Big $$$ S/SS Races as a Business Model..Viable?

[Crisco]

I think it could be a very good business model if you (the promoter) would have the racers actually show up. Not many businesses will survive without customers. Alot of them S/SS racers complain about NHRA raising entry fees, not raising payouts, contingency not paying anymore, having to be there (at a National, hell even a divisional) for a week, etc, etc. Now, you have some good, reputable S/SS racers stick their neck out for them to have a good place to race, pay them on the spot more money than they could ever win at a National or a divisional even with contingency, actually tell them thanks for coming, throw them a party, and actually have a damn good time yet no one shows up. I guess alot of the S/SS racers think its not S/SS racing if it isn't under the NHRA sanctioning. I know there is some prestige in winning a Wally, but doesn't 25k sound better?

If the S/SS promoters can keep this going, get more product sponsors on board for round wins/loses etc, make it fun with the rules still in place, why anyone wouldn't support it is beyond me....

Chris Avaritt

[novassdude]

Originally Posted by Crisco

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If the S/SS promoters can keep this going, get more product sponsors on board for round wins/loses etc, make it fun with the rules still in place, why anyone wouldn't support it is beyond me....

Chris Avaritt

The answer is easy for many, location. Not ll racers can afford the time and money it takes travel over a 1000 miles to race. I think Ken's race is close to a perfect set up good money fair entry multiple races for one tow. But the location for anyone out of div 1 and maybe 3 is a very long tow. SGMP had the same issue just a different corner of the country. Not to mention another race 250 miles away on the same weekend.
There is no good solution for the location part. no matter where you hold the race there are people that will not be happy and therefor not attend.

[Crisco]

Originally Posted by novassdude

The answer is easy for many, location. Not ll racers can afford the time and money it takes travel over a 1000 miles to race. I think Ken's race is close to a perfect set up good money fair entry multiple races for one tow. But the location for anyone out of div 1 and maybe 3 is a very long tow. SGMP had the same issue just a different corner of the country. Not to mention another race 250 miles away on the same weekend.
There is no good solution for the location part. no matter where you hold the race there are people that will not be happy and therefor not attend.

While I do agree with you, I also disagree... look how many racers travel to Florida from Canada, Jersey, and all those other very Northern states..yeah they stay a month, but will still travel. I think if more racers would just get out of their "normal" routine on NHRA racing and try some other sanctioning/big money races, it would eventually give them more avenues to race... just my humble opinion.

[novassdude]

Originally Posted by Crisco

While I do agree with you, I also disagree... look how many racers travel to Florida from Canada, Jersey, and all those other very Northern states..yeah they stay a month, but will still travel. I think if more racers would just get out of their "normal" routine on NHRA racing and try some other sanctioning/big money races, it would eventually give them more avenues to race... just my humble opinion.

You are right there are and will always be racers who have the time and money to travel. But I would guess if you took a poll on them a very small percentage are your every day 9-5 job people. They are all either retired, self employed or what we like to call Pro-Sportsmen racers that rely on winning or sponsors to stay on the road. And it is great for the people that can afford to do that. But I don't think there are enough of them to pay for putting on a high dollar race. I could be wrong have been many times. So you need to put it on in a location with a high local (by local I am thinking under 7 or 8 hour tow) car count to make it pay.
I am all for the racers supporting these races over the NHRA races. I haven't had my stocker out for some years But when I do it will be for a Midwest class-racer combo and not an NHRA event. Hopefully this year we will make a couple.