The ROC has issues. They cannot possibly think they don't. The amount of time they wasted yesterday on 15 cars in support divisions was maddening. It was almost unbelievable how poorly these past 2 ROC shows were run. I'd imagine that if you consider that they were just using the support divisions to dry and further blow the dirt off the track, the reasons become more plausible. Post Superdirt Week, the track was exactly what you would expect--total junk. It was dirty, single grooved and pretty loose. The front-stretch stands were even filthy and the pits looked like a swampy mess (and they're asphalt). I love the ROC Tour and the mods. I just cannot understand how the series can continue when they run shows like that. Consider that the series did little to nothing to communicate with the fans who got hosed at the last visit to Oswego. Consider that just yesterday the promoter had a published a hard start time of 3:30 for the 250 and at that time they were just getting cars on the track at a speed that kind of looked fast. Consider that the stands were empty for a second time because of knuckle headed promotion and management mistakes in September and yesterday. And consider that the teams, who have incredible sums of money tied up in their operations and racing expenses, were asked to run on a less than safe track. How can this continue?
A show like yesterday is exactly why there is no next generation of race fans. The fan demographic is aging and there will be few fans to replace them. All you needed to do was look around you in the stands yesterday. Few families. Few kids. Few women. And those that were there were subjected to 3 hours of half-***** track drying, (2) 15 minute warm-ups for a support class with 6 cars and more foot dragging than the first show. Racing falls in the sports and entertainment business. Consumers will take their dollars elsewhere and do something enjoyable and entertaining. Yesterday was the second ROC visit my family made to Oswego in a month that was less than enjoyable, let alone entertaining. The sport needs to find more promoters like Tim Packman. The ROC remains in trouble.
How to solve the issues? The ROC should first pull together a round table group of track owners, team owners, drivers and fans. Not people that they're friends with or just the top teams. Pull together a diverse group and ask how they can improve for all parties involved--back gate and front. Take the feedback, don't argue with the participants and LISTEN. People are helpful by nature and will give you feedback and ideas that just might be helpful. And if the people are passionate about your business, you'll get very useful and productive feedback. Then take those ideas, put together an action plan and checklist and start to make changes. It's not impossible and would go a long way to making them a success. Continuing this way is a recipe for failure. I offer to be roundtable member #1. Listening to feedback--what a novel business idea. I can only imagine how difficult being a promoter and running a series must be. Tough decisions, tough calls to make, tough financial considerations. I get it. Let people help you.
Enjoy the off-season and forget about this mess. Thanks to the team who put so much time, effort, money and risk into the sport. So many truly dedicated and passionate people. There's also great promoters and tracks doing fantastic things for the drivers, fans, their employees and the sport in general. Embrace those situations and know there are good pockets of health in the sport out there. April will be here before you know it. Let's hope a more finely tuned ROC comes with it.