Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

National Trail has done that for years. Every Saturday of the point meets a couple dozen yellow school buses show up and all the kids walk around. Even at that, it looks like the place is empty. When a place holds 20 thousand people, a few kids don't make much difference.

Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

That's great Jeff, but we need them kids that have drivers licenses to come out, then they will bring their friends, kind of like investing in the sport.
If you ask a couple of track owners what brings them in, it's the import crowd. No tech, just kids having fun. They buy food, spend money.
If we don't get new blood, the sport will continue to decline. There are plenty of racers who have their kids racing, and have friends, but we need way more.
The stands are packed for all these different import events they now put on, the reason is the kids have all these different cars to pick from, but most are imports.

Just my opinion, but NHRA is going to have to put imports into Stock if they want new blood. it's kind of happening now with the new EV classes that some tracks have.

Spectator Attendance. You got to make people want to come to a race while competing against all the other events in the area for that weekend.

Track owners have to make a profit, it's a business. What's it cost to do a Divisional. What does NHRA want out of it.

Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

It's all about the money! Young people can't afford this sport. Being at the Vegas double the last few days, the only young people are the children of people already established in the sport and are financially set.

Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

You got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NHRA's "entry-level" classes (Super Street and Stock) are now full of 150/160 MPH cars! That's not "entry-level"!

Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

But you don't have to have/build a 150/160 car look at McNeals taxi !

Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

None of the import crowd would want to attend an NHRA event to sit around old folks to see their buddy make a pass.

Imports have there own events and don't want any part of a divisional. Try telling them they have to put a dial on the car. Their heads would spin. They want to race to finish line.

The only NHRA imports you see are Comp cars because an engine builder saw something in a combo to run fast.

Oh, and the Toyota Funny Cars:D

Drag racing as we know it is dying in my opinion.
We'll still race,watch and follow but not many to replace us when we stop.

Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

IMPORTS? I'm not so sure I wouldn't rather see it die than allow that. I've been at events where imports were there, came away with a hatred for those buzzbombs. They may be even more irritating than having Jr Dragsters at a Divisional. Just my 2 cents. Bill Taylor B/S 1005.

Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

Not to mention, all the imports that I have ever seen at the track, usually just go for the local "street legals" event, or maybe a test and tune, and have zero interest in class restrictive "rules", or handicap racing. Almost everyone that I have seen , has either a turbo, or NAWS", and all kinds of "Mods" that would never fly in Stock. There may be a FWD Ricer that would possibly enjoy working with most of the factory issued components, and find satisfaction in finding incremental gains by experimenting, but it seems most of them would rather slap a nitrous kit or turbo on their Hondas.

Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

and McNeal's not a "kid"! But he's having fun like one.

Re: Divisional Spectator Attendance
 

I had a thought, on Friday night of a points meet a car show where the racers line their cars on the track

like the pro's used to do back in the day and also include the locals to join and display their hot rods whether it be classic or imports.

Maybe something like that could get the community involved and create a friendly atmosphere.