NHRA Track Prep

[Bobby Fazio]

Originally Posted by Mike Volkman

Bristol and Charlotte both feel points meets don't generate the $$ to cover the expense.

Perhaps this is a problem that needs to be address at the top, beyond directors and tracks operators. What is NHRA charging these tracks to host these races? Is NHRA showing any flexibility given the current economic climate? Can tracks start trying to pack more spectators in and not put the burden of revenue solely on the racers' backs? How much is "glue" costing nowadays? I've heard lots of these timing systems run on Intel 386 processors from the 80s and utilize hardware from that time period. I understand it is a very tough time to own a track, does NHRA subsidize any member track improvements or help them in any way?

[J.R. Haddad]

Good post Bobby. The arrangement for LODRS races needs some attention
from what I have seen/heard. In my area for the first time ever, Brainerd
has refused the points meet unless it was run in conjunction with the National event. Due to Topeka being the week before, this could not be arranged. Being from the north, this takes away my closest grade point opportunity( at 7 hours) to Earlville Iowa at 12-13 hours. Some track operators cannot make money at these races, some can. It is a double edged sword. The National event tracks won't market the points meets because they think nobody will attend. They can have a great show, booked in cars, fireworks, etc. and charge the customer a lot less than a National event. Car load sales, radio give aways, Ladies night, Mens night, Veterans
night, get creative. When Tony Stewart announced he was running for the
T/AD championship, how many track owners with the Alcohol Regional Races at their tracks phoned him and tried to get him to run their Regional race? Tony Stewart will be HERE driving a FUEL DRAGSTER!!
It is easy to say it can't be done, but it can. Combine the race with a no prep race. NHRA puts them on display at National Events. Make it special, put fans in the seats, sell hotdogs, beer, shirts, have a wet t-shirt contest, have your local parachute club land there in the afternoon. I went to an Association race last September in Sioux Falls South Dakota. Friday night they had a street grudge race set up, you couldn't move the place was so full. We have to quit thinking linear and open our minds to new and better ideas, and there is lots of them out there.

J.R.

[BigBlockBill]

[ Can tracks start trying to pack more spectators in and not put the burden of revenue solely on the racers' backs? I've heard lots of these timing systems run on Intel 386 processors from the 80s and utilize hardware from that time period. I understand it is a very tough time to own a track, does NHRA subsidize any member track improvements or help them in any way?[/QUOTE]

Bobby brings up a couple of good points here that he brings up on his ewetoob channel as well. What can we do to self promote better to get more people in the stands to see #thecarshow? Maybe talk to the instructors of the local high school shop teachers (all 137 schools that still have autoshop classes) about maybe bringing a car or two into the shop to let the kids see whats out there other than all the N2O and turbo crap they see on TV anymore. Maybe a few stock or superstocks at a car show near you on weekends you aren't racing would stir some interest especially since people don't see race cars of any sort on open trailers anymore just generic white boxes going down the road.

As for equipment costs the tracks inter is a lot worse than I ever imagined it to be. Our local track, the former Spokane county raceway was recently bought by the local Indian tribe and they have been doing what they can to bring it up to proper operating conditions after the past few operators for the county took the money and ran for the most part. They had to invest in all new timing/scoring and the prices that were mentioned were high enough I don't know how they will ever make enough to pay for it.

Maybe we are at the point with all the electric cars that WE are the last generation for this sport, sadly.