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

Just an observation at Haubstadt WOO show Saturday night. The feature was done a little after 8:30pm and the fans went to the gates outside the pit area to come in and see their favorite drivers and teams after the modified race which ended around 9:12pm. I notice most teams in a hurry to load up and high tail it out of there leaving before the fans could come meet them. Years ago the drivers sold their shirts and autographed them after the races in the pits and built a bond with their fans. I'm sure every one of those drivers and teams were that little boy or girl that waited to see their driver. They should not forget their raisen and what it was like for them at that age. These new fans will never get to experience what they got to experience as a kid growing up and thats something the drivers should think about. Pass it forward. Now for the fan that cannot stick around the T-shirt trailer works good so the fans can pick up a shirt earlier in the night and not have to wait. I know everyone is tired at the end of the night but don't forget without the fans we as racers and teams are nothing. There were a few teams that stuck around but not very many and I compliment the ones that stayed and met the fans. Just somethin to think about - For much is given, much is expected.

Mayby they do want the risk of the ever loving virus? I cant blame them for that.

They can also be ordered on line and all the"new" fans live on the phone ordering and doing everything anyways....

I tell it like I see it.

It has always bugged me that the t-shirt trailers close up before the fans file out.    I like to buy t-shirts and things on my way back to the car so that I don't have to carry them around all night. 

There must be another reason other than to hurry up and get on the road because it happens everywhere, even if they are parked in the same place the very next night.  I'm not sure how many t-shirts I would own if they did stay open after the races,  but I can think of several times that I WOULD have bought a shirt if I could have on my way out. 

I miss the days when you had to work for that t-shirt, you had to fight for it. You had to get down into the pits along side the pit lizards trying to snag motel keys, and get in line at that curbside trailer door. The really fancy set-ups had a glass case built in to the door. But most had a dirt covered shirt hanging on the rear of the trailer on display. Smart people like me would scope them out with binoculars during the night to see who had the hot new designs. And hopefully the crew guy could find one in your size at the bottom of a plastic tote half crushed underneath a spare axle assembly.  Those were the days. 

And while we're at it. There should be 1 maybe 2 shirt design options MAX. And maybe 1 hat choice. That's it. That's enough. 

Now I'm done. 

I'm so tired of racing shirts being 100% cotton.  Cheap heat pressed tshirts.  You can make dri fit ones now that are just as inexpensive to mass produce.  First driver that starts making nice dri fit material shirts has my business and fan support.  

I was outspoken about them loading up and heading out the gate before the support class Feature was over that I wrote about it a few times in the local column I used to do.  This year, however, I feel is an exception with the virus still spreading.  These guys make their living racing so if a driver comes in contact with an asymptomatic little Johnny who is like a walking petri dish it could put them out of commission and affect their livelihood.  The Outlaws are very mindful of that because these drivers are the whole point of their series.   Not all fans are taking this thing seriously but the touring racing teams and World of Outlaws are as is evident by their lengthy list of requirements in their Covid section on their website.  I wouldn't hold their feet to the fire on greeting fans after the races until this whole thing is over.  

Stan Meissner

you know the same thing happened to us at 81 speedway a couple of weeks ago you soon start losing respect for these drivers.if it wasnt for the fans you wouldnt have a purse.

They have been doing this the past few years way before the virus. We'll see what they do after the media hype is over but my bet is they'll stay on the course they've been doing unless something changes and they get back to ackowledging the kids and fans after the races. They just need to think of how they were at that age wanting to see the cars, drivers and teams. That is one reason I believe the Monster trucks do it right, having the fans down before the event to meet the drivers and trucks. It's as big as life to the kids.

I'm not saying anything accept that I am extremely happy we are racing. I don't blame the drivers one bit for being Cautious or wanting to pack it up and go. Hopefully things will get back to normal before to long.

i have to back up the outlaws because they have always stayed around in pa...if they made the feature anyway which is usually all the drivers you would want to meet.  my son has a binder of probably over 30 autographs and we usually plan out which photos we should print out.  they usually always get signed.  not sure what happened this week and maybe it is related to virus precautions.  i would imagine most people weren't wearing masks or keeping space when waiting for an autograph.  

it's different with the weekly pa races.  they're usually lined up to leave before the 358 or whatever feature is over.  the outlaw or 410 only shows end up being our best chance to meet the local drivers.  we've had trouble meeting tony stewart too since he usually doesn't make the feature.  hopefully he runs better next week.

any word on kyle larson coming in?   

I haven't really had any bad experiences of teams trying to get out of the track quickly and I typcially attend 20-30races a year. Usually the ones leaving immediately are the non transfer drivers which I can understand their frustration and do not really hold that against them. The only time I remember a lot of teams leaving was at Eldora a couple years ago I think either after 4 Crown or the Oct 14 show but that was because the modified race seemed like it took forever. I think  I was more frustrated that I had to watch modifieds "race" than anything since they kept spinning out by themselves and not figuring out where to line up during caution laps. When we made it down to the pits a majority of the teams were packed up but I completely understood at that point.

My experiences over the years have always been good. The Shark boys always are around, Gravel, Kraig, Daryn, Brad especially, Donny, Sheldon,etc and even the All Star guys as well stick around a while. I can't really say at any of the races I have been going too for 12-13years that their has been a team that I thought packed up and high tailed it out of the track fast to avoid fans or for any reason for that matter.

Normally the Outlaws go on last anyway and are outside their trailers a few minutes after the race to sign autographs and take pictures.

The tshirt trailers are usually open when the gates open, that is plenty of time to get merchandise. If you don't want to carry it around, go 10 minutes earlier and buy a shirt and take it back to your car. I don't blame them closing up when they do, they're open 6+ hours, traveling all over the country with the series.

Totally agree!

the pit lizards trying to snag motel keys..... thats funny!

& i thought I was a grouchy old curmudgeon...

Yep

Ditto,   I have not had a chance to go racing (other than a weekly 1/5 mile asphalt taxi cab show featuring 32 total cars in 4 divisions) since the Chili Bowl to see what the "new normal" is.   

I can't wait to walk past a closed t-shirt trailer on my way out the door and grumble to myself about it. 

I used to bring my kids years ago, they're 35, 42, 45, and 49 now so when I say years ago I mean years ago, and I used to get upset when the Outlaws left.  Our track was running the support Feature last and most of them were making a point to pack up and leave before the fans came down there.  I wrote about it in an Outlaw preview once or twice and the paper was distributed at the track so they did see what I wrote.  Now, I'm not sure if they gave a damn what I thought but it did seem to get better after that.  I can understand both sides of this coin, anyone who follows David Gravel's video blog on YouTube can see what it's like to be on the road.  The argument could be made that fans have plenty of time to purchase merch from their merch trailers but I can understand why they'd want to meet the drivers.

It's a tough deal as being on the road is a grueling deal and some of these support classes take forever to run their Features when the Outlaws are done.  My observation is that multi day shows are always the best time to meet the drivers.  Single night deals are hit and miss depending on where they have to be the next day.  Throw in this virus now and I can understand why they'd want to avoid throngs of fans converging on them at the end of the night.  My observation on the PPV races is that people have became lax about personal space.  If and when one or more Outlaw drivers had to quaranteen and miss a few weeks of racing I think it would be more obvious why they're being cautious.  That is a big question right now for starting up stick and ball sports, what happens for example if a team gets hit by an outbreak and can't field an offensive line?  We're fortunate to have racing to watch right now and the last thing we need is for things to shut back down so that is something to think about as well.

Stan Meissner

In the 90's when Kinser, Swindell, Wolfgang, Allen, Davis Jr., Haud, Blaney and several others raced over 100 nights a year in a shorter period of months than they do today and they stayed after the races in their pits meeting the fans. They seemed to still make it happen without the luxuries of today's equipment. Maybe that generation was just tougher back then? Of course if you didn't live in that era you wouldn't know how it was and what your missing.  Maybe it happens it certain areas nowadays but sure doesn't in the midwest.

One of the most accessible and fan friendly drivers these days is Sammy.  Everytime he races he stays late in the pits, in his street clothes, talking to fans and signing all kinds of stuff.  I've been part of that group at various different races.  It's probably easier for him since he only runs a very limited schedule but he is still a good sport about it all.