I recently moved back to the south after many years away.
Not much has changed; people are still quiet, welcoming, the BBQ is always right,
and dirt track racing is still the thing to do on a Friday night. Or at least
what all the brochures say. I was never a fan of dirt tracking
racing when I was a kid, but I decided to give it a go since I moved back. One
of the "best dirt track racing in the south" is in Ocala, Florida, at
Bubba Raceway Park. When I first heard the name, I was skeptical. But then, I
did more research. It's a racetrack sponsored and owned by a radio show host
known as "Bubba the Love Sponge" although the name may sound
different, and his show may not be your typical morning show, the racetrack is
what it is advertised to be. Every Friday night beginning in March until the
winter months, it is a premier dirt track course and family event.
The first time I went, I enjoyed the action-packed show
while sitting near the gate while getting covered in mud. I wasn't concerned
with accessibility; I was more concerned with drinking beer and enjoying the
show. And I must say, I accomplished that goal quickly. I have since decided to
make Bubba Raceway Park a weekly to by weekly tradition, depending on funds.
Although I had fun, this blog is not necessarily meant to detail all my
exploits. It is about accessibility. That brings me to my second trip to Bubba
Raceway Park.
On April 17, I attended Monster Jam at Bubba Raceway Park.
While I was at Monster Jam to enjoy the show, I also was there to examine
accessibility. The Monster Jam show was great; it was conducted in a
team-by-team format, which provided for an evening of mud flying fun. The
accessibility of the park and event, however, was not so great.
For anyone who read my last blog post, they will know that
2015 marks 25 years since the ADA. The Bubba Raceway Park did not get the memo.
I am aware that this is an outdoor park, so some of their requirements may be
less strict, but I must say I was appalled by the venue's lack of accessibility.
The trouble started when I went to park my vehicle with my friend. Nowhere on
the property is there semi-hard ground to let ramps down in. For anyone who
doesn't know, wheelchairs tend to get stuck very quickly in soft ground.
Eventually, I could get unstuck and make my way to the tiny paved area that
consisted of the line to get in. Here I found another problem. The gate that
they expected me to pass through was too narrow for my wheelchair. On this one,
though, I will give them credit. They allowed me to enter the seating area differently.
Earlier, I said they allowed me to enter the seating area; I
very loosely use it when I display seating area. Don't get me wrong; there were
bleachers for everyone else, but no designated handicap seating area. I was in
my spot from the week before, sitting by some broken benches on a hill, close
to the gate, which I didn't mind. I minded the lack of control, the
venue, and event staff over the area. One other handicap gentleman and I were
sitting at the bottom of these broken benches with about 30-50 other
people. No big deal, right? Wrong. What I failed to mention about
these people was that they were kids under the ages of 10. For those of you
doing the math at home, kids under the age of 10 with no seating area
designated equals kids running wherever they want to—included in the front of
people in wheelchairs who can't see.
I could handle the minor inconveniences, though; I let it
slide and tried to enjoy the show. What I could not let slide was the restroom
facility arrangement. I don't know if it's just me not going to a lot of racing
events before, or me expecting too much or racetracks not expecting handicap
people, but all I could say about the restroom was that it left much more to be
desired than one would like to begin with. It was not accessible for
wheelchairs to enter it. There was a 3-foot step from the ground to the
restroom, go-go gadget wheelchair? Oh wait, I don't have one of the fancy ones.
Second and most upsetting was there answer to the non-accessible bathroom when
I told the staff that I needed to use the restroom and couldn't get into it,
they said something to the effect of "Block it off and go in front of the
restroom by the sink and use your urinal there." So wait, I'm supposed to
block off the restroom and prevent a line of drunken ass men from going to the
bathroom and try to pee all at the same time? That doesn't sound like a formula
for success or accessibility.
While I am stubborn and probably keep going to Bubba Raceway
Park, I do not recommend anyone in a wheelchair going without a companion who
is willing to go above and beyond to make sure you both have a good time. To
answer whether this venue is accessible, the answer is no, but hopefully, if I
keep going and complain enough, it soon will be.
