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bill dedman · 12-25-2008, 06:15 PM

Pat, you display an amazing talent for analyzing the human psyche as regards what constitutes "fun," and how to promote it. I was sorry when I heard that you might sell "No Problem," because, frankly, I was pretty sure that whoever took it over wouldn't, COULDN'T do as good a job at running it successfully as you have proven you can. I am still apprehensive about that, but it looks like you're still in there batting 1,000, and for that, I'm very happy (although I realize it may not be what you wanted.) Guess I'm just selfish on that score...

My one contribution to this discussion is a suggestion that is rooted in the first few times I went to the drags.... So, set your "way back machine" on 1955. No typo... "nineteen FIFTY-FIVE."

I was 17, and going to the drags for the first time, at Carlisle, Arkansas' drag strip, which had JUST opened that year. Drag racing was a new sport! Lots of spectators.... and, not a few cars.... probably 200. It was a monthly event.
They had Top Eliminator (dragsters and bikes), Middle Eliminator, (Altereds and Roadsters) and Little Eliminator (Gassers and Street Roadsters.) There was no Stock Eliminator; you won your class and got a trophy, A, B, C, or D Stock.... 4 classes; that was it. Sticks and automatics ran together and guess what??? Nobody complained!!! LOL!!!

No handicapped starts, and no breakouts, throttle stops, or red lights. Simplicity, itself.

But, I digress...

My sugestion is based on this bit of activity that went on at the end of every race I went to for the first two or three years there at Carlisle.
To wit: When the official day's racing was over, the announcer invited any spectator who wanted to, to drive their car to the staging area and they would be allowed to race someone of their choice for free, and they could make as many as three passes... and were given a time for their car (time cards were still way in the future.) LOTS of folks took advantage of this "freebie" and lost their "quarter-mile virginity" right then and there. The next month, some of those folks came back and ENTERED the race program, since they'd gotten a taste of what it was like to run down the strip, trying to beat somebody in the other lane. It was..... FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doing that, really wouldn't cost a strip operator a thing, and would get the attention of lots of fans who maybe had never run off a 'tree, or gotten a time card for their daily driver. I think it could generate a lot of grass-roots enthusiasm. Worth a try, I'd think. It was a very popular thing, back then.

Thanks for caring to the extent that you do, about drag racing.... you're obviously hard-core, and the racers and fans know it, and love you for it!!!

Maybe I'll see you at Belle Rose this year. Hope so....

Bill

12-25-2008, 06:15 PM	#2
bill dedman VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Conway, AR Posts: 1,739 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Solution for our sport Pat, you display an amazing talent for analyzing the human psyche as regards what constitutes "fun," and how to promote it. I was sorry when I heard that you might sell "No Problem," because, frankly, I was pretty sure that whoever took it over wouldn't, COULDN'T do as good a job at running it successfully as you have proven you can. I am still apprehensive about that, but it looks like you're still in there batting 1,000, and for that, I'm very happy (although I realize it may not be what you wanted.) Guess I'm just selfish on that score... My one contribution to this discussion is a suggestion that is rooted in the first few times I went to the drags.... So, set your "way back machine" on 1955. No typo... "nineteen FIFTY-FIVE." I was 17, and going to the drags for the first time, at Carlisle, Arkansas' drag strip, which had JUST opened that year. Drag racing was a new sport! Lots of spectators.... and, not a few cars.... probably 200. It was a monthly event. They had Top Eliminator (dragsters and bikes), Middle Eliminator, (Altereds and Roadsters) and Little Eliminator (Gassers and Street Roadsters.) There was no Stock Eliminator; you won your class and got a trophy, A, B, C, or D Stock.... 4 classes; that was it. Sticks and automatics ran together and guess what??? Nobody complained!!! LOL!!! No handicapped starts, and no breakouts, throttle stops, or red lights. Simplicity, itself. But, I digress... My sugestion is based on this bit of activity that went on at the end of every race I went to for the first two or three years there at Carlisle. To wit: When the official day's racing was over, the announcer invited any spectator who wanted to, to drive their car to the staging area and they would be allowed to race someone of their choice for free, and they could make as many as three passes... and were given a time for their car (time cards were still way in the future.) LOTS of folks took advantage of this "freebie" and lost their "quarter-mile virginity" right then and there. The next month, some of those folks came back and ENTERED the race program, since they'd gotten a taste of what it was like to run down the strip, trying to beat somebody in the other lane. It was..... FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Doing that, really wouldn't cost a strip operator a thing, and would get the attention of lots of fans who maybe had never run off a 'tree, or gotten a time card for their daily driver. I think it could generate a lot of grass-roots enthusiasm. Worth a try, I'd think. It was a very popular thing, back then. Thanks for caring to the extent that you do, about drag racing.... you're obviously hard-core, and the racers and fans know it, and love you for it!!! Maybe I'll see you at Belle Rose this year. Hope so.... Bill __________________ Bill Last edited by bill dedman; 12-25-2008 at 06:18 PM.