This not "the" way to gain fan interest, but it is "a" way of doing it, IMHO. I drive a stock eliminator Firebird that I do my best to keep it looking clean and nice. It does get a little bit of attention when I am at the races and I try to make it inviting to look over the car.
If some one comes by and shows interest, I will stop what I am doing and take time to chat with them. I'll open the hood and doors encouraging them to check it out. Most people are quite respectful and try to keep their distance, but I try to get them more "contact" with the car than they expect.
I will go much further if I know them. I like to take them with me in the car when I warm it up. I have even taken them around the pits in remote areas after the race and before I have put it in the trailer. Or simply let them sit in the drivers seat. The kids especially get a kick out of it. I'll strap them in, put on the helmet, and watch as they imagine driving it. I may be getting more out of it than they do now that I think about it.
It seems to me that the newness and uniqueness of an activity is what generates the most interest. Watching cars race each other in a drag race in the early 60's was pretty new and unique. That may be what had the fans coming in droves. Today, drag racing is televised and has been around for long enough that it isn't so new and unique.
Getting them in the car and letting them "feel" the power, noise, and shake is new and unique. It is alleged that I "may" have whopped the throttle a once or so during a warm up and my guest went
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