The biggest nightmare facing racetrack operators is bad weather. They get only a set number of weekends to present their racing programs during the season, and rain can take away many of those nights some years. Luckily, the weather here in New Jersey has been pretty good in 2011, and a majority of the weekends have been run with little or no interruption.
However, it is pretty much a given that a major storm, the remnants of Hurricane Irene, will be visiting us somewhere between Saturday night and Sunday. Most likely, Bridgeport, New Egypt, and Wall Stadium will either see a cancellation, or shortening of their shows if the storm does arrive on Saturday night.
With each race weekend being so valuable to the track operaters, competitors, and fans, why not try starting earlier this Saturday? New Egypt Speedway, earlier this season, moved their program up an entire night, to Friday, in anticipation of bad weather. Although the crowd was sparse, they did manage to get the show in. The last-minute decision, and time of year, is what led to the night being so poorly attended. They just didn't get the word out early enough, and have warm enough weather.
The NJ tracks all know this storm is coming, why not act now? Move the start time for this Saturday's events up to a daytime race program, now. Contact the competitors, and make it a non-points show, to be fair to any who cannot make the earlier time. Get the word out through social media, like Facebook, Twitter, racing blogs, etc. Race fans are a pretty tight, well-connected group, in this state. There aren't many who wouldn't know of the time change if it was done now, on Thursday.
Race promoters have to be reactive as well as proactive. This Saturday is one of those times when a firm, early decision, just may be the difference between a day of the pits and stands being 3/4 full, or a night of no racing at all. No one wants that!
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