Norwalk event a wake up call? 45,000 spectator day @ divisional.

[Michael Galofaro]

It should be a wake up call for every track !! I was amazed to see the amount of people coming in and it never stopped ( well it did when the closed the gates and yes Summit gave away 15,000 tickets).
I remember standing in line for food, EVERY food stand was open and had a line of 50 people, forget the lb of ice cream for a $1 - that line was unreal.
So all track owners, managers or ?? is in charge or putting asses in the seats should take a look and learn.
I mentioned this idea (certain amount of free entry - bus load for 50 bucks etc etc) to a few tracks in DIV 1 and was basically blown off - so keep your 5 spectators in the stands and keep complaining. I would say that Mr Bader made AT LEAST a cool million from the food stands alone. Just do the math - 45,000 people they all have to eat and buy a coke right - one burger and coke is 10 bucks. One each and there's 450k - and fat asses like myself eat alot more than that

Anyway it is what it is and I am looking forward to going back next month - classy people - classy place to race !!!! What's the big deal if you let the people in for free or extreme discount - if they dont come you make zero anyway. And I dont agree everyone should get in free all the time but cmon track owners/ managers use your heads and be a little creative. Heaven forbid we are able to increase a purse - maybe a idea where everyone benefits ??

I could be wrong though

[CycloneFE]

Quite a while ago I used to run a bread route to an Amish community. One "Salvage Store" owner used to buy my "cheap" loaf @ .34 per and he sold it 3 for $1 or .33 1/3. He used this as a "draw". I sold a lot of bread and rarely had stale. I believe it is called good business. Mr. Bader must be cut from the same mold as my Amish fellow.

[Ed Fernandez]

For what it's worth I spoke to someone I've known for many years,who isn't a BS artist.He
is an employee at OBT Raceway Park(Englishtown).He told me they distributed about 10,000 free entry passes for last years divisional.Only about 300 were used at the gate.I think there's a story there.The NY area is a tough market for entertainment dollars.There's a lot of competition for your buck.Around here it seems the only market we do well in is the old geezers who grew up with the cars we race.The kids are familiar and comfortable with their FWD fart pipe cars and all the heads up/fast car venues.I don't make this up I just report what I see and hear.

[W J]

Free admisson to the drags almost has to be splashed out there by all the radio stations that people listen to during the day and at night.....tv ads maybe just too expensive.....run the ads for 2-3 weeks before the event....Free, and they will come, Fart pipes, straight pipes, crack pipes, bag pipes, whatever.....WJ

[John Dinkel]

Bill Bader figured out that it costs more to keep ice cream frozen than it did to sell it for a dollar.
Treat the people well and the will come back.
Without the racers and the spectators there would be no drag racing.
What a novel idea.
That's all it takes to make to make the best points race ever.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by W J

Free admisson to the drags almost has to be splashed out there by all the radio stations that people listen to during the day and at night.....tv ads maybe just too expensive.....run the ads for 2-3 weeks before the event....Free, and they will come, Fart pipes, straight pipes, crack pipes, bag pipes, whatever.....WJ

Not in the North east specifically in the NYC area.It's all about demographics.Norwalk isn't the NY metropolitan area.

[W J]

Just remembering all those SUNNNNNNDAAAYYYYY!!! radio ads they used to play on the radio all week long promoting a drag track or major upcoming 1/4 mile race event.....seems it did the trick then, but that was then and now is.....well maybe they should start flashing up the race promotions on cell phone and computer screens......hmmm.... WJ

[BKSG1198]

I remember Maple Grove did the $ 25 dollar a carload entry fee last year and the place was close too if not full. We had 1st round of Super Gas in between 1st and 2nd round of TA/FC and T/AD and as I pulled into the water box I felt like John Force as I looked around and saw the stands 3/4 full....I was like I know there not here to see us but, it sure is nice to have the stands 3/4 full.....so GOOD JOB LEX!! I also do remember the fireworks cause I sware it was like the minute the T/AD went though the lights they shut everything off....I was like I hope they pulled the chutes!!!

Hey Ed, E-Town is always a tough sell to get people in the door but, if I remember the WEATHER SUCKED at last years event. I remember it raining and not raining and then it would clear then rain again so that def. would prevent people from coming out. I think the only nice day was Sunday at E-Town.

[cicero819]

Hallelujah they've seen the light! Great to see initiative being rewarded! I hope that more progressive and enlighten individual such as Mr Bader come forward.