INFORMATION RECIEVED AS OF FEB. 24TH

WORD IS THAT REPAIRS @ ANGLETON RACEWAY ARE GOING TO START THIS COMING WEEK 2/26. I WAS TOLD REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE FROM BURNOUT AREA TO PAST SHUTDOWN AREA, AREAS THAT REALLY NEED ATTENTION....THE TRACK WILL ONCE AGAIN BE SANTIONED BY THE IHRA AND PLANS ARE TO HAVE A FULL BRACKET TEAMS FINAL PROGRAM ALONG WITH A SUMMIT SUPER SERIES, JR DRAGSTER, AND OF COURSE A TEST AND TUNE. PROJECTED OPENING DATE IS NOW SOMETIME END OF MARCH, PROVIDING THE WEATHER COOPERATES.

NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN AND WHAT DIRECTION THE THE TRACKS PROGRAMS WILL TAKE IN 07. I WILL BE GLAD TO FORWARD THIS POST TO THE MANAGMENT..

JACK

LETS RACE HOW ABOUT STARTING AT A TIME WHERE WE CAN GO HOME AT A DECENT HOUR. STARTING AT 8 OR 9 PM IS NOT MY CUP OF TEA.

Saturday points races. No way can me and the wife get out of work and get to the track on Friday nights.

I agree , Sat. races would allow races to start earier and attract more racers from the houston area, it would also allow track pictures to be taken in day light and the track could use a lot more web site exposure... 1.00 - 2.00 a.m. in the morning wears out an old guy like me , my legs are tired and i dont feel like taking pictures that late!

jack

I am for saturdays also , but everytime saturdays are brought up the answer is they cant get people to the track on saturdays. They could save electricity by running saturday during the day and people that live on the northside of houston could also try and support bracket racing in angleton.

Paul Smith

NOW YOU ARE TALKING, AT LEAST FOR THE BRACKET SERIES,GATE OPENS AROUND 12ISH TIME TRAILS AROUND 2ISH RACE AROUND 5ISH HEAD HOME 10 OR 11 AND YOU HAVE MY $20. WE WILL TRY TO MAKE ALL OF YOUR SAT RACES.

It would take 475-500 spectators to cover a payout and track cost or 50 to 60 cars with a $40.00 entry fee and no payout for the track to break even. Give or take a few!!! Can't make improvements with just breaking even. The only way I can see a Sat. bracket program working if it's run by the bracket team. I think Jack knows enough about costs that he could put something together that the racers and track can work with. Jack did a great job when he ran the program for me and I kept nothing from him. He knew what it took at the gate to pay the bills and get improvements done. I think it's possible but there is more to it than just opening the gates on Saturdays. Fridays pay for Saturdays and there was nothing left come Monday. I know a Saturday bracket program can be done but it will require more than just showing up from everyone. I have some ideas and if Angleton opens back up I'd be more than happy to work with Jack on getting some of them out there.

Well I have never operated a race track, but it seems like it would make more sense not to have a friday night program at all. Open on saturdays only (to draw a larger car count) since they are planning on a bracket program also it could be held saturday along with test and tune ,and what ever other programs they plan to have . And again if it was ran during the daylight hours the track could save the money it takes to operate the lights. Working 10 hrs on friday then driving 2 hours to race and 2 more hours to get home at 3:30am sunday morning takes the fun out of it for me.

Paul Smith

No one has ever called me a genuis, but from the outside looking in if Friday night racing was sucessful there would be no need for this discussion.
When I asked why would angleton scheduled their bracket races on top of the other local tracks last year some one more or less blew me off. With only two other tracks in the area having bracket races why not try to schedule around them and see what happens.
Like the above post mentioned everything could be accomplished on one day, making the overhead less.
This might even free up some money to advertise the track. In hopes of getting the valued spectator.

We don't need to get into the dicussion as to why Angleton makes more money of Friday's and why not just be open on Saturday's. Trust me when I say it won't work. I was only making a suggestion on a way to try and make a Saturday bracket program work at Angleton. The track wouldn't have to be open every Saturday. Just on bracket day and there is a way they wouldn't lose money doing it. But it's only a suggestion and that is what Jack asked for.

I am working on the schedule..I will schedule our points races on weekends that the other tracks are not racing.

Not to take anything away from the other track that has a points program for Street Stock on Fridays, Friday nights did pay for Saturday at that track (until the track changed hands, now I'm not sure, but...) and since the track changed into the wrong hands, I would have to think that there are a pretty numerous group of Friday Night Street Stockers wanting a place to race other than that place (where pets are not allowed, but kids can run rampant). Now that this other place has been identified, let's get back to the subject. Friday nights, with a points program or not, has and does pay the bills to keep the track open on Saturday, proven fact.

I rest my case.

Folks,
I'm only 15 miles from the track, and I want it to make it as much or more than most.
I will be there for Friday Night's, but, I also know that folks that come from 50 to 100 miles away, have a problem with it. There where times last year when we did'nt start the program until 10:00 PM or later, Not Good.
Let's at least look at the option of a once a month bracket race for Sat. Noon. We could still have the Jack Pot on Friday Night's, and unless I have a race that Sat. around Noon, I will start after 10:00 PM.
I do believe if there was a Sat. program, it would catch on, it might not have the car count right off the bat, but it would catch on.
Saying that, I do understand buisness, and you would have to be able to withstand the lumps / lose's to start with.
I also would be willing to pay $40.00 for a tach card. Last year we paid $35.00 for Jack Pot, Not knowing what the pay out would be.
Bracket race's, will never get the spectators that a lot of other race's attrack, it is a racer's race. But there are still a lot of us that love it, and the sooner we get a program started the sooner we will know if Angleton can support one.
Good luck! and safe racing where ever you go.
Murphy

I agree with Mike Murphy. I would think that Saturdays are a lot racer friendlier than Friday nites due to most folk's work schedules. The one thing I'd be concerned about starting early(say 2:00PM)is that it all sounds good in March, April, or even May.... But I've been there at that time in June, July, & August when the track was so hot it wouldn't hold a tire (even in our car, LOL)....not to mention the spectators won't show because of the heat. Maybe a spring and summer schedule can be developed, but even in saying that, it would be tuff to get in TNT & time trials before 10 PM unless we did start early. I'm fortunate to live 20 minutes away, and even then 1:30 AM is past this old man's bed time. Let me know if I can help. WCR plans to be there!

So they are having the SSS! this is good.

Ok, here's my .02. Granted, it's somewhat on the outside looking in, but I've been on the inside.

As a disclaimer before I start, my statements are not meant to be taken personal by anyone. Rather, I'm stating my viewpoints objectively on some issues that need to be addressed to have a chance at being profitable and successful. Sometimes in business you need to hear this. I don't mean to lose any friends at Angleton, but if I ruffle a few feathers, so be it...

First and foremost, if the track conditions from the burnout box to the last turnoff are not completely addressed, I think you're wasting time and money. The track surface is the product you are offering racers, and the reality of the Houston area is there is stiff competition, which raises the bar. HRP and HMP are known for great racing surfaces. I'm not just referring to starting line hook. I had some of my best 60' times in my dragster at Angleton. It was bumpy as hell back when I ran there, and reportedly it's worse, discouraging faster cars from coming down and running there, specifically rigid chassis cars such as dragsters and altereds. The problem isn't as bad with suspended cars, but bumps upset fast cars.

Why does Angleton Dragway need fast cars? Fast cars set a standard that lets someone with a slower car know 'well if so and so ran this, my car shouldn't have a problem'. Like I mentioned above, the racing surface is your product, and there is stiff competition within a reasonable drive. I haven't ran there in a couple of years to confirm nor deny that the track bumps have got worse. I've heard it from multiple sources, and in this business, perception is reality. The lack of any big shows featuring big numbers does nothing but add to that perception. What happens is with HMP and HRP in the area, people testing with faster cars choose one of those tracks rather than AR because they can learn more. Bracket car counts suffer because the faster dragsters and door cars don't want to run. Argue it any way you will, but any way you slice it, having a bumpy race track in Angleton, Texas, just about an hour from two good tracks, your profit potential is going to be marginal at best.

Anyone can throw rocks and point out problems, what are the possible solutions? Without getting into the middle of detailed cost analysis, your choices to fix the bumps are either manual grinding, laser grinding or starting over. If in fact, the bumps are getting worse, then the 40' sections of concrete are probably moving independently of each other, which would indicate the base is moving underneath. So then that brings you into a long term cost analysis of how many times you can laser grind the track vs the cost of redoing the track. Then it's up to the check signer to decide the direction of that. Are you a short term guy or a long term guy. One of the great economic thinkers of the early 1900's coined the phrase "In the long run your dead" (John Maynard Keynes). I don't think the existing surface has a terribly long shelf life, so I would tend to lean towards resurfacing.

Facility wise, racing surface aside, the track has made some serious strides over the past few years. The track has a very nice paved pit area and a servicable return road. Very nice features to any racer on any level. Lighting is marinal. Definitely seen a lot worse. Could be improved, but I don't think it's stopping many racers from running. Additional lighting can always be brought in for bigger events.

Facility improvements needed to be profitable: More stands, updated tower, increased/improved bathrooms/concessions. If maximizing profit potential is the goal of the ownership/managment, they need to 'think big.' How much money is a resturaunt with 4 tables going to make? They may be kick ass and keep those 4 tables full all day, but your profit potential is only going to be so much with 4 tables. The same goes for crowd accomodation. The place looks packed somewhere around the 2000 spectators mark. That really puts you in a no-man's land in terms of promotion. It's hard to put together a show that will draw that kind of volume in terms of payout when packing the place is 2000 spectators. What you get into is you can't afford the payout to make a show entertaining enough to draw that kind of crowd. Case in point trying to run TPSA and the Outlaw 10.5 stuff stand alone. Due to limited crowd capacity, you start cutting corners on promotion/advertising, and you don't have enough entertaining cars going down track to keep them interested or lure them to the gate. Big shows are risky business no doubt, but when you have the capacity, the potential return can certainly offset the risk. Lets just say a show came to town that did put 3500 through the gate. If the facility is grossly over capacity, many will not come back. Nothing will turn someone off like nasty bathrooms or waiting in stupid long lines. (Post continued below)

Post continued...

You have to deliver a level of satisfaction to a paying customer to get their business in the future. I don't think such a situation as mentioned above will provide for that.

Whether it's a big show or a test n' tune, if momma or the girlfriend doesn't feel cozy about the bathrooms, they ain't coming, which means the kids might not be coming. Sure, gearhead guys probably wouldn't mind having a woodline labled 'pee here' but nobody likes a nasty bathroom. Are the bathrooms at Angleton nasty? I've seen them in 'nasty' state on rare occasion. But it wouldn't take too much of a crowd to get them that way. In a think big mindset, bathroom facilities need to be expanded and improved.

Concessions. Haven't been there in a while to comment on quality, but to my knowledge, the selection hasn't been much more than a standard snack bar. How many racers have you run into over the past few years that have commented '**** those burgers at sealy are good...best around'. well you know what those people do? those racers wait until they get to the track to eat or eat at the track rather than bring their own food. I haven't been there in a long while to comment too much, but when done right, the concessions can be a integral part of whether or not the track is profitable. Also, has AR ever had a shirt or selection of shirts on sale? Hats?

Tower. It's more about image than functionality. The current tower gets the job done fine. Image ties into perception and we've stated that is reality. The nicest way I can put it is the tower looks 'homely'...kind of like a 'sweet girl'. From a marketing standpoint, you're going to have a hard time getting local/regional businesses excited about putting their name on that tower. It also limits you on how much you can charge for that spot. An expanded/improved tower could provide office space for management, storage of track equipment, and potentially suite(s) rentals. As far as image goes, if the customer base is ever going to expand outside of the gearhead/diehards; improved image could go a long way.

In 'thinking big' other considerations need to be made for both big car counts and big spectator counts. Infrastructure needs to be planned for/in place for car counts large enough to pour over the paved parking. Big events such as the Twins' Paper Chase and a few 10.5 shows did pour over the pavement, and it was a minimal problem. The problems there are lighting and PA. It's very hard to hear the PA once you get to the back of the pits, and that causes logistical problems when trying to run shows efficiently. This can be combatted by having a dedicated 'pit runner' to communicate to racers it's time to go. As far as big spectator shows, expanded spectator parking definitely needs to be looked into along with a dedicated route that doesn't tie up pit traffic. It seems like it wasn't a huge issue at the Paper Chase, but I could see it becoming a potential problem with bigger crowds.

OK, that's the brick and mortar assesment. Now for the 'P' word - Promotion. First off the financial success/failures of the track need not be discussed either in conversation or on message boards. Here's the one that's going to **** a few people off but it needs to be said. The "Please come out to Angleton Raceway so we don't close down" attitude and mentality needs to go! If you put a dollar in a jar every time I've heard the 'we don't make enough money off this or that' excuse you could probably repave the track. The attitude needs to be "come out to Angleton Raceway because we have a kick ass track and put on kick ass shows and you're going to have a good time, no excuses when you come out here".

Repetition and short sightedness coupled with a limited capacity have been big problems with promotions. Let's not forget weather, which can sink the best of promotions.

Repetition - If you had Top Fuelers out there every month, at some point, even the kings of the sport lose their pull. Case in point, back when I was in high school the Pro Mods started coming to Sealy a few times a year. They were only there a few times, so when the Pro Mods were in town, we all loaded up, made the 1.5 hr drive and watched them run. The next year they were there every month. Next thing you find yourself doing something else that Saturday night because you know you can catch them next month. Mix it up. If you're going to have a big 10.5 show, only do it a couple times a year, that way you had better catch them this trip. Throw in some Pro Mods, Alky Cars (Dragsters/Funny Cars), Jets, Fuel Altereds, etc. You can also accomodate the fan that can't get enough of the ten wide action by having smaller heads up shows with a payout geared more for car count than heavy hitters.

Post continued....

Short sightedness - Everyone lately who comes up with a big show wants to make big money, right now, with little consideration for future shows, and whether or not the spectators you draw this year will come back next year. Someone who wants to make money over the long term with this track and shows at this track may want to shift their mindset from 'we need to make max profit in year one' to 'let's put on such a show the people that come out this year will bring a few of their friends next year'. Also every show seems to come with a tag 'well we'll see if it works'...type of attitude with no consideration for future shows. I think the Paper Chase was one of the most entertaining shows the track ever put on. We kept cars going down the track all night with little or no down time, not to mention it was done at a decent hour.

Benchmark Comparisons: You can look at many tracks across the country that are about equal if not below the quality of AR. Many of those tracks may make money. BUT, they aren't in this market. I think too many times comparisons to other tracks in less competitive markets have been used as excuses.

Racing programs: At the present I don't think there are enough cars in the area to make a stand alone test n' tune night very profitable. We just don't have the population that can drive the atmosphere that makes those nights profitable at other tracks. Bracket jackpots and street stock programs definitely add to the car count. I think it would take a couple of years of really pumping Friday nights to the local schools/colleges to get that up stand alone.

Bracket Racing. Bracket Racing can make money once a good program is developed, but I don't think it needs to be a stand alone program. Also, as mentioned above, the condition of the track comes into play. I think Bracket Days don't need to be limited to just Electronics and No Electronics. Throw in Comp, a Super Stock/Stock combo class, Quick 16 bracket, and some sort of budget quick 8. Let's take Comp for instance. You may have to do a 100% payback maybe add something to it, most Comp teams bring several crewmembers. Comp, wheelstanding S/S cars, Q16, Q8 heads up, now you have a decent amount of entertaining, fast cars running along with the brackets, which adds to the spectator appeal of such a day. Now you have something that may draw a few hundred locals out. Bracket racing alone isn't spectator friendly and isn't designed to be. Adding some classes diversifies the Bracket day to the point it isn't entirely dependent on a good car count to break even or make profit.

The track is going to have to mend fences with many in the local scene to get their repeat business. Anyone that has ever bracket raced at Angleton at some point has heard the words 'Bracket Races don't make money' come out of management's lips at some point. It snowballs from there. The management is going to have to have a customer-first mentality not only to bracket racers, but anyone that wants to race or spectate. They're also going to have to put someone in charge of the bracket racing, or racing in general that knows what the hell is going on. The three big things that drive bracket racers is a fair program, money, and track. Ok, distance has to be a fourth, but the track has no control over that variable. Get a bracket friendly environment going. Lose the "Bracket Racing Loses Money" mentality and develop a "We want you" mindset, and I think over the next few years you can develop a very strong program.

Given the competitive environment the track is in, it's going to have to do things a little differently and maybe outside the box to achieve maximum profitability. Doing things like the other guy probably isn't going to cut it.

I've spent a lot of time on the 'doom and gloom', but I firmly believe the track can make money. The fact the track is still open is a testament to the loyal core of supporters it has. Couple that with the fact there is little competition for entertainment dollar in the Brazosport/Angleton area. Over the last 10-20 years the bar has been raised when it comes to entertainment venues, so a venue has to meet certain expectations these days to get repeat business.

I think the profit potential for this track lies in cultivating a local spectator base. It's going to take creating some programs to draw them out. Throw that in with some big shows spaced out through the year. Some sort of heads up racing needs to be featured every week. Capacity needs to be expanded to hit bigger home runs and provide a better experience. I don't think car count driven events are going to get the job done alone.

What I've mentioned will cost a lot of money. Not only in hard costs but operational costs. It costs money to make money, thats a cold hard fact of business. In my opinion if most of the above isn't addressed fairly soon, the track is doomed to it's past results.

Limited out again..see below

I've stated the above knowing it's going to ruffle a few feathers, maybe **** some people off. I hope nobody takes it personal. I'm not perfect myself. I'm just sick of biting my tongue. I think these things need to be said rather than 'cheerleading' what, in my eyes, is a track that needs a lot of improvements.

If anyone wants to further discuss what I've mentioned, I can be reached at will.hanna@insidetopalcohol.com or the cuss Will Hanna line at 979 415 4959.

You asked for feedback and you **** sure got it..lol.

I suggest the track either hire Will to run it or be a consultant. Pay him on a commission. Sounds good Will!! You just kill me . Sitting around drinking beer with you would be a blast!!!

Will hit the nail on the head! That is a great business plan!!! If I had the money I'd hire you!

Will, you called it, buddy. A very insightful post.... although my eyes hurt & I need a nap now. Seriously, hopefully there might be resources there to make those kind of things happen to rise to a higher level & make it a successful business endeavor as well as a great place to race...And as far as I'm concerned, sitting around drinking beer with just about anybody would be a blast!

Will, thanks for the input, I think you covered all the bases very well. I know there are a core of dedicated racers that want to see Angleton Raceway succeed. It's up to the owner if he wants to move AR to the next level. Your opinion and input are always welcome.......

Thanks, Jack

Wow. Now that my eyes have uncrossed from reading Will's good comments, I would like to put in that running on Fridays has some bad points. I only live 5 miles away from the track(good point), but running on Friday nights during school season means the track is competing with school sports for spectators and racers. Face it in SE Texas school sports win out over racing on Fridays. Another problem is the weather. Evening racing means dew or fog settling on and the temperature going out of the track surface makes for traction problems, even for my slow car. You know if I'm planning on running at another track's bracket or index race on Saturday I'm not going to stay up running on Friday night till 1 or 2am, get to bed at 3am, get up with 5 hours sleep and then drive for an hour and a half to go race. So I'm going to skip Friday night and rest so I'm not too tired to enjoy racing on Saturday. Yes you may be competing with the Clobberthone for drivers one Saturday a month but how many of them actually support Angleton week to week anyway? 2 maybe 3. And some of the Clobberthoners won't show because the track is too rough for those really fast cars. A Friday night race program has not and will not support the Saturday racing at Angleton, period. So I say run on Saturdays, schedule different programs so they don't conflict with like programs at other tracks and run on Saturday. Remember to start bracket eliminations on Saturdays late enough so that your week to week supporters can make it from work, but not so late that you can't get done by 10 if everything goes right. Open at 2, TT at 3, eliminations start at 5 or 6 depending on car count, and finish racing by 10. - Chris

maybe owner and track managment should look into what other successful drag strips are doing..

Good point Jack. You'll be hard pressed to find a similar market with as much competition between dragstrips, though. I think it's going to take offering something a little different than the local tracks along with being comparable on racing surface.

I kind of ran out of time the other day (imagine that) but I already have a lot of time invested in potential programs for this track when the family was looking into purchasing the track. I've been fortunate enough to interact with a lot of different types of racers and get feedback over the past few years. At some point in my career, I'd really like to own or manage a track, so it's something I observe and think about.

I'd be more than willing to help in any way I can.

I would like to pass on three thoughts then I will sit back and wait on managments decisions.

1. Never let the inmates try to run the asylum.

2. Benches get too hard after three hours to keep
spectators intrest.

3. Spectators do not enjoy bracket racing because they do not know what is going on, The track would be well advised to explain this to the viewers at regular intervals ie reaction times hole shot wins etc.etc,etc.

I agree that bracket racing isn't really a "spectator sport".

But one thing bracket racing does do well is turn "spectators into racers".

Think about it for a moment, if properly advertised and promoted it has the possibity of turning 80% of the spectators into "tech card" sales.

It wouldn't be the first time that a properly advertised and promoted event turned a couple of spectators into full time week to week racers.

P.S. GREAT POST WILL!

you can say what you want about bracket racing, but its here to stay, at least till Al Gore says we can't do it anymore!(thats a joke, OK)... anyway, I started bracket racing in 1969 and it had been going on way before that. Its had its ups and downs, but there is a definate need for the class, budget being the main reason. Angleton does have a unique situation, its near a major market area, but slightly isolated. theres not enough racers in brazoria county to really put it over the top and I feel you have to atract the houston area racer to make it work. Yes there is major competition with the other three,HRP is solid, but one dosnt even run bracket program and the other has a limited bracket schedule.. theres room to work, I get to a lot of races at different tracks and nearly no one knows doodly about Angleton raceway. theres a lack of exsposure for several reasons. I beleive angleton could work up to 40-50 foot brakes cars alone if racers knew they paid well and would run on a day that they could get there.

Its up to the owner if he wants to make a go with this , and that means a investment, easy for me to say, but if they give it another year just copy what the other successful tracks are doing and stick to it! texas raceway, san antonio... hell, temple academy has been there nearly 50 years, what did they do to make it work? well anyway, that just my veiw and i m sure its not going to be easy, its just going to take time and persistance.......

Jack

WILL YOU TALK TO MUCH ! LOL I THINK YOU ARE HIRED !WILL HANNA FOR TRACK MANAGER !

Drove by the track today and nothing has been done or started yet on the asphalt or the track. - Chris

Chris,
There's a race in Sealy this weekend, Hope You, Ronnie, Bill T., Bubba and others can make it.
We can have fun at any track.
Later
Murphy

Mike, I won't be there this weekend. I'll be helping Naylor at the TPSA race at HMP. Also, I haven't put the Duster back together yet...just can't get too motivated to finish it. I really need to get it back together so I can park my pickup in the garage again. Good luck to all you guys in Sealy.

Sorry Murphy I'll be helping Mike at HMP with the newly painted bird and trying to shake the dust out of the Dart. Hope to see you soon, maybe next race.
Chris

Will excellent posts. Geat ideas thrown on the table, Angleton is a great facility.

Bill T. will look you and Naylor up tomorrow at HMP, running the index races. Testing tonight at HRP and seeing where the car is. Good luck to you guys tomorrow and "get r done"



Nick Tha P....
p.s. I am not short just vertically challenged (quote from Bill)