bored and wants to walk around?   Or do i go to a place like (it seems) new egypt where i could sit near turn one and look over and keep an eye on my kid playing with other kids that are just as bored.... eventually i hope she will be able to sit through an entire show. I still remember playing under the bleachers at the fairgrounds as a kid....  Maybe promoters and track owners would look for ways to get more families to track. i mean cheap admission is nice but not if i would have to leave early.     I love the fact that tracks have the family seating sections to keep the drunks away. (nothing wrong with having acouple at the track, but the loud combative sloppiness is).   I applaud all the measures that promoters use...big wheel races, and contests or whatever.   but i guess those are just ways for parents to use the tracks as a free babysitter.....  If going to a track and her hanging out with some kid her age between heats and whatnot gets her and me to the track, then i am all for it.   Heck i could leaver her home with her mother, but i would like to expose her to some things that i like too.   She likes to go golfing with me because sometimes i let her drive the cart...if thats what it takes thats what i will do...  And if she truly don't like going to the track i will go back to the outdoor movie nights like i have for the last 5 years.

Todd,

We don't all use the playground as a free babysitter.  I took my 4-year-old son to his first race this past weekend at Atomic, and I used the same guidelines that I do with my daughter (who is 7).  I let them play up until qualifying is over, then it's time to go sit down and watch the races.  I always stay at or near the playground to keep an eye on them while also keeping an ear/eye on what is happening on the track.  I also want to get my kids into racing, and the playground helps because that's something they already like to do.  They do ask to go back a couple of times after we go sit down, but we stay put and otherwise they don't have any issues watching the show.  Unfortunately I think there are some parents who let the kids run around unsupervised, though.

Signature here.

As a parent, I think having a playground at the track is a bad idea (you want to watch the races, they want to play - neither of you will be happy before the night is over).

Here are the issues of some of the ones I've seen:

1) located in a TERRIBLE area, right along the frontstretch down by turn #1 -- supposedly so you can leave your kids there and yet you can still se them from your seats -- hate to say this, but that is an accident waiting to happen (most tracks don't have fencing suffiient enough to keep a car (or parts and pieces) from going into that area if they have a bad accident.

2) lack of respect.  National Anthem is being played (or sung) and the "parents" down there with their kids are just letting them run around and scream while they check their Facebook page on their phone

3) How does it create a new generation of race fans??  THe ones I've seen the kids get tired or mad and I see the parents grab their stuff and they all go home (the kids are watching ZERO races

4) unsupervised children -- I'm not talking 12 year olds, I've seen 3 and 4 year olds dropped off at some of these "playgrounds" while mom and dad go the beerstand and to find a place to sit

From an insurance standpoint, I'd think they'd be a nightmare for promotors (at least if they actually told their insurance company about them) -- lots more "chance" of someone being hurt and paying out a claim

Wishbone and Jake B, your points are well taken.  I made the mistake of lumping everyone who wants a playground (or a similar alternatives) at the track into a bad catagory.  I've seen first hand the parents that simply dump their kids at the gate and head to the beer stand, completely forgetting the kids until it's time to go home.  Obviously, you guys aren't in that category and I commend that.  My opinion stated above was painted with a very large brush.  I'm sorry for that.  Please...continue bringing your kids to the track!  Hopefully, you can find the mix that keeps them interested and coming back for the racing!

Vande, you and I have many of the same concerns.

Todd

Atomic Speedway has great play area and security is stationed next to it.  I've been taking my son to the races his entire life.  When he first started walking I would bring or buy a toy sprint car for him to play with on the bleachers.  He had a blast and made friends we've ran into at other track throughout Ohio, Indiana & Illinois.  He loved to go to the pits after the races from an early age.

If you're in Western IN check out Hulman Mini Speedway in Terre Haute.  Nice play area and kids racing on dirt.  We've raced there many times and the club is very friendly.

Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, WI has a large sandbox on the backstretch between the grandstands and the parking/tailgating area.  My grandkids used to go down and play during breaks and door banger races and then come running up to our seats when the sprint cars were pushed off.  My son and I would sit right above the sand box so we could keep an eye on them.  Playground can be good or bad, but for us it was a good way to keep the kids busy when they weren't interested in the action on the track, but the track was the main focus.