Saving York Raceway
Discussion
Us regulars at York face a possible closure due to a takeover bid by Mintex brakes.
A deal is done to gain a 10#+ year lease but significant funds need to be raised to lay a new track and build new facilities.
I for one am excited this could be the opportunity to making York great and maybe filling a void that will be left from losing Shakey.
There are a lot of negative comments from joe public and we want to address these and improve and dismiss any issues for a successful future.
Can we have a dignified debate on how to fix and improve issues and make York great again?
A deal is done to gain a 10#+ year lease but significant funds need to be raised to lay a new track and build new facilities.
I for one am excited this could be the opportunity to making York great and maybe filling a void that will be left from losing Shakey.
There are a lot of negative comments from joe public and we want to address these and improve and dismiss any issues for a successful future.
Can we have a dignified debate on how to fix and improve issues and make York great again?
Complete layman here...
the problem as i see it, is there aren't enough regulars to cover the financial cost and rare/occasional visitors wont contribute to something they don't use.
I've never been but my brother attend regularly with his friends and their "race" car.
For me unless they can find a way of reducing the cost for your occasional visitor it wont work.
Looking at potential costs online from the websites......
Minimum cost for someone to turn and and do a run seems to be £25 with admission and a single run or £40 if that option includes entry.
Santa Pod has better facilities and normal prices seem to be £35 for unlimited runs but they do the saturday night specials for £12 entry and £10 unlimited runs.
the problem as i see it, is there aren't enough regulars to cover the financial cost and rare/occasional visitors wont contribute to something they don't use.
I've never been but my brother attend regularly with his friends and their "race" car.
For me unless they can find a way of reducing the cost for your occasional visitor it wont work.
Looking at potential costs online from the websites......
Minimum cost for someone to turn and and do a run seems to be £25 with admission and a single run or £40 if that option includes entry.
Santa Pod has better facilities and normal prices seem to be £35 for unlimited runs but they do the saturday night specials for £12 entry and £10 unlimited runs.
I think there is only a £5 difference in sign on fees for a day of RWYB. How many runs does a typical RWYB guy get at the pod in a day?
I think York provides great value for money in this aspect as on a typical day most get around 12-15 runs and some in excess of 20 for those that see the full day out.
Also as the pits are separated they get to watch the race classes and are not stuck in queues all day with poor view of the action.
I think York provides great value for money in this aspect as on a typical day most get around 12-15 runs and some in excess of 20 for those that see the full day out.
Also as the pits are separated they get to watch the race classes and are not stuck in queues all day with poor view of the action.
This is a bone of contention for me as Im a keen RWYB'er and York is the closest track to me, but for some reason I would attend Shakey but not York as it stands. Ive only been to York twice in the last couple of years, as opposed to Shakey a dozen times and Pod half a dozen times. In my opinion, York has everything going for it in terms of location and attendance, and the few times I've been there, it's been packed.
I believe the entry price and sign on fees are fair and I even said I would pay more if the facilities were good enough. For me, the second half of the strip, and particularly the run off area and return road, need completely re-surfacing. I attended with my drag car that I'd spent £25k on, only to be concerned about knackering £300 each drag tyres or expensive coilover suspension due to the quality of the surface on the return road. I even raced against a £150k McLaren so god knows what was going through their mind! I believe if the money was spent on it, then it would attract a good quality of customer who doesnt mind spending money at the track.
The facilities are also pretty poor and the organisation by the stewards often leaves a lot to be desired, but these are come second place behind the track quality which is paramount.
Also, the regularity of the events are too few and far between. Im not sure what the reason is for this, maybe the events rely on volunteering by the stewards I'm not sure. If we look at the success of Pod, who have events on most weekends, then I don't see why not events say twice a month wouldn't work. I think there needs to be a longer term plan here though as Im sure that there is the interest out there. I certainly would prefer to come to York over Pod any day, but it just needs that investment into it to secure its future.
Cheers Chris
I believe the entry price and sign on fees are fair and I even said I would pay more if the facilities were good enough. For me, the second half of the strip, and particularly the run off area and return road, need completely re-surfacing. I attended with my drag car that I'd spent £25k on, only to be concerned about knackering £300 each drag tyres or expensive coilover suspension due to the quality of the surface on the return road. I even raced against a £150k McLaren so god knows what was going through their mind! I believe if the money was spent on it, then it would attract a good quality of customer who doesnt mind spending money at the track.
The facilities are also pretty poor and the organisation by the stewards often leaves a lot to be desired, but these are come second place behind the track quality which is paramount.
Also, the regularity of the events are too few and far between. Im not sure what the reason is for this, maybe the events rely on volunteering by the stewards I'm not sure. If we look at the success of Pod, who have events on most weekends, then I don't see why not events say twice a month wouldn't work. I think there needs to be a longer term plan here though as Im sure that there is the interest out there. I certainly would prefer to come to York over Pod any day, but it just needs that investment into it to secure its future.
Cheers Chris
Saving the track but making significant improvements at the same time is what we are aiming to do.
A fully relayed strip, brand new facilities. All issues such as the state of the entry and return roads addressed properly.
It just needs this push and a fresh way of thinking in management.
I am excited for York and really believe we can gain the trust and support of the public and the regular racers and build to a much bigger and better future for drag racing in the UK.
A fully relayed strip, brand new facilities. All issues such as the state of the entry and return roads addressed properly.
It just needs this push and a fresh way of thinking in management.
I am excited for York and really believe we can gain the trust and support of the public and the regular racers and build to a much bigger and better future for drag racing in the UK.
DangerousDerek said:
Saving the track but making significant improvements at the same time is what we are aiming to do.
A fully relayed strip, brand new facilities. All issues such as the state of the entry and return roads addressed properly.
It just needs this push and a fresh way of thinking in management.
I am excited for York and really believe we can gain the trust and support of the public and the regular racers and build to a much bigger and better future for drag racing in the UK.
Is there the option of adding a skin pan? Rockingham and Pod have moved into drift days and these seem to be really popular with punters and the organisers. Appreciate it's a little outside the traditional drag racing scope but if you're looking to attract new customers it may be worth considering while you have the option to redevelopA fully relayed strip, brand new facilities. All issues such as the state of the entry and return roads addressed properly.
It just needs this push and a fresh way of thinking in management.
I am excited for York and really believe we can gain the trust and support of the public and the regular racers and build to a much bigger and better future for drag racing in the UK.
KarlMac said:
Is there the option of adding a skin pan? Rockingham and Pod have moved into drift days and these seem to be really popular with punters and the organisers. Appreciate it's a little outside the traditional drag racing scope but if you're looking to attract new customers it may be worth considering while you have the option to redevelop
Certainly worth consideration. I will put the idea forward this weekend thanks.It's still run as a private business, isn't it? & you have to pay for a non MSA licence from another part of the same business and the club just run the racing?
From what I have read elsewhere, the business hasn't put any money into the track for 20 years & now the racers are being asked to pay for a new track, & the business carries on as before?
From what I have read elsewhere, the business hasn't put any money into the track for 20 years & now the racers are being asked to pay for a new track, & the business carries on as before?
andburg said:
Complete layman here...
the problem as i see it, is there aren't enough regulars to cover the financial cost and rare/occasional visitors wont contribute to something they don't use.
I've never been but my brother attend regularly with his friends and their "race" car.
For me unless they can find a way of reducing the cost for your occasional visitor it wont work.
Looking at potential costs online from the websites......
Minimum cost for someone to turn and and do a run seems to be £25 with admission and a single run or £40 if that option includes entry.
Santa Pod has better facilities and normal prices seem to be £35 for unlimited runs but they do the saturday night specials for £12 entry and £10 unlimited runs.
The your prices for RWYB are unlimited, before I moved upwards and actually started competing I think the least number of runs I got in one day was seven. There have been people going round and round once racing has finished and gotten 20+ runs before.the problem as i see it, is there aren't enough regulars to cover the financial cost and rare/occasional visitors wont contribute to something they don't use.
I've never been but my brother attend regularly with his friends and their "race" car.
For me unless they can find a way of reducing the cost for your occasional visitor it wont work.
Looking at potential costs online from the websites......
Minimum cost for someone to turn and and do a run seems to be £25 with admission and a single run or £40 if that option includes entry.
Santa Pod has better facilities and normal prices seem to be £35 for unlimited runs but they do the saturday night specials for £12 entry and £10 unlimited runs.
gusm2 said:
I've asked the question when I've noticed a post on their instagram account but the answer is still negative
Like assholes everyone has one. There are a lot of negative comments and rumours going around. That is all they are, rumours. Granted the current situation is a bit of a complicated mess it seems but until the fat lady sings then I hold the faith, as the majority of racers and fans of York still do.gusm2 said:
I also hope service will be resumed, I've never raced there but hopefully will in the not too distant future, plus the fact I'd hate to see my £50 donation go up the spout
All direct donations and sponsorships are promised refunded. I personally sponsored £1000.Any money that went through Just giving will go to charity.
No worry though, we will be getting a track!
What a shame. Love that place it's like stepping into a time warp. However I hope it can open soon. I was reading all the messages people left. It seems focused on the drivers bringing there own cars for a run. From a business perspective rwyb is not the answer. I've been run cars down had a great time. Noticed over the years that the crowd changed with the launch of fast n furious and friendly car enthusiasm changed to chav wannabes and social impaired trying to rein act scenes from the film or attitudes. That's not the motor sport that I grew up in. So I know a few people, not many to be fair but stopped going because of that reason. From the non car owner family man point of view it is a little boring watching the majority of rwyb. It doesn't make much sense to me that you book lots of rwyb on main punter rich days.
They have come to see crazy loud cars speak to the race drivers, pick out there favourite car and watch a day's motor sport. Not Daveo in his Audi a4 tdi make 20 seconds passes.
The other thing is that when you have small children you will need facilities like clean baby changing. Undercover areas if it rains and food.
I would suggest better ways of attracting customers who aren't racing and want a day out than more drivers.
Take a day out at santa pod note all the things they do well that can be replicated cheaply and build from there.
Finding ways of making money from the visitors is the key. Food, t shirts, undercover, shop selling basics like suncream, baby wipes, drinks, ponchos etc. Camping is whole other thing that could be a winner with good facilities. A nice bar, food trucks, music. Even a car boot sale or market on a weekend when not racing would create interest in the place. People would come back on race day. All this takes time and money but it could be great. It would be a great shame to lose this place.
They have come to see crazy loud cars speak to the race drivers, pick out there favourite car and watch a day's motor sport. Not Daveo in his Audi a4 tdi make 20 seconds passes.
The other thing is that when you have small children you will need facilities like clean baby changing. Undercover areas if it rains and food.
I would suggest better ways of attracting customers who aren't racing and want a day out than more drivers.
Take a day out at santa pod note all the things they do well that can be replicated cheaply and build from there.
Finding ways of making money from the visitors is the key. Food, t shirts, undercover, shop selling basics like suncream, baby wipes, drinks, ponchos etc. Camping is whole other thing that could be a winner with good facilities. A nice bar, food trucks, music. Even a car boot sale or market on a weekend when not racing would create interest in the place. People would come back on race day. All this takes time and money but it could be great. It would be a great shame to lose this place.
I haven't found it chavvy at all, and I'm an old fart . There may be a high tattoo count but I've found everybody friendly and accessible. I used to do RWYB with my Caterhams and found da kidz were always intrigued by the little car with the big acceleration. They did glaze over as I expanded on Colin Chapman's 'Added Lightness' mantra though ...
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