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Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN
Great post Wade......
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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...)