Transponders?!?!

[BlingxBling]

This isn't charity, it is a business!! It is Joe's responsibility to make sure the facilities are nice and all equipment is working properly. If he can't do it by himself, hire someone who can and if he can't hack it financially, put it up for someone else who has the means to do it right. Eventually it will come down to drivers finding the grass on the other side to be a lot greener!

[White Lightnin]

Amanda, you sure hit the nail right on the head.

[EricaR]

Let me just clarify something here. My post was not about asking for charity in any way. It was about the transponders and those that continue to complain about everything under the sun at the track. The fact of the matter is, even though we are thankful to all drivers, Enduros and regular division drivers that come week after week, no one is making you stay here to race. We are just asking that when something goes wrong with equipment, it bothers us as much as it does you, but these things happen. Even if we would have checked the transponders and found that they were not working early in the day, let's just say that the problem could not have been fixed...then the complaint would have been we spent all of this money to come here and race, and now we have to go home. It's always complaints and never appreciation for what is done. Maybe it's that alone that will close the gates for good one day? As far as I'm concerned, end of discussion on my part. Have a good weekend, wherever you choose to race.

[Mobigsly]

I know everytime I fix something I check to see if it works, How can you fix a problem and then hold off till the next time you need it to see if it works?
TRUX should get their money back!

[EricaR]

TRUX did get their money back

[BlingxBling]

Erica I gather what you are saying, but it has nothing to do with appreciation, more like expectation. When you go to a restaurant and order a meal, you expect it to be cooked thoroughly. Do you eat it half raw, gladly accept the bill because you appreciated the other things they did? Heck no!! We, the fans, drivers, and crew members shouldn't have to expect anything less than working equipment, bathroom facilities that don't require you to lift to seat in search of wild life that may have made the toilet its new home, or a walk through the amazon. That is what we pay admission for, not only to create a purse, but to make sure the track is upkept. These complaints are valid. They are not people looking for a rise out of management. I haven't the ability to argue this any further because I rarely can be found at Mountain...

[DB Motorsports]

To be honest with everyone, I was not the happiest camper when the big cars went out for the transponder check, and once again there were problems, but we still raced with working transponders. If you ask me, I think they (Joe, and Billy) handled the situation very well. Don't get me wrong, I do think someone should check the system as soon as the right people arrive at the track to make sure everything is working the way it should, but that didn't happen and that's just the way it goes. It sounds like just about everyone who is posting on this suject is just beating a dead horse. The race is over and everyone who went to the track to race did!!! So instead of sitting here and crying about a delay in the race because of transponder issues, why don't we all start a new thread on how we can make our sport better. I don't know if anyone noticed, but the car counts have been going down at our races, and that is more of a concern to me than having to wait a couple hours to race. We have a good thing going at Mountain Speedway and I would hate to see us kill it. Maybe if we all pull together and make some suggestions to Billy B., some things could be changed at the track to make it run smoother. Billy does listen to people. It wasn't long ago I overheard a conversation about some drivers wanting to run a true Enduro race, and sure enough, a month later they are already talking about putting it on the schedule for next season. So I'm telling all of you, this sport is in our hands, if we all pull together as drivers and figure these problems out as a group, people will listen. I really hope this is the last post in this thread.


Dave Bartuski Jr. 31B

[NEETS-1]

The way I see it is Joe does the best he can with what he has to work with. I know and have known many promoters in my racing career and even though Joe is a little rough sometimes...he is really a good guy. The definition of "promoter" is a risk taker. He takes a risk each and every event at losing, breaking even or making a few bucks. There is only so much that one man can do. There is always something forgotten because there is so much to do and think of.
As far as the transponder deal....We all thought the problem was fixed last race and never expected any problems this time because the last regular race went off w/o a hitch. The one wire was broken due to an accident and replaced. Let's call this a learning experience...I now know that we have to check the computer before every event. I will do whatever I have to, to do this so our races go on smoothly and in a timely manner. So hopefully this problem will never arise again...but you know as well as I...it will be something else unforeseen in the future.
Getting back to the track help. I raced all my life and was part of many different tracks. At almost each and every one of them, we always had what you called "work days" where the drivers, crew, officials and even fans came out to help spruce up the place. We also had one event at the end of the year where the officials and workers donated a days work at an event to help the promoter save a little cash for needed equipment/materials for the track. Over the years I have been at Mountain, I tried to do both, but no one was interested. Every year, I donated my time at the Street Stock Shootout and in the beginning some others did, also. But it is not fair to all if some did not want to work w/o pay and others do....so that was nixed. The pits and grandstands are filled with a miriad of people with different skills and occupations. Maybe some of them could say, "Hey Joe, I am a contractor....I'll give ya a good price on remodeling the bathrooms" or "hey Joe, I own a whatever store...I'll get ya a good price on a certain item".
All in all, Mountain speedway is doing better than a lot of tracks in the Northeast...at least we are open, and with the help of the NEETS series, will stay open for many years to come. We as officials must do our jobs to keep the doors open...and yes, we do get yelled at, attitudes, among other things from the drivers, but that is all part of the job. It is how you handle it that shows what caliber official you are. We would not be officials if we didn't love the sport...it is certainly not for the money, lol.
Everyone have a good day, keep your racing cool...and look forward to the next time we meet at the track.

[nobandwagonhere]

DB...you summed it up. Well put.
Next issue...... As far as the bathrooms go....try aiming and not complaining. Have you ever been to a track with clean bathrooms? I mean c'mon. When I go to a track....to race or SPECTATE (which is where most of the complaints seem to be coming from...spectators) I go to watch racing. Not run down a checklist in the John. Like you said Bling, when I go to a restaurant, I expect the food to be cooked....my first concern is the food...NOT THE BATHROOM. So I guess at a track the food would be the good racing?..(right or wrong?)...so as far as I'm concerned, last weekend the FOOD WAS GREAT!!! YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[CIN]

Ok stop B.tching everyone....Transponder issues have been an ongoing problem (believe me - I have ONE particular day very much etched into my brain) but let me ask you all this...have anyone of you who arrive at the track early EVER volunteered your car to test the transponder and loop earlier than the start of racing. Probably NOT....It is very easy to blame track management...but somewhere we all have to be adults and take on some responsibility. So unless you want to be part of the solution....just stop....
Tracks around the country are closing at an alarming rate...Trying to get new ones built are like trying to build the Berlin Wall again...(NIMBYS) so, be Very Thankful for what you have....and when you get to the track maybe go up to Billy and say - How 'bout I take MY car slowly around to make sure the transponders are working....either that or Bring a digital clock and some score cards Just in case....

Now of course this is JMO!!!!!!!!!! I am not even going to get into my personal feelings...but I HAVE NEVER BLAMED THE TRACK!!!!!!!!! OR THE TRANSPONDER SYSTEM!!!!! on that fateful day..... JUST BE HAPPY THAT YOU CAN STILL RACE....

Cindy Johnson

[BlingxBling]

Actually Donny, I have been to race tracks where the bathrooms have been decent, granted I also have been to tracks where I opted to pop a sqwat near a bush rather than step foot in their bathrooms. I wish it were an aiming problem...females can't pee standing up, well they can it's just messy

[richardpetey]

Wall Speedway has a great facility and beautiful bathrooms, but they all have a sign over the porcelain reading: Flush twice, it's a long way to the pit shack, hehe......................
UNCLE PETEY......................
PS.........you have to own a transponder to race at their bowl........

[vsmidge68]

OK I have tried to keep my opinions to myself but this is just crazy. Several people have hit the nail on the head here and some are just out to lunch. I own a small business and I can tell you keeping people happy is just a pain in the a**. You have happy people, cranky people, and those who are just looking to complain no matter what. I will tell you this......I was nice enough to help score the trux on Monday (I don't even own a truck so what do I care right?) and when the race was over I didn't want to leave the tower because there was a large man at the bottom of the stairs yelling at anyone who came out. I really don't think that is adult behavior, when things don't go your way, throwing a tantrum is not the way to fix things. If this is the way officials and crew are treated, then I will never put myself in that position again.
Let's face it, everyone wants to race, or passenger, or watch, or pee. I have been to the track very early and the pit bathrooms were clean as can be. I go back 2 hours later and there is a mess. I don't just mean garbage overflowing, I mean peepee and dookie (sorry Donny ) all over the seat and stall. Is this how people treat their own homes? I doubt it. I look at it this way ...........first of all, this post has gone from transponder issues to the bathrooms, to eating out at restaurants..Hello??
Our crew has decided that Mountain is now our "home" track. That means we will treat it and it's people as we would in our own homes. Therefore, there will be no bashing of family members, no messing up of bathrooms, and when something is broken, we will try to fix it.
I'm not sure what Joe's financial state is because it's not my business, but I know it can't be worth this amount of bashing and complaining. If he has the amount of money everyone thinks he has, then he should take it and go to Hawaii. I don't see him or Billy doing that. They are there every week, (Joe in his chair in the transponder shack, NOT hiding somewhere) and Billy running his skinny little butt off in 10 directions. Is the grass greener for them?? Sure it is, but APPARENTLY they have a love for the sport that keeps them there. I don't expect to see too many people offer any kind of assistance seeing how poor Geno can't even get donations for the kids weekly drawings. (and before you ask, YES my crew has donated). My riding lawn mower doesn't fit in the truck with everything else, or I would bring it there, but I will bring you people some toilet paper and sanitary papers for the toilets the next time I come there. OK, is everybody happy now?? Oh, and by the way, I will also bring some score sheets so if the transponders go 'man down' again, you can all score your own cars, creatively as you want to, and then let's start reading THAT happy post!!!!!!

[NEETS-1]

Nice post Vicki. I do want to stress that I think all the drivers/crew should consider Mountain their "Hometrack" when they are there. I and my officials do our best to make everyone feel like they belong. I do not consider anyone an "outsider". When you are attending our events...you ARE a Mountain driver/crew whether you are from PA, NY, NJ, DE, or B.F. Egypt.
Remember, I was a driver for a long time...and I was an "outsider" at many of the tracks I raced at. I swore when I became an official long ago, I would never make anyone feel like I did. I always felt best at my "Hometrack"...and that's the way I want everyone at Mountain to feel.

[W. J.]

Good point on the bathrooms, Vicki. The complaints come from everywhere about this issue, not just racetracks, yet I've never heard anywhere of a 'secret crew' that travels about the country to mess them up, so it must be the select few slobs using them that mess them up. If people treated everything like it was their own, the whole world would be a cleaner, nicer place.
My experience has been the same as yours. I arrive early in my job writing race stories, use a clean bathroom, yet later in the day, it looks like it hasn't been cleaned in months. It's all about 'attitude', and unfortunately, there are way too many places open to people with poor attitudes that make the rest of us suffer.

Old Indian saying "Don't muddy the water around you, you may have to drink it later!"

As to the transponder issue, I think that's been well addressed here, and what I know of Billy and the whole Mountain crew, they seldom make the same mistakes twice, so this should be the last time this specific problem arises. People who learn from mistakes made are good people, and smart ones, too.

Let's move on to better things now.