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Topic: SANTA MARIA RACEWAY
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December 22, 2014 at
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This message was edited on
December 22, 2014 at
01:25:58 AM by ljennings
The following article was posted on December 17th, 2014, in the Santa Maria Sun - Volume 15, Issue 41
http://www.santamariasun.com/biz-spotlights/12603/spotlight-on-santa-maria-raceway-/
Spotlight on: Santa Maria Raceway
Mike Kappmeyer, promoter
BY DAVID MINSKY
The stands of the Santa Maria Speedway have been comparatively empty in the last few years. But Mike Kappmeyer plans to change that.
The owner of MRK Motorsports, Kappmeyer was hired in November as the racetrack’s new promoter. He wants to bring it back to the glory days of Doug Fort, who founded the track 50 years ago and whose reign attracted thousands to the races every weekend. Fort’s widow, Nettie, still maintains ownership of the track.
Mike Kappmeyer, the new promotor of the Santa Maria Speedway, said the racetrack is coming back and will be better than ever.
With business acumen and a little bit of luck, Kappmeyer thinks he should be able bring the same business to the racetrack as Fort did.
The speedway, which actually sits in Nipomo, is a one-third mile dirt track that hosts races sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Association (ICMA). The track can host several IMCA divisions, including 360 sprint car class, hobby stock, straight stock, pro-stock, IMCA modified, sport mods, and the list goes on.
To prepare for the upcoming season, Kappmeyer is changing a few things. He said he tore down two-thirds of the buildings. For replacements, a shipping company donated a few cargo containers, which will be modified with windows and doors. One will be used for an office building, while another will be used for a concession stand decked-out with new paint and flooring. The entire kitchen is being remodeled, too.
Kappmeyer is also taking the pit areas and moving them from the inside of the track to the outside. He’s using a portion of the parking lot to accommodate the new change. He’s also building a one-fifth mile go-kart track that will be placed inside the main track.
And there will be a lot of new faces. Kappmeyer is bringing in his daughter, who will be doing accounting and management; his grandson, who is also a racer; his granddaughter and wife will help run the track as well. This pretty much makes it a family business. He’s also looking to hire about 15 to 20 trusty employees to help him run the track.
Kappmeyer himself is a bit of a racer, and got really into the sport decades ago. He recalls the memorable experience of pitting for Rick Mears in the Baja 500, a grueling 500-mile off-road journey through the Baja California peninsula. On the side he also owned a plumbing business. Now retired, Kappmeyer is living his dream of running a track.
“I’ve always wanted to have a track,” Kappmeyer said. “I retired at age 50. That’s why I got my grandson into it. It’s hard to find first-generation racers.”
Running a track takes money and sponsorship. There’s been renewed interest in bringing the track to what it used to be. According to Kappmeyer, some of the main sponsors are Dunn-Edwards Paints, Coors Light, and Carr Winery. That’s another change: wine. As far as adult beverages go, spectators can now enjoy the races with wine, rather than just beer.
The racetrack will be able to seat approximately 2,000 spectators. Races will be hosted every Friday with some on Saturdays and Sundays, during the season, which runs April through October. Kappmeyer said that tickets will be around $16.
He added that there’s still a lot of work to be done before the track is ready, but keep on the lookout for upcoming advertisements. When the track is finished, Kappmeyer wants people to come see the changes for themselves, adding that he will be starting race car driving classes, too.
“People need to come out and watch a race and get in a race car,” he said.
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December 22, 2014 at
12:48:49 PM
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Don't see how he expects to fill the stands if he can only attract locals or retirees...
Plenty of Drivers / Crews / Fans have to work Fridays. I know I am not up for the six hour drive after work on a Friday opposed to the two to two and a half hour drive on a Saturday...
Conversly. It is nice to see someone trying something different. Even if it doesn't make sense to me. I hope im just stirring up doom and gloom where these isn't any.
Good Luck. Hope it works out... See you at the races if I ever get a friday off that coincides with something worth driving from Los Angeles to Santa Maria is on.
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December 22, 2014 at
09:41:19 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: ljennings on December 22 2014 at 01:25:28 AM
The following article was posted on December 17th, 2014, in the Santa Maria Sun - Volume 15, Issue 41
http://www.santamariasun.com/biz-spotlights/12603/spotlight-on-santa-maria-raceway-/
Spotlight on: Santa Maria Raceway
Mike Kappmeyer, promoter
BY DAVID MINSKY
The stands of the Santa Maria Speedway have been comparatively empty in the last few years. But Mike Kappmeyer plans to change that.
The owner of MRK Motorsports, Kappmeyer was hired in November as the racetrack’s new promoter. He wants to bring it back to the glory days of Doug Fort, who founded the track 50 years ago and whose reign attracted thousands to the races every weekend. Fort’s widow, Nettie, still maintains ownership of the track.
Mike Kappmeyer, the new promotor of the Santa Maria Speedway, said the racetrack is coming back and will be better than ever.
With business acumen and a little bit of luck, Kappmeyer thinks he should be able bring the same business to the racetrack as Fort did.
The speedway, which actually sits in Nipomo, is a one-third mile dirt track that hosts races sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Association (ICMA). The track can host several IMCA divisions, including 360 sprint car class, hobby stock, straight stock, pro-stock, IMCA modified, sport mods, and the list goes on.
To prepare for the upcoming season, Kappmeyer is changing a few things. He said he tore down two-thirds of the buildings. For replacements, a shipping company donated a few cargo containers, which will be modified with windows and doors. One will be used for an office building, while another will be used for a concession stand decked-out with new paint and flooring. The entire kitchen is being remodeled, too.
Kappmeyer is also taking the pit areas and moving them from the inside of the track to the outside. He’s using a portion of the parking lot to accommodate the new change. He’s also building a one-fifth mile go-kart track that will be placed inside the main track.
And there will be a lot of new faces. Kappmeyer is bringing in his daughter, who will be doing accounting and management; his grandson, who is also a racer; his granddaughter and wife will help run the track as well. This pretty much makes it a family business. He’s also looking to hire about 15 to 20 trusty employees to help him run the track.
Kappmeyer himself is a bit of a racer, and got really into the sport decades ago. He recalls the memorable experience of pitting for Rick Mears in the Baja 500, a grueling 500-mile off-road journey through the Baja California peninsula. On the side he also owned a plumbing business. Now retired, Kappmeyer is living his dream of running a track.
“I’ve always wanted to have a track,” Kappmeyer said. “I retired at age 50. That’s why I got my grandson into it. It’s hard to find first-generation racers.”
Running a track takes money and sponsorship. There’s been renewed interest in bringing the track to what it used to be. According to Kappmeyer, some of the main sponsors are Dunn-Edwards Paints, Coors Light, and Carr Winery. That’s another change: wine. As far as adult beverages go, spectators can now enjoy the races with wine, rather than just beer.
The racetrack will be able to seat approximately 2,000 spectators. Races will be hosted every Friday with some on Saturdays and Sundays, during the season, which runs April through October. Kappmeyer said that tickets will be around $16.
He added that there’s still a lot of work to be done before the track is ready, but keep on the lookout for upcoming advertisements. When the track is finished, Kappmeyer wants people to come see the changes for themselves, adding that he will be starting race car driving classes, too.
“People need to come out and watch a race and get in a race car,” he said.
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Friday is fine for someone who is retired like myself but no way will you get 2000 people there on a Friday. Those that have to travel any distance including drivers and fans it will very difficult. Could that be a misprint? I hope so for management.
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December 22, 2014 at
09:50:21 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: ljennings on December 22 2014 at 01:25:28 AM
The following article was posted on December 17th, 2014, in the Santa Maria Sun - Volume 15, Issue 41
http://www.santamariasun.com/biz-spotlights/12603/spotlight-on-santa-maria-raceway-/
Spotlight on: Santa Maria Raceway
Mike Kappmeyer, promoter
BY DAVID MINSKY
The stands of the Santa Maria Speedway have been comparatively empty in the last few years. But Mike Kappmeyer plans to change that.
The owner of MRK Motorsports, Kappmeyer was hired in November as the racetrack’s new promoter. He wants to bring it back to the glory days of Doug Fort, who founded the track 50 years ago and whose reign attracted thousands to the races every weekend. Fort’s widow, Nettie, still maintains ownership of the track.
Mike Kappmeyer, the new promotor of the Santa Maria Speedway, said the racetrack is coming back and will be better than ever.
With business acumen and a little bit of luck, Kappmeyer thinks he should be able bring the same business to the racetrack as Fort did.
The speedway, which actually sits in Nipomo, is a one-third mile dirt track that hosts races sanctioned by the International Motor Contest Association (ICMA). The track can host several IMCA divisions, including 360 sprint car class, hobby stock, straight stock, pro-stock, IMCA modified, sport mods, and the list goes on.
To prepare for the upcoming season, Kappmeyer is changing a few things. He said he tore down two-thirds of the buildings. For replacements, a shipping company donated a few cargo containers, which will be modified with windows and doors. One will be used for an office building, while another will be used for a concession stand decked-out with new paint and flooring. The entire kitchen is being remodeled, too.
Kappmeyer is also taking the pit areas and moving them from the inside of the track to the outside. He’s using a portion of the parking lot to accommodate the new change. He’s also building a one-fifth mile go-kart track that will be placed inside the main track.
And there will be a lot of new faces. Kappmeyer is bringing in his daughter, who will be doing accounting and management; his grandson, who is also a racer; his granddaughter and wife will help run the track as well. This pretty much makes it a family business. He’s also looking to hire about 15 to 20 trusty employees to help him run the track.
Kappmeyer himself is a bit of a racer, and got really into the sport decades ago. He recalls the memorable experience of pitting for Rick Mears in the Baja 500, a grueling 500-mile off-road journey through the Baja California peninsula. On the side he also owned a plumbing business. Now retired, Kappmeyer is living his dream of running a track.
“I’ve always wanted to have a track,” Kappmeyer said. “I retired at age 50. That’s why I got my grandson into it. It’s hard to find first-generation racers.”
Running a track takes money and sponsorship. There’s been renewed interest in bringing the track to what it used to be. According to Kappmeyer, some of the main sponsors are Dunn-Edwards Paints, Coors Light, and Carr Winery. That’s another change: wine. As far as adult beverages go, spectators can now enjoy the races with wine, rather than just beer.
The racetrack will be able to seat approximately 2,000 spectators. Races will be hosted every Friday with some on Saturdays and Sundays, during the season, which runs April through October. Kappmeyer said that tickets will be around $16.
He added that there’s still a lot of work to be done before the track is ready, but keep on the lookout for upcoming advertisements. When the track is finished, Kappmeyer wants people to come see the changes for themselves, adding that he will be starting race car driving classes, too.
“People need to come out and watch a race and get in a race car,” he said.
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I forgot one more problem and that is parking. If fan parking is going to be reduced you will never be able to handle parking for the fans. It was a mess last year when special attractions were being run. Cars were parked every which way and there was one night where it was almost impossible to get in or out.
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December 22, 2014 at
10:12:21 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: RAYO on December 22 2014 at 09:50:21 PM
I forgot one more problem and that is parking. If fan parking is going to be reduced you will never be able to handle parking for the fans. It was a mess last year when special attractions were being run. Cars were parked every which way and there was one night where it was almost impossible to get in or out.
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i have herd the fri nite deal is a misprint , sat nite racing . besides that , lets give these guys a chance to prove before we tell them how to do it ...
Drama , Controversy , Rivalry
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December 23, 2014 at
12:02:39 AM
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Personally I do not agree with the CRA back to back shows during the 4th of July weekend. Santa Maria will not benefit in my opinion. 410 Car count will be lower at SM than Perris. Lets hope this is not true. SCS
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December 23, 2014 at
01:25:47 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: SCS on December 23 2014 at 12:02:39 AM
Personally I do not agree with the CRA back to back shows during the 4th of July weekend. Santa Maria will not benefit in my opinion. 410 Car count will be lower at SM than Perris. Lets hope this is not true. SCS
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they will be running a sprintcar class at SMS this season as well as the USAC-CRA races . this is what local racers want to hear ! i would like to thank the new management for this ....
Drama , Controversy , Rivalry
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December 23, 2014 at
12:46:56 PM
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Reply to:
Posted By: bentaxle on December 22 2014 at 10:12:21 PM
i have herd the fri nite deal is a misprint , sat nite racing . besides that , lets give these guys a chance to prove before we tell them how to do it ...
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Mike has confirmed that it is a misprint. I do not believe that I was telling him what to do, only giving my opinion on two problems, one whichhe did not cause. Have met him, like him and have every confidence he will do a great job.
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December 23, 2014 at
03:16:04 PM
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In this day and age, I am thankful for anybody willing to take on the role of keeping a track open. I've never been to Santa Maria, but hope to get up there this year for a show.
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December 23, 2014 at
04:38:58 PM
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I agree with John. The fact that this track will be open in 2015 is a blessing. The off-season of 2013/2014 killed too many dirt bullrings, and unfortunately it sounds like some others may be following suit soon. I hope not.
From what I've been told, a local IMCA Sprint Car series is something that did well for the Santa Maria Speedway in the past. Hopefully it will reap similar benefits for Mr. Kappmeyer. I just hope that the rules package does not differ too much from the rules packages of the USAC West Coat & Southwest Series, USAC Western Classic Series, PAS Young Guns, PAS Senior Sprints, VRA Sprint Cars, and whatever the VanderWeerds will be running at Kings this year. The "360s", "Restricted 410s", "Spec Sprints" and "Limited Sprints" are becoming too diverse and thin. I'd like to see all the promoters eventually loosen up the rules packages or make them more universal, so that you can tow your "Limited Sprint Car" to any of these tracks and run with any of these sanctioning bodies without spending a ton of money on restrictors, tires, mufflers, etc. to conform.
I wish Mr. Kappmeyer the very best in his efforts. From the press release, it sounds like he has the very best of intentions and is genuinely interested in making positive changes to bring back the "glory days" of Santa Maria Speedway and provide good racing events for families and participants to enjoy!
I am very excited to return to this track as a fan. The racing has always been super on the Central California clay oval. If there is a chance for me to return to the booth on the mic during these Sprint Car shows, I would certainly reserve the spots on my calendar for that as well...(hint, hint)!
Here's to a prosperous 2015!
Doug Bushey
Passionate Fan / Announcer / Media & Public Relations
Agent
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December 24, 2014 at
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I wish Mike Kappmeyer and his crew all the best. Santa Maria Speedway is an iconic track going all the way back to my youth. I hope he can put some "Doug Fort shine" back on it.
www.racedayreporter.com
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December 24, 2014 at
06:45:24 PM
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The off-season of 2013/2014 killed too many dirt bullrings? Only one I know of was Hanford, and that is running again thanks to the saintly Mr. Van Der Weerd.
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December 28, 2014 at
10:25:00 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: davemahar on December 24 2014 at 06:45:24 PM
The off-season of 2013/2014 killed too many dirt bullrings? Only one I know of was Hanford, and that is running again thanks to the saintly Mr. Van Der Weerd.
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when will the 2015 SMS schedule be out ?
Drama , Controversy , Rivalry
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December 30, 2014 at
11:27:53 AM
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Reply to:
Posted By: davemahar on December 24 2014 at 06:45:24 PM
The off-season of 2013/2014 killed too many dirt bullrings? Only one I know of was Hanford, and that is running again thanks to the saintly Mr. Van Der Weerd.
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...and Orange Show Stadium (dirt), Route 66 Raceway (formerly VRP...formerly VAR), Thunder Raceway (AZ), Prescott Valley Raceway (AZ) and several other dirt oval tracks throughout the country that went dark during 2013 and into 2014.
Doug Bushey
Passionate Fan / Announcer / Media & Public Relations
Agent
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December 31, 2014 at
03:31:46 PM
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anyone know what the engine rule will be at SMS for the 360 class . i sure wish we could get away from this ascs concept , that engine does not help budget minded racers .
Drama , Controversy , Rivalry
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January 01, 2015 at
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Reply to:
Posted By: bentaxle on December 31 2014 at 03:31:46 PM
anyone know what the engine rule will be at SMS for the 360 class . i sure wish we could get away from this ascs concept , that engine does not help budget minded racers .
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I assume same as West Coast series since two of the races are with West Coast series and are also SM points races.
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January 05, 2015 at
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Has any information been presented regarding the purse for the Santa Maria 360 sprints?
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January 23, 2015 at
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Only one I know of FIFA 15 Coins was Hanford, and that is running again thanks to the saintly Mr. Van Der Weerd.
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