LODRS payout increases ideas

JWhalen58 · 03-05-2016, 09:57 AM

NHRA isn't going to increase the payout because they don't have to. But something could be done among the racers but would take someone to do it. Back in the early 80's where I was bracket racing had a side pot you could get in if you wanted, strictly up to you. Now the track did run this. The entry was $25 and the side pot was I believe an additional $10. Their normal payout was $200 to win. They would always have about 100 cars in each of the 4 brackets, I was racing in bracket 2 or pro as it was called. The way it worked was winner got 1/2 the pot and r/u 1/2 of what was left and semi's split what was left, or something like that I am probably off on exact numbers but you guys understand the concept. Now if any of the winners were not in the pot the money was split with the ones that were. I won several times and the side pot was always more than the regular payout, 500-600 in 1981 was good money to win then. So when we have a race now with the better part of 100 cars and people kick $20 or so into a side pot the money to win gets a lot better. This should only be for the top 4 places again only people in the pot could win the pot. I don't think the powers to be would be much in favor of it because it would be upstaging them some, but I could be wrong.

Pistol Pete · 03-05-2016, 10:25 AM

Yes, the "pot" idea is a good one too. Probably 1 idea that would work.

Pay the last 4 or 8 cars left.

Div.1 gets at least 90-100 plus Stockers at a Divisional, so that would be some
Nice Additional Money To Get !!!!!

I'd say an extra $20. per driver.

dartman · 03-05-2016, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pistol Pete

Yes, the "pot" idea is a good one too. Probably 1 idea that would work.

Pay the last 4 or 8 cars left.

Div.1 gets at least 90-100 plus Stockers at a Divisional, so that would be some
Nice Additional Money To Get !!!!!

I'd say an extra $20. per driver.

X2($50 to $60)

JWhalen58 · 03-05-2016, 10:39 AM

I think so, what's an extra 20-50 bucks. I would be willing to take care of it at Div 3 races.

MR DERBY CITY · 03-05-2016, 11:38 AM

Gentlemen, NHRA board members will get a good chuckle regarding this thread at their next meeting. Their plan for increasing car counts at LODRS events is already in motion. They realize the Die Hards will attend even more points races in order to have enough grade points to attend national events. Only 70 entries for the Las Vegas race left many a Stock competitor on the outside looking in. Of course there are different rules for the FSS cars as evidenced by the Hush Hush addition of 10 entries at the Gatornationals..

Adger Smith · 03-05-2016, 12:47 PM

It may not be exactly like back when I ran tracks, but NHRA sells the Divisional races to the tracks. NHRA provides certain services and personnel that run the race. I know for a fact that at one time(Recently) the cost got so high for a Divisional that it took 400 entries for the track owner to break even. That brought about the Regional akly tour and separated them, unless a track wants them, from Divisional meets. I notice my old buddy Greenlight had a good plan and made a comment I totally agree with.
Track managers, operators and ownership in general have all gotten lazy. Quite a few years ago most of them quit being promoters and went to relying on just the income from the racers. That was brought about when Bracket Racing took root and Class Racing left the local tracks. Promotion is a key to putting butts in the stands and I feel that is where the effort should be concentrated. Years ago racers would invade a community like a bunch of locust. Every hotel parking lot was full of racers and race cars. The locals got an eye full and would come to the track to see the show. Now everyone stays at the track in their mega dollar MH's with enclosed trailers. As racers we have contributed to the problem just by the nature of how we transport our toys. When I had a big event I would do displays and radio/TV remotes at various locations in the trade area of my tracks. Most of the time I would use local favorites and the Booked in Show in the displays.
It took work and was well worth the effort.
I think the rise in social media could be a big benefit to put Butts in The Stands, too. When I was Race Director for Hot Rod Drag Week I saw first hand how social media worked well for putting a crowd in the stands after a rain delay at Tulsa. We were rained out on Friday & running in a window between big rains on Saturday. Todd and his staff did a good job bringing the crowd out, even with the threat of rain. He did some real specific advertisement and worked the social media angle. local racers could do the same for their tracks that have big races. When I was active racing I liked to see friends and customers come to the track to watch. A local newspaper article about the locals that are participating could bring a couple hundred spectators. Most Local newspapers are starved for content. Get with your buddies and write an article. Make it easy on the newspaper guys. Why can't we help and maybe be rewarded for our help promoting the races?

MR DERBY CITY · 03-05-2016, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adger Smith

It may not be exactly like back when I ran tracks, but NHRA sells the Divisional races to the tracks. NHRA provides certain services and personnel that run the race. I know for a fact that at one time(Recently) the cost got so high for a Divisional that it took 400 entries for the track owner to break even. That brought about the Regional akly tour and separated them, unless a track wants them, from Divisional meets. I notice my old buddy Greenlight had a good plan and made a comment I totally agree with.
Track managers, operators and ownership in general have all gotten lazy. Quite a few years ago most of them quit being promoters and went to relying on just the income from the racers. That was brought about when Bracket Racing took root and Class Racing left the local tracks. Promotion is a key to putting butts in the stands and I feel that is where the effort should be concentrated. Years ago racers would invade a community like a bunch of locust. Every hotel parking lot was full of racers and race cars. The locals got an eye full and would come to the track to see the show. Now everyone stays at the track in their mega dollar MH's with enclosed trailers. As racers we have contributed to the problem just by the nature of how we transport our toys. When I had a big event I would do displays and radio/TV remotes at various locations in the trade area of my tracks. Most of the time I would use local favorites and the Booked in Show in the displays.
It took work and was well worth the effort.
I think the rise in social media could be a big benefit to put Butts in The Stands, too. When I was Race Director for Hot Rod Drag Week I saw first hand how social media worked well for putting a crowd in the stands after a rain delay at Tulsa. We were rained out on Friday & running in a window between big rains on Saturday. Todd and his staff did a good job bringing the crowd out, even with the threat of rain. He did some real specific advertisement and worked the social media angle. local racers could do the same for their tracks that have big races. When I was active racing I liked to see friends and customers come to the track to watch. A local newspaper article about the locals that are participating could bring a couple hundred spectators. Most Local newspapers are starved for content. Get with your buddies and write an article. Make it easy on the newspaper guys. Why can't we help and maybe be rewarded for our help promoting the races?

Great ideas Adger, IF and its a BIG IF.....I ever considered running a racetrack I would hang out with Bill Bader for a few days, he puts butts in the stands. He has a very successful business model that for the most part is Ignored by other track operators.

BKSG1198 · 03-06-2016, 10:39 AM

Great Idea but, increasing the entry fee's is not the answer and you will only push away racers, no matter what the payouts are. With the lower class quotas at Nationals in a few years all you will see if the professional sportsman racers at events with maybe a few guys who run a national here and there and have enough grade points. If you want to look into something to be done it needs to be on the National Event side. The entry fee has gone up significantly over the past years with no pay increase to the winner. Contingency has gone way down (Yes it supposed to be better this year). I pulled out an entry form from the 1994 Keystone Nationals a few weeks back and it was $170 to get in for $1,800 to win, now it's $320 for $1,800 but, you have an event like Mike Beard or Myself put on and we take a bath in it......go figure.

03-05-2016, 09:57 AM	#1
JWhalen58 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 110 Likes: 7 Liked 117 Times in 21 Posts	Re: LODRS payout increases ideas NHRA isn't going to increase the payout because they don't have to. But something could be done among the racers but would take someone to do it. Back in the early 80's where I was bracket racing had a side pot you could get in if you wanted, strictly up to you. Now the track did run this. The entry was $25 and the side pot was I believe an additional $10. Their normal payout was $200 to win. They would always have about 100 cars in each of the 4 brackets, I was racing in bracket 2 or pro as it was called. The way it worked was winner got 1/2 the pot and r/u 1/2 of what was left and semi's split what was left, or something like that I am probably off on exact numbers but you guys understand the concept. Now if any of the winners were not in the pot the money was split with the ones that were. I won several times and the side pot was always more than the regular payout, 500-600 in 1981 was good money to win then. So when we have a race now with the better part of 100 cars and people kick $20 or so into a side pot the money to win gets a lot better. This should only be for the top 4 places again only people in the pot could win the pot. I don't think the powers to be would be much in favor of it because it would be upstaging them some, but I could be wrong.

03-05-2016, 10:25 AM	#2
Pistol Pete VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Punta Gorda Isles, Fl. Posts: 1,628 Likes: 3,414 Liked 795 Times in 210 Posts	Re: LODRS payout increases ideas Yes, the "pot" idea is a good one too. Probably 1 idea that would work. Pay the last 4 or 8 cars left. Div.1 gets at least 90-100 plus Stockers at a Divisional, so that would be some Nice Additional Money To Get !!!!! I'd say an extra $20. per driver. __________________ "Pistol" Pete Dutko

03-05-2016, 10:39 AM	#4
JWhalen58 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 110 Likes: 7 Liked 117 Times in 21 Posts	Re: LODRS payout increases ideas I think so, what's an extra 20-50 bucks. I would be willing to take care of it at Div 3 races.

03-05-2016, 11:38 AM	#5
MR DERBY CITY VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Derby City, USA Posts: 3,640 Likes: 1,083 Liked 7,940 Times in 1,520 Posts	Re: LODRS payout increases ideas Gentlemen, NHRA board members will get a good chuckle regarding this thread at their next meeting. Their plan for increasing car counts at LODRS events is already in motion. They realize the Die Hards will attend even more points races in order to have enough grade points to attend national events. Only 70 entries for the Las Vegas race left many a Stock competitor on the outside looking in. Of course there are different rules for the FSS cars as evidenced by the Hush Hush addition of 10 entries at the Gatornationals..

03-05-2016, 12:47 PM	#6
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: LODRS payout increases ideas It may not be exactly like back when I ran tracks, but NHRA sells the Divisional races to the tracks. NHRA provides certain services and personnel that run the race. I know for a fact that at one time(Recently) the cost got so high for a Divisional that it took 400 entries for the track owner to break even. That brought about the Regional akly tour and separated them, unless a track wants them, from Divisional meets. I notice my old buddy Greenlight had a good plan and made a comment I totally agree with. Track managers, operators and ownership in general have all gotten lazy. Quite a few years ago most of them quit being promoters and went to relying on just the income from the racers. That was brought about when Bracket Racing took root and Class Racing left the local tracks. Promotion is a key to putting butts in the stands and I feel that is where the effort should be concentrated. Years ago racers would invade a community like a bunch of locust. Every hotel parking lot was full of racers and race cars. The locals got an eye full and would come to the track to see the show. Now everyone stays at the track in their mega dollar MH's with enclosed trailers. As racers we have contributed to the problem just by the nature of how we transport our toys. When I had a big event I would do displays and radio/TV remotes at various locations in the trade area of my tracks. Most of the time I would use local favorites and the Booked in Show in the displays. It took work and was well worth the effort. I think the rise in social media could be a big benefit to put Butts in The Stands, too. When I was Race Director for Hot Rod Drag Week I saw first hand how social media worked well for putting a crowd in the stands after a rain delay at Tulsa. We were rained out on Friday & running in a window between big rains on Saturday. Todd and his staff did a good job bringing the crowd out, even with the threat of rain. He did some real specific advertisement and worked the social media angle. local racers could do the same for their tracks that have big races. When I was active racing I liked to see friends and customers come to the track to watch. A local newspaper article about the locals that are participating could bring a couple hundred spectators. Most Local newspapers are starved for content. Get with your buddies and write an article. Make it easy on the newspaper guys. Why can't we help and maybe be rewarded for our help promoting the races? __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS) Last edited by Adger Smith; 03-05-2016 at 12:53 PM. Reason: sp

03-06-2016, 10:39 AM	#8
BKSG1198 VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vineland, NJ Posts: 2,628 Likes: 96 Liked 1,283 Times in 392 Posts	Re: LODRS payout increases ideas Great Idea but, increasing the entry fee's is not the answer and you will only push away racers, no matter what the payouts are. With the lower class quotas at Nationals in a few years all you will see if the professional sportsman racers at events with maybe a few guys who run a national here and there and have enough grade points. If you want to look into something to be done it needs to be on the National Event side. The entry fee has gone up significantly over the past years with no pay increase to the winner. Contingency has gone way down (Yes it supposed to be better this year). I pulled out an entry form from the 1994 Keystone Nationals a few weeks back and it was $170 to get in for $1,800 to win, now it's $320 for $1,800 but, you have an event like Mike Beard or Myself put on and we take a bath in it......go figure.