[Festus]

Here’s some thoughts from an avid fan. This is long so look away if you’ve got a plane to catch. I read this site every day and this thread made me officially join so I could respond.

I’ve been enjoying drag racing for about 15 years now going every year to the Nationals at Maple Grove. I’ve always been entertained by the sportsman cars but really had no idea regarding the rules. About a year ago, my 12 year old son expressed interest in going. I didn’t want his head to explode the first time out so we decided to try the Dutch for his first time to the drag races. I looked up the schedule and we planned on going on the Sunday to see eliminations. I had never heard of Top Sportsman or Top Dragster so I was excited about what I’d see. So we pull in and I see maybe a dozen or so cars in the spectator lot. I initially thought I screwed up the date or something but then I see the Dutch banner so it’s the right day. To myself, I’m thinking “lame city” but I don’t want to disappoint my son so we pay and head over to the pits. And once we turn the corner, I’m totally blown away! Hundreds of trailers! Fantastic looking race cars everywhere! So now I’m thinking pretty much what this thread is about as to why there’s not more spectators. It’s a freakin’ car show with noise and speed to boot! What's not to love!

So we cruise around the pits taking in all the sights and walk up to a great looking car with a T/S on the window. I’m thinking it must be one of those Top Sportsman cars. We keep our distance and snap a few pictures. The owner sees us and waves us in for a closer look. My son is in his glory as we’re right next to such an awesome car. What’s next? The guy asks if I want to sit in it? Now I’m so far out of my element it’s ridiculous so I politely decline. I don’t want to accidentally screw something up. But this experience was indicative of what we encountered everywhere we went. Everyone was just so darn friendly and eager to talk about there cars. I’m sure there’s a few dull tools in the shed out there but we sure didn’t encounter any. And we didn't just look at the Top class cars, we saw pretty much everything. Another classic experience is that I spotted the white Kingston station wagon. I'm sure you guys know the car. My son thinks all wagons are bricks so I go out of my way to check it out. Met a very nice lady who told us about it. We've seen it race many times since then and I always go over the top rooting for it. My son just rolls his eyes but it's good natured fun. But that day at the Dutch hooked us.

So this past season we've been to maybe 10 events, all at the Grove. Several Money Trails, ADRL, LODRS, Super Chevy, Rumble, Nationals and the Dutch. I'll bet we've seen well over 1,000 passes as we're in the stands pretty much all the time. It just doesn't get old. We've figured out a lot of the rules on our own. 0.90 classes, easy. Top classes, just qualify fast because of a limited field and then dial. Money Trail, just dial. But to this day, I STILL don't quite get how the Stock and Super Stock classes work. Doesn't everyone who shows up race in eliminations? And your index is based off power to weight ratios? So you try to run under to qualify better but what does that do for you? You're just bracket racing off what you dial in eliminations right? I guess I'm missing something but not sure what.

And I think it's the detailed rules that the casual race fan doesn't understand and therefore doesn't appreciate how difficult it is to accomplish well. I remember at the ADRL, the track announcer (not the usual Grove guy but the ADRL one) was babbling about 60' times, torque converters, spray stages and such. I know there were a ton of first time fans there who had absolutely no clue what he was talking about and probably felt like idiots. If I were in the booth, I'd try to explain what the folks are watching in basic terms they can understand. Not everyone is a gear head. Play to your audience so they have a good time and they'll be back. Don't make them feel like they're outsiders entering a restricted world and are not welcome. I know I've read something about idiot, clueless spectators on this very site. I'm a fan, not a racer. I haven't genetically inherited the NHRA rulebook so teach me what I should know so I understand what I'm watching without frying my brain with uber-technicalities. Plus the ADRL guy never shut up but that's another story. This holds true for all events. I never hear much by way of explanation how the classes work, indexes, dial ins, breakouts, etc. I think that would really help those spectators who show up.

Which I guess is then the second challenge is getting butts in the stands. I'm no marketing guy but I'd think it would be a basic equation of promotional cost versus expected return. That's a subject I can't really speak to. But I agree 100% with you guys showing up at local car shows and such. Handout copies of the track schedule. Invite folks to visit you in the pits when they come. That way, they have an "in" and maybe won't be intimidated. Connect with one at a time and let the power of networking then build. If Joe Schmoe has a good time, he tells his buddies and then they show up and so on. I know from my experience, once I showed up once, I was hooked. I think it's an easy sell once you've seen it. You just have to get folks there initially and then don't make them feel like they're not welcome.

I guess that's enough for now but one last thing...I want to thank everyone here who races. It's obvious you guys love what you do as evidenced by all the work you put into your cars. And it must suck to feel as if you're second class citizens sometimes but just know there's some of us out there who absolutely love watching you race and would truly be bumming if you weren't (even if we don't know all the rules).