A subject for discussion on a winter's day.

[Rusty Davenport]

I thought Rich had a great comment and observation that was well said. The most expensive cars I have owned are gone now but in my senior years I do still own a legal car of little value. My thought is with the apparent fatalism we are seeing, when I see a "Big Buck" stock or superstock car for sale at a very big price, how fast are the value of those cars going away as the sport weakens ??? Are Comp cars harder to sale now more than ever ??? Just curious are car values dropping ????

[Mike Pearson]

My take is the track owners which are supposed to be the promoter have gotten lazy over the years and they figure they can make a living off of just a meager amount of spectators and the gate fees that the racers pay to play. Most tracks have gone to the test and tune format and don't actually have racing for purse money on a regular basis. the test and tune guys pay to get in the gate to make a few runs then load up and go home. the track does not pay any purse money. The younger generation seem to like to go to the track and run their cars up and down the track but not actually race. Most like power adders. They just want to see how fast they can run but don't actually compete.

Most of us Sportsman racers do not race for the lure of winning money. We race for the competition aspect and the money is a bonus if we happen to have a good day and win or make it to the late rounds. I have never won enough money to pay for racing. I do it because I enjoy it. It is nice to wing some cash once in a while to help offset the cost. With better promotion by the sanctioning body and the track owners everyone could make out better. Purse money has not changed in years and contingency money is all but gone.

[Lenny5160]

Not everyone is into sports but, if you are, think about why you watch sports on TV or attend games whether they are professional, youth, whatever. Personally, there are two things that will drive my interest:

1. I care about the outcome. Either it is my local team playing, or my child or someone I know is involved.

2. I am watching something happen at a very high level.

Most of the people at a racetrack likely belong to group #1. They are family, crew, or friends of a racer.

#2 is where our sport loses it. There are a ton of extremely talented people spinning wrenches and/or behind the wheel, but there is no way for a spectator to know that. 90+% of the passes look exactly the same. Wheelies are cool, but how many times is that exciting while the car disappears into the distance. The magic is at the finish line, but there are no grandstands there, you usually can't read the scoreboards, and Joe Carguy doesn't understand what is going on there anyway. We on this board love it because we understand it and can see the skill.

I know people will say Joe Carguy just needs to be educated on what he is missing, but if you need to convince people why it is so great, you've lost their attention already.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Rusty Davenport

when I see a "Big Buck" stock or superstock car for sale at a very big price, how fast are the value of those cars going away as the sport weakens ??? Are Comp cars harder to sale now more than ever ??? Just curious are car values dropping ????

Well Rusty, the way I look at "Big Buck" Stock and SS cars, there's a whole lot of things that people can do with their money. If they can afford to play then good for them. If they can't then they shouldn't be playing. There are very few "toys" that are going to make you money.
Just look at how many people "play" with things like boats and horses. Now there's a couple of ways to lose money.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

Not everyone is into sports but, if you are, think about why you watch sports on TV or attend games whether they are professional, youth, whatever. Personally, there are two things that will drive my interest:

1. I care about the outcome. Either it is my local team playing, or my child or someone I know is involved.

2. I am watching something happen at a very high level.

Most of the people at a racetrack likely belong to group #1. They are family, crew, or friends of a racer.

#2 is where our sport loses it. There are a ton of extremely talented people spinning wrenches and/or behind the wheel, but there is no way for a spectator to know that. 90+% of the passes look exactly the same. Wheelies are cool, but how many times is that exciting while the car disappears into the distance. The magic is at the finish line, but there are no grandstands there, you usually can't read the scoreboards, and Joe Carguy doesn't understand what is going on there anyway. We on this board love it because we understand it and can see the skill.

I know people will say Joe Carguy just needs to be educated on what he is missing, but if you need to convince people why it is so great, you've lost their attention already.

#3 people liked to be entertained.

#4 people like to talk with and be around other people with whom they have common interests.

If "Joe Carguy" is a carguy, he doesn't need to be educated. He needs to be informed as to where and when he can look at and talk about cars.

[Rich Biebel]

One big problem we have is we got to complicated....

Drag Racing was supposed to be 2 cars line up and race to the end.
Winner crosses the finish line first.

Todays racing is anything but....

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

#3 people liked to be entertained.

#4 people like to talk with and be around other people with whom they have common interests.

#4 is a valid point to add to the list.

You can do better than #3. We're talking about what would drive a person to THIS form of entertainment rather than some other form of entertainment.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Lenny5160

#4 is a valid point to add to the list.

You can do better than #3. We're talking about what would drive a person to THIS form of entertainment rather than some other form of entertainment.

Hey, apply #4 to #3. People who like flowers go to flower shows. People who like boats.........

[Lenny5160]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Hey, apply #4 to #3. People who like flowers go to flower shows. People who like boats.........

People who like cars... go to car shows?

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Yes, they are missing out on the "best-kept secret in entertainment" if they are into Car Shows! IMHO, probably one of the best darned Car Shows you could pay to see.

Yup!