How would you SAVE CLASS RACING ???

[Ed Wright]

Thanks Ken!

[Michael Beard]

Another idea: Can't pay for Class at 12 events? What about posting for Class (as it was previously contested) at just 3 Sportsnationals and Indy... make them a "destination", something even more special. Additionally, pay contingency for National Records. Get people to truly chase performance and reward them accordingly.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

Another idea: Can't pay for Class at 12 events? What about posting for Class (as it was previously contested) at just 3 Sportsnationals and Indy... make them a "destination", something even more special. Additionally, pay contingency for National Records. Get people to truly chase performance and reward them accordingly.

Michael , I was under the impression that runs of 1.19 under at Divisionals and Opens (including altitude tracks) would get you an instant hit, thereby putting an end to the majority of record setting.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Toby Lang]

I think this thread has gotten off topic. IMO, this thread should be renamed "How Would You Save CLASS ELIMINATIONS?" Wasn't this thread created because of the announcement of the new program for CLASS ELIMINATIONS?

As far as I know, STOCK ELIMINATOR doesn't need to be saved. You know, the part where they crown the event champion on Sunday? If you guys want to combine classes, go to 1, 1.5 or 2 pound weight breaks or whatever for class eliminations that's cool, but I think Stock Eliminator is fine just the way it is.

If you did combine classes who would it help the most? That's right, the new crate motor cars. Instead of having 6-8 cars in their class they might have 15-20 cars in their class.

And it doesn't matter if you have 5 or 50 classes the sponsors are still only going to be paying the winner and runner-up on Sunday.


-Toby

[Dan DeBlasio]

Having been involved in the sport since 63 and having worked for many of the major manufactures in the performance industry for 32 years in marketing and sales I'm going to present a few questions and will be interested to see the answers that are brought forth.

Please read these with the knowledge that I'm an avid class racing fan and past competitor however looking at it through a manufactures eyes and asking the question. How can I increase sales and profits and by how much by offering up sponsporship cash to class racers?

Looking at the facts. There are not that many class racers in the country anymore and what there was just 5 years ago has dwindled due to the economy.

Who watches class racing? I.E. what is my target market?
How much media coverage does class racing receive compared to other drag racing venues? I.E. UDRA, and various other forms of unlimited heads up style events.

What media covers class racing? Is it TV coverage or a magazine or 2 that only those that understand the segment read?

How many fans actually understand and pay attention to class racing out of the overall current fan base of drag racing?

By finding the true answers to these questions perhaps we can help save the classes.

It seems that like in the years of old the only way to stimulate any true interest in class racing is when the big (not so big anymore) 3 produce cars for and support class racing. These cars however have and will continue to change class racing forever virtually obsoleting the cars of the past.

I believe the writing is on the wall for class racing its just a question of how long it will take for support to wane to the point where the same thing that happened to sport compact racing becomes reality in the segment. When the money goes away --- well along with it goes the segment.

True class racers are drawn to the segment because they like to tune and refine their combinations. They like to pick sleeper combinations and see how far under they can get them to run.

It is percieved that class racing is performance driven, but really is it? Shoe polish is used, brake lights are lit, break outs determine many a race making it once again hard for those that are not hard core followers to understand what the objective is.

Would the sponsors rather think that the only potential customers they might glean from their support are this hard core bunch (we see them in the stands at national events at 8:00 AM on Saturday mornings) and not many of them and at divisional (barely any that are not with competitors) or would they rather support segments where a much broader base of fans (jamming the stands) are potential customers?

Again, I'm a life long supporter of class racing but looking at supporting it from a business stand point begs that these questions be answered and if those answers can't point to a solid return on investment then why would supporting the segment make any sense?

Let the answers begin and a safe and successful racing season to all.

[Ken Miele]

Dan,

Let me give you a couple of facts about the popularity of Class Racing. There are more Stock and Super Stock competition numbers registered with NHRA then ever before. While numbers at the track do not reflect the the actual registered racers, I am sure there are a number of reasons that are obvious and not so obvious. The fact remains Stock and Super Stock are very popular. Comparing us to the sport compact series is not a fair comparison.

If Stock and Super Stock are dieing Classes, how do you explain the popularity of this site. The numbers on Class Racer increase every year. The most popular section is Stock and Super Stock. All of the 42,000 plus unique visitors a month are not racers, I would estimate that 60% to 70% are fans. I think the interest is there along with the racers, someone just needs to step up and start using Stock and Super Stock as an asset, not a liability.

Stock and Super Stock are a huge resource that can help both NHRA and the manufactures. Why would Chrysler and Ford invest into a class that has no future?

[Michael Beard]

Hi Dan! Glad to know you're still out there.

I do think you hit the nail on the head with media coverage being crucial -- for both the sponsors and the racers. Guys like to see their cars in print and on the screen. Even some bracket races are starting to figure out that a little ink goes a long way. Sponsors need that same coverage to leverage the support that they provide to racers to make it a viable means of advertising. (Good example, see pg 22-23 of the new Drag Review, online at www.ihramag.com)

People *do* pay more attention to the smaller segments of racing than you might imagine. Everywhere I went last year, I heard from bracket racers and spectators at small local events, "Man! I've seen that Duck Tape car in about every magazine this year!" The real kicker for me was getting my truck inspected at the local NAPA last month, and afterwards the guy says, "You must race a lot", noting the decals in the back window. I gave him a card with the Volare on it, and he stared at it for a second and said, "This car looks familiar.... Hey! I saw this car on TV last year!" How cool is that?

In terms of marketing to the hardcore racer vs a throng of fans in the stands, it may depend on what you're trying to sell, how big your business is (or needs to be), and the makeup of each audience (as you can have VERY different demographics involved in the fans at different types of events or even at different venues for the same type of event) My Staging Light graphic design and printing business targets the hardcore racer market, and has grown to the point of being overwhelming -- competing at the race track *is* my marketing. I think the same goes for Jim Bailey's FINISHED, CAM2 Oil, etc. Then you've got crossover companies that need to market to both hardcore racers and casual fans to varying degrees, like Mickey Thompson and K&N Filters. You have companies that have different segments that complement each other, like Southland Speed (hardcore) and Southland Dodge (hardcore & broad-base consumer). The Duck brand is a line of consumer products, including everything from the obvious Duck Tape to mailing/packaging supplies, things that everyone can use, so they look for the widest possible base. They have found that the hardcore racer has been an effective branding tool to help reach the consumer base, and we're now going into our 9th year together, showing that they have indeed found value in our marketing partnership. Every business model is going to be a little different.

Despite its bracket racing attributes, Class Racing is most certainly performance driven. I think you've got guys who will buy a lot more parts than your average bracket guy. I *am* a bracket racer, but my bracket car admittedly gets upgraded few and far between, while the two Stockers get new toys for them on a semi-regular basis.

Unfortunately, I think the "sleeper combination" guys are dwindling, as we see more and more "Stocker in a box" cars. Both the perception and reality of competitiveness along with the unintended(?) consequences of several rule changes over the years has created a major shift into the kinds of cars that people choose to build or buy.

Enough random thoughts for now...

[Adger Smith]

Ken,
Very good!
Information is a powerful tool and there is alot of mis information about Stock and Super Stock floating around.

I really agree with part of this, & I Quote "someone just needs to step up and start using Stock and Super Stock as an asset, not a liability".

Sportsman racing, including Stock and Super Stock, really isn't a liability to NHRA.
That is part of the misinformation I speak of.

[LXguy]

Well, here are some perceptions from the outside looking in...

Some of these are probably complaints about racing in general, but I thought an "interested outsider's" opinion might be helpful.

I'm interested in this kind of racing, more because of the challenge of getting the factory parts to run than in the actual eliminator, but anyway, here are some things I've noticed.

The rules and the way the eliminator is run are clear as mud. I've only been drag racing since 1998-discovered my life-long love at the age of 30. But I have been serious about it in the intervening period. My car won the 2003 Pure Street title with the NMRA (that's a true heads-up, no breakout eliminator).

It is VERY HARD to get into this sport because the way the rules are written, even someone who is very interested can scarcely figure it out. The rulebook is written by people who already know the rules for people who already know the rules.

Seriously, imagine you're a newb who's never seen a Stock race in person. Try to figure out what kind of tree the class runs (.500 full? .400 Pro?) -Its in there, but hidden. How often am I going to run heads up vs. bracket? Who knows!? How can you build a car if you don't know.

As best as I can figure out there's nothing in there at all about class eliminations versus the standard index format.

If NHRA wants people to spend the real $$$ required to get into this class they need to talk it up, and present the way the classes run in an obvious place. It won't ever be basic, but if someone cant figure out how it works, they're not going to get involved.

Next, the grey areas are a mile wide. I understand its class racing, but give me a break. Half the fun is figuring it out. Is building a car really just about writing a blank check for "guru dollars" to one of the engine builders with a good reputation? Seriously?

There are a hundred other things. What do I have to do to run a '74 Challenger as a '73 exactly? What do I have to do to run a '71 Dart as a '70? Its not so much that I want an answer, but I want to be able find the answer in the godforsaken rulebook.

Class racers are closemouthed SOBs. I've been there and I know you want to protect your hard work and research, but there's ALL kinds of things you can share that only make the difference between someone being able to field a car and not.

If you've been doing it for 20 years, helping out a newbie is helping out the sport you love. It seems many racers are so worried about racing against someone they've helped, soon they might not have anyone to race at all.

Once people feel they've got no chance to win, their interest drops to zero or below.

Some other basic facts that may or may not be useful:

.400 pro tree is much more interesting to racers and spectators of my generation.

The no trans-brake rule is just plain stupid. The net effect is that now you need a guru converter to go with your guru motor, heads, and carb.

The holy grail is to have a class where people can easily run there cars at non-NHRA races and events (note that there is a BIG difference between this and dumbing the class down enough for people to be able to run generic bracket cars in the class).

Bracket racing is only for the benefit of the people doing it. Spectators (and thus sponsors) don't give two shakes about bracket racing. It is not accessible to casual fans. However, people are easily fooled, and index racing with a heads-up start appears to most people to be a heads-up race. This form of racing is making serious money for tracks in my area, much more than their regular bracket programs.

Anyways, here I am, interested, with a pile of parts and some classic Mopars, but having real problems convincing myself to actually put one of them together to run Stock. especially when I can run an 11.00 index class for 10% of the cost with no teardowns, cheaper entry fees, not bad prize money, and no motorhome required.

My .02

Steve