damn that sucks...
like stated above i too understand the reasoning but good thing i live here in vegas cause I'd be pretty upset if i already made hotel/flight plans and was givin a MONTHS notice that i was not able to attend unless i wanted to be a co-worker/volunteer ...with some some blue haired lurch height freak!
I was there the last 2 events and didnt see any problem with have the spectators ( granted attending an event a run a event are to different lenses)
I moving to the speedway would actually ruin the event... i dont know about others but for me the awesomeness of the optima event is the fact that everyone down there in the pits "per say" be it drivers, vendors,hobbyists,etc
i would think it would be a cool idea to just limit the number of spectators to a amount you feel comfortable and just sell tickets before the event through lat-g and pt.com and when they sell out they sell out, i felt like we're (these 2 forum members)really the only people who even attend the event other than the owners of some of the paint dripping cars at sema.
i betting jimi is worried since the event is big time now that its had speed channel coverage the event will have a TON of new spectators and that could cause problems...
my .02 in a nut shell if you keep this event a spectator less deal then it just gonna become like the super chevy suspension shootout (just a vendor marketing tool) and it will loose its hype its gained