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

EA - thanks for making the decision easy for me.  Think I'll rent a movie and stay home most Saturday nights this year or go spend my $$ somewhere else.

I respect Cappi as a person (always have and never said I didn't), just don't think he was the "great promotor" that others do.  I respect others in this world for the job they do, but may not respect them as a person (because they would walk over the top of someone to take credit or throw someone under the bus when something isn't working out like they thought).

 It's my opinion and last I checked, we're all entitled to our opinion in this country (maybe I didn't get the memo that that changed).  Your opinion differs from mine, that's fine, it's your opinion.

In my very humble opinion I think that history will show that Ralph Capitani and his direction and foresight was the salvation of the Knoxville Raceway. 

Vande....  You are entitled to your opinion, but I am disappointed and hurt that you feel that way.  You can't say those things about an iconic and beloved man and not expect some backlash.  Cappy, the Fair Board, and current management all deserves more respect than that, especially from a long-time fan like yourself.  I hope we see you at the races this season.

I know fans from all across the country and the world read this message board.  Please don't let a few bad apples here change your perception of Knoxville Raceway or its staff.  We have some of the best people in the world working here, from Stickel and McCoy down to the concession stand and clean up crews.   There are a lot more positives that surround the track than negatives. 

Thank you to all who have praised our push trucks drivers, safety crew, etc. on here.  Everyone cares about the fan experience more than you know and it's a large team of people pulling in the same direction to put on a show for the fans.  We hope to see you all again this Saturday or this summer for a good night of racing and fun.  And I promise that the time issues will be addressed.

Eric Arnold
Social Media Manager & Track Historian
Knoxville Raceway

No one in their right mind could say that Cappy or the fair board or whomever was responsible for taking a race at a track in the middle of a small town in Iowa (that can't seem to support multiple eating establishments year-round) and making it the biggest dirt race in the world wasn't a good promoter.

If you didn't agree with every decision he made, fine, perhaps as he got older he lost a little bit in terms of imagination, but let's face it, he was integral in making Knoxville what it is today.

simple and true

I'm not surprised by the backlash.  Many people only come to Knoxville and didn't or don't have a great promotor to compare him to in their home area (those that I know from PA always held Don Martin from Lernerville way above everyone else and Jack Gunn that way as well).  Sorry that you are disapointed and hurt by it.  I have respect for the people employed by the Raceway ( I respect Cappi as a person, never said I didn't).

Is the current state of Knoxville Raceway dire?  No, but they can still improve (you work in business, you should know that nothing can stay stagnant, your either moving forward and getting better (making better products, improving processes in manufacturing to make better products, or you are stagnant and falling behind your competition).

Does Knoxville have the best push truck drivers, safety crew, etc.?  IMO, yes they do, but others are making strides and quickly catching up to them in some areas.  Again, you can't stay stagnant.

Is the Fairboard and current management doing a good job?  I think they can improve in some areas and are doing great in others.

The Good/Great: 

The addition of debit card/credit card readers in the concession stand was a great improvement (10 years later than they should have done it IMO, but a great improvement) -  and it makes good business sense too.  

Another area that has been getting much better the past few years is the Fair itself.  (been a long time coming)

The #1 improvement area I would identify (I would have put this above the HD video board in Turns 3 & 4 or the one on the frontstretch): 

The women's restrooms (and to a much lesser extent, the men's).  Those should be a palace with tiled walls, HOT WATER, and real bathroom stalls (not OSB that is painted).  Product research shows that over 75% of decisions are made by the woman of the household.  If the bathrooms are gross (by their standards), no matter how much fun they (or the kids they bring with them) had, it will stick in their mind the next time they are making a decision on where to spend their discretionary income.  Do they choose a night at the races or do they choose to go to Wells Fargo Arena to watch the Barnstormers or a concert? 

I've atteneded races from Florida to out in the middle of nowhere Kansas and from Minnesota to Texas.  Watched local Hobby Stock shows to the World of Outlaws and up to IndyCar and NASCAR.   I've seen great promotors and I've seen horrible ones.  Seen well run shows (Knoxville usually fits this bill) and poorly run shows (a lot of those are no longer in existence).  Seen great promotors (they are few and far between) and gate openers (a majority back in the day and few and far between today) and back-gate promotors (thankfully Knoxville has not succombed to this yet, but a majority of promotors are doing this exclusively nowadays). 

Vande....  you just can't help yourself can you.  Nice use of all of parenthesis though.  LOL

Eric Arnold
Social Media Manager & Track Historian
Knoxville Raceway

keep your blinders on and watch yet another generation not become race fans.....take a look around when you are at a weekly show, those ages 20-40 are pretty much non-existent.  It's not because they don't have the money, they spend it elsewhere.

Vandee- you are basically WRONG.  Cappy was not the auditor for the track, so why blame him for short money because of a crook in the office?  Cappy really cared for drivers and teams.  Every time we had a rain out after getting to track we would get a tow money check.  We got tow money once last year and so far once this year.  If you had perfect attendance you got 5 free pits passes for the first race next year.  We now get none.  The 360 teams were getting 5 passes that would get you in pits for $30.00 at 410 nationals, now we get 2 and rest have to pay $50.00 to get in.  You stated that numerous times under Cappy that races got over after 2 AM.  That is a bunch of bunk.  A few times (very few in 20 years) races got over at say 2AM because of RAIN.  Cappy always tried to get a race in if possible.

And your complaint is with the current promotor then.

I said nothing in regards to tow money or anything else on the competitor side.  I'm not a competitor.

I gave my opinion as a FAN.

Vande...  you're like a poop salesman with a mouthfull of samples.  Do you always have to get the last word in?

Eric Arnold
Social Media Manager & Track Historian
Knoxville Raceway

that's funny

So far it looks like Knoxville heard us loud and clear. Wheelpacking the track now and will be hotlapping within minutes of the 6:45 p.m. listed start time.