It's that time of the year again here in New Jersey. Most of the race season has been wrapped up, and only two things are on the mind of Wall Stadium fans, the upcoming Turkey Derby, and the immediate future of their beloved track.
While all signs are pointing to this year's Turkey Derby being one of the best in recent memory, the rumors regarding the track, and it's management, the Krause family, have been the wildest ones heard yet.
An article in this week's Area Auto Racing News claimed there were two possible scenarios on the table. The first was that Cliff Krause was interested in becoming the promoter of Bridgeport Speedway. The second was that he planned to cover Wall Stadium's asphalt surface with dirt, and race on Friday nights.
I personally spent some time with Cliff Krause during the running of the track's first annual Halloween event. What I found out about Cliff is he is a very busy businessman during the week with his self-owned Supreme Manufacturing, located in East Brunswick, NJ. He really only makes it out to the track on Saturdays, leaving the daily management of the facility to his wife Diane. She has been known to put in 60 hours plus a week at the track, and doesn't take a paycheck.
The Krause family have nothing but good intentions for Wall Stadium. They have put alot of effort into the 2011 season, and quite frankly, are on the verge of being overwhelmed by the demands of running a track on some occasions. For anyone to think they might consider running Bridgeport Speedway, after all they have invested at Wall is a little absurd for several reasons.
First of all, the family lives about 30 minutes from Wall. Taking over Bridgeport, would mean an approximate 2 hour commute, each way, for something that doesn't generate any income for them. Unless they plan on uprooting their entire family, or selling their business, to devote all their time to Bridgeport, I don't see this happening, and the likelihood of either is highly doubtful.
Secondly, while I myself have considered the idea of Wall Stadium going to a Friday night schedule, the Krause family seem unwillingly to change it's traditional Saturday night schedule. With all three tracks in Jersey currently running on the same night, Saturday, it would only seem logical that moving one to another day could generate more fans.
Afterall, I fondly recall when my weekend would consist of Friday nights at East Windsor Speedway, and Saturday night at either Wall, or Flemington. However, those were in much better economic times. I don't know of many people, let alone families, who could afford to attend the races twice in the same weekend, unless they were for very special races.
The rumor of Cliff Krause wanting to cover the asphalt surface with dirt is truly amazing to me. While it probably has it's roots in the fact that dirt cars were added to the Turkey Derby event in 2010, and will be a part of it again this year, making Wall a dirt track wouldn't be as simple as just adding some dirt.
There would be all kinds of equipment to buy, or rent, to groom the surface. Graders, and water trucks don't come cheap. Not to mention the dirt itself, and the expense of bringing it onsite. Then there is the added cost of maintaining it every week. The asphalt is the last thing they need to worry about every week at Wall, the same couldn't be said of dirt.
Another factor would be the approval of the town. What many people don't know is the Krause family has presented many ideas to the township regarding additional uses of the facility. Events like carnivals, or family concerts, and all have been met with opposition. You honestly think the town would allow a giant cloud of dust from the track every Friday night?
Remember, Cliff Krause is a very successful businessman. He is currently on a year-to-year basis regarding the lease of the facility. In fact, he is not completely sure, as the Turkey Derby approaches, of the track's status for 2012. While he is rather certain they will get an agreement in place for next year, nothing is final until the lease is actually signed. A conversion to a dirt track would take a committment from the track's owners to a multi-year lease, something they seem very reluctant to do.
While it wouldn't be November for Wall Stadium fans, and competitors, without some uncertainty about the Jersey Shore oval, this year's rumors are pretty wild.
Let's just look forward to a great Turkey Derby, and hope we get some certainity on the track's future soon.
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