Another thing about the Virginia Race

[SC1448]

Going some rounds with fans in the stands plus getting it all done on Saturday made the weekend a blast for me. Great job by the track and all the D-1 cronies for making the right calls! It was worth the trip.
-Don

[Greg Hill]

If NHRA wants to grow this is a great way to attract new fans. There are always great cars at divisional races and most of the time the fans never know that they are there. If you give away the tickets or only charge $5 that's better than having no fans at all. Norwalk packs them in for a points race, so does No problem as well as Bowling Green. It can be done it just requires effort and thought with some good promotion. Last year on my way up to Norwalk for the points race I was listening to a local radio station and Bill Bader Jr. was doing the radio spots for that weekend. You would have thought it was the biggest race of the year. they had about 8,000 fans for Saturday night with fireworks, jet cars an $1 a pound ice cream. Those fans also got treated to probably 500 nice sportsmen race cars. With the cost of fuel, food and other everyday living expenses going through the roof some inexpensive entertainment might just be what the doctor ordered.

Greg

[Real Racer]

And yet at the Indy points race there were the usual 30 to 40 people in the stands, most of which were with racers.
But wait, NHRA owns Indy don't they.

[Byron Worner]

What good does it do for a track to charge regular prices for admission to a points race and get nobody? A lot of track managers should look at the way Virginia, Norwalk etc do it. Pack the place at $5 per person or have empty stands at the regular price.
I think the crew passes could be a little less. We paid $60.00 each at Virginia and only raced 2 days. D1 should discount the Maple Grove crew passes to compensate.

[joe176]

Byron, I paid $215 total for crew and driver...congrats on the runner up.....and yes it was nice to be able to get on the road early sunday when you have a long ride home. Still wonder why we have a Div 1 race in Div 2.

[Don Whitmore]

Speaking of tracks that take care of the fans and racers, check out D5's Cordova, Illinois and Earlville, Iowa. Cordova hosts the 'World Series of Drag Racing' and at Earlville, they bring the fans in from the parking lots by tractor and wagon. Some think Earlville should host a Sportsnationals.

[Jason Kenny]

The difference in crew price depended upon when you bought them.

I bought a tech card and a crew pass at 4pm on Thursday and paid $230.
Dad bought a tech card and crew pass at 7pm on Thursday and paid $215.

[greg fulk]

Greg I agree with you! I've said this for years...let a "fan" in for free & they'll spend $20 on "stuff" charge them $5 to get in & they'll spend $2 on a coke & that's it ( you will have 1/2 as many fans too) charge them $10 or more to get in & they won't by a thing! ( & only have very few come) Really if ya look @ it they have already made their money on the racers...so why not let the Fans in 4 free? Whatever they by is profit!

[Wade Mahaffey]

Nice rebound Byron, it seems now that if you want to win in SS you'll have to get by the Worner family. As far as the fans go, nobody makes any money on an empty seat. Reduce the ticket till you fill the stands, then you bump it up a little. There are many ways in which a racer can actively promote an event. Simply leaking the event verbally while you are in town. Some folks like the Worner/Cupp GYRA (golden years racers association) that get into town two full days early, could display their cars to promote an event etc. More sportsman fan support means more sportsman opportunity PURSE, SPONSORSHIP MONEY/PARTS, AND THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE LOVE......RACE !