Solution for our sport

[Steve OB]

For years Norwalk was a track where Bader Sr. would roam through the pits & hug & kiss all the wives & children. He knew everyones name & their whole family. Over time some of that has changed. Sometimes the beast gets so big you have to treat it as a business & forego fun. The track is now run by Bader Jr. Through the sheer fact that the tower is now 50' above the pits it has taken some of that personal feel away. Also the fact it takes more money to keep the place running due to it's size. There has to be more shows & less Grass Roots type racing. There is all the intention in the world to keep it fun @ NRP but this year & last. The weekly racer that goes for fun & friends feels a little left out. All shows & Test & Tune nights? Even the Fri. test & tune has turned into work with the addition of Door Wars (fast heads up classes).
What will the future bring?

Thank you for your post Pat I agree with all you said. This should be fun not work.

[CycloneFE]

Pat,

You are SOOOO right! I remember my first years attending my local track and they were fun. The track my be gone but my memories are not. I continue to look else where to race and I do plan on visiting you someday.

I also know you do care. What other reason would you be here posting on Christmas eve trying to improve your business and get ideas? Good luck to you, your track and our sport.

Happy Holidays

Steve

[Superfan1]

Originally Posted by Super Sport

Great post Pat.

There is another track I hear that treats their customers good. Can anyone tell us about Bill Bader and his track in Norwalk? Does he have the same attitude as Pat "No Problem" Joffrion? Its got to be more than just a pound of ice cream that keeps people saying good things about his track.

I am not an active racer, but I attend 8 - 9 National events each year including Indy, 3 - 4 Division 1 LODRS events each year, and the Dutch Classic; so I am definitely a hardcore fan. I had always heard great things about the Bader family and their "customer friendly" attitude, so I attended the National event at Norwalk in 2007 and 2008. I was very impressed; in 2007 on Thurs, Bill Bader Jr. was in the stands greeting the fans who were there on "hardcore Thurs". Bill Bader Sr. did the same on Fri. and Jr was back on Sat. and Sun. There is a customer service booth on both sides of the track, and there are track employees constantly picking up even the smallest pieces of trash to keep the grounds clean. Every track employee that I interacted with was cheerful, polite, and helpful. The fireworks show on Friday night at the conclusion of the racing is second to none, and the pound of ice cream for a dollar is great. Also the prices at the concession stands were lower than at other National events.
From what I understand, the Bandimere family in Denver operates in the same way as the Bader family, and all of the Bruton Smith owned tracks are "customer friendly". I went to Bristol in 2007, and to the new Z-Max Dragway in 2008 so I can attest to that. Pat Jeoffrion, the Bader family, the Bandimere family, and Bruton Smith "get it"; unfortunately the majority of track operators do not.

Bill Seabrooks - superfan1

[Dick Butler]

great post Pat.
FUN is essential.
Removing one thing can help also.Remove FRUSTRATION. Going to the track can continue to be fun but arriving can be prevented by FRUSTRATION.,IF Lack of supervision, Lack of enforcement of "rules" Poor technical factoring etc continues it can cancel out fun of caring to attend the event or even trying to build a car to compete.
A firm hand on rules without business attitude supervision is lacking today in some of the SPORTSMAN racing.
You obviously are correct on making it fun to race brackets by kind, thoughtful handling of the racers and attracting fans. I think the tuner nights also indicate a reborn interest in heads up racing which some how has to be channeled back to classes even if the dreaded "crate motor" has to be used as a basis. LB / cubic inch stuff with simple rules could be needed too, but just ....
Thanks for your hard work and kindness to the racers and fans in your area. I hope to attend and meet you in person and enjoy your hospitality.
Merry Christmas
Dick Butler

[savoyracer]

Originally Posted by Superfan1

I am not an active racer, but I attend 8 - 9 National events each year including Indy, 3 - 4 Division 1 LODRS events each year, and the Dutch Classic; so I am definitely a hardcore fan. I had always heard great things about the Bader family and their "customer friendly" attitude, so I attended the National event at Norwalk in 2007 and 2008. I was very impressed; in 2007 on Thurs, Bill Bader Jr. was in the stands greeting the fans who were there on "hardcore Thurs". Bill Bader Sr. did the same on Fri. and Jr was back on Sat. and Sun. There is a customer service booth on both sides of the track, and there are track employees constantly picking up even the smallest pieces of trash to keep the grounds clean. Every track employee that I interacted with was cheerful, polite, and helpful. The fireworks show on Friday night at the conclusion of the racing is second to none, and the pound of ice cream for a dollar is great. Also the prices at the concession stands were lower than at other National events.
From what I understand, the Bandimere family in Denver operates in the same way as the Bader family, and all of the Bruton Smith owned tracks are "customer friendly". I went to Bristol in 2007, and to the new Z-Max Dragway in 2008 so I can attest to that. Pat Jeoffrion, the Bader family, the Bandimere family, and Bruton Smith "get it"; unfortunately the majority of track operators do not.

Bill Seabrooks - superfan1

............... would like to add the New Family to that list, the way they operate Firebird Raceway at Boise Idaho, is heads and shoulders above the other tracks here in the Northwest.

[Rich67stang]

Just my .02...I always look @ going to the races as my escape from the real world (Construction in NY!).
I never had a problem @ any track I have attended because I entered that facility with the right mind set.
I think some racers bring the 'real world' pressure and do not have an open/relaxed attitude. I try to meet the track owners and shake there hand and say thanks regardless of the racing's outcome. The track owner is working to make $$ for a living while the racer is there to have fun/vacation...it is sometimes a delicate balance in my opinion. We as racers should work with the tracks on programs (what works and what does not) and the tracks should also have an open mind as long as there is return on investment.

Happy Holidays! Merry christmas!




SS/EM 161
QUICKROD 161

[bill dedman]

Pat, you display an amazing talent for analyzing the human psyche as regards what constitutes "fun," and how to promote it. I was sorry when I heard that you might sell "No Problem," because, frankly, I was pretty sure that whoever took it over wouldn't, COULDN'T do as good a job at running it successfully as you have proven you can. I am still apprehensive about that, but it looks like you're still in there batting 1,000, and for that, I'm very happy (although I realize it may not be what you wanted.) Guess I'm just selfish on that score...

My one contribution to this discussion is a suggestion that is rooted in the first few times I went to the drags.... So, set your "way back machine" on 1955. No typo... "nineteen FIFTY-FIVE."

I was 17, and going to the drags for the first time, at Carlisle, Arkansas' drag strip, which had JUST opened that year. Drag racing was a new sport! Lots of spectators.... and, not a few cars.... probably 200. It was a monthly event.
They had Top Eliminator (dragsters and bikes), Middle Eliminator, (Altereds and Roadsters) and Little Eliminator (Gassers and Street Roadsters.) There was no Stock Eliminator; you won your class and got a trophy, A, B, C, or D Stock.... 4 classes; that was it. Sticks and automatics ran together and guess what??? Nobody complained!!! LOL!!!

No handicapped starts, and no breakouts, throttle stops, or red lights. Simplicity, itself.

But, I digress...

My sugestion is based on this bit of activity that went on at the end of every race I went to for the first two or three years there at Carlisle.
To wit: When the official day's racing was over, the announcer invited any spectator who wanted to, to drive their car to the staging area and they would be allowed to race someone of their choice for free, and they could make as many as three passes... and were given a time for their car (time cards were still way in the future.) LOTS of folks took advantage of this "freebie" and lost their "quarter-mile virginity" right then and there. The next month, some of those folks came back and ENTERED the race program, since they'd gotten a taste of what it was like to run down the strip, trying to beat somebody in the other lane. It was..... FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doing that, really wouldn't cost a strip operator a thing, and would get the attention of lots of fans who maybe had never run off a 'tree, or gotten a time card for their daily driver. I think it could generate a lot of grass-roots enthusiasm. Worth a try, I'd think. It was a very popular thing, back then.

Thanks for caring to the extent that you do, about drag racing.... you're obviously hard-core, and the racers and fans know it, and love you for it!!!

Maybe I'll see you at Belle Rose this year. Hope so....

Bill

[Pistol Pete]

Pat
I wish we could get Stock, Super Stock, and the 90's classes to form our own organization, comp if they want to join in as well.

You know NHRA caters to the pro's and what happened to Jack Matyas at the end of the year is a great example of that.

Why cant we organize our own points races and sportsnational events.

Also Big Buck bracket races like what David Ley ran at ATCO this year.

I wish all sportsman racers wouldn't go to NHRA meets in 09. then they'll see the difference in what holds the sport together.

Pistol Pete
1374 STK

[Don Kennedy]

..

[Dragsinger]

I have noticed that Pat makes no mention of changing rules nor reorganizing the sanctioning bodies nor creating a new Union.

What he does talk about is returning to a program that creates good will. In addition, returning to a program that both racers and race fans will enjoy, a program that folks can look forward to being a part of.

To me, one of the key pieces missing from today's world is stability. All parts of our lives are changing rapidly. Most of this dynamic change is out of our control, most of it on a Global scale is driven by politics and money, there is very little that an individual can do about it.

However, even as individuals, we have areas of power. One areas is how we spend our personal income. This is the key to local and regional race programs. A program that attracts the personal income will thrive.

Larry Woodfin