Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

Not sure it's a great idea to try to make people choose between racing and family on a holiday, especially when you're trying to draw as big a field as possible.

Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

I agree......It never works.

Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

good point, maybe first weekend of november?

Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

Unless you can find some serious sponsorship, and plenty of it, it's going to be really hard to pay any 1st round money, that's asking a lot, for a first time event.

Having "wants" is great, but given that this is going to be hard enough to make happen (it's been ten years since it happened, once), the track and promoter really need to be shown a good opportunity to make some profit. You can only ask people putting up their own money to only break even or take a chance on a loss if there's a really good chance of multiple events so they can hope to eventually make a decent profit, or at least not lose anything over the long run.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it be possible to pay something in the first round, but that's a really tough request in this economy.

Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

ok, ok. I'll step up and hand out a free coors light to the first round losers at the timing shack

Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

As far as a calender date goes, look at it like this:

Find a general area of the country (a region, or whatever you want to call it) you want to draw to and from. Then find a date in the "slow period" where there are fewer events to conflict with. Then find a location in the area with a record for decent weather during the slow period. It would be best if a couple of guys who are better at this sort of thing, like Beard and Carr, got together and did a spreadsheet or something of that nature to give some indication of when and where.

It's a hard thing to balance, you have event conflicts, weather conditions, and travel time/distance to consider, all factors that can make or break the event in a heart beat.

If you try to do it later in the year, remember that everyone will have tired race cars, empty wallets/used up budgets, and mostly used up vacation time. That's three big factors working hard against you.

Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

You say that as a joke. But maybe a free hot dog/hamburger and a beer/coke, and/or maybe an event t-shirt, is a viable small thank you for a guy smarting from a first round runner up.

Another thing is that this is the race you go find people who like to throw cookouts and/or or parties and get them interested.

Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

I agree, I think a t-shirt to all entrants wouldn't be that hard to pull off, and heck I know some racers who consume more beer in a weekend than we would need to pass out. and it shouldn't be too hard to find someone to throw a party/cookout

Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

My ideas for this are
1) geographically located----something that would make it easier for the average guy to be able to get to---for example do not put it in Miami too difficult for midwest northern NE racers to get to---No Problem same dilemma ---Great Bend/Topeka are too far for the Southern/ New york Penn racers to come to--- no matter where ya put it somebody is only gonna hafta drive 15 miles to get there and another whole bunch is gonna hafta go 900!!!!

2) I personally do not think having to choose between say T'giving and racing is the proper thing to do. Others may disagree with me. Same with Mothers Day/Easter!!!

3) As far as payouts go I do not have any specific answer but perhaps a portion of the entry refunded or something similiar could be an idea----just do not make it 70-80% to the winner and the rest split up among the rest of the racers


THESE ARE JUST IDEAS OR THOUGHTS THAT COME TO MIND NOT WHAT I'M SAYING SHOULD BE DONE. Since this is in the prelinminary discussion phase and you are gathering ideas, many thoughts are going to be presented by other racers as well---Comp 387

Re: Racing fairness versus Circus attendance
 

Bowling Green would be a good central location and maybe run in the spring like the old Sportsnationals. Bill Bader or Pat Geofrion would be able to pull it off at their NHRA tracks and pack it with spectators.