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.