Divisional Spectator Attendance

[1matcoman]

Originally Posted by M120

This is great!
If, and only IF, the track / promoter / local racers and whoever else spends some serious time getting these posters displayed all over the area. Sticking one up in the window of a couple of parts stores will not get it done.

[Dave Gantz]

Originally Posted by M120

It used to be that a spectator ticket didn't get you in the pits. Is that still the case?

[Pete Beau]

Originally Posted by Jeff Niceswanger

I won the wheelstand contest at Baders Cavalcade of Stars a couple times. Still have the 200 Dollar check stubs around here somewhere. He drew names of 10 spectators and if you were a winner you were placed at a picnic table right behind the startling line. They had large hand held scorecards to rate their votes.They held these cards up after every car left the starting line. Of course he was doing his "Bader Central" on the mic as this was all happening.I remember Ricky Decker walking past me as I was taking all the weight out of the nose and raising my wheelie bars saying "Wanger, your gonna win that thing aint ya" LOL. He had Jet Trucks, Fuel Harley Davidsons (those guys are nuts! ) and free tickets. He advertised as far east as Philadelphia on the radio, flyers,and I think TV. The ads were pretty frequent. He later told folks he lost money on the deal, but was adamant he was going to somehow, someway fill that place at a Points meet.
He actually had to close the gates as he was at capacity


Heres the pics....
http://classracer.com/classforum/att...1&d=1681758625

Those were fun Jeff. As you wrote, racers were loosening the fronts ends and changing the cars to participate in it. The place was packed. Kinda surprised he lost money on the deal. Thought he made up for it with concessions and ice cream sales.

[chris ok]

Couple ideas. Some already mentioned.
Give tickets away at tech schools. High school and college.
Give tickets away at parts stores.
Tell spectators
Sit by starting line for stock and super stock
Sit mid track for alky, comp, top drag and sport
Sit at finish line for .90

And lastly $10 car loads admitted. Got to pay the clean up crew….


Ps. Add some top stock racing for saturday abc, def, ghi etc……

[FLEMING]

A great idea is to do like the Baders and do free tickets in the area... I would think they will sell plenty of food and drinks to people that would not have been there had it not been free.. I know a local track is charging 20-25 spectator fee at weekly bracket races.. lol That is not a good idea.. bleachers are empty.. I would do $5-10 and actually maybe get a few people in the seats..

Sadly times are different now that 30 yrs ago.. When I was a kid watching my dad race.. there were lots of people in the stands and standing at the fence at weekly bracket races.. now no one even watches other than people that are crew with the cars on the track

[DG]

While at dinner in Las Vegas, a couple eating next to us asked how much it costs to spectate at the divisional race. We looked around the division and race track websites and other than crew passes for $100, there is virtually no ticket information available for the public. Pretty sad way of trying to attract more spectators.

[BKSG1198]

So this was an e-mail I sent at the end of 2011 to the DD (Yes, 12 years ago so some of the names mentioned have retired), I have a degree in Marketing. I was told all great ideas, they would discuss them at the Meetings in January but, never heard anything after that from anyone so I just let it go. It does seem like some of the idea are coming back, The "Free Spectators at the Open", the "Night of Chaos" at MG in May for $40 car loads. I also have seen Jimmy at Cecil has a sign and sponsoring a little league team and was in my local diner last night (I'm 35 min from Atco) and the Place Mat had a spot for their "Thrill Show" in June at Atco.

I hope you are doing well! The reason for my e-mail is a recent discussion I had with some racers at the Dutch and it has spilled over into some of the chat boards on-line. A few racers came to me regarding this issue since I help out Lucky with MASGA and I’m also the President of the Super Comp Series. The discussion that was brought up was about how can we promote sportsman racing better and get more fans to a Lucas Oil Series Races. I know at a few tracks this year they did a special promotion for fans such as Carloads for $25.00 at Maple Grove, Atco had a special “Buy 1, Get 1 ½ off” on Saturday and so forth. The real only good turn-out seemed to be at Epping where you had 10,000 people show up for the race on Saturday Night. Not saying the other promotions were a flop for the track owners but, I don’t think it was the turnout they were looking for. I know from a fan and racer aspect the promotions seemed to be announced on a Monday or Tuesday before the event and many fans were already committed to other things on the weekend. I know I handed out about 15 of the coupons at my office for the Atco Race but, most of the people already had something going on that weekend.

As a promoter myself I know how it’s hard to get people to come to a race when the economy is in the toilet and people are more worried about putting a meal on the table rather then spending the day at the track but, you give them a deal in advance they may just come check it out. What I was wondering is if we could put something together for 2012 as in a Division 1 marketing program. I know Gary from PC Richard & the Alessi’s normally have their rigs at the track a few days in advance of a Lucas Oil Event and if we could set something up like NASCAR does at a local Wal-Mart, PC Richards, Etc with the cars out for people to see and look at I think people might get interested in coming to see them. I know I’ve looked over Gary’s Mustang a few times and I think people would see that car and be like “This car, which looks like my street cars…run’s what??” Maybe offer up discounted tickets at these events to people with a “See these cars and many more at Atco Raceway August 5th to 7th”. Or maybe do something similar to what NHRA did this year with the 60th anniversary “walk the track program” get someone like Manzo or Kosky to walk Atco with their memories of running at the track. Last but, not least maybe go around and visit automotive technical schools or automotive dealerships in the areas with cars and discounted tickets.

I’d be willing to help out in anyway that I can with this program to get more people at the track. I’m young and have had drag racing in my blood for most of my life but, unfortunately I don’t see much new blood in the series due to cost and not understanding the classes. Like why does a Super Gas car leave the line then fall on its face and take back off? Maybe have a few racers at the local dealerships explain how the classes work and what a throttle stop does and why when Stock or Super Stock come up it was 10.50 on the scoreboard but, he runs 9.40…I don’t get it?

Anyways this is just something I thought could be addressed and maybe we could do something for the 2012 season with this. If not I totally understand as everyone is under the crunch of the economy as I’m not looking to make money off of this but, rather to introduce Drag Racing to the youth of America and show them that normal everyday cars can be turned into a racing machine with just a few tweeks and turns.. Thanks for your time and hope to hear from you soon. Have a great off-season!

Rob Keister
1198 S/G

[Maverick]

Lot of people watch it on u tube, nhra tv
In Florida, I asked why I never saw my fellow racer ip by the starting line , and he said it easier to watch on TV in the motor home. WOW, I never thought about that.

[B Parker]

Everyone has some good points. There don't seem to be many promoters in drag racing in general. Years ago when drag racing got going the need to promote was not as important as it is today. It was a different time in our history when cars and Hot Rods were a big deal especially with us younger crowd. We were a performance car Country back then. Today it's a whole new ball game. The younger crowd would rather sit inside and play games all day. Mike said it shouldn't be up to the racers to do and I agree but if we don't get involved, we have just as much to lose as the tracks do maybe even more. I don't know how some of the tracks remain profitable with the low turnouts for events. We can't afford as racers to lose to many more tracks.

Things that I have seen in the last few years that brought more cars in and also helped get more spectators.

Double up the races when you can. There is no doubt this increases car counts. Not all may like this but the numbers don't lie!!!

In the Northeast Lebanon Valley Dragway has consistently had more spectators than any other track. They do this with FIRE WORKS and Jet cars. They put on a show for the fans more than just watching us. And they advertise it on the radio.
Track owners have an Association and the Owners need to reach out to other tracks that are having success bringing in crowds. We are the greatest Traveling Car Show maybe someone will capitalize on that.
Tracks Need to Promote
The old saying of Build it and they will come is not going to work

WHEN TRACKS CLOSE WE ALL LOSE
It would be great to see NHRA start a New department that's in charge of promoting the sport from National's to the Divisional's and down to the local levels. They must have one but it looks like it could use a lot of help Get people involved that have been around and understand what could be done to help keep our sport healthy. Not just college grads that don't really understand what we do and how to help the tracks get more fans in the seats BP

[Ron Ortiz]

Best way to get new people to come out to the races.
1. Go to your local high school and offer free entry to all the seniors and juniors who have a drivers license. Could be for an event or a T & T.

2. Make it a challenge between students and faculty.

As a side note, it is always in the best interest of everyone involved to have a good concession stand. Nothing worse than going to an event for the first time and get crappy food.