who is really getting the dirty end of the stick when these tracks start changing the schedules at will an adding special races on short notice? some people set their summer by the track's race schedule when these 2 start trying to take cheap shots at one another we the fans an drivers/owners are the ones suffering an in the end which one will close its doors?

AC, IMO.

The question to me is who has the big pocketbook backing them. I can tell you this even if Jack gets the track back it will never close (that is supposedly a quote). look at it that way. I think the question is who will outlast who as pride kicks in. In my opnion The AC stands are starting to look pretty full on the good weather nights. Of course it is hurting them, but Joe is well backed. You dont think thiose lights and fig 8 are a coincidence. I sure wish we could go back to the good old days.

In that same sense Chad.. do you think the 4/10 mile, scoreboard, lighting, and the new transponder system (I don't even want to know how much that costs to install, I do know that each transponder are about $200-400 depending on which model you use X that by atleast 100 + all the other stuff involved) were just a coincidence at Dixie over the past few years?

If you look around the speedways at the advertisements on the track property, sponsorships for races, advertisements in the lucky number programs, I think Dixie has the slight advantage..I don't want to see either one of them close, and I will be in attendance at AC in the next few weeks... I just stated my opinion...

Dixie seems to be pulling the cars, no question about that.

clearly the spectators and racers are the ones getting the shaft. as stated, autocity is not going to close its doors, im sure dewitt, doering and williamson will make sure of that. kern is giving it one hell of a try to make sure saturdays work for him, however does anyone know if its working as planned? it doesnt sound like hes reached the car counts or spectator counts he had in the past years, so as far as i can see it, it was infact a dumb move on his part. keep in mind too, that autocity gets used sometimes 4 times a week, so its pulling revenue not only from saturdays races but also the other nights, as opposed to kerns one pracitice and one racenight revenue. if youre going to count cars, keep in mind for about the same price you see more show at autocity, and they are pulling half of dixies cars at the end of the night for the features plus their own cars that have been there since the start of the night.

quit thinking "someone is not going to make it" or "one track will shut down." Each track has their own niche. Before 2008, the only thing they had in common was LS and FS. Now mods and Sportsmans have another option. for the racers ,I see it as an improvement. For the fans, it'll probably keep some die-hards out of bankrupcy (sp) with fuel price this high.who can afford to take a family to watch twice in one week? Quit being such dooms day'ers.

Well stated.......Last year they didn't share that many FS and LS anyway. Car counts are down at both tracks. And as far as the fig-8 guys running both, that's a good thing. It helps car counts at both tracks. I hope no one really wants to see either track close, any time a track closes it is bad for "OUR" sport. We all may have our differences with this owner or that owner, but we need as many tracks as possable to stay open and thrive. I would hate to have to take up Ping-Pong cuz the area tracks went down.

No ping-pong here, Maybe R/C nitro cars . Then again thats not cheap either.

Yeah no race fan wants to see a track close, but a whole bunch of us would like to attend races two nights a week like we used to. It isnt necessarily the car count that is killing the tracks as bad as the empty seats are. Oh yeah someone will not make it. Neither track can continue to have all those empty seats you can be as optamistic as you want, but those tracks have about 4-5 months to make enough to pay for the year its very hard to do. I believe one of them eventually will close if they stay on this course. Sorry, but look at the grand stands.

well i have been waiting for this topic to restart since the first week of the season. i knew it would happen sooner or later so let me give you a fans perspective seeings that most of the comments so far have been from racers. this is the first year in MANY years that i have been sticking close to home to watch the races, so i think i can give a pretty honest opinion on what is going on at both tracks. neither track is actually winning this battle so far. my opinion is that the races are better to watch at dixie and the program is ran MUCH more efficiently than auto city is. (remember this is just my opinion). however the bad thing about dixie is the factory stock class is a joke right now because there are not enough cars to make it interesting to watch. the modified car count is down also (maybe because of rule changes?) the races are ok but they need more cars there also. the latemodel class is usually pretty good and has close to full fields every night and the sportsman races are very good when they get enough cars. as for auto city there are 2 things that are significantly better than at dixie. first and foremost is the crowds, i have been to both tracks on the same night 4 times so far this season and auto city has had not only more people but ALOT more people than dixie has had on most nights, i will use the first night they had the figure 8's at auto city as an example. i went to watch the super late models at dixie which i figured would draw a good crowd but auto city blew them away as far as attendance that night. second is the factory stock races at auto city are always very very good even though they have been down on car count also a couple of nights. i guess with both of them running head to head everyone is actually losing in this deal, the sad part is it will probably not change either as kern appears to be set in his ways to stay on saturdays. with as bad as the economy is right now this could get ugly when everything is said and done. oh well lets just hope they both survive.

QUOTE (old84 @ Jun 10 2008, 11:37 PM)

however the bad thing about dixie is the factory stock class is a joke right now because there are not enough cars to make it interesting to watch.

Each track has their own niche, the Factory Stocks seem to always do well at Auto City, as the now Sportsman class at Dixie seems to be the way to go for the 1/4 mile Factory Stock cars... I think you'll see full fields in this division eliminated from Dixie within the near future, and they will convert to the half mile (as a lot already have)

QUOTE (old84 @ Jun 10 2008, 11:37 PM)

the modified car count is down also (maybe because of rule changes?)

The Modified car counts, are down not just at Auto City and Dixie, they are down everywhere. Kalamazoo brings in about 16-17, Dixie 13-15, Auto City 15-16, Whittemore 18-20. (note, all tracks run on Saturdays)

I think the key is, the tracks need to keep their strong suits going. This would be the Lead Sleds at Dixie, and keep continously growing the Sportsman division and they will be fine, as Dixie has never been a Factory Stock track so to speak, that's for Auto City. Clearly in perspective, IMO it depends on what division you're in. If I was a 4/10 mile division, I personally would run Dixie, but if I was a 1/4 mile car, Auto City's 1/4 mile is where it is at.

The economy is tough everywhere, the crowds will balance themselves week to week between the two tracks.. I personally think you can get by with more cars in the pits with a balanced crowd, then a full crowd with a low car count.. A low total car count isn't going to continue to draw them in for long.

I hope everything works out, flawlessly for both tracks and both are open and operating well for many, many, many years to come.

I think tracks need to come up with more inventive ideas. How about racetrack bowling done with a car? Buy ten 55 gallon trash drum's set them up on the frontstretch, seperate them far enough and have someone from the crowd try to knock them down with their vehicle, it can be very interesting, and is a good laugh. (Theres a special trick to doing it right) the only thing would be, you dont have a chance to pick up the spare, just a one shot deal.

you kinda missed my point as far as the modifieds go. i know the car counts are down at these tracks but i was saying that some of the rule changes may be a reason that some cars dont go there anymore. from everything that i have heard and also read on this site they have different rules for some things that other tracks dont have. the easiest way to gain cars is have the same rules as the other tracks do. that would help car count right off the bat. i also think they should do away with the factory stock class if they dont start drawing more cars. who wants to watch 6 or 7 car features anyway. i will also tell you that those 4 nights that i went to both tracks that auto city definitely had more people every time and dixies crowds looked smaller than there regular shows were last year. i will still go to dixie on saturdays first before auto city though because i like the track better.

WELL AC OR DIXIE.....well i hope they both stay open....i hope that dixie goes back to fridays..start the race at 8p..to give drivers a chance to get there after work,so the spectators can go home change clothes and go the races...ac is not closing its doors,the rumor was dixie was going to be sold...as the rumors flew last year ABOUT them going to saterday and kern saying they wernt....ill go with the rumors....ac is doing a great job this year....car counts are down a little but not much...you still have a good feature race with car counts...dixie i couldnt tell you cuz i m protesting dixie until they go back to fridays...but i hope they make it.....

If AC is doing so well on Friday nights, why don't they go to Fridays? Just a question, don't jump my case.. I think one needs to go to the other night, but will we see it, probably not. I would put my money on Kern in a pissing match though, just my opinion.

Gary lets open a dirt track and run the b!tch on Fridays. Well get rich or die trying. I miss the dirt soooooo bad. Maybe theres alot of racers like me still out there, they own a car, but cant afford to race it.

Mine's sitting on jackstands with every intentions of getting it back out, hopefully before the years out, but sponsorship has not been as kind to me as it has in the past. I've lost two thus far this year not because they didnt want to help, becuase they simply couldnt afford it and I'm waiting on another because the economy is rough, I'm just hoping deals can work out soon, I miss the track! Although helping Kyle with the ASA Late Model is keeping my mind off it, and keeping me busy.

I really think your underestimating AC by alot. Make no mistake this is a pissing match and Jack Doering is gonna be the winner if it goes too long. I know he doesnt want the track back but he will not let his lifes work be washed down the tubes. Im sorry Kyle, but you know as well as I do AC shouldn't have to move to Friday. Mike Kern flipped the apple cart over and I'll bet you a hundred bucks he will flinch 1st. You do not offset a half empty grand stand with 10 extra cars. Ac is closer to Flint and that is what matters. You say not to jump on you, but damn your so not seeing what happend here. Mike wanted to and I quote "take the gloves off" For that I cant forgive him. Many people feel the way I do. Not because i care about Mike or Joe, but because I wanted to race Friday and Saturday without spending 150 bucks on fuel. Dixie will be bought if Mike knows what is good for his pocket, and Ill bet whoever buys it moves back to Friday. There is some serious cash cows who have interest in AC. Unless Mike has some people who I dont know about willing to back this move he will most definately feel the finacial strain.

I have sponsors, but I need to come up with 800 bucks because my machine shop upped the price by that. I feel ya on how hard it is to leave that car in the garage.

chad well start a donation for ya buddy we want the 84d out there i got 50. for ya no all we need is some more help

Very understandable, I do know what happened. I don't agree that they should either, I was just stating if they are doing so well on a Friday night, they could potentially do even better, as could Dixie on the flip side of things if they switched nights. I know it was all about greed, but it apparently seems to be OK for each track, neither one are on the verge of closing like Owosso is, that could potentially be who this is hurting the worst. Thank god there is enough cars in the area for the two tracks... thats all I've got to say about that...

" Dixie has never been a Factory Stock track so to speak"- kelcar14

What?? Dixe use to have semi features for the factory stocks just 5 years ago, and Dixe had a full field of factory stocks just 4 years ago (18-22 cars). When Mike made the change to sportman at the end of the 04 season. He killed his factory stock class, not everybody wants to run the 1/2 mile. When your going faster it coast more money!! My personally opinion is if Mike changes to just a sportman class he will lose more cars than he willl gain. It was already proven in 2005.

I've always been a loyal fan at Dixie, because I've been going there for years. It's hard to go somewhere else when you're "comfortable". The car counts aren't too bad considering the economy. Last weekend they had 12 mods, 15 sportsmen, 16 pro lates, 20 bombers, and 12 8's. My boys love going there too. It may be because I've been bringing them there since they were born, or maybe because of the candy throwing sparkplug!

THESE ARE MY THOUGHTS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF AUTO RACING IN THE FLINT AREA...........

What are both tracks doing to attract NEW competitors to race at Auto City or Dixie? Auto City Super Stocks have been in place for 2 seasons, this class has grown from 6 limited late models the final night in 2005 to 16 regular in 2008. Not bad for a half mile division and these cars can race at many other places (ASA, Uspro, Superpro, etc.) Why are both tracks cutting up the lower divisions and making more specialized classes? Keep a simple set of rules, tech ALL cars evenly and far, and up the start money will go alot further than having more classes.

Terry, are you racing at Berlin this weekend?

No, I just have enough sponsor money to run all the shows at Auto City this year.

Good point.

Neither track is doing much to put more fans in the stands either. A little paint on the bleachers and a fairly priced ticket would go a long way. Chris has beaten on us enough that we should all know that backgate tracks dont work (ie pitslabs and pit passes cost too much). We've beaten the rules issue into the ground, so there's no point to messing with that conversation, I agree with Terry though.

I'm happy that I don't race much around here anymore, it's worth the gas money to be part of a professionally run traveling series. Not to mention I got paid for a rain out last Saturday, that was new.



Chad,
Open that dirt track, there's a few that you could dig up that would be worth the investment.

A really great concept would be for the owners of our local speedways to check thier egos at the door and work with one another. Maybe have a combined points. Maybe switch Sat and Fri once in a while offer the racers a benefit for running both tracks. Wait wait Im waking up now. ............What a dream I was having. Yeah Gavin theres one Id like to dig up. Just north of here.

Yeah that would be nice.

I've been saying for probably 4years now that tracks should coordinate scheudles and turn each division into a traveling division (if the racer wants). I think the racers are just as much to blame though, many racers will only race certain tracks, and why should they take a few weeks off to help the sport when they can race Friday and Saturday where they want to. We're all going to be "taking weeks off" here pretty soon, when the tracks all close.

I am really thinking hard about a bike or a boat.

chad i just so happen to have one of each to sell ya also 2 race cars very cheep!

Rich, what kinda bike?

its a old school 750 amen savior chopper with springer front end i also have a 89 klr650 kaw on-off road both for sale 1250 for the chop 1150 for the enduro

hmmm its the right engine, I'm casually looking for an old sportster to make into a street tracker (aka early 80s flat track bike clone), I might be able to start from that... it's not a hard tail is it?

we should prolly take this to PM, email me a pic and a price if you have one.

What????? You've only just begun...............

Yeah and Im parked! No money no racey.

i thought it was crazy for the tracks to change to the same day, they both got along pretty good the way it used to be thats just my opinion.
and im kind of mad that the short track trucks arnt going to dixie this season, i just wished we could have got both auto city, AND dixie this year for the trucks but oh well