Divisional Spectator Attendance

[Jeff Niceswanger]

National Trail has done that for years. Every Saturday of the point meets a couple dozen yellow school buses show up and all the kids walk around. Even at that, it looks like the place is empty. When a place holds 20 thousand people, a few kids don't make much difference.

[Ron Ortiz]

That's great Jeff, but we need them kids that have drivers licenses to come out, then they will bring their friends, kind of like investing in the sport.
If you ask a couple of track owners what brings them in, it's the import crowd. No tech, just kids having fun. They buy food, spend money.
If we don't get new blood, the sport will continue to decline. There are plenty of racers who have their kids racing, and have friends, but we need way more.
The stands are packed for all these different import events they now put on, the reason is the kids have all these different cars to pick from, but most are imports.

Just my opinion, but NHRA is going to have to put imports into Stock if they want new blood. it's kind of happening now with the new EV classes that some tracks have.

Spectator Attendance. You got to make people want to come to a race while competing against all the other events in the area for that weekend.

Track owners have to make a profit, it's a business. What's it cost to do a Divisional. What does NHRA want out of it.

[4284spd]

It's all about the money! Young people can't afford this sport. Being at the Vegas double the last few days, the only young people are the children of people already established in the sport and are financially set.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by 4284spd

It's all about the money! Young people can't afford this sport. Being at the Vegas double the last few days, the only young people are the children of people already established in the sport and are financially set.

You got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NHRA's "entry-level" classes (Super Street and Stock) are now full of 150/160 MPH cars! That's not "entry-level"!

[doglover44]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

You got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NHRA's "entry-level" classes (Super Street and Stock) are now full of 150/160 MPH cars! That's not "entry-level"!

But you don't have to have/build a 150/160 car look at McNeals taxi !

[M120]

None of the import crowd would want to attend an NHRA event to sit around old folks to see their buddy make a pass.

Imports have there own events and don't want any part of a divisional. Try telling them they have to put a dial on the car. Their heads would spin. They want to race to finish line.

The only NHRA imports you see are Comp cars because an engine builder saw something in a combo to run fast.

Oh, and the Toyota Funny Cars

Drag racing as we know it is dying in my opinion.
We'll still race,watch and follow but not many to replace us when we stop.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by doglover44

But you don't have to have/build a 150/160 car look at McNeals taxi !

and McNeal's not a "kid"! But he's having fun like one.

[Chevy55]

I had a thought, on Friday night of a points meet a car show where the racers line their cars on the track

like the pro's used to do back in the day and also include the locals to join and display their hot rods whether it be classic or imports.

Maybe something like that could get the community involved and create a friendly atmosphere.

[Ron Ortiz]

Did you ever notice that there are movies out there showing the new blood all about cars. Like a series of Fast & Furious. There aren't too many "American " brands. Ya got drifting, circle burns, and side by side racing. Who's gonna go faster, bolt this on, add this, add that, go faster. So what do you think what the new blood thinks.

I have never seen a movie with class racing as a backdrop.
You could have a comedy where if you go real fast, but get penalized, but that would be a long running series where it becomes a documentary.

I've seen these different import events, there is a wide variety. Some of these cars are very fast, rather impressive, but they don't weigh much. Race fans like to see cars, and they like it when these cars are on the verge of losing it. We all hold our breath momentarily when we see that scenario, and then talk about it. And the stands are full.

I don't know about the future of our sport, I've seen the decline in attendance at divisional for a long time. NHRA is safety conscious and its racers are basically perfectionists trying to go faster in a structured environment. NHRA started out so that any car could run, there was a class for it, from pros to the little guy. There was no imports then. Times have changed, just look at the "American " manufacturers now compared to back then.

It's your choice what to do, me, I'm just about finished with my car for a return to Stock. I don't mind who I'm against, some fast COPO or Jet, a real quick A-G class car, any ole H-Q class car, time retardant R-W class car, or maybe, just maybe, any import.

[BILL TAYLOR]

Originally Posted by Ron Ortiz

That's great Jeff, but we need them kids that have drivers licenses to come out, then they will bring their friends, kind of like investing in the sport.
If you ask a couple of track owners what brings them in, it's the import crowd. No tech, just kids having fun. They buy food, spend money.
If we don't get new blood, the sport will continue to decline. There are plenty of racers who have their kids racing, and have friends, but we need way more.
The stands are packed for all these different import events they now put on, the reason is the kids have all these different cars to pick from, but most are imports.

Just my opinion, but NHRA is going to have to put imports into Stock if they want new blood. it's kind of happening now with the new EV classes that some tracks have.

Spectator Attendance. You got to make people want to come to a race while competing against all the other events in the area for that weekend.

Track owners have to make a profit, it's a business. What's it cost to do a Divisional. What does NHRA want out of it.

IMPORTS? I'm not so sure I wouldn't rather see it die than allow that. I've been at events where imports were there, came away with a hatred for those buzzbombs. They may be even more irritating than having Jr Dragsters at a Divisional. Just my 2 cents. Bill Taylor B/S 1005.