Lake Ozark Speedway Really Gets It
When I receive my weekly issue of Hawkeye Racing News, one of the first things I read is Editor Kyle Ealy’s column. His column in the July 2nd issue is outstanding. If you get the racing paper, check it out. If you don’t get it, I think it will be on their website sometime this week. Just Google Hawkeye Racing News to find the site.
Anyway, Kyle talked about a visit he made to Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, MO. I think that promoters around the country ought to reprint this article, put it on their bulletin board, give copies of it to track officials and other employees, and mention it their pre-race meetings (well, if they have pre-race meetings).
There are tracks I hate to go to, but do because I want to see certain drivers, or a series race. You’ve been to these places. When you pull into the parking lot you have to swerve to miss broken glass-broken glass that was in the same spot the year before, and probably the year before that. Where the weeds haven’t taken over, the parking lot is a dust bowl. If you are lucky you receive a sullen hello at the ticket booth.
The grandstands are run down, and probably dirty, and the restrooms make you wish you had stopped at a convenience store on the way to the track. Hot dogs are cold, the pop is warm. At least there is ice for the beer buckets.
You accept the conditions because you are a race fan, and this is not the only track you have been too that is run down. You are only there for the special, but you feel sorry for the fans that suffer through a season at the track.
And then there are tracks just the opposite. Tracks where you are greeted with a smile and you are glad you are visiting. Knowing I am writing a story that will mention their tracks, some promoters go out of their way to make sure I have access to all I need to do the story properly. Greg Hampel of Adams County Speedway in Corning, IA, and Roger Haden of Eagle Raceway in Nebraska are two that come to mind. But as nice as I have been treated at those tracks, I have never had an experience like Ealy described in his column.
Promoters Kevin and Tammy Gundaker truly get it. I am quoting Tammy from the Ealy column, “Our employees take great pride in their job. We don’t have people who punch a clock, come in and then leave. After working all week, people come here to get away from the stress and have a good time. I have a four to five hour window once a week to make sure that happens, and they (the employees) know this. I understand that I am not going to make everyone happy, but if something’s wrong, let us know, and we’ll make it right.”
That is a perfect attitude for a promoter to have. And the track is racy too. Like I said, promoters copy this, hand it out to your employees every week. Make it the bible of how you treat race fans. None of this costs much to do, but doing so is likely to make the difference between a very good profit, and no profit at all.
Thanks for informing us of this track Kyle. I now have another track on my to-do list. And race fans, Hawkeye Racing News remains a great source of information, and a good way to feed your racing habit. A year’s subscription is only $30, no more expensive than traveling to a race 100 miles away.
Which race has more cautions in the last 10 laps, an IMCA modified B feature, or a NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Daytona, featuring the best drivers in America. If you watched TNT last night, you know the answer. And shame on you for missing the racing at your Saturday night track.
Thanks for stopping by.
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