4th turn gate closed....forever?

[theoldroadhog]

What a great night of racing @ Berlin! Dirt lm's put on a spectacular show, even w/ 8 cars! Forget about the modifieds, run these guys twice a year for points and big $$ along w/ our lm's and ss and you've got a show! Congrats to Brian and Ray! Great end to a long year. Hey! You are CHAMPIONS!!
I couldn't help but notice that the 4th turn gate was closed tonight for the first time EVER! This po'd alot of folks that were parked in the 4th, camping etc. I'm told that the gate will be open Sat. night, but that this is the last time it will be open. Starting next week, and continuing into next year, this gate will be closed! All persons entering or leaving the track will have to pass through the front stretch gate.
While this may not bother those folks going to the 1st turn or front stretch, it is a LONG haul for those of us that sit in the 4th and choose to park there for the proximity to the stands. Just to save some $$ by not having to staff the 4th turn gate, it will severely inconvenience folks that choose to park closer to their seats.
May I suggest you staff a pass through gate with 1 person, and pull them after the first feature? Consider the fans that come to tailgate and like parking close to their seats. Two people in our group that come every week are really not able to walk all the way to the main gate, then all the way down to 4. I know "change" is difficult at times, but is this a change you really want to initiate?
I'm told that the majority of season tickets are sold in the main stretch, not in 1 or 4. To keep costs down, it doesn't matter if those folks have to walk a bit further. Screw you eh?
As a season ticket holder since they were available, and a long time patron of Berlin ( 30 plus years), I hope that management will keep an open mind to this decision and take the wishes of the fans into consideration. No one I talked to Friday night liked it that the gate was closed.
Let's see... I have 2 season passes, our group total has about 6-7, plus all our friends that come pretty regulary... with all the other entertainment options like boating, camping, KAZOO, etc., can you really afford to eliminate one or two $5 per hour people and lose HOW many folks that commit to EVERY SINGLE show of the summer?
If management decides to implement this "new" policy, we ALL will be seriously looking to NOT renew our season tickets, and will be coming out not 26, but maybe 7-8 weeks of the year.
FAN FRIENDLY? I think NOT!!

[herme]

gees roadhog. earlyer this week you were supporting the new management. now that there picking on you the fan and not the drivers or crew members youve got your panties in a bunch. cant have it both ways. i do agree with you about the gate. but then the new guy is only about himself.

[theoldroadhog]

Thanks, your right. I definately need to change to boxers!! Heard too, that season tickets will not be made available for 1st or 4th turns next year. I'll have to invest in a good pair of running shoes I guess..

[gvctom]

roadhog. I'm not sure I understand. I sat near turn 4 last night and I saw many people crossing.

[yoshiki1327]

gvctom... it wasn't the gate to the infield roadhog is talking about he is talking about the the gate to get into the racetrack.

I agree with ya roadhog I actually talked to one in the box office and said you'd rather piss off those in 4th turn and he had the guts to look at me and shake his head yes and say yep. This is actually the 2nd time they had 4th turn closed. The last time they didn't open the gate for the pits after race either. If they close gate for good they might as well just put the stake in and close the stands in 4th turn also. I'm sure Mike is looking forward to the end of the season and hopefully during the off season he will sit back and reevaluate the season and the choices he has made and ones he makes next yr.

[theoldroadhog]

ok,ok, I have to admit it, I am a race-aholic, I have a bad case of circle fever. After two nights of fantastic racing to close out the season, I have to say, I can't stay away! Having missed an average of three nights each of the last 5-6 seasons I just love it too much! Friendships forged at the track, the excitment, tailgating, cooking, watching the drama unfold every Sat., is just way too fun to scrap because of yet another dumb decision by the power that is. The dedication and hard work and love of the sport by the teams, even when they are really getting the short end of the stick sometimes, should give ME plenty of reason to say,"Ta heck w/ it, I'm not lett'in an inconvieience like this slow me down". If they put an obstacle course and barbed wire in front of the gate, I WILL be there w/ wire cutters in hand!
I realize I value the racing experiance and Berlin in paticular, too much to let this damper my enthusiasm. I was really pissed when I heard the news from the horses mouth and let my feelings be known, but to just leave would be detrimental to the racers and not supportive of the best track in the midwest, even if it is incovenient to the fans. I will however voice my displeasure to the management, and I urge anyone who agrees to do the same. Put it in a letter, e-mail, etc. and make your voice heard, but I realize that leaving like a lot of folks did when the beer- in- the- gate policy was implemented is not the right thing to do. We plan on watching to see what next years schedule has in store, what Strevel's new outlaw racing series has to offer, AVSS, ISMA, etc., and plan accordingly. Perhaps more road trips are in order.
Keep your fingers crossed that Mike will make the correct decisions for next year, like yoshiki says, and make your voice heard. It's the only thing we can do.

[theoldroadhog]

Latest (somewhat) update- Season tickets are availeable for 4th and 1st turn this year AND the 4th turn spectators gate will be open again! Recieved a call from Berlin informing me of this fact. Unfortunately, due to being laid off most of the first part of this year, and unexpected medical bills, I will not be able to get season tics for the first time since they have been offered. I will attend as many races as my wallet can afford however.
I would like to thank the owner and his staff for making this wise decision. Keeping the spectator gate open will avoid congestion at the main gate, and is convienient for those fans who choose to sit in the 4th turn. I know other tracks have only 1 gate, but they aren't Berlin! Thanks again Mike and staff, and see you at the races!

[Zeek]

As a crew member I 'm glad that turn 4 gate is open. :-*

[theoldroadhog]

Makes it easier for crews and drivers to grab a quick bite to eat with family or friends in 4 and be able to scurry back down to pits. Everyone I've talked to is very happy with this decision.