Forum: Northern California Sprint Car (go)
Moderators: StuDeedooo

A committee has been formed in Calistoga and has met at the fairgrounds for the past three months working on ways to make racing at the famed half mile more fun for the fans and the drivers. Spreading the word of the upcoming race dates has been a priority. The old school sandwich board sign that Louie Vermeil parked on Foothill Blvd before race weekends has been revamped and multiplied. The new signs will be placed at all roads leading to Calistoga. A new banner will hang over main street and a website is in the works so that fans can log on and see whats going on and possibly add their own special photos from past races.

Another project in the works is a race program that also mirrors the past. The program should keep fans informed of drivers and their car numbers, along with photos and the sponsors that are making it all possible.

Program ads start at ONLY $125 and include two tickets to one of the first three races. If you want to help out the competitors directly, then you can sponsor a heat race. Heat race sponsors will also get an ad in the program along with tickets, recognition over the PA as the heat race takes to the track and more. If you would like to be a part of the race program at Calistoga, please contact Fair Manager, Patty Sereni ASAP at 707-942-5111.

Besides trying to raise heat race money for the drivers, the track has also secured the extra lights for turns three and four.

If you haven't heard, the Dirt Modifieds will be making their first ever appearance on the half mile at Calistoga. This is another area that the track is testing to see if they can bring some new fans and drivers the the historic facility. The Dirt Modifieds put on huge shows on half mile tracks all over the Midwest, but this will be a first time challenge for some of the Northern California racers. Most race tracks run a support series or multi divisions and we are excited to see what kind of action these guys bring in May.

You can never be sure what kind of results you will see when changes are made, but the bottom line is that these people are putting in a solid effort to improve racing at Calistoga. They have been putting up race posters all over the area. They hope to bring back some of the off track fun with some lucky number prizes in the grandstands, a pancake breakfast, and big screen TV to watch the INDY 500. They have kept the ticket prices at $20 for adults and $10 for kids 4-10 (under 4 is still FREE). So come out to Calistoga over Memorial Day Weekend (May 23 & 24) and join in the fun as The Golden State 410 Sprinters and Dirt Modifieds take to the track.

Good to see a committee trying to improve the racing at Calistoga Speedway. I appreciate the effort to keep Calistoga alive.

I would like to suggest a few things for the committee.

If I can remember correctly, the area where the gate leads into the track, there use to be an in and out gate leading into the grandstands on the fence right by the gate. Crews, drivers, family members, etc. were able to cross the track and go into the grandstand area to eat or watch the races and then head back into the pit/track area between races. Trying to watch the races from the infield is very difficult on this beautiful half mile track. If you want to go to the grandstand with a pit pass ($35-$40) that you already purchased, they want you to purchase a grandstand ticket to be able to enter the grandstand ($35/40 plus $20 admission ticket = $55/60). And by the time you walk around to the front gate/and back, you’ve missed some of the racing. I can understand if the grandstands are full and there are no seats but that is not the case at Calistoga on most events-there are lots of general admission seats vacant. Does anyone who purchases a pit pass agree?

Another thing, getting the kids involved – the future to our sports. If you can get companies to sponsor a heat race trophy (and these trophies do not need to be big ones 6” tall or smaller), these trophies are given to a young fan. During the break (it doesn’t have to be after each race) the drivers comes to the fence to gives it to a lucky young fan. This lucky fan can come into the pits and get his trophy autographed by the driver who gave it to them-connecting the fans and drivers. And like most kids, they want to come back to the races because they are thinking I want another trophy, or one who didn’t get one will be thinking I want to go to the races because the drivers is giving away their heat trophies. (Think from a young fan’s view)

Trivia questions are always great to have for the fans, and the prizes can be a free hotdog, popcorn, fountain drink etc., what does it cost the track less then a $1.00 per prize?

Sitting in the grandstand and watching the kids run up to the announcer booth to answer the trivia question, or to get a trophy from the driver, or what ever the track has going on to get the fans involve, it is usually a crowd of the younger generation.

Programs, keep the purchase cost reasonable ($2/3 is reasonable). Remember what it cost a person to attend the races already - gas $30/50 to get to the track, ticket price $20, track food- $15/20 a night. Looking from my point, can I afford another $5.00 for a program or would I rather use the $5.00 for food/beer? I think I will use it toward food.

Looking forward to the races at Calistoga and hope to see some good changes.
Thank you again for your effort on keeping Calistoga Speedway alive. We would hate to see Calistoga Speedway close down like Manzanita Speedway.

Thanks for the input oldtimeracer. I will pass it along on Tuesday night at the next meeting.

I have been hearing that atleast 30 Dirt Modifieds have shown interest and or pre-entered, if so who is expected? Also what organization is running the modifieds? tech?

Actually they limited the number of Dirt Modifieds to a maximum of 30 entries and they have pre-registered. From what I have been told they will run under the same rules as they do at most of the local short tracks. Since the officials are those from the Golden State Challenge Series, I would expect them to run under the rules that Padjen has at Silver Dollar and Placerville. If you need to double check, please call the Napa County Fairgrounds at 707-942-5111

Thanks RacerX3C and the Committee for your continued efforts @ Calistoga! Can't wait for a return visit by USAC/CRA and Midgets later this year.

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

Only 30 mods? Why the limit? GSC 410's will only draw 20 cars so why not let 40 or 50 mods race.

Calistoga has a agreement with the city of Calistoga to attempt to finish there shows earlier than 11 p.m. Much earlier I believe. With this being the first time that the mods have come to Calistoga I think there was concern that the show may go long. Keep in mind this type of race car has never seen this track so it could be interesting. If all goes well this year I would expect that more cars will be aloud in the years to come. All in all 20 sprints and 30 mods, it should be an entertaining night of racing.

Im with you Oakland on this one, only 30 Mods? What a joke! What if Tony Stewart shows up, are you going to tell him that he isnt pre-entered, therefore he cannot run? At both Antioch and Watsonville I have spoken to several Mod drivers who were very much looking forward to running at Stoga. With none of them having heard anything about pre-registering and or how to get to the big half-mile! I cant see them turning away cars with how starved for cars we have been at GSC races this year. Who has pre -registered? Maybe one of them would be willing to sell their spot to the highest bidder!!! lmao

Someone is already trying to do that, but there is a waiting list at the Napa County Fairgrounds and if someone backs out, the next guy on the list gets first dibs.

Any updated on your meeting? Access to the grandstand if you have a pit pass?

Looking forward for an enjoyable weekend in the wine country.

I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Life has been a little crazy. I'm sorry but the answer is No, you can't go from the pits to the stands with your pit pass. The reasons are because you have to cross the track to get it and out (unlike some tracks where they pit outside the race track) and because some people like to go into the stands and drink beer and then go back into the pits.

You can see so much better from the stands and it's half the cost, so I hope you just go in the stands and have a good time. (Thanks to cell phones, it's like my wife is right there in the pits with me)

Just another point of view. Watching Dirt Mods at Calistoga has zero appeal for me. I'd much rather watch a GSC/Civil War doubleheader. Now that would have me pitching my tent for the weekend!

After getting a taste of them in action at Chico, I expect the 30 Dirt Modifieds signed up now are going to to be all the tracks curfew can handle.