End of Stock and SuperStock Racing??

[Michael Beard]

Spectators were $25-$30, Kids $10. It was a Nitro Jam (Top Fuel vs Jet Dragster, Bob Motz, some Nitro Harleys, Pro Mods, etc.) and double-header Pro-Am. It was supposed to rain on Sunday, so we ran both Pro-Ams on Saturday. Started qualifying about 9:30am, and completed both races and the Nitro Jam show around midnight-ish.

[SStockDart]

In 2011, Donna and I moved to the Ozarks, in Missouri. We took both race cars, but only raced the stocker at "big payout" bracket races..... Several tracks around there, none are NHRA and all are 1/8 mile.
What a riot.....fans right next to the track (dangerous but fun)......When they would run the 10.5 cars and the street tire cars (street slicks?)......they would fill the place.
To me, it is kind of like the NASCAR fan that goes to the races to see the crashes.....the 10.5 cars often hit the walls.

Now......what I am saying is that you could advertise and bring in a National Open and not draw the crowds they do............We don't crash (very often) thank God. Or peddle into a wheel stand at 300 ft.

Additionally, the people on the guard rails, all the way down the track, are drinking beer, and whooping and hollering.........I would guess that they draw 1,000 - 2,000 spectators....

[Michael Beard]

Now......what I am saying is that you could advertise and bring in a National Open and not draw the crowds they do

Guess we'll find out next spring... I plan to advertise the Northern Class Nationals toward a spectator market. New territory for me, but I believe there will be a return on investment, and I believe in THE SHOW -- that's you.

[cicero819]

Micheal I hope that you have a successful race, I am sure with your great enthusiast and preparation it will be a success. Maybe take a lesson from the Super Modified(Roundy round type) and their fans which allow fans to add a contribution to first lap,mid lap leaders) I always thought that we could also profit from that ideal. This has help the Super Modified to survive.also have everyone show up with open trailers to get local people talking.lol Claude

[Rich67stang]

Stock/superstock will never draw a crowd on its own merit. The spectator of today want to have the WOW factor, and if tracks combine the two crowds will stay in the stands and watch s/SS. Perfect examples are: this past weekend @ Atco there was an event that had nostalgia SS and bracket cars, plus the WOW factor of jet cars , etc. I attended
The Pitts Nitro Jam which had the stands full and people stayed in the stands to watch
S/SS. It is very simple fix, if people adjust the show accordingly.


Richard Preiser
SS/DM 161

[442OLDS]

Originally Posted by Rich67stang

Stock/superstock will never draw a crowd on its own merit.

I think people would come out to watch if they could make a bet like in horse racing.It gets real exciting when there is money on the line if you pick the winner of each race.

[SStockDart]

Originally Posted by 442OLDS

I think people would come out to watch if they could make a bet like in horse racing.It gets real exciting when there is money on the line if you pick the winner of each race.

Unless it is "fixed" like everything else in Chicago>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Sorry, I didn't mean to say that....LOL

[RJ Sledge]

Its all about money, and we need to do as much as possible to gain that end.

Whether its an impromptu car show at a mall, business, or school we need to get more people exposed to S/SS cars in general. Simple things like handing out some free tickets or free parking passes would get these people inside the gates.

People spend more money on concessions, t-shirts and caps than you can imagine. The biggest step is getting them inside the gates. That is an area we need to help with. The more exposure we can generate outside the gates will show up as increased revenue for track owners inside the gates.

We need to talk to our Division Directors about things we can do as racers to help anyway we can. At the same time the DD's need to convey to the track owners what we will do to increase revenues; so we could gain some sort of concession, such as Randall Klein bought up about perferred parking spots.

All it takes is for a small group of people to get together to come up with 2 or 3 things that might be beneficial. Talk to DD'S or whomever, we need to try something so everyone will benefit.

The worst that can happen is nothing.

RJ

[Whalen3186]

I think Pinks proved that you don't need nitro/jet cars to draw a crowd. From a racers prospective this wasn't the best show to watch on tv but they knew how to fill the stands at tracks across the country. Much of this was with cars that weren't near as nice or impressive at the average stock or SS car.

[Bobby Fazio]

Coverage coverage coverage.. I was lucky enough to go to US Open this past weekend and everyone asked me who I saw. Being it was my first time to any PGA golf event, My answer "If it isn't Tiger or Phil I have no idea who they are." They are the ones getting constant coverage.