The New IHRA ???

[dug283]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Those absolutely are issues, and that's why changes were made in the first place.

You say half empty I say half full??? Your reply was not in line with my post. Tracks have to make a profit, the cost has risen to race, is a given NOT my point.


Yes, it is. It is challenging. It takes a good car, skill, and a little luck. If it were not challenging, we would just go to test n' tune and car shows. You can help the driver aspect of the equation at www.thisisbracketracing.com

Again, this is not my point?????? There are lots of quality cars and great drivers but there is a minority of racers that is always in the money rounds. And that's fine because they have paid the price to become the great racers that they are. I grew up with some of the best and I'm honored to have them as friends. But, along with many other factors, and No return on investment, no matter the size, is shrinking the number of class racers?

No. 2nd round winners do in fact get paid already.



Please detail the entry fee, complete purse structure, track and promoter expenses, what the necessary level of profit is in order to remain viable, and the car counts required in each class to achieve that.

This is my point, HOW did the Bader's do it????? Why not look and see what is being done different? Even now Norwalk pays for a 1st round win: http://summitmotorsportspark.com/ind.../mr-gasget-pro

Understanding it is bracket racing that they have posted, but it is still a business they have been successful at. Contact them to plug in your details to see if it would be beneficial or enlightening.

At the end of the day I'm not debating cost, profits, cars or drivers. I'm looking at ways to encourage growth to our shrinking class. I still remember the days at Empire Dragway and other local tracks with more stock and super stocker's weekly than we see at some major events now.

Just my .02

[442OLDS]

Originally Posted by dug283

This is my point, HOW did the Bader's do it????? Why not look and see what is being done different? Even now Norwalk pays for a 1st round win: http://summitmotorsportspark.com/ind.../mr-gasget-pro

$5 for a first round win will buy 5 pounds of ice cream at Norwalk!

[BRIAN SEATE]

I like it Beard, a little cash along helps. A really good racer told me once that you need to get something back every week. We will never make any money racing, we all know that. I bracket raced one season and kept up with expenses and money won. I got a little every week, it made a difference. I paid for all my entries, food ,gas, oil, etc. Just my two cents worth.

[Michael Beard]

I like it Beard, a little cash along helps.

Wasn't my idea, it was Doug's.

$5 for a first round win will buy 5 pounds of ice cream at Norwalk!

Currency conversion we can believe in! I like how you think.

[Adger Smith]

Dan hit a nerve with this comment: People come back because they remember a good time.

I think that is just human nature.
There were 5 of us in the shop the other day talking about racing. 3 car owners and 2 crew chiefs. The one common thread that ran through the conversation was that the expense of just going and being there has gone past the "fun factor" or as Dan put it the "good time". Both crew chiefs said they don't even attend the Ennis National Event with their family and sons to watch anymore because of the expense.
I think most of us older guys are still seaking the fun we had with cars when were were younger. That is about all that keeps us involved. After all most of us have not raced for a living. Remember the fun you had as a kid when your grandparents took you to the circus? Now we take our grandkids to the circus hoping they have the fun we did. I don't want to sound gloom & doom, just point out change. It is just a cycle and today the cycles of life are being broken. Why, many reasons, but I think most of all economy and the economy of a persons "time"...

BTY: A long time ago the guys that go around in circles figured out that payouts that went deep into the field were better for participation and racer attendance than the top heavy payouts.

[Dan Fahey]

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

Dan hit a nerve with this comment: People come back because they remember a good time.

I think that is just human nature.
There were 5 of us in the shop the other day talking about racing. 3 car owners and 2 crew chiefs. The one common thread that ran through the conversation was that the expense of just going and being there has gone past the "fun factor" or as Dan put it the "good time". Both crew chiefs said they don't even attend the Ennis National Event with their family and sons to watch anymore because of the expense.
I think most of us older guys are still seaking the fun we had with cars when were were younger. That is about all that keeps us involved. After all most of us have not raced for a living. Remember the fun you had as a kid when your grandparents took you to the circus? Now we take our grandkids to the circus hoping they have the fun we did. I don't want to sound gloom & doom, just point out change. It is just a cycle and today the cycles of life are being broken. Why, many reasons, but I think most of all economy and the economy of a persons "time"...

BTY: A long time ago the guys that go around in circles figured out that payouts that went deep into the field were better for participation and racer attendance than the top heavy payouts.

Wow .. thanks Adger for following up with my comment..
You restated it very well.

IHRA needs to bring the fun factor back.
Getting kids and parents excited about coming and coming back again.
Make it inexpensive for them to come.

Drag Racing and Auto Sports are like a Girls Dress.
They will get a nice but inexpensive Dress from Sears or Walmart.

But the money is spent on the ACCESSORIES !!


Dan

[ALMACK]

Top heavy payouts suck.
Paying $ 135 to enter and going out first round sucks.

There should at least be a consulation race for the first round runner-ups, since that includes half of the entries. ( maybe 200win / 100 r-up)
At least with that, there would be a second chance at winning something after all that tow fuel, time, expense, etc.

As Dan has stated, getting people to and keeping people at the track is important.
And making it family friendly helps breed future racers.

Just my .02c