Kawartha(Downs)Speedway ré-ouvert en 2014!

[CeeBee 0]

Selon The Peterborough Examiner, la superbe piste de Kawartha Speedway ne sera plus en opération pour 2013. Une seule course est prévue soit la NASCAR Canadian Tire Série le 21 septembre. Donc, fini les courses ACT Late Model le vendredi soir. Le site des courses de chevaux et Casino "slot machine" n'est guère plus reluisant.

[karol49 0]

[Johnathan Schwemler 0]

Nearby Peterborough Speedway management has gone out of their way to find a home for racers without a place to race. They've added an additional class to their current race night, as well as making slight modifications to some rulebooks. Prior to 2013, the region's tracks were already very close on rules (Mosport now CTMP, Kawartha, and Peterborough).

Hopefully we'll see them return with a full schedule next season, although with the removal of slot machines from Ontario horse racing tracks (a move by Ont government), Kawartha Downs (KD) may loose their largest money maker. The Ontario Gaming Commission regulated slot machines were the main funding that had kept KD management from closing down the asphalt track over a number of unprofitable seasons. (sourced from former track management)

[CeeBee 0]

Il y a aussi la piste Brighton Speedway en terre battue qui a du succès dans cette région!

[Johnathan Schwemler 0]

Sure, I guess...

I wouldn't really include Brighton into the Mosport / Peterborough / Kawartha region. I think Autodrome Saint-Eustache and Granby are closer to each other, and I don't think they'd be grouped together.

Although geographically apart, Brighton Speedway has partnered with the BEST run track in Ontario (Merrittville Speedway, St Catharines), for a number of years and I believe run similar rules to Brockville Speedway (just up the 401) and Cornwall Speedway (up the 401 a little further).

The asphalt race tracks in Ontario are split more/less based on what side of Toronto they are on... rules are similar, but more common within their perspective region based on hwy 404 as a divider. The futher west you go, the more advanced and lenient the rules are within the same division (generally speaking). Traditionally, one would say that the most advanced (lenient) rule books come from Delaware Speedway.

[CeeBee 0]

Après une saison de silence la piste de Kawartha Speedway dans la région de Peterborough reprendrait ses opérations stock car avec le promoteur Andrew McFadden, selon le PeterboroughExaminer. Quatre divisions pour les programmes du vendredi soir de juin à septembre.

[andre fortin 0]

Difficile faire du local sur l'asphalte sur une piste 1/2 mille et +.

Ça prend un nombre de véhicules très élevé dans toutes les classes, et des véhicules performants, pour donner un spectacle respectable face aux spectateurs.

On peut voir des pistes comme Thompson qui ont délaissé le projet du weekly local, et même New Smyrna, la mèque du Speedweek, qui en saison régulière en arrache pas à peu près. Si tu leur enlèves le Speedweek, New Smyrna deviendrait un Wall Mart ce serait pas long.

La première chose à faire à Kawartha, coupe la piste en 2. Tu viens de doubler tes chances de succès.

Des courses n'attirent personne. Un spectacle de courses divertissantes déplacent les foules. Quand les promoteurs vont avoir compris çà, les estrades se rempliront de nouveaux d'elles mêmes.

Juste un petit exemple: À toutes les fois que quelqu'un me parle de la Série Nascar Canadian Tire, qui déplace des bonnes foules, c'est toujours la même phrase qui revient: ''Eux autres ça brasse pas à peu près''..........Amen

[Johnathan Schwemler 0]

Google translate isn't very good, but I think I understood some of what you are saying Andre.

I believe you are correct, most of the weekly series do not bring the same crowds as specials like NCATS, but Kawartha has good reasons for attempting to re-open.

The reasons they closed were a) Kawatha Speedway promoter, Derek Lynch, left to work with ACT, b) Kawartha's main revenue is from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Association's slot machines, something that the Ontario Government had said they were going to remove from the horse race tracks, c) attendance had been dwindling due to the oversaturation of race tracks in the area (3 within 45 minutes).

Andrew McFadden has stepped up to act as the new promoter, the Ontario government has chosen to NOT move the slots our of the horse racetracks, with MOSPORT oval closing, Kawartha's main competition for crowds and cars has been eliminated.

[andre fortin 0]

Hope he does good. Nothing worst for the sport in general than loosing short tracks.

c) attendance had been dwindling due to the oversaturation of race tracks in the area (3 within 45 minutes).

Having other race tracks in your area is not the reason(s) why you struggle, they are just excuses. Weak, dull, boring shows is the No 1 short track killer. If your program is appealing to fans, medias, sponsors as well are racers, no matter how many race tracks are around, YOU will be successfull.

You can take that to the bank!!!!!!.

[Johnathan Schwemler 0]

Good point. Sometimes it's not even having an exciting show but the illusion that you have an exciting show.

I watched a NASCAR Winston Cup Series race from the 90's the other day, the finish was no different than the finishes we see today, but the announcers made it sound so exciting that there was the illusion that the race was far better than it actually was.

By the way Andre, the karting event you're putting on this winter seems exciting, I almost want to drive from Toronto to participate. The announcements of ASE joining NASCAR again is also exciting, and I wish some of that news was released in English so we could share it with other Ontario racers and spur some interest here, maybe even set an example.

[andre fortin 0]

Thanks.

BTW, You are taking me for the wrong guy. I'm André Fortin. The guy who is setting up the Karting event in Québec City is André Poulin.