Pacemakers, Oseola, and Milan Dragway are not opening for the 2021 season. Up untill today I knew for sure about the first 2 mentioned but today they officially announced that Milan Dragway will not be open. Hate to see this as its not like car dealers one closes and another one opens. In the last coule of years I think maybee a coule dozen or more have not opened back up one year to the next, or been bought or sold.

Wish I were wrong, but I think this is going to be a continuing trend. Take care. Tom Worthington

Things are different nowadays than when we grew up. Most kids simply do not care much about racing or many other sports for that matter.

Now you add in the new administration which will bring in higher taxes, higher gas prices, lower wages and more insurance regulation. More EPA restrictions and add in the growth of our population so cities are spreading out on top of tracks quickly. This all makes it harder and harder to run a profitable business as a track.

We just lost a local track that was for sale for 6 million dollars. I knew as a track it was worth about 2 million but due to location the property was worth more and it is now going to be a distribution center for Home Depot or something.

I've stated it here many times, we no longer have a car culture in this country, no longer have a love affair with our cars and that is certain death to all of racing. When the boomers are gone so is drag racing and that day is on the horizon.

Locally, Atco Dragway WILL cease operations and sell to a salvage company as soon as they clear their legal challenges despite the cries from local racers that want to "save" Atco. If you want to save Atco, BUY IT but who in their right mind would buy a drag strip today? Clearly not a smart investor/business man, it's a terrible business model.

You have to figure out a way to draw in a younger group of people to the race track in a budget friendly way. A concert at the race track paired with a pit vehicle race as an example. I’m not saying this needs to be the plan for every weekend of racing, it’s just an idea to bring in new people and try to get them interested in the sport.

Sad days, thats for sure. Racing is changing fast !

quote:

Originally posted by racerdude2054:
You have to figure out a way to draw in a younger group of people to the race track in a budget friendly way. A concert at the race track paired with a pit vehicle race as an example. I’m not saying this needs to be the plan for every weekend of racing, it’s just an idea to bring in new people and try to get them interested in the sport.

Agree.

Orlando and Bradenton are both thriving, and it's not because of the type of drag racing those of us on this forum do. It's the street racing/import/car show/party crowd that is mainly responsible for their success. We as bracket racers enjoy the rewards of the tracks that cater to this crowd with improved facilities, a strong bracket program and specialty events like the recent Pro Mod/Pro Stock race at Orlando and the US Street nationals at Bradenton . Both the tracks mentioned have continued to improve/update their facilities in recent years and are able to run/support a strong bracket program.

You and I may not relate to the patrons that are in actuality keeping these tracks not only open but thriving, but it's a very necessary part of track ownership/management to keep the sport as we know it up and running.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: "The Bender",

In my opinion it appears that the multi purpose facilities probably have the best chance for survival long term, mud sports coupled with concerts and events (example GALOT, SCMP) Rockingham schedule looks more like a fairgrounds than a drag strip for a significant portion of the operating schedule.

I think there will still be a car culture it may not be what we consider it to be but people like performance cars and going fast quickly, there will be an evolution. There will be all electric dominated races held commonly in the future there will be drag racing 40 and 50 years from now. I truly believe it is part of the human spirit. We will have ICE for longer than many believe. We may not recognize much of it but it will exist long after we are gone.

Case in point. Just look at RT66 in Joliet. Closed. Facility cost around 24 million to build.
Those that have been there and ran there know what i am talking about. Main complaint there is Management and that is an understatement. But as we all know economy took a ** due to 19 and the rebound, wait it out. I remember the years of the Super Chevy event there. What a great time with friends and family. For the life of me, i can't even imagine what the property taxes are on that place. Has to be hundreds of thousands.

NASCAR is burning some serious money on both operations there with both tracks being closed.

ROI >> Nothing. Won't be surprised if the operation gets torn down.

Car culture. i think is and has been flat lined to some extent. Now it's my Iphone is better than your Iphone. They could care less. Electric car racing? That's ok, i have grass to cut. The old diehards i hug out with back in the day,hate to say it. Drag Racing contributed to 95% of the divorce cases. Don't *** with the car and the obsession it brings. Me included.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TD3550,

This is just my opinion, but take it for what it’s worth. Within the 20 or so years I’ve been bracket racing, I have noticed this: Years ago, most cars were backhalfed street cars and hardtail dragsters, which were towed 20-30 miles to the local track.. With the 4.99 dragster being impressive.

Over time, the drag racing evolved to Tube Chassis door cars, 4link and front suspended dragsters, 4.50’s are close to normal.. I can certainly understand that someone that just built a 70k dragster isn’t so interested in the $800 to win one race Saturday night program.. No, they (and me) would like to hit a 3+ day race at a quality track, and now have the towing operation to do it.

I certainly agree that car culture is slowing down, but I can‘t deny the amount of bracket cars at several day events.. Just call around some race car builders and see how far out they are to build you a new one… There used to be a movie theatre in every town with 1,000 people, but now the movies are shown in 20+ screen theater complex’s.. I think racing is evolving.. Bigger events at Bigger tracks, which decreases turnout in smaller tracks..

Just my opinion.

We actually have a track reopening here in DFW. The old Redline raceway that has been closed for about 4 years has recently been taken over by Brian "Lump" Self of Pro stock fame with another partner is now I-30 Dragway. The have put a ton of money into the facility including laser diamond grinding the track, new shut down and return road, repaved the pits, fresh coat of paint on everything and also new timing system. There primary focus will be on bracket racing.
This is a FB link to the track.
https://www.facebook.com/I-30-...way-100829588520806/

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
We actually have a track reopening here in DFW. The old Redline raceway that has been closed for about 4 years has recently been taken over by Brian "Lump" Self of Pro stock fame with another partner is now I-30 Dragway. The have put a ton of money into the facility including laser diamond grinding the track, new shut down and return road, repaved the pits, fresh coat of paint on everything and also new timing system. There primary focus will be on bracket racing.
This is a FB link to the track.
https://www.facebook.com/I-30-...way-100829588520806/

That's awesome

Two local tracks hav e mud bogs. tractor pull, drifting and other non drag race events. Both have been here since late 50's. Small tire race where its if someone is going to crash is who is going to crash have great draws.

A bracket race where two cars go down and one get to leave first and almost nobody crash's and destroy 50 or 60k of race car. Is just not interesting to most especially younger crowd. Heck I have guys my age at local store/coffe gathering that think bracket racing is stupid. They grew up watching heads up or class racing where one car was spotted x amount of track and you ran balls to the wall to finish line.

In all honesty i have hard time watching a 3 or 4 hour broadcast of big money race myself. Mostly I watch for people I know and see how they are doing.

Its a hard sale for average crowd. Tracks have to adapt or they will all be gone.

This country has been bleeding 700,000 to 1.2 million jobs a week for a year now.

Yeah, drag strips are gonna be closing, common sense.

Twenty years Sunshine had 300 cars every Friday night 41 times a year, so 400 for a big money race ain't that big a deal.

Twenty years ago there was 3 dragster chassis builders within 50 miles of Sunshine, nothing but 4.70, 4.80, 4.90 dragsters. Worthy, Miller, Mullis.

Elected officials offshored this country to line their pockets green. Then they replaced the wages
from the jobs lost to china, with easy long term subprime credit. So barely anyone would notice.

You can just about put a fork in it, twenty years later.

20 years ago 41 Friday nights a year, you could just pay your bills racing local.

Twenty years from now all the Top Fuel drag racing will be contested in china. All the casino's will be there too.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mike Rietow,

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
We actually have a track reopening here in DFW. The old Redline raceway that has been closed for about 4 years has recently been taken over by Brian "Lump" Self of Pro stock fame with another partner is now I-30 Dragway. The have put a ton of money into the facility including laser diamond grinding the track, new shut down and return road, repaved the pits, fresh coat of paint on everything and also new timing system. There primary focus will be on bracket racing.
This is a FB link to the track.
https://www.facebook.com/I-30-...way-100829588520806/

Good thing they are there too. They are picking up the MWDRS race from Belle Rose.

Tulsa has added a dirt track on the property. It may cause a few dust issues when there is a North wind but man I'm glad for them to have a way to make money so I can keep racing 27 miles from my house.

On another note, does anyone know what the heck is happening at Belle Rose? I read something about the employee/owners life threatened or something to that effect?

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
We actually have a track reopening here in DFW. The old Redline raceway that has been closed for about 4 years has recently been taken over by Brian "Lump" Self of Pro stock fame with another partner is now I-30 Dragway. The have put a ton of money into the facility including laser diamond grinding the track, new shut down and return road, repaved the pits, fresh coat of paint on everything and also new timing system. There primary focus will be on bracket racing.
This is a FB link to the track.
https://www.facebook.com/I-30-...way-100829588520806/

When you are there, go to Dallas Karting Complex as well. The owners are great and it's a great time when the drag strip isnt running.....

Credit cards and stimmy checks is the only major manufacturing going on in this country. De-industrialized


What could go wrong?



China cargo lined up for the stimmy checks.


What could go wrong?

This is common sense stuff, but it just goes to show just how effective the abomination mainstream media is, at shaping perspectives.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mike Rietow,

Abomination on every street corner and winning positions of leadership using trickery, deceit and lies, in God's country.

What could go wrong?

Yes i am boomer and 1320racer is probably pretty accurate as to the future of a whole lot of race tracks. I realize things always are changing and nothing stays the same. For me and probably alot of others on here its the only thing that I really know to do and be involved in. Dragracers are good, and all know what you mean when you say turned it a .001 red, all can relate when you say tightened up to .005 finish line. Sometimes in a conversation with a non racer I want to ask as to what they are talking about has to do with E.T. and M.P.H

When I moved to North Carolina, I noticed that out here the tracks seem to rotate off on events. So there is a bracket race every weekend somewhere, a grudge event/no time, no prep, and pro mod show almost every weekend. Its kind of cool because they pass the wealth around to each other, while keeping all the racers happy for the most part.

I know its only realistic if you can get track owners/racers all on the same page, which is nearly impossible. However, it seems to be working here atleast.