Divisional spectator attendance?

[AJ Laferty]

Traditionally, drag racing has been all about fans watching the starting line action. With bracket, .90 index, and even class racing, the race is at the finish. Of course, it is still won and lost at the starting line but with a handicapped start how can a spectator tell except to look at a reaction time on the display? If the spectators were at the finish line and saw what .002 margin of victory looks like, it may be more exciting to them. (especially the slow stockers I like to watch)

How many tracks have stands at the finish line? Maybe just a frequent announcement by the track to encourage fans to move to the finish line area and they would see the close racing. Watching burnouts and wheelstands can get old as a spectator. Yeah, part of the show, but I think that is more for the TF/FC/PS teams.

There MAY be some insurance issues here, I don't know.

Just a different way to look at the issue. If drag racers want fans to pay for bigger purses, it has to be entertaining to the fans.

The only place I think it is worse is autocrossing, another form of class racing. NOBODY comes out to watch that, let alone pay to watch. .002 MOV in autox is completely undetectable and if the driver is really good and smooth, the car is boring to watch. Of course in autox, there is no pursuit of a purse, just pay your money, make your runs and see who wins at the end.

So, consider this. If the track didn't have to pay a purse, how much would your entry fee be? half, a third? Does that even matter compared to the other costs?

How many people are actually MAKING MONEY racing (not making money off racing)? I HAVE made money racing at a few events, but the total cost is nowhere close to breaking even. I race for the fun and the camaraderie. I guess I'm not a "serious" racer.

[Alan Roehrich]

Several things are hurting attendance.

Sadly, this country no longer has a large car culture as it once had. You'd be surprised how many people working in the offices of major automotive corporations either use public transportation, or ride bicycles to work. That is a horrible thing for the car culture. The car is no longer the source of pride it once was, nor the object of affection. For most, it is merely a conveyance.

The economy has a large effect. One big part of this is how hard different forms of entertainment compete for business. There was a time when the average person could afford to go out to eat, go to a movie, and go watch a couple of days of racing, and not burn his entire paycheck. This is no longer the case.

Finally, much of the group that "leads" our sport, especially with regard to putting on a race and promoting it, are doing a poor job. Our sport is, in most cases, doing a terrible job of competing for the entertainment dollars of potential fans. From lack of promotion and advertising, to poor scheduling, and right down to putting on a weak show, they're doing nothing to give fans a reason to show up. There are a few exceptions, but as a rule, they're just not getting the job done.

[Ed Wright]

Locally, more come to watch the "10.5 heads up " shows, than points races. Nobody watches the weekly bracket races.

[ss wannabee]

Willing to bet that most of those fans at New England came for the Sat. Night show
.....and drove in with a car or truck NOT made by the original "Big-3" automakers...

Sadly...I think the only way you'll put people in the stands at Divisionals is to combine
with a bit of a show...like they did there.

[Rich Biebel]

Maple Grove had a fairly big crowd of spectators at the Division race in May.

$25 per car no matter how many people in it.

Alcohol cars and some pretty lame jet cars that were the worst I've ever seen.....and Fireworks after that.

Numidia also gets a lot of spectators for Fireworks.....but these are areas out in the countryside where there is not much going on.

[Mike Jones]

The cashier at the WaWa near Atco told me that when they held the Honda Show, there was a line to get into her store!!
The youngsters like the tuners
Its what they drive.


Mike
A114 P/SA

[barnca2010]

One of the things that could help.. When they get to the round robin portion of the show... Run a clock or something.. Having 15 or more minutes between runs grinds things to a halt... At least that is how it seemed today.. Not only myself, but some of my fellow photogs felt the same way.. slowing the show down, unless there is an obvious thing such as an accident or an oil down... Doesn't help keep peoples attention..

[Lee Valentine]

15 minutes between rounds is needed, you build a 20,000 dallar super stock engine and see if you can turn around any faster.

[John Kelley]

What turns me off.......throttle stop cars.! A few of those get BORING quick !!
Comp isn't like it used to be....the diggers and altereds have given wat to "junior" pro stockers.......Now I might make one divisional a year and usually at Noble...

[Mile High]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

Several things are hurting attendance.

Sadly, this country no longer has a large car culture as it once had. You'd be surprised how many people working in the offices of major automotive corporations either use public transportation, or ride bicycles to work. That is a horrible thing for the car culture. The car is no longer the source of pride it once was, nor the object of affection. For most, it is merely a conveyance.

The economy has a large effect. One big part of this is how hard different forms of entertainment compete for business. There was a time when the average person could afford to go out to eat, go to a movie, and go watch a couple of days of racing, and not burn his entire paycheck. This is no longer the case.

Finally, much of the group that "leads" our sport, especially with regard to putting on a race and promoting it, are doing a poor job. Our sport is, in most cases, doing a terrible job of competing for the entertainment dollars of potential fans. From lack of promotion and advertising, to poor scheduling, and right down to putting on a weak show, they're doing nothing to give fans a reason to show up. There are a few exceptions, but as a rule, they're just not getting the job done.

Very well said Alan. It's bang for the buck and there are a lot of choices anymore.

Jeff