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Post by rf1 on Sept 29, 2014 7:57:54 GMT -6
Dennis mite be correct on the spoiled thing. I did get spoiled . I cut my teeth in the late 1990s here at gateway when the hardest working guy ever worked at the track he got me a check for $2,000 back in 1999 for winning the pro championship plus a shot at a new trailer he didn't worry about Facebook this guy got sponsors for US! The show, the CUSTOMER! He would fall asleep on the tractor from working all day and all night . So yes I'm spoiled he gave us a shot at 50k for a $600 entry . And packed tge place every week for 2k and had a racer meeting once a month and got sh$t done. Some didn't like him but most did because they respected the man. That's why I'm spoiled . From what I understand he got things done because some of it was under the table deals. There was a lawsuit over the trailer in pro. A lot of those races lost money and there was an issue of where all the cash was going. For instance the buy backs were hand written on a sheet of paper with no receipts. GIR may have never seen their cut of the gamblers races. Do you really think if a guy was making money for a company hand over fist they would push him out the door? There is more that I do know that I can't post here. Ask me at the track sometime. Many have questioned his methods, but the facts are ; 1 we raced for more money. 2. We had huge car counts with over 40 entered in points 3. We had huge prizes for points (paid for with those hand written buybacks...ask me how I know) The business end of things always involves greed...somebody thought they were not getting enough and ruined the whole deal. Wally figured out how to work around that huge overhead monster and still treat everyone great
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Post by drphillips309 on Sept 29, 2014 8:24:08 GMT -6
How is bill badder jr making things great year after year at Norwalk ? I guess he is a thief also. It can be done. And while we are on the subject who's name is on the receipt for the COPo ? They don't have a title. Where did the 8 million dollars go that Illinois gave them ? Then asking for volunteers to help year down thing before nhra. How does that create jobs for Illinois?
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Post by dennismopar73 on Sept 29, 2014 9:48:10 GMT -6
The first thing in companies focus is to make money ! The product on the field is up to the players ! If company doesnt make money , it can not continue We call it greed, ?? Here in this case we have a buisness that has several investors x amount of bills , x amount of income ,x amount of interest , x amount of land tax The payment if interest alone would stagger even the best math guys out here The return on all this investment , plus any upgrades repaires advertising would in itself send a lot of buisnesses under bankrupt before now The overhead alone for a track of this caliber is mind boggling Maybe it needs to go away
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Post by dennismopar73 on Sept 29, 2014 9:53:30 GMT -6
As for norwalk remark That track sat not used for up to ten years , Bader and another bought it his partner left a year later Like 1974?? It was the flag ship for IHRA Before Summit bought the rights to the renaming of the facility Thus brought in the NHRA era
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Post by 338d on Sept 29, 2014 10:04:20 GMT -6
The first thing in companies focus is to make money ! The product on the field is up to the players ! If company doesnt make money , it can not continue We call it greed, ?? Here in this case we have a buisness that has several investors x amount of bills , x amount of income ,x amount of interest , x amount of land tax The payment if interest alone would stagger even the best math guys out here The return on all this investment , plus any upgrades repaires advertising would in itself send a lot of buisnesses under bankrupt before now The overhead alone for a track of this caliber is mind boggling Maybe it needs to go away Dennis, Nobody one time has suggested that the track close the doors and go away, because that's not what anyone on here wants. All we are saying is that with all of the costa associated that you listed, you would think they would put an honest effort into making something out of the events they run.
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Post by bracketracing on Sept 29, 2014 10:21:03 GMT -6
With my experience this weekend at the Nationals there are some people wanting to improve customer (us) and he used those words. He made other employees (temps maybe) mad he was worried about us getting in the sportsman grandstand that was blocked by a fence. I asked very calmly why we were locked out of the fenced area at finish line. Long story but he went and got bolt cutters after an hour or so of no one bringing a key. He sent me an email hope we enjoying our weekend. He was in charge of food services. I publicly bashed gateway on Facebook and after that I publicly thanked them on Facebook. It was a great weekend
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Post by dennismopar73 on Sept 29, 2014 10:35:22 GMT -6
One doesnt have to look far to see why things are the way they are. Sponsorship is drying up has been for several years now , that trend is not going away! Some markets can do better but for region like the St Louis area alone that sponsorship dollars are very hard to come by when the product your dealing with happens to be quite limited It would be nice to see guys running for large points fund again at end of the year , trailers, heads, fuel, carbs n such But with limited sponsorships that available, but truth is Until things change sponsorships change racers change We will continue this conversation for years or until this track n others close
. Everyone wants that sure thing and they want it up front and 6 months ahead of time . Some things are known a year ahead . A track can only open the gates set a schedule After that racers have to bring the show We show up because 1- its close 2- money 3- money 4- money 5- 6- is a tie for friends and money Back in the day there was no notice of racing other than word of mouth maybe a flyer handed at the gate If it was a big race the local paper had advertisment
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Post by sg3526 on Sept 29, 2014 10:47:50 GMT -6
One doesnt have to look far to see why things are the way they are. Sponsorship is drying up has been for several years now , that trend is not going away! Some markets can do better but for region like the St Louis area alone that sponsorship dollars are very hard to come by when the product your dealing with happens to be quite limited It would be nice to see guys running for large points fund again at end of the year , trailers, heads, fuel, carbs n such But with limited sponsorships that available, but truth is Until things change sponsorships change racers change We will continue this conversation for years or until this track n others close . Everyone wants that sure thing and they want it up front and 6 months ahead of time . Some things are known a year ahead . A track can only open the gates set a schedule After that racers have to bring the show We show up because 1- its close 2- money 3- money 4- money 5- 6- is a tie for friends and money Back in the day there was no notice of racing other than word of mouth maybe a flyer handed at the gate If it was a big race the local paper had advertisment I just want to know where and how you always seem to come up with this vast wealth of information you always seem to have that you are willing to share with us?
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Post by dennismopar73 on Sept 29, 2014 12:37:39 GMT -6
As with anyone else out here i have an opinion , As for knowledge i have none As if i did i would be millionaire 4 x over But in my life i have had several adventures endeavors All of which gave me outlook on various subjects Having ran a business , being in management in parts stores for the past ten years , working on farm The helping of building several race cars , Racing cars since mid 70 s at several tracks Watching a sport just fade saddens me to no great end Watching those who say they love the sport tear it up like trash because it don't suit their way or ill quit coming . As for this track or any other They all make mistakes do things None are without blame for loss but one thing is for sure The racers are what makes the track! Track is a track it don't know racers ,
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Post by racerone on Sept 29, 2014 16:34:20 GMT -6
On bright note talk of a mopar race for 2015 is a right direction with completely different promotors should be a good thing . Out with the old ones .
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Post by Crossbones Dennis on Sept 29, 2014 17:50:11 GMT -6
How is bill badder jr making things great year after year at Norwalk ? I guess he is a thief also. It can be done. And while we are on the subject who's name is on the receipt for the COPo ? They don't have a title. Where did the 8 million dollars go that Illinois gave them ? Then asking for volunteers to help year down thing before nhra. How does that create jobs for Illinois? You sure are hung up on that copo. When you are the boss, you can have expensive toys. It does get used once in a while for corporate challenges. The price sheet I saw was $500 for a ride. He also has a new Cherokee, a couple of roadrace Corvettes, a LE-1 SS, a late 60's Chevelle and was driving a new Z28 a couple of days ago. So what? He had money before he ever bought GMP. From what I've heard he owned the Del Tacos in STL and did own or still owns Dent Wizard. He's a land developer and owns a lot of property in rentals and other businesses. So even if he had never bout GMP I bet he would still have all the toys. I do agree about the volunteers but I think that might be from someone lower in the company.
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Post by drphillips309 on Sept 29, 2014 19:40:57 GMT -6
I am hung on the COPo even if it was a cobra jet it is a huge waste of money for a 10.20 car. And I would be willing to bet the check to pay for it didn't say Curtis Francois . It said gateway and that check cleared because of Illinois tax money. That's why I'm hung up on it. I prob shouldn't be typing this stuff because I want the place to succeed and I do enjoy racing there so that being said I will stop my harsh criticism . I'm glad they got the millions and not some Chicago people with a different agenda. Rant over
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Post by p518 on Sept 29, 2014 19:51:53 GMT -6
That stuff happens all the time in business, Dr. P. No sense talking about how they do what they do. Whose taxes paid for it or not make no difference. That is assumed, anyway. Look at the Federal Govt. and how F'd up that is. Illinois is a mess as well. Let's just hope for the best going forward with GMP.
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Post by racerone on Sept 30, 2014 2:08:17 GMT -6
Would anyone be happy if Dover still had it ?BIG NO . They screwed more than anyone . This whole facility has never been used as much as it has till this year with more potential and all of it's add ons . They are using radio,tv,social media more than ever . I don't care how the owner spends his money right now cause were racing at a nice facility close to home .
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Post by moparsz on Sept 30, 2014 7:55:22 GMT -6
GMP just replied to me and said Super Pro and Pro are 1/8 mile, the rest are 1/4 mile
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