How do we promote sportsman type racing?

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by Wade Mahaffey

Originally Posted by Wade Mahaffey
Do you promote drag racing, and if so how? Do you feel that it's someone elses job, and all you have to do is race? Would you like to see the sportsman classes thrive with ten deep at the frence? How about more payout for all the long hours spent on your race operation? Do you feel any obligation and/or responsibility to introduce/promote/sell your product to the general public? Have you noticed the pros in NASCAR and NHRA using plain white trailers? I have'nt, I guess it's because they feel the need to promote and generate interest. They actively court the fan and that sells shirts, hats, toys and oh yea...tickets! I know they have funding in place for these programs, and we struggle just to get there with our entry. But I feel we all could do a better job of promoting the sport that we love. With the low car counts, talk of folks quiting, enhancments, etc etc, what are you doing to keep it alive. I know, you race and you promote on your car. But you promote to folks that are already there at the track....they already bought a ticket! We need to attract new fans and that means everyone working towards that common goal. I'm not saying form a picket line with support sportsman signs, but you could get involved in some community functions ie. local car shows, grand openings, school and church functions, etc. And you guys that arrive a day or two early for an event could roll the cars out at a local shopping center or busniess. You can't sell interest when you hide your product in a plain white box, and then you pull it out forty miles outside of town. What do you do to promote the sport you love?
I posted this on 2/17/11

Another idea to bring new folks into our sport, is to allow racers to bring guest with them at no charge. Bring a few kids from the neighborhood in your tow vehicle and they get in free. They'll spend 15-20$ while they're there, and that's more than an empty seat will spend. The folks involved in the sport (racers & promoters) need to fill the seats.

When you see the bleachers empty, think about it like this: that empty seat brings in 0$ and 0 fans and 0 exposure. Let them in free, fill the stands, sell t-shirts $$$, sell hot dogs and sodas $$$, create a fan base $$$$$$, maximize exposure to more fan potential $$$$$$$$, Do you get it? Wed-Thurs at NHRA Nationals free admission to fill all of those empty seats I saw at INDY. Let them see the pro teams, and they'll pay to watch them actually run on friday....FILL THE SEATS! Guess what, now that the stands are full, you promote the hell out of the sport and each fan will go home and tell ten more. That's how you build a fan base..........that's how you make $$$$.

Racers that arrive early just to sit in line to get a good parking spot, should have a deal with the track. Sign up to promote it goes like this, example: you arrive on Monday, report to the tower to sign in (say your the tenth rig to arrive that wants to take part). you recieve the 10th prime parking spot once parking is started on Wed/Thurs. You are then directed where to set up and display the car locally in town. This way you still get the same spot that you got there early for, plus you promote yourself and the NHRA/IHRA....the sport you don't want to die!

Wade Mahaffey

Wade....your last paragraph is spot on IF you can get NHRA/IHRA and the track management to do this. Most old retired farts or "Proffesional Sportsman Racers" are getting to a race about a week before the gates even open. Make your time count for getting there early for the good of the sport !

[Wade Mahaffey]

Terry, When I was a kid, my dad told me something that I have used through out my life. I have had great success in racing, fabrication, and my career as a Firefighter. The phrase is
"YOU ONLY GET OUT OF SOMETHING, WHAT YOU PUT INTO SOMETHING" and boy was he right......IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EFFORT! DON'T WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN....MAKE IT HAPPEN YOURSELF!

Wade Mahaffey

[SSDA Hemi]

Originally Posted by Wade Mahaffey

DON'T WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN....MAKE IT HAPPEN YOURSELF!

Wade Mahaffey

OK Wade, you realized there was a problem in February, what have you done?

This is the problem, there are alot of good ideas here and this thread will slowly die and none be implemented. If you look at the new thread on the current state of the NHRA, something needs to be done.

On Sunday in the water box is when I realized there is a BIG problem. My season is now officially over, but I will do something for next year. And I will refer to this thread for notes. Thanks to ALL who had ideas and posted.

And Almack, that is what officially hooked me, except it was a stab on the return road, I was 11 or 12 years old. Still remember my head being pinned back and trying to watch the tach, while he shifted. Hook, line and sinker! Thanks Don Eckel!!