Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

S/G1809, I think his board name say's it all super FAN 1 . These .90 cars are so easy to build and dial I don't know why everybody doesn't run them. As far as leaving the stands, I try to get back up to the starting line or go to the finish line to watch them as soon as I've made my run............................... Sorry to get off the subject !

Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

The Pinks thing is huge because of a number things and promotion is the biggest reason. They make you think that you are a part of something so big and all the focus is on the regular racer, not some multi-million dollar fuel team. They also make the fans seem like they are as much of the show as the racer. It is also appealing because as said in a previous post , it's on TV. When you watch ALL OUT you rarely see a class racer, it's all regular local bracket racers. PINKS makes these guys stars for one night in front off thousands of fans. The stands are packed with dreamers just like the racers themselves. The entry fee is free with a chance to win $10,000, it's like being one of the alcohol guys, you don't pay to get in and have a chance to win a chunk of change and who doesn't want to do that. The NHRA does NOT even come close to promoting their races like PINKS. Have we ever seen a Lucas Oil Divisional race advertised on a commercial ? No. PINKS sets an example for the NHRA that cars like ours CAN pack the stands and MAYBE the NHRA should look at this in more detail. Don't forget guys, PINKS is a contracted TV show and will end one day, but the NHRA is here to stay . NHRA needs a NEW marketing plan and when they decide to re-write it they should look at PINKS and for that matter NASCAR.

Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

Jim the entry fee is not free it was like 60 or 65 dollars. Just for your info...... Just ask your buddy nate pritchett. By the way are you still going to fla. with me in feb.???

Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

Yes I am still in for Florida Mac Daddy ! My bad on the entry fee... I did talk to Nate earlier today and all we talked about was partying at PRI...lol!

Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

Does anyone remember Virginia Divisional last year?? They gave a bunch of tickets and the place was jam packed! That's right, for a divisional, you know with those boring .90 cars. It's all about promotion. I'm not saying I know how to do it, but it is easy to see when it's done right.

As far as the track not making any money on tickets, you should have tried to stand in line for a soda @ that event, I'm sure they did just fine.

Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

That makes tons of sense, Why not give away the tickets or charge a few bucks for a carload. What the venders can make should more that compensate for ticket sales. The track owners should take the lead on this. When we used to run US 13 in Delmar, at eleven o'clock in the morning there were people in the stands! He advertised the event.

NHRA can learn alot from the producers of PINKS, IMHO

Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

Fans in the stands. It's all about promotion and the almighty dollar. The amount you can afford or want to spend vs. the entertainment you get in return. The less expensive the better.

Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

Well here comes my .02 cents....

The first thing that I think make PINKS much more popular then NHRA is the fact that it is in your face much more. I mean you look here on the east coast and we have about 2 NHRA national Events and 5 Divisional Events within about a 2 hour radius for me. PINKS may only come around this area once a year maybe. (Maple Grove in 07, E-Town in 08) and I think MIR is the closest they come this year to this area. So the supply and demand for PINKS is much higher then NHRA Races. Then you throw in the fact that PINKS is on TV almost every night. On any given night you can turn Speed on around 7pm and there is a episode on and on I think Wednesday night there is like 2+ hours on. I mean NHRA races come on Sunday nights when they recap the race (Which I think 3 hours is WAY TOO LONG!!) and unless your a night owl and are up at 3am you never see that race again. It comes on twice and that the end of it and the sportsman shows...AKA the Top Alcohol Recap Show is shown once and never seen again. I mean PINKS get's right to the point in 1 hour of time, show some highlights, show the 16 cars picked, Race them and do a quick little interview with the winner/losers and get down to 1 car left all in 1 hour. I mean NHRA races have turned way too much into NASCAR races, I mean how many angles do we have to show a car going down the quarter-mile (Sandtrap, 1/8 mile, starting line, finish line, slow-mo finish line, blimp view). So my point is anyone who is maybe new to the sport because they saw it on TV will be dissapointed if they go to a divisional event because their is no 4 second 320 mph cars. I mean yes there is TAD and TAFC but, it's just not the same if you have never been to a race. PINKS shows you the whole deal that you will expect when you go to a PINKS all out event. I mean Rich may not be the most mechanically inclined when it comes down to cars. Many of shows I've seen him call something totally wrong and look like a dope but, he has lined himself up with great technical guys to support him in these areas (Nate, Charles, etc). NHRA national events do everything they can to get the sportsman guys out of the way before the T/F, F/C. P/S fans come in because they are afraid they will lose those fans if they put Super Gas out in between P/S and F/C. Most of the time the sportsman guys are done by 11am or they run at 6pm at night when everyone is home and if they do try to squeeze them into the Pro Program all the fans are at the traliers meeting the drivers, watching the cars warm up, at the Powerade tent or doing Rock Climbing at the Army Area. When all you see on TV is all the Pro classes it's hard to try to understand that there is more to an NHRA event then just the Pro's. So when a Super Comp Car comes out to someone new to the sport and when they leave the line and shut off and takes off again many people are confused. Like Pat said people I have taken to the track and explained the index's and the pro tree and how we set up the throttle stops and they all say to me "Thanks, now I will watch it because I never understood it before". I know Atco does a great job in promoting any races they have, always ads on WMMR radio, up in the local Wawa's and when you go to any race they hand you about 5 flyers of upcoming events.
Speaking of Free Tickets just look what Kenny N. did with the ADRL, people said he would be flat-out stupid to offer free tickets to the fans to get in to a race free. They said no-one would come to the races but, it's turned into one of the biggest attractions in ages because he banked on if you got in for free you would support the vendors in T-Shirts, Soda, Food and it worked. I also think Lex did something like that this year at Maple Grove for the Divisonal race, something like for $25.00 a carload as many people as you can fit into your car. I think that is the way you need to go to attract fans in the stand for NHRA deals. Oh well that's about it, you can start calling me Jason O. Jr now...haha

Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

Any relation to Jason Oldfield? :)

Re: Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%
 

As far a filling the stands at a Division Race goes you need to see the stands in Denver at the Division Race. Bandimere gives away tons of tickets and then charges for parking. He makes it pay and should be an example to others putting on the races.
He also sticks it to the racers every chance he gets. Example one year camping fees if you have a motorhome, one year pit bike fee and the list goes on.
I do not go anymore because of the hassles to the racers.
Being retired I just do not need the hassles anymore. I can go race where there are less hassles.
My 2 Cents