Live from the 40th annual "Pennsylvania Dutch Classic"

[SSDA Hemi]

Originally Posted by Michael Kilduff

Terry,

Maybe a new thread would be more appropriate so we don't get too far off topic in this one. But since we are here for now I will offer my 2 cents worth as an avid fan of most forms of drag racing.

The Fuel cars bring a 'Roman Coliseum' element into the picture and I think most casual fans like to see stuff blow up and crash-and-burn racing. Calling that stuff 'racing' is a stretch of course, but I think most fans desire entertainment over competition. That is important to understand.



Kind of like a lot of NASCAR fans that watch more or less to see the crashes.

The last few years I have noticed that quite a few fans leave the stands during Pro Stock (aka "Pro Funny Stock", a phrase you coined that aptly describes the class nowadays) and even more leave during Pro Mod. I think they leave so they can catch of glimpse of John Force.
Why someone would rather go see him (hopefully see him) instead of watching the rest of the action on the track is beyond me. It could be some sort of psychosis really.

It's not just heads up racing that the casual fan wants to see. If that was the case then they would stay around to watch the alcohol cars. Of course the alcohol cars blow up too but not in a big ball of fire like the blown nitro cars do.

The 'fast street car' associations ( street car of course is a misnomer nowadays) also have that 'Roman Coliseum' aspect that is so alluring to many fans. You can sit back for hours, maybe even days, and watch the blow ups and crashes in those associations on YouTube. The danger element has a strange appeal to most people.

The other form of drag racing that was wildly popular was 'Pinks'. Instead of an element of danger it had the interest of casual fans because it was on TV, and you know everybody wants to get on TV.
People have a strange infatuation with television. Most will do almost anything no matter how numb nutted it may be to get on TV.

I think we can also conclude that the 'new cars' aren't the answer either. They are cool and all despite being incorrectly classified and factored, but they were cast by many to increase the energy and buzz about stock car drag racing- supposedly they were going to bring in the new generation of fans and competitiors alike.

After 3 years of the 'new cars' I think we can safely say that they haven't brought in an appreciable amount of new or old fans. Or semi-old fans either.

IMO the answer lies in a grass roots type of movement. That's how all things popular get started.

More class racing associations need to get started, and the focus needs to be at the smaller independent type tracks where fans can get up close to the cars and the action. Racers need to put their cars on display in high visibilty venues a day or two before the race, give away free tickets or discounted tickets and invent new publicity mediums. If someone had the investment capital they could model their effort after Pinks and it would probably work out well for them.

Michael, thank you for your perspective from a spectators point of view. This is who we need to listen to, like it or not.

And a new thread is needed...