Part of what hurt drag racing

[Dick Butler]

Very interesting Thread. Open trailers kept the "Image" out there. Working on the cars in the motels too. Guys drove around Indy to see the show during the Nationals. All part of this image.
Self service gas hurt too. Guys always hung out at gas stations with their working buddies on Sat or Sunday. Played with the cars for fun as it was about nuts and bolts.
Today it is all about Computers....
I honestly believe the very thing many like about drag racing as a competitor in Stk and SS is killing it. Too many combinations, too many costs, too few SINGLE , identifiable Classes to be fired up about as a spectator.
The outside world watches for FASTEST, Loudest, Most publiczed racers and cars..
Hate to say it again but without a starting class to race as hero if you win near home NO new racers will attempt 100K Stockers or SS cars.
We all know a cheap starter class would be abused and cheating could result BUT get them in the door and they will come with friends to watch them be a winner or others will build to beat them...

[goinbroke2]

You know, I went to a mudbog race in the spring, all the trucks were open trailered but there was only about a dozen. There was about 1-1500 people who all paid $25 per carload to go and sit on a grassy hill and watch the trucks go 50ft in the mud, get stuck and then wait 10-15 minutes for the truck to be pulled out. Another truck, 50ft, 15 minutes, repeat...this went on for 4hr's or so and everybody was buying fries/hamburg's etc having a great time. I thought it was a load of crap.
So..what was the difference?

Well, carload of people for X dollars?
Make it more of a carnival atmosphere?
All the action is directly in front of the people (100ft total?)

These same crowds were at the Exibition as well watching the demo derby. Personally I view them as "mouthbreathers" who watch with their mouths hanging open and yell "lookit that!" when there is some kind of destruction of damage.

Society isn't about cars anymore as was mentioned. Add to that the "reality tv" mentality and everybody wants to be entertained from their couch/seat/etc while stuffing crap down their yap. "hey lookit, bubba caught a fish...hey lookit, he built a birdhouse" whatever...dumbasses.

At the track this weekend a couple things I noticed were;
1) Lots of motorhomes/toterhomes/tractor trailers all enclosed trailers.
2) Even street cars are running in the 12's (or 11's, 10's, 9's)
3) Those who are racing are dedicated dragracers and they brought family with them, that's the only spectators.

I think people have X amount of money, some decide to spend it all on dragracing, others buy planes/boats/cottages. Dragracers are dragracing, there are just less people interested in watching automotive things in a world of instant gratification. Those that do want to watch it, are out watching what they want to watch.

So how do we make it more appealing to watch?

Everybody has already said lots of idea's from better promoting to hyping grudge matches and everything else.

1988, had one track to go to and it was stuffed with people/cars/fans. There was beer sponsorship (and they handed out beer sat night)
2014 there is 4 tracks in the same vicinity, all are quarter full and require the group of racers to travel to all four tracks for points. No beer or cig advertising allowed (which was huge money) so everything is a little tighter.

I've got 1 of my 2 kids into it and he will be for life, but he only replaces me. At least the cycle will continue...

[randy wilson]

Good post Dick.

[goinbroke2]

You calling me a Dick?

Ohh, Dick Butler, got it...LOL!

[randy wilson]

Ha! No, Dick Butler's post. Yours is also very true.

[novassdude]

I don't know about hurt the sport but I believe it hurt the spectator count at local races and possibly divisonals.