...well not really, but…a lot of people would like to make you believe they are all idiots. Not all are.
Everyday there is a new genius that comes on a message board somewhere across the USA and tells people how they would run this track or that track. I guess we are to believe that this fan or driver or office pet is going to be able to sit in the luxurious executive chair and make all these great ideas come to be with the snap of a finger. Well, except for the fact that there often is no executive chair and often the promoter is painting with one hand while holding the phone with the other.
How arrogant some people are! I can say this, because I used to be one of those arrogant people. It all sounds so easy. But it is not. And what works at one track may or may not work at another.
I was given the opportunity once to promote a race, and I learned from that how difficult it is, and how sometimes I should just shut up and let the professional promoters do their thing…because it is much harder than it looks.
Some of the dumbest things I have heard circle around improvements. You know, you have heard it, “If they would just fix the bathroom, redo the track, and update the infield, great. Only problem--where does the money come from?
And even when they pour a ton of cash in the promoter is still beat up over it. Look at the trashing Garrett Evans has been taking. Here is a man that put his money into making Wenatchee Valley Super Oval a little gem of a track and now everyone and their uncle is out there talking about what the track needs to do.
But if misery loves company, Evans has plenty … almost all promoters are bashed….George Wade, Mickey Beadle, the Collins used to be but now that they are building the dream track they are off the hook for the time being, John Condren, Bill McAnally, Kenny Shepherd, Butch at South Sound….hey I don’t even know the guy, but he is famous to me because so many people bad mouth him,
Rarely do promoters try to defend themselves publicly, it is almost impossible for them to do so anyway and until a person walks in their shoes no one knows what they go through, how much they do. But one thing for sure some of them are putting their money where their mouth is. Evans, Paul, the Collins, etc.
Most promoters would make the improvements if they had the $, they normally want them as much as the drivers and fans. Sometimes just as they get the money for track improvements, they instead are forced to respond to spending that money on unexpected city requirements…sewer line and sound walls.
So I got this great idea, since there is so much zeal telling promoters how to manage their track. If people are so passionate about what it takes to make a track a success and are so positive what they say will work, why not approach the promoter and get their blessing for undertaking some of the projects on their own. That person could cut a deal with the promoter that success of a project is valued by A and is rewarded by B.
For sure a lot of the ideas that are being discussed don’t even take capital to get started. Just a little work…so why not try? Then for once and for all we would know that the person was right…or the promoter was an idiot all along….but I assure you that last part is going to be hard to prove. From scrubbing the toilet, to calling racers to come play, to counting tickets, to refereeing officials and teams, to calling police, to writing checks for the finishes, to making sure there is an ambulance, to halting fence jumpers, to keeping the track safe, to working with different sanctioning body requests or cooperating with other tracks, to responding/conforming to city ordinances, etc….the job of a promoter is one of the most challenging jobs there is today.
Is it important? Ask yourself this…is the future of racing important? Would you want that responsibility on your shoulders? And if you gave it all you had but all you heard was complaints, how would you feel?
Those promoters deserve more respect. At the very least thoughts of what should be done should be balanced by remember what budget a promoter has to work in and all the other responsibilities that must be fulfilled.
Truth is those promoters are as much a hero to me as drivers are. As a fan I need them both.
