gateway

[z28a4]

Well I got to looking and on lethal1320, Kepner seemed awfully quiet other than saying things are getting weird. Like he didn't want to spill the beans and ruin the surprise.

[dennismopar73]

well we wil let it run its course,,
i heard from diffrent source that this is the real
thing, but heard rumors before to so ,
lets sit back and see it it thru??

[dennismopar73]

well i haven posted anything about gateway , mainly because there just not much to say
i have learned tho, that st clair county doesnt want to reevaluate the land they want to stand 'pat' on the evaluation of the 55-60 mil meaning that the land owners will have to pay the 2.5 mil in taxes, but , they may pro rate it out next couple of years ,so as to make it more feasable for the track to reopen??
pook and wolter involvement has met with the same fate , altho they would consider a
'package' of other inticements to get the track up and running , which is not apealing at this time.
the track may not survive this there is talk of an action comming very soon to sell off the track
grounds to a large truck stop, and warehouse company
but that was just a rumor at the st clair count

[WillyMo]

I would hate to see GIR be mowed over. But If they want to reopen the track and acutlly make money, they need to mow the circle track over and get rid of all of that tax. 1-2 circle track events a year (if that) isnt worth it. They will make more money with just the drag strip then havign to pay all of the seat tax on the circle track.

[dennismopar73]

well like i said this was a rumor prob shouldnt have posted , but it shows that the county
really dont care for the racetrack, and has left somewhat of a sore in the mouth, so to speak
one of the trutees said they could make more taxes out of the place selling beer lic cigs and gas /des
they (county) are willing to put up state dollars to tear it down and put up something else that will generate jobs and taxes, on a continuing base
idono,

[WillyMo]

i dont think its a big deal that you posted. Hell This is like the 5-6th different "rumor" so to speak ive heard. No one really know a whole lot.

[nutup]

How can the adrl and nhra events pack gateway with spectators and when we run there even on a bigger event you can haul all of the spectators away in a station wagon an still have room. And not just gateway alot of tracks. What can be done to draw spectators out and spend some money to help keep a track going strong? I remember some of the first nostalgia drags at MAR there was alot of people parked up against the fence down the track they were just watching having a good time and the stands had a large group always. One thing that MARP needs to remember that the grand stands and spectator parking should be close together older people that would come watch can't walk a half mile to bleachers in 90 degree heat like gir

[flodeezul]

let me say this about GIR. Something is gonna happen. Whether its a track, strip club, underwater basket weaving school, or plowed down to grow daisies. Something is gonna happen.

[dennismopar73]

prob shouldnt have posted anything as this will not likeley be the ending deal,
all talks tend to move much slower due usually to a trustee with a sore attitude and axe to
grind but we will see ,
i sure hoping that mar an gir get up and going

[dennismopar73]

Mar 29, 2011 15:58:28 GMT -5 nutup said:

How can the adrl and nhra events pack gateway with spectators and when we run there even on a bigger event you can haul all of the spectators away in a station wagon an still have room. And not just gateway alot of tracks. What can be done to draw spectators out and spend some money to help keep a track going strong? I remember some of the first nostalgia drags at MAR there was alot of people parked up against the fence down the track they were just watching having a good time and the stands had a large group always. One thing that MARP needs to remember that the grand stands and spectator parking should be close together older people that would come watch can't walk a half mile to bleachers in 90 degree heat like gir

well this is a big deal what is a good answer ?
we all play the part in the answer, as promoters of the track, which we are , need to promote our selfs, back in the day racers would talk 'dirt' on other racers, kinda like a bounty's make grudge race nights,
take the cars to local gas stations for shows , get the communities
involved , it worked then ,, YES the landscape has changed ,
people are looking for some thing local that will entertain them
we haven't been doing that for years
all we do now is load the car up make few passes call it a night
some that race wont even stay for the racing after they been eliminated , look around there they go down the highway
YES the track has to promote the most ,
they used to post in the local papers how the racing was going and who won etc, get to the track you had a flyer handed to you
with all the racing action around even the circle tracks got ink
then it just went away
sorry for the rant

[flodeezul]

@dennismopar73 I agree with you. But, in my opinion promotion of other tracks will ensure someplace to race. We can do this by visiting other tracks. My idea for it is on the progress and development page here.

[dennismopar73]

thanks , i plan on visiting as much as i can , couple track that i have not raced at that i really want to see and get on them,
looking forward to seeing great progress here !
great to see Shawn get in here!

[z28a4]

If it were to get tore down, I think they'd kick themselves in the nads. Do something with the circle track if they want because as willymo stated, its the biggest money dump. Hardly used, and the biggest, most expensive to run part of the facility. Still hate to see even the circle track tore down. But the drag strip would be where you'd have weekly things going on to keep money rolling in.

[km69stang]

Mar 29, 2011 15:58:28 GMT -5 nutup said:

How can the adrl and nhra events pack gateway with spectators and when we run there even on a bigger event you can haul all of the spectators away in a station wagon an still have room. And not just gateway alot of tracks. What can be done to draw spectators out and spend some money to help keep a track going strong? I remember some of the first nostalgia drags at MAR there was alot of people parked up against the fence down the track they were just watching having a good time and the stands had a large group always. One thing that MARP needs to remember that the grand stands and spectator parking should be close together older people that would come watch can't walk a half mile to bleachers in 90 degree heat like gir

This is something that many of us have talked about over the years and the MARPark is very interested to hear everyones thoughts on it. One of the main things I think is that Gateway was never what I considered to be very "family friendly". That would include everything from no shade anywhere to outrageous prices at the concession stand, and would include the parking situation mentioned. I know my family used to go with us to MAR racing all the time, but almost never went to GAteway for these reasons. WHen it cost you $6.50 for a burger that taste like crap, $3.50 for fries and $4.00 for a soda or water, how can anyone go just to spectate? At least racers could and did haul in alot of their own stuff, but spectators didnt have the option. What else do you guys think?? We all saw that there were never spectators at Gateway except for midnight madness or national events. Was it just the location that people didnt want to go there?

[crossbonesdennis]

For regular events, spectators had the same options as racers as far as bringing in coolers or grills. The concessions at Gateway were NOT Gateway. They were an outside company called Ovations. They are the same company that sell at other sports venues.

The biggest problem with GIR was no advertising for the regular events. I spoke with people that went to the nat's that had no idea that you could watch racing for $10 on a Sat night. I've spoke to people that only thought they were open a few weekends a year for the big events.

My brother drives a tow truck. He went to St. Louis to pick up a wonam that was broke down. When they went by GIR she told him they race horses there.
She basically argued with him when he tried to tell her different.