Pinks 100% - NHRA Races 0%

[B CHILLIK]

ok,heres a idea....i went to the adrl race at norwalk this year...the tickets were free...the stands were packed and the consession stands were packed...hence ..more people in the stands and more money brought in by way of food,shirts hats.etc.....just a thought,but if nhra tryed just one divisional with get free tickets,but pay for parking and concessions....the place would be packed.....just my .02

[Superfan1]

Originally Posted by LB Racing 3179

I was at the U.S. Nationals this year, in the stands watching Comp Eliminator. There were a lot of people there. Then Super Comp came up and almost everybody left. I think it has a lot to do with throttle stops and breakouts. Also some people who are not around Drag Racing a lot do not understand that the first car to the finish line may not have won because of the breakout. I hear it all the time.

I agree completely about throttle stops being a reason that people leave the stands when the .90 classes run; however I don't agree that the breakout rule has any thing to do with it. I am a hardcore fan and NHRA member, and have been for 47 years; I attend 8 or 9 National events every year, including Indy, and I also attend 2 or 3 Div.1 Lucas Oil events and Div.1 National Opens. I am at an event from Thursday (Wednesday at Indy) until it is over and I never leave the stands when cars are running EXCEPT when the .90 classes are running; I refuse to watch them because they are boring and senseless. Please explain the logic of building a car that can run 1-1.5 seconds faster than 8.90, 9.90, or 10.90; and then slowing it down with a throttle stop to run those numbers. That is the reason that people will watch Stock and Super Stock which are breakout classes, and Comp which does not have a breakout, but has CIC, but they won't watch the .90 classes. Comp., Super Stock, and Stock are performance based classes; you certainly can't say that about the .90 classes.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1

[63corvette]

Anyone who says Stock and Superstock are performance based classes just does not get it and does not know a real class racer.
All the stock and super stock racers I know are always bagging .1 to .5 of performance on every run unless it is a record run.
They run for consistancy just like the .90 classes.
I hear just as many newby's in the stands ask why does one car get a head start for the stock classes.
Everyone has their likes and dislikes and have their special class to watch at any type of racing.
I was at Indy this year and the stands were not nearly as full as years past.
The stands being full at any race has more to do with promotion and the cost to attend.
If I was not there racing I would not go to Indy on the last three days due to price of tickets alone.
Monday at Indy this year you could sit almost anywhere you wanted. There were more empty seats than full ones all day long.
My 2 Cents

[SG1809]

Originally Posted by Superfan1

I agree completely about throttle stops being a reason that people leave the stands when the .90 classes run; however I don't agree that the breakout rule has any thing to do with it. I am a hardcore fan and NHRA member, and have been for 47 years; I attend 8 or 9 National events every year, including Indy, and I also attend 2 or 3 Div.1 Lucas Oil events and Div.1 National Opens. I am at an event from Thursday (Wednesday at Indy) until it is over and I never leave the stands when cars are running EXCEPT when the .90 classes are running; I refuse to watch them because they are boring and senseless. Please explain the logic of building a car that can run 1-1.5 seconds faster than 8.90, 9.90, or 10.90; and then slowing it down with a throttle stop to run those numbers. That is the reason that people will watch Stock and Super Stock which are breakout classes, and Comp which does not have a breakout, but has CIC, but they won't watch the .90 classes. Comp., Super Stock, and Stock are performance based classes; you certainly can't say that about the .90 classes.
Bill Seabrooks - superfan1

Bill,

Some pretty strong words regarding the .90 classes " they are boring and senseless". I have to take exception to your comments. This thread wasn't started to slam the .90 classes. I have brought many a new one to the track and after expalining how we dial, what we do, and how it's done I have never had anyone tell me it was boring or senseless!!

This has nothing to do with fans attending or not. Maybe free or discounted tickets with more advertising or even some TV coverage of the Sportsman catergories no doubt would improve attendance.

Try building a .90 car and see home many times you can run dead on.

[Mark Markow]

i believe the biggest reason for the crowd . is that at most of the races the majority of the racers entered are street type cars not class racers. and they usually bring a carload of buddy's with them to the track. it's the same way at our local track. street night packs the stands , and they are empty on sunday.

[Bob Verwold]

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 !

[Jim Helsel]

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.