Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

So what did people think about that event? Obviously along with the outrageous crownd there were things that were a bit of an inconvenience... Especially since I didn't make it with my car, and got the total spectator treatment and parked across the street. And long lines for everything etc.. However, I truly feel lucky to witness such a special event. I have not felt that way at a drag race in years, whether driving, crewing, or spectating. Norwalk always puts on a good show. They always have above average spectators. Obviously free enterance is what drew the 45,000 spectators that day. I believe it was the largest 1 day spectator count ever for the track, and I would imagine there never has been a larger divisional race?

Does anybody else believe that making divisional races free to spectators, to draw in advertisers/sponsors is the way to go? Most divisionals are ghost towns as far as spectators go. Look at ADRL.

I think it is something that needs to be looked at for sure. I'm on my blackberry right now so I can't copy/past the exact quote from Bader, but he said something about like this "Lucas Oil Events are a pretty bitchin show if you package it right. If I didn't have a National Event it would be are biggest event."

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Are you saying spectator entry was free for the whole event?

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Only on Saturday,Summit gave away loads of tickets for Saturday.
Sunday was back to almost normal......

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

I was surprized the crowd was so tame...Definatley rural folk not city trash but ugly just the same..lots of overweight out of shape kids..Just my perspective.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Like I've said before ...let them in for free (or real cheap) & they'll come! they will then buy your pop,beer,ice cream,popcorn,& burgers! To me it's a no brainer! way to go Mr. Bader!

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

i was there on sunday with a free ticket, there was at least 10 thousand people there

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Comptitionplus.com has a story on how they filled the place up... How they gave away the tickets and all... Good reading and a different mindset of the track operators for sure!!!!

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Bandimere does the same thing for their LODRS Event. They run a promotion through the event sponsor(a fast oil change franchise)for free tickets on Sunday. It looks very similar to a Nat`l Event crown for at least a round or two.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Here's the link to the article.
http://www.competitionplus.com/index...sportsman-race

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

I am not surprised due to the fact it was "Baderized" now can you come back to IHRA??

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Did everyone notice Bader's comment not to use electronic media to promote the race. He used radio stations. I have made this comment before. The average spectator does not surf the web for tracks and races. Alot of individuals I have talked with, at some show events, don't even know drag strips still exist in our area and we have 7 or 8 within and hour and a half ride. Make the admission reasonable priced. Do the math, 2000 at $10 is better than 100 at $20

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Correct.

Also some food for thought in this economy FREE Entertainment for your family, wife , kids, etc is priceless.

As a father if I cannot afford say $100 for a weekend out with my family, I can for FREE however with just the Gas to get there. What I saw were both more women than usual and more kids.

And they pounded the radio here, abosulutley pounded it, everytime you walked out of summit they gave you free tickets.

I love Norwalk, I think its a great facility, well kept, and the employees are plentiful and helpful. I dont have much refrence, but Id Take Norwalk over Vegas. Certainly over Indy and Atlanta, Just my 2 cents...

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

The Baders are masters at this. They could pack the stands with just a marble shooting contest. That's good promoting. You also get treated with an appreciation that you are there. They are making money that's for sure.The fan base is also very large in that area. When it was IHRA they packed the events even with admission fees,. Worked me to death with the 500-600 and even 900 car counts. Those were the good ole days ,huh?The heck with drag racing schools ,let's have a track packing school !.. lol

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

If you let them in once or twice for free.....and you get some of them to come back and pay next time or at future events it's well worth it unless they destroy the place.....and I don't think there is anyway that could happen with a family oriented crowd.

Food sales had to be really good with that many people there.

I recall at Maple Grove's Lucas race a few years ago they had a special deal. A Carload of people for one price. I don't recall how much it was. The place was packed for the night time show and they had fireworks after the racing was done. It was great....loved it.....and it was nice to see people in the stands.........In the old days it was not uncommon to see packed stands even at my little local track for some booked in shows. They did lots of them on a regular basis........

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

With the lagging attendances lately I'd think someone would get the clue at alot of the races. Hey if you let them in for free or at a drastically discounted rate, you have them on the property. You are certain to make some money on almost all of them seems like good customer relations to me after all it helps pay the bills. HRA's are you getting all this? Joe

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Maple Grove is doing that next weekend at the Lucas Oil race, and they also do it at the Dutch Classic in Oct. Next Saturday May 29, after 5:00 PM, a carload of people get spectator side tickets for $25. The same rules apply for the Dutch Classic.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Kevin.....the Bader's don't charge for parking in their lots....the lot behind you guys was a private deal....

Rock

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

classy

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Come on Mike,

You know this is all supposed to be for fun! Heck, I've had folks who don't know me or my spending make rude comments about me here, but I'm just glad they can't vote in elections. (OMG, or can they??)



Cook me something good for lunch at Joliet OK?

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Our local circle track holds 300' street drags on Friday nights and charges $5.00 for car entry, pit pass or spectator pass, take your pick. Draws more spectators in one night than most of the local drag strips can draw in a year. You can lure spectators to a drag race if you want them.
Mike Szcz.....

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

This past week I received five, free tickets in the mail for next months' points meet at Houston Raceway Park. Twenty dollar tickets good for either Saturday or Sunday. HRP did this a few years ago for the ADRL race and the place packed something like 50 thousand plus. Parking fee plus the beer and shirts brought in a LOT of money for the track.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

All remaining NHRA Divisonals should feature free spectator admisson, or no more than $5 spectator admisson for the future 2010 Lucas Oil Div. races. Drop race entry fees $50-$75 as well for 2010 season remainder, to help the competitor a little....Fans will spend some $ on food, drink and a souvenier or 2. Track owners will make at least something.....and the racer will get at least some fuel or lunch $....the $25 each or more spectator admisson fee in this economy will not put hardly ANYONE in the stands.....that has already been proven for the last few years now.....Norwalk/Summit had the idea, let's see if the rest are smart enough to follow.....it could really help fill the stands most everywhere....almost like " back when".......there's another .02 cents worth of dreaming for everyone..... WJ:)

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

HRP did the same thiing last year for the points race.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Dang, they must have left me off their mailing list since I never got them!!

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

It should be a wake up call for every track !! I was amazed to see the amount of people coming in and it never stopped ( well it did when the closed the gates and yes Summit gave away 15,000 tickets).
I remember standing in line for food, EVERY food stand was open and had a line of 50 people, forget the lb of ice cream for a $1 - that line was unreal.
So all track owners, managers or ?? is in charge or putting asses in the seats should take a look and learn.
I mentioned this idea (certain amount of free entry - bus load for 50 bucks etc etc) to a few tracks in DIV 1 and was basically blown off - so keep your 5 spectators in the stands and keep complaining. I would say that Mr Bader made AT LEAST a cool million from the food stands alone. Just do the math - 45,000 people they all have to eat and buy a coke right - one burger and coke is 10 bucks. One each and there's 450k - and fat asses like myself eat alot more than that :eek:

Anyway it is what it is and I am looking forward to going back next month - classy people - classy place to race !!!! What's the big deal if you let the people in for free or extreme discount - if they dont come you make zero anyway. And I dont agree everyone should get in free all the time but cmon track owners/ managers use your heads and be a little creative. Heaven forbid we are able to increase a purse - maybe a idea where everyone benefits ??

I could be wrong though

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Quite a while ago I used to run a bread route to an Amish community. One "Salvage Store" owner used to buy my "cheap" loaf @ .34 per and he sold it 3 for $1 or .33 1/3. He used this as a "draw". I sold a lot of bread and rarely had stale. I believe it is called good business. Mr. Bader must be cut from the same mold as my Amish fellow.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

For what it's worth I spoke to someone I've known for many years,who isn't a BS artist.He
is an employee at OBT Raceway Park(Englishtown).He told me they distributed about 10,000 free entry passes for last years divisional.Only about 300 were used at the gate.I think there's a story there.The NY area is a tough market for entertainment dollars.There's a lot of competition for your buck.Around here it seems the only market we do well in is the old geezers who grew up with the cars we race.The kids are familiar and comfortable with their FWD fart pipe cars and all the heads up/fast car venues.I don't make this up I just report what I see and hear.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Hallelujah they've seen the light! Great to see initiative being rewarded! I hope that more progressive and enlighten individual such as Mr Bader come forward.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Free admisson to the drags almost has to be splashed out there by all the radio stations that people listen to during the day and at night.....tv ads maybe just too expensive.....run the ads for 2-3 weeks before the event....Free, and they will come, Fart pipes, straight pipes, crack pipes, bag pipes, whatever.....:DWJ

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Bill Bader figured out that it costs more to keep ice cream frozen than it did to sell it for a dollar.
Treat the people well and the will come back.
Without the racers and the spectators there would be no drag racing.
What a novel idea.
That's all it takes to make to make the best points race ever.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Not in the North east specifically in the NYC area.It's all about demographics.Norwalk isn't the NY metropolitan area.

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

Just remembering all those SUNNNNNNDAAAYYYYY!!! radio ads they used to play on the radio all week long promoting a drag track or major upcoming 1/4 mile race event.....seems it did the trick then, but that was then and now is.....well maybe they should start flashing up the race promotions on cell phone and computer screens......hmmm.... WJ

Re: Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.
 

I remember Maple Grove did the $ 25 dollar a carload entry fee last year and the place was close too if not full. We had 1st round of Super Gas in between 1st and 2nd round of TA/FC and T/AD and as I pulled into the water box I felt like John Force as I looked around and saw the stands 3/4 full....I was like I know there not here to see us but, it sure is nice to have the stands 3/4 full.....so GOOD JOB LEX!! I also do remember the fireworks cause I sware it was like the minute the T/AD went though the lights they shut everything off....I was like I hope they pulled the chutes!!!

Hey Ed, E-Town is always a tough sell to get people in the door but, if I remember the WEATHER SUCKED at last years event. I remember it raining and not raining and then it would clear then rain again so that def. would prevent people from coming out. I think the only nice day was Sunday at E-Town.