[Signman]

Unfortunately I'm old enough to remember when McDonald's and Burger King were a treat you had to drive for then years later no big deal since they were everywhere usually lined up down a heavily traveled road.

Being a sign maker my whole life our product is a retail business best on site marketing. Discovering this coming up we started to look at why the burger chains located where they did. Worked for a guy a couple years who before buying his business worked for the biggest most prestigious union shop working up to sales then covering their McDonald's work. First time I heard about demographic studies back in the 1980s said WTF is that of course with some time understood McDonald's looked at the population in a region and income plus age and family status since they market to kids in choosing locations. They chose locations years in advance even purchasing real estate leaving it sit for years until their projections developed or didn't.

The word was when McDonald's built a location Burger King would follow since their demographic studies were very effective their success was obvious. Local sign companies competed for their business.

Raceway Park in Englishtown NJ packed the stands for every race and show. The surrounding area was middle class America raising families with dads who liked cars. A farming region being developed into residential there were not a lot of entertainment choices drag racing was popular marketed on the radio in Philly and NYC markets. Dads liked the cars his kids liked the wild show and moms likes seeing their kids have a good time. Some moms even liked drag racing plus entry to the event food and souvenirs were not expensive. It was an affordable day out with the family with smiles on the way home. and talk of coming again.

From the 1990s on the region built up, cost to spectate the event with family skyrocketed most importantly CHOICES OF WHERE A FAMILY COULD SPEND THEIR DISCRETIONARY DOLLAR ON A FAMILY DAY OUT INCREASED. Not only were there more choices these came at the same or much lower cost AND kids enjoyed a day in a bounce house or video game hall MUCH more than walking around a dirty noisy drag strip. Dads had to give in By By RP National Events and Nights of Thrills.

The reason these drag race events don't draw crowds: Firstly there is no advance marketing budget to let locals know there is a big event with unique cars racing on the drag strip. Secondly there are other entertainment choices families are familiar with enjoy and visit regularly since they are permanent establishments. Thirdly the car culture does not rage as it did years ago not saying there is none there is but is smaller and not focused on drag racing. Yep the kids like to rip their cars and street race but they do not want to actually compete on the drag strip.

If you want people in the seats the event needs to take place in a demographic that has few or fewer entertainment choices. The event must be marketed to those who would attend well in advance so families can hear about it get excited and plan to attend. Of course this all costs $$.

With all the conversation among racers about this rarely is this point brought up for discussion.

New England Dragway comes to mind they pack the place Saturday evening of a points race featuring alcohol cars and a couple rounds of everyone else. Alcohol cars are not top fuel but are loud and fast people there like it.