How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Do you promote drag racing, and if so how? Do you feel that it's someone elses job, and all you have to do is race? Would you like to see the sportsman classes thrive with ten deep at the fence? How about more payout for all the long hours spent on your race operation? Do you feel any obligation and/or responsibility to introduce/promote/sell your product to the general public? Have you noticed the pros in NASCAR and NHRA using plain white trailers? I have'nt, I guess it's because they feel the need to promote and generate interest. They actively court the fan and that sells shirts, hats, toys and oh yea...tickets! I know they have funding in place for these programs, and we struggle just to get there with our entry. But I feel we all could do a better job of promoting the sport that we love. With the low car counts, talk of folks quiting, enhancments, etc etc, what are you doing to keep it alive. I know, you race and you promote on your car. But you promote to folks that are already there at the track....they already bought a ticket! We need to attract new fans and that means everyone working towards that common goal. I'm not saying form a picket line with support sportsman signs, but you could get involved in some community functions ie. local car shows, grand openings, school and church functions, etc. And you guys that arrive a day or two early for an event could roll the cars out at a local shopping center or busniess. You can't sell interest when you hide your product in a plain white box, and then you pull it out forty miles outside of town. What do you do to promote the sport you love?

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

I remember when you got teched at a mall or shopping center and then went to the track for parking .That was good exposure i think...Would probably help now if it was done like that...

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Great post Wade......

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

I agree 10X

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

I am more than happy to explain what I do to anyone when the opportunity arises, talk about the products I use and look forward to pics and/or articles appearing in magazines and on the internet. Unfortunately, other "obvious" methods, like trailer advertising, selling shirts, products, etc. causes other problems. Sanctionng bodies have rules/fees if you want to sell anything at their races. The best I can do is display banners, have a catalog/brochure rack in the pits and answer any questions. On the road, the "rolling billboards" attract the DOT and their rules, fees, etc. Arriving early and make arrangements to display the car at stores, malls, etc. is great idea too. Under IHRA, Norwalk had their main street closed off for a big display before their national events. Cars, bands, food vendors, etc. But that too is not practical for everybody because of extra time off from work and an extra day at the motel. I do try to attend a local cars show or two.

For the average racer, all of these good efforts to promote drag racing also costs time and money. So it can be difficult to invest more of it, especially these days, when there is barely enough to make it to the races to begin with. It's usually the bigger companies and sponsored cars that have the resources to promote themselves and the sport more obviously. As you pointed out, it's usually the "Pros" with the most elaborate promotion. I do what I can, just can't get too elaborate as things stand. But any good PR work anyone can do can only help. It is important to maintain a good "image" for the public to relate to. As a racer, leave a bad impression on the general public who may not know much about our sport will only reflect badly on you as well as the sport. They may be the first people voting for new noise ordinances around their local track!

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Some of the best promotion in the past was hauling our cars around on open trailers. i wouldn't want to go back to an open trailer but it did let people see what you had.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Danny, that is a good idea. I did that a time or two myself at Columbus and Maple Grove. But what happened is the tech officials went up into the trailer, and the cars never came out into the publics eye. Everyone was in a hurry to get to the track (myself included). I'm with Danny but I would have them get the cars out and line them up. Make arrangements with the mall or whoever/whereever. I would involve the track operators and/or NHRA/IHRA. A racer could sign up to be availible for a remote promotion the day before the event starts (those retired, have a sugar daddy, or just are rich and don't need to work)! LOL There should be no problem gathering a dozen racers to participate. And when you do there's a dozen prime parking spots saved at the track with your name for your efforts. Do you get it? It's not hard to understand or do, you just have to put in a little effort. And for you problem childs, don't bitch about them getting the prime spots. They would have been there first anyway and got the spots. Plus they are promoting so you'll have a place to play again next week.

Why have 30 to 50 rigs waiting in line at the track to get in tomorrow. You could have 4 or 5 shows off track at a remote location for thousands to see....think about it! Hold the prime pit spots for those who give the extra effort!!! They would have gotten them anyway!!!

For the folks that must work, that's OK you get a pass. We're working, promoting for you just get here when you can....we'll keep the light on for ya!

Hey, good luck to those racing this weekend and thanks for keeping it alive!

Plan your work......and work you plan
Wade Mahaffey

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

I agree 100%. I got a lot more attention at gas stations and such when traveling with an open trailer. But I also wouldn't like to go back because of convenience, keeping it out of the weather and security.
I always thought it unusual that big trailers with "billboards" attract more attention from the DOT as "commercial", but you don't hear much about race cars on open trailers with a lot of advertising. Michael Beard is a good example of lots of good advertising on an open trailer.

....off to Baton Rouge!

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

My dragpak spent the majority of the summer touring the east on its open trailer. From Bristol to MA, from MA to NY, two weekends in a row, to NH and back to MD then on to Indy, from Indy to Columbus and back from Indy to Reading, then back to MA, then from MA to NH and back.

I think it was close to 4,000 miles from June to October. All of those stickered up, just about every gas stop drew questions, and comments....It does slow the gas stop down a bit, but car fans deserve your cars tale and orgin. Along with the unique stickers on the side that make it what it is.....For mine its MR2 Mike Roth built, a A&A RickAllison Tranny, a ATI converter, Motor by Jeff Taylor, a AME controller, Hoosier tire, Bogart rims, Mark Williams brakes, Comp Cams cam, manley springs, and of course Mopar everything else......Along with all the other sponsors who pay the winners and runner ups the Jegs, Summits, prestones, etc.

I can tell you I look at each and every race car on a open trailer or rollback. Its nice to see them out on road. I also notice every one of the Nascar trailers on their way up to Loudon each time they come here to the North. I remember getting a thrill out of seeing race cars on the road when I was a little kid in Tennessee not far from Bristol back in the 70's.

At the races, the paying customers troll the pits, and will engage you in conversations, questions, want to take pictures, crawl under the car, I let little kids get in the drivers seat too..Open the doors up and the trunk to show them the craftmanship, etc parts....My poor suffering spouse had to wait while I talked to a drag racing fan about this and that, and yes that made us later to dinner, etc.

One thing that just came to me, was some of the conversations I had with people who USED to be involved, extremely informed, racers and crew members from the 60, 70's and 80's who can clearly remember the way things used to be.

Eric

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Wade one problem I have with lettering on the trailer is the need for a CDL. That is one of the criteria the cops use. The nascar trailers are commercial vehicles.
When in the pits, I leave my car out as much as possible, I don't put it in the trailer till the end of the day. And when I'm there I leave the hood open so people can see what is in there.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

This is going to be long, but Wade you just hit this one out of the park. First off the white, enclosed trailers, I think, are because of so many highway laws concerning what is a private operation and what is commercial and proving to DMV that you are a private individual out to have some fun.

Promotion of drag racing. Back in "the good old days of match racing" cars and drivers were brought into a track and was advertised on the radio. That old familiar "Sunday, Sunday." The cars and drivers got into town and the track would have something set up with a local car dealership and everyone could go see the cars before the race that night. At national events everyone stayed in motels or the motel parking lot and spectators would come and look at the cars in the parking lots. The cars were polished and shining. How many wash and wax your car, black the tires, polish the chrome? My old friend Ronnie Sox had someone ready the minute the car came off the track to begin wiping and polishing his cars. Right Dean? Most everyone did, whether you were the famous race car driver or the local guy brought in by the track to get beat up on by the big guy. If you, the local guy, didn't put on the show you would not get paid to come back again.

We have our car on display at carshows, Saturday night cruise-ins and other special events. Part of our agreement with our sponsors is to make the car available for special events that they want to show off the car they sponsor. You will be amazed at how many people you get to talk to when you have the car on display and at different event. I just finished my second tour of being invited to display our car for the International Auto Expo at the State Fair Grounds in Raleigh. The car was part of the classic car display. We had it polished and shining. There is no telling how many thousands of people walked by and looked at that car over two days. My wife and I stood at that display spot from 8:30 am to 9:00 pm on Saturday with people constantly looking and asking questions. With camera telephones, now everyone has a ready camera. My wife made a comment, if we could charge 25 cents for each picture taken at the show we could possibly pay most of our racing expenses. Yes guys my wife, for 40 years, still works on the car and goes to the races. Everyone of our family working the show display had Mopar Team shirts and represent the people who help us to race in a professional manner. Sure it takes a little extra time and money, but when you enjoy this sport as much as I have for almost 50 years it is a lot of fun, especially if you like to meet new people and talk about drag racing. There are dozens of charity shows that you can participate in and be welcomed. Crank the car up, burn a little racing fuel, make some noise and see the reaction you get from all ages, from, the little ones all the way to the old timers who remember how it was. Take photos of your car, fire up the computer and print little small calling card size photos and hand them out to the kids at these types of events. I haul my car on an open trailer, as I have done for years, and when people stop to look at the car at a gas station, resturant, or motel, I have the photo cards in the truck and will give them to the children. Look at their face when you give them that simple little photo of your drag race car.

As I have posted on this site and others, I continually have people who do not know that there are still drag strips operating in North Carolina and that they have races almost every week-end. The track owners need to fix this. As I told most people I talked to on Saturday, from the point at which we were standing, in one hour and a half you could be at five good dragstrips and see some good racing if you extended the time to 2 1/2 hours there are over a dozen. For people not to know that the drag strips still operate is a real problem. Danny, I had two guys on Sunday wanting to talk about the special Gas and Modified Production ( C/MP, E/MP,etc) race they use to have at Kinston Drag Strip. Those guy just got all jack up, talked almost an hour, as I named off some of the cars and drivers that would be there on Sunday for those races. Do you remember that?

Sure it takes a little bit of time. But I came up in drag racing when there was a match race show and we raced almost every night. Remember the days of Super Stock match racing and a couple of nitro funny cars match racing on a week-night at the same show.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

I was involved in the "Thunder in the Streets" promotion at Norwalk three times (crowd estimates of 10K each year), and the one time that they did a pre-event show for Milan's national event (only 6-8 of us racers I think, but it was coupled with a regular street rod type show in a park). I believe Thunder in the Streets was a major component in beginning our relationship with Duck Tape.

- open trailer
- open pit area (plus the "gas station shows") - always talk with fans, educate, inform, and entertain
- display opportunities
- baseball card-sized hero cards (I make these. Much more affordable than 8x10's, and kids love them. Easy to carry and distribute)
- t-shirts (designed myself)
- Drag racing resources available online: Guide to Bracket Racing, Track Directory, etc.
- Guest Instructor on ThisIsBracketRacing.com, sharing knowledge with racers from novice to advanced.

Drag racing is quite literally my life - eat, sleep, and breathe.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Thanks for asking ,Wade.
The simple answer is; By promoting drag racing!

We do three events a year now , and in between , we're at multiple cruise nights, car shows ,and other nostalgic race events.

Every time I stop for gas with the Tempest, I end up handing out fliers and telling someone about our events. It's amazing to me ,how many old timers "used to race at the old Mel Larson's place" , yet don't realize it's still open and running every week as "Speedworld"
We even manage to get a few young guys interested in old cars. That's of course, after you answer the question "What the heck IS that car?"

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...100_3085rd.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...c/100_2725.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...0th-RR-800.jpg

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Wade, this is a TERRIFIC post... all of the complaining/whining and criticism of a lack of promotion of Sportsmen by NHRA is not getting us where we want to be, we all need to be proactive and do our part to make ourselves more in demand. It can start at a concerted attempt to engage the unknowing public at every local opportunity. Our cars (Team Rock) will be on display at several local events this year, starting with the Drag Expo at Pheasant Run in Dupage, IL. We already have planes to display at a detail shop open house, and several vendor locations and parking lot car shows. This is a good start, but we need to keep in mind that marketing to folks who are already involved in Sportsman racing is not the best path to expanding our presence, everyone needs to look for opportunities to expose their cars, and our sport to those who don't already know who we are.

Open trailers used to be our best attractor, I remember when the lines or race cars on open trailers waiting to get into US30 Dragstrip in Hobart, IN would stretch for two miles, and traffic would be stopped for another mile in both directions(by the way, that track is where the SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY screamer ads originated) The track REALLY promoted it's Sunday and Wed/Fri nite Coca-Cola Cavalcade of Funny cars races, but added local racers to the promotion as well... (No Big Thing, Uncle Louie, Dick Messino and Shake, Rattle & Run, Rapid Randy, Clayman, etc would be part of the ad spots) the place was packed almost every race, no doubt a large number of spectators attracted to the races by actually seeing the race cars on the trailers. This was before the advent of serious TV coverage, so in today's market we have to address competing for air time, and the homogeneous white trailers don't help, but it's not realistic to expect racers to give those up. Maybe working with the appropriate agencies to alleviate the CDL burdens on amateur racing might be a place to start.

Bottom line... think of ways to promote on a personal level as hard as you think about how to maximize your combo within the "rule book", and get busy doing your individual part, and to hammer away at NHRA for more inclusion, but the track owners need to promote, too. We may be able to influence this situation with our own efforts..... maybe a forum to help guys/gals share promotion ideas??? (We will be making up photo cards to hand out, hadn't thought of that one, Chris, thanx for the idea...)

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Marvin try the little photos, you will get a good feeling when you see the expression on a childs face when you hand him one of those pictures of your car. You don't have to have a big fancy tow rig, park in the "Pro Pit" area and hand out big 8x10 photos for people to appreciate you giving them a picture of your car.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Wade, with all due respect I do not promote drag racing.
I do think it's someone else's job.
It is a hobby not a business for me.
If drag racing stopped tomorrow I would find something else to do.
Dan.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

I really liked towing with the open trailer.
I think it was a big part of the fun going to the track and seeing the kids, young and old giving you the thumbs-up and screaming out the window "NICE CAR!!!!!"
The people in the other lane of the freeway rubber-necking to just to get a look at the car.
Every place you stop someone would ask " Are you going to a car show? "
Id say; "No this is a race car"
The answer was almost always the same...
" That's the nicest race car I've ever seen! You are going to wreck that nice car racing it?"
Then I'd Explain it to them. Some would "GET IT" Some... not so much.
But at any rate it was a good ego boost (we all like that)
The in-closed trailer is almost a necessity for security and safety today.
But I am afraid we have lost something with it.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

if we don't start doing more to bring the next generation in to the sport,Drag Racing as a whole will start to fade away. Alot of people still think racers are greasy characters that meet up outside of town and make a lot of noise. If we show the people the value and excitement that is still drag racing I think we can open it up to a whole new group of fans. As pops posted earlier our car is somewhere every weekend, if we're not @ the track we're doing a vendor display of one of our sponsor or doing a display @ a local charity car show just for folks to see the cars. I am a second generation racer and I hope the sport survives so the next 2 members of Chris3 racing have a chance to enjoy this sport we love,but if we don't all do our best to promote the sport, it will only exisit in stories @ racer reunions. IMO

Chris

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

I think it is everyone's responsibility to promote our sport. Obviously it can't be left to NHRA/IHRA, or even track owners in most cases.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

It's a sad fact of life but most track operators live on entry fees and do not do what it takes to put people in the stands. There are some exceptions to this like Dallas and Clay Jones in BG, Pat at No Problem, and Bill Bader at Norwalk. The biggest difference I see is the owners are there every day and are hands on. Hired help does not have the motivation these owners have. Yes there are things we as racers can do but getting people to attend races is generally up to the track operators. When we had our furniture business in Memphis, I
spent around $250,000 a year on advertising, just to keep people walking through the door.
If we didn't promote we didn't do business.

When I see the crowds at the Sports National race in Belle Rose and then look at the empty stands in Columbus at the same event it tells you the difference in track operators. Columbus probably is 10 times the market area of Belle Rose , yet Pat's crowds are probably 10 times the size of Columbus. The same thing with the Norwalk points race and the one at Indy. Until track operators look at these events as opportunities to increase revenue and spend some money promoting things won't change.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Anywhere and as often as I can without getting in trouble. Carshows play a big part...the opportunities are endless. Many show promoters welcome drag cars with open arms. Why let the car sit in the garage or trailer when you can at least display it between races? And I gain a couple new fans for S/SS at each event. I've even let kids sit in the car, and the parents take pictures...you can imagine the seeds planted into those young kids minds.

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

Nearly perfect post Wade.

I think we all need to be proactive and spread the word. It may be a hobby for some and not a biz, but who doesnt want to race in front of more fans? More fans, equal more, money for the track which hopefully translates to more payout.. More fans hopefully equal more sponsorship money. I know that is a perfect world scenario, but trying to be positive and proactive is better than sitting in front of your internet machine and complaining about, NHRA, gas prices, track owners, small purses, the sport not being what it used to be etc... Certainly Class Racers have an uphill battle going on right now with the new cars and technology and the way NHRA seems to be catering to them... I love the cars. Love the technology. I dont think they need a new class... I think they just needed to be factored right out of the box instead of changing the ahfs etc for everyone.. Sorry to stray off topic. Anyways... That might be one of the harder fights, but if you want more payouts etc, I dont think that doing what each and every one of us can to help get folks out to the track is a bad idea or too much to ask. I will admit I never really thought about it that much until recently. As of late I find my self inviting colleagues and customers from the day that have little knowledge about racing or cars.

I am also having a little fun with a side project that I am starting. My blog...

Its not finished, and right now I am just using a blog template but you guys can review it and give me some ribbing if you like hahah. But I do touch on the promotion and advancement of the sport, specifically the sportsman side.

http://jimibracing.com/

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

You know, I was thinking today about something that nobody has mentioned. I think most of us look at an NHRA National Event Win as the ultimate prize. Indy would ofcourse be the top, and a World Championship as well. Either of these would place one in the NHRA history book forever. But what would happen if we did'nt blow our oun horn just a little? What would happen if we just turned the other cheek and accepted the next NHRA beat down? How long will it be before they say "we don't need you anymore"? If you look at the car counts at any track, they all point the wrong way!
Think about the veteran/retired (racers) that have built racing to what it is today. They made major sacrafices in life and paved the way for you and I to race! The past winners and champions deserve to be remembered forever in my opinion. If we let the sport/class die, so will their memory. What good is winning the ultimate prise when nobody cares anyway. Class racers commited most of their life to automotive performance, and it would be a shame to let them be forgotten. It is important that all racers keep in mind that you have a place to race.
USE IT OR LOOSE IT!!......STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

I want to personally say to the veteran and retired racers:
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID !

Wade Mahaffey

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

The promoting at car shows,,on weekends at car events and so on is the easy part, I think. Its what we do Monday through Friday to reach out to people that has to reap dividends. I drive a 5 ton truck hauling for a steel fabricator,,and I have an NHRA member sticker on my wing window, and it inevitably draws attention in my daily pickups and deliveries. Once someone notices it and mentions it to me, they get the full assault of my best promoting device,,, my mouth, knowledge and experience of over 45 years of drag racing. If they have kids,,all the better,,as I'l tell them about Jr.Dragsters or High School competitions that are held locally, as well as on a national basis.
If they start talking about muscle cars,,I'll steer them towards talking about Stock/Superstock and so forth. If they have a basic knowledge of racing,,I'll try to help them have a deeper understanding of the sport, and of course always mention our local tracks in case they aren't aware of them or have forgotten them.
Its all about trying to get them to come out and enjoy a day at the track,,,no different than what somebody did to me years ago as a teen, and it certainly got me hooked.
Like someone famous said,,,"Never stop selling!",, niether should we ever stop selling.
Danny Durham

Re: How do YOU..... promote drag racing?
 

I love our sport and promote it the best I can by publishing my website The Dragtime News. Many here already know it, but it's found at www.DragtimeNews.com.