[BKSG1198]

Another observation that was pointed out to me over the weekend was of course the lack of spectators. Now I only went on Saturday to watch due to a new job and having to watch my days off so I couldn't race. I was lucky enough that the gentlemen in front of me had an extra "$25.00 Free Carload Pass" that he accidentally picked up two at PC Richards and decided to share that with me and I got in for free thanks to Gary Richards & that Gentlemen. Now I know it was advertised by Jack on CR that this was the deal at E-Town but, not a mention on the E-town website or D-1 website about these tickets being available to the public. The biggest thing on the E-town webpage is about the Diesel Truck Nationals this weekend on Saturday. Nothing about tickets being available to the public and this person who came to talk to me this weekend made mention that there is a billboard that he always passes on the way to E-Town and when he passed it on Thursday, nothing about the "50th Anniversary LODRS" but, about the Diesel Truck Event the following weekend. I don't know what the trade off is with Gary & E-Town but, the 20 other people that sat in the stands with me to watch 1st round was pretty sad and I'd say 10 of them were racers families waiting for their team guy to race.

Now listen I know nobody wants to come see us race and their was probably more people at the drift track that night then at the drag strip but, man put a little effort into the event. I know the LODRS events at E-Town don't have Alky cars anymore but, book something to put on a show to bring people in the gates. You have some fast T/S & T/D Cars that run the times that old Pro Mods used too and E-Town was the place for Pro Mods back in the 80's & 90's. I know the curfew is a big headache for E-town thanks to the wonderful neighbors and township but, I've noticed this around most of the D-1 races I went to this year that the stands were 1/4 full. You have a sponsor who loves drag racing, races cars himself and does a ton for the racers in PC Richards and we need to capitalize on that before he says no more. Rather it be car shows the week before the LODRS at the local PC Richards stores with some cars that will be racing there or at a local restaurant (Sonic, Applebee's, Outback) . This way people can see some of the cars that are going to be there and maybe draw some interest into coming out. Utilizing the Social Media more and promoting it more and making it affordable for a family to come out. I packed my own lunch on Saturday cause I wasn't going to spend $20.00 for a Hamburger & Soda. I hate to say it but, you need to bend a little to bring in more people and not gouge their eyes out.

I know some people don't care if Don Garlits is sitting in the stands to watch us race but, to come out to empty stands makes it sound like we are just an eye sore and we are just on the schedule cause the event has been there for 50 years now.

I don't normally post about other things but, you want to listen to something great, go listen to Wes Buck of Drag Illustrated on Wednesdays at 2pm (CST) which is 3pm our time on Facebook and listen to what he has to say. He has a movement going called "Make Drag Racing Great Again" and has some awesome ideas. There is a reason that Jim Halsey can fill Cecil County for Yellow Bullet. The price to get in was reasonable and the concession stand was 30 deep with the prices being the same as they were on a regular bracket day because they didn't kill the prices because they knew it was a big crowd. Yes, it's a complete different type of racing but, you can't say Drag Racing is on the death bed we just have to start looking outside the box and thinking of new ideas or we'll all be sitting here in 15 years going "Boy that used to be fun".