Atlanta fan appeal.

D.Holly · 04-19-2009, 07:27 AM

Art and Herb, I think you are both unfortunantly correct. That is why I am excited to see any of the new cars hitting the track. Don't get me wrong, I love the old cars, but maybe that is because I'm old.
New Mustang, new Challenger, or Camaro bring them on. It will be GREAT for the sport we all love.

Dwight Southerland · 04-19-2009, 07:45 AM

I remember the first race of the year at the old Little Rock Dragstrip in 1967. A local dealer had a new '67 Camaro 350 SS in Stock Eliminator. Also present were about two dozen '55-'57 Chevy Jr. Stockers from around the mid-South, many of them record holders, known names, etc. We were all over the Camaro, even though it was a slug. Similar deal, different calendar.

X-TECH MAN · 04-19-2009, 08:55 AM

Honest question here and not meant as a put down though some will take it that way. If they are so popular then why did the sport compact concept fail so badly ??? Even the bikini show couldnt keep it floating !

Alan Roehrich · 04-19-2009, 09:21 AM

When the new wears off, they'll all leave for the next new thing. Not just the next new race car, the next new fad. It's called a short attention span. Seen it before. Watched two grass roots sportsman style motorsports practically die and never really recover from it.

Ken Miele · 04-19-2009, 09:28 AM

Great question Terry, my opinion is the expense of building these cars are more then most young people can afford. Their format was designed for heads up racing only. I do not think they had a bracket class, and if they did it was not promoted very well. I think that was the main reason for the low car counts at the import races. Heads up racing is cool, but it will only survive if you have major sponsors bringing in the money. To grab a fan base you have to better than whats out there, and for most fans, top fuel car is more exciting to watch then the fastest front wheel drive cars, even if they went 7's, it still would not appeal to the mass's.

The only way they could have survived is to have a strong grass roots membership like NHRA, which takes many years to developed.

I think if they had a structure like NHRA they might have grown. Even though NHRA is not perfect you can still build a car relativity cheap. The bracket part of stock and super stock keeps racing affordable. I know its easy to bash NHRA, but if you think about, it is a pretty good system. Stock has been around for 40 years with cars that are older then many that race them. Although there is improvement to make it better, you have to give credit for NHRA lasting this long for a sportsman category and even for the entire NHRA survival. With the fuel shortage of the seventies, the horrible economy of the late seventies, the high gas prices of a year ago and the poor economy we are in now, its a testament to NHRA's survival. Maybe the import's should have followed a model that has had success in good times and bad.

GUMP · 04-19-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Honest question here and not meant as a put down though some will take it that way. If they are so popular then why did the sport compact concept fail so badly ??? Even the bikini show couldnt keep it floating !

The import racers that I know are mainly younger (low buck guys). They are very active on test and tune/grudge nights, but they are not keen on the rules and expense of sanctioned racing.

X-TECH MAN · 04-19-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GUMP

The import racers that I know are mainly younger (low buck guys). They are very active on test and tune/grudge nights, but they are not keen on the rules and expense of sanctioned racing.

Thats what BRACKET racing was invented for.

GUMP · 04-19-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-TECH MAN

Thats what BRACKET racing was invented for.

And it is also why bracket racing is so strong. The stands at sanctioned events are filled with spectators that run imports and/or brackets. The topic of this thread is "Fan Appeal". I agree with Art on this one. The younger spectators are drawn to cars that they can relate to. Just like the fans of 1969.

junior barns · 04-19-2009, 01:14 PM

I think most on here agree on this as I do. These new cars should be welcomed by all! The HP factors are what's all screwed up!

Just looking at the Mustang and the Challenger. Under factored by atleast 100HP. These cars are and will be built by current members and will only benefit those who can afford to spent $75000+ just to outrun all others who have spent years of r&d to make their combos as fast as they are.

This is just 1 example of many new cars that will be coming down the pipe line soon. My point is; I dont think these new cars will bring in hardly any new blood to our community of racing. VERY FEW will be able to afford it!! VERY FEW will put up with the BS and time it takes to attend a div or a National event! Maybe a net loss of racers who feel tired of getting **** on and will just quit!

So when it is all said and done I feel will we will be racing against the same old freinds as always. NHRA better take GOOD care of its current members while trying to bring in the younger generation!!

Sean Haning · 04-19-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GUMP

And it is also why bracket racing is so strong. The stands at sanctioned events are filled with spectators that run imports and/or brackets. The topic of this thread is "Fan Appeal". I agree with Art on this one. The younger spectators are drawn to cars that they can relate to. Just like the fans of 1969.

I think the question is, what are the younger guys being attracted by at the national events? I doubt that as cool as Arts car is, there was news on the grapevine about it coming to an event near them. I also personally feel its a budget issue for some of them. While I have HEMI Cuda taste, I have a turbo Shadow budget. But I love racing enough to race my Shadow and enjoy it rather than walk away from the sport because I can't have what I want at the moment.

04-19-2009, 07:27 AM	#1
D.Holly Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 149 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Atlanta fan appeal. Art and Herb, I think you are both unfortunantly correct. That is why I am excited to see any of the new cars hitting the track. Don't get me wrong, I love the old cars, but maybe that is because I'm old. New Mustang, new Challenger, or Camaro bring them on. It will be GREAT for the sport we all love.

04-19-2009, 07:45 AM	#2
Dwight Southerland VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Arkansas - In the middle of everything. Posts: 1,999 Likes: 64 Liked 772 Times in 192 Posts	Re: Atlanta fan appeal. I remember the first race of the year at the old Little Rock Dragstrip in 1967. A local dealer had a new '67 Camaro 350 SS in Stock Eliminator. Also present were about two dozen '55-'57 Chevy Jr. Stockers from around the mid-South, many of them record holders, known names, etc. We were all over the Camaro, even though it was a slug. Similar deal, different calendar.

04-19-2009, 08:55 AM	#3
X-TECH MAN Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lake Placid, Florida Posts: 3,203 Likes: 1,047 Liked 235 Times in 110 Posts	Re: Atlanta fan appeal. Honest question here and not meant as a put down though some will take it that way. If they are so popular then why did the sport compact concept fail so badly ??? Even the bikini show couldnt keep it floating ! Last edited by X-TECH MAN; 04-19-2009 at 10:10 AM.

04-19-2009, 09:21 AM	#4
Alan Roehrich Veteran Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Murfreesboro TN Posts: 5,105 Likes: 1,561 Liked 1,788 Times in 408 Posts	Re: Atlanta fan appeal. When the new wears off, they'll all leave for the next new thing. Not just the next new race car, the next new fad. It's called a short attention span. Seen it before. Watched two grass roots sportsman style motorsports practically die and never really recover from it. __________________ Alan Roehrich 212A G/S

04-19-2009, 09:28 AM	#5
Ken Miele Live Reporter Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 4,860 Likes: 456 Liked 16,540 Times in 1,521 Posts	Re: Atlanta fan appeal. Great question Terry, my opinion is the expense of building these cars are more then most young people can afford. Their format was designed for heads up racing only. I do not think they had a bracket class, and if they did it was not promoted very well. I think that was the main reason for the low car counts at the import races. Heads up racing is cool, but it will only survive if you have major sponsors bringing in the money. To grab a fan base you have to better than whats out there, and for most fans, top fuel car is more exciting to watch then the fastest front wheel drive cars, even if they went 7's, it still would not appeal to the mass's. The only way they could have survived is to have a strong grass roots membership like NHRA, which takes many years to developed. I think if they had a structure like NHRA they might have grown. Even though NHRA is not perfect you can still build a car relativity cheap. The bracket part of stock and super stock keeps racing affordable. I know its easy to bash NHRA, but if you think about, it is a pretty good system. Stock has been around for 40 years with cars that are older then many that race them. Although there is improvement to make it better, you have to give credit for NHRA lasting this long for a sportsman category and even for the entire NHRA survival. With the fuel shortage of the seventies, the horrible economy of the late seventies, the high gas prices of a year ago and the poor economy we are in now, its a testament to NHRA's survival. Maybe the import's should have followed a model that has had success in good times and bad.

04-19-2009, 01:14 PM	#9
junior barns Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 541 Likes: 11 Liked 20 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Atlanta fan appeal. I think most on here agree on this as I do. These new cars should be welcomed by all! The HP factors are what's all screwed up! Just looking at the Mustang and the Challenger. Under factored by atleast 100HP. These cars are and will be built by current members and will only benefit those who can afford to spent $75000+ just to outrun all others who have spent years of r&d to make their combos as fast as they are. This is just 1 example of many new cars that will be coming down the pipe line soon. My point is; I dont think these new cars will bring in hardly any new blood to our community of racing. VERY FEW will be able to afford it!! VERY FEW will put up with the BS and time it takes to attend a div or a National event! Maybe a net loss of racers who feel tired of getting **** on and will just quit! So when it is all said and done I feel will we will be racing against the same old freinds as always. NHRA better take GOOD care of its current members while trying to bring in the younger generation!!