Make Divisionals Great Again

[Doug Hoven]

Every time I see the posts on facebook with the stands packed at a national event, with some big name NHRA supporter saying something along the lines of "Drag racing is not dying, so on and so forth" While I'm not going around saying the "sky is falling," it is obvious that drag racing on a sportsman level is dying a slow death. National events will always bring spectators. However, even in the few years I've been running stock eliminator, the attendance has been dropping every year. Part of the issue I think is scheduling. There are some races that just make no logistical sense for racers to attend, such as the Epping divisional race right before Indy. But, I can say that there was a sizeable crowd at NED this past summer due to their Night of Thrills type show being held Saturday night. It sucks to say, but it seems like to get people to a division race, there almost has to be another attraction that weekend other than just the regular racing. While quite a few of my peers from high school are interested in cars/racing, the appeal of stock eliminator, or almost any sportsman category, is not there. While I don't know precisely why, I can say that the rise in used/classic car prices definitely hasn't helped. Billy and I, well mainly Billy, has proven time and time again that you can go racing for peanuts, but to face facts, it takes a special person to want to race a rusty, brown cavalier. I know it's easier said than done, but maybe there needs to be more "old timers" letting "punk kids" race their cars from time to time.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Doug Hoven

but to face facts, it takes a special person to want to race a rusty, brown cavalier. I know it's easier said than done, but maybe there needs to be more "old timers" letting "punk kids" race their cars from time to time.

Hey! Wait! What????

[Billy Nees]

Ya know, just among the track owners/operators that I know or know of in Div.1, there are people who race with or are friends with Pro/Stock, Pro/Mod, Drag Radial and Fastest Street Car Racers. I don't know or understand why these track owners/operators can't get together some kind of a "buddy-deal" and put together some kind of a show if that's what it will take.

[BKSG1198]

I know we chat about this almost every year on how to make Divisionals Great and I have a lot of insight from talking to track owners when setting up my MA Schedules on how they feel about the Divisional Events and for the most part track owners are not big fans of having them due to the cost factor and let's be honest it's up to the tracks to spend the additional funds to help market those events and not all tracks have that deep of pockets to do so.

When you have Alky at these events, the tracks have to get additional insurance and the Top 10 in each Division in Alky get in for free along with a certain amount of crew and the track pays the purse on top of the fee that they pay NHRA (It's a base fee for certain amount of cars - I was told at one time by a track owner it's $15k for 350 cars and then it goes up as the count goes over 350....so when we complain about $60 crew pass, it's because the track is trying to re-coup some of that money)....when you look at 2023 D1 Alky points there were 22 TAD that earned points but, only 10 TAFC earned points in D1 with 2 who made a run so they could earn the free status next season. I mentioned at the MG August race that the Alky guys are mostly business men / women, they should be getting together to do their own purses, I know DJ Cox did at Cecil one year to help the track out. Then you have Alky qualify on a Friday at times that won't attract any crowds because people are working (12,3,5) it doesn't make any sense, I think you move Alky to qualify on Saturday and elims on Sunday to make it a show beginning at 3-4pm, let Stock, SS, .90, Comp get their qualifying rounds and maybe R1 in before the "Show" starts and be done for the day and run TS, TD, Alky, Jets, Benny the Bomb, Wheel standers, etc. for the fans. They always say that Alky runs on Fri / Sat so they have a travel day.....ummm most these guys have drivers who drive their stuff to the next location, and they fly in.

I know Bobby does a great job of promoting the "Car Show" with Stock & SS but let's all be honest kids today want to see a lowered Honda that can barely go over railroad tracks than see Stock, SS and the .90 cars. Our last .90 race was at Maple Grove on October 15th, we ran with a car show called "Static Struggle". The place was packed with about 250 show cars all Hondas, all fart boxes, all lowered and it stunk like weed....lol. The field where we park for the NE & LODRS was packed with spectators filling the stands, the concession stand was wrapped around the building with people buying stuff, they definitely made a killing on that day with just those cars and then you add in 100 T&T Cars at $50 a pop with no payback. Why I think your also seeing NHRA partner to run Alky cars at events like Cleetus & Cars and the Norwalk Night of Fire.

One thing you notice when you ever watch on NHRA.TV telecasts there is reasons we kick things off early in the morning with sportsman and you'll hear Alan, say maybe after SG or Comp runs "From this point forward, everything that goes down this track will go faster than 8 seconds". It's to tell people the "fast, not complicated cars" are coming out...people want to be able to understand classes and not try to figure out why this guy went 9.50 and the other guy went 13.23 and won. Thats why when you go to a NE.85% of the people are there to see ...John Force.

How do you make it better? I think you put together a 4-5 hour show that highlights the fast classes, if they want to come in early to watch Stock, SS, .90 they will come but, people these days are looking for the best bang for their buck, they don't want to be priced gouged, kids have the attention span of about 3 hours before they are bored....I saw this on a page today about Pomona:

"Im really perturbed in Pomona raceway I dont care what association it partakes in but if its $15 for a hot dog or $23 for a sandwich it better be at least descent it amazes me the cost of everything and get sub-par absolute junk . I understand inflation but these venues are failing if you disagree you are the problem . No common family can come out here and afford for a good time"

[Pistol Pete]

You are Spot On Rob, on saying the car show at MG was lowered Honda’s n such.
Most young kids today if their parents weren’t into class cars or .90 classes they sure
as hell are not building or buying one to race.
They love racing their Honda’s or whatever else that makes a lot of noise.

But yet, the Pan American race that Atco had as their last race, Wasn’t it Packed With
Spectators ?? Go figure…..

[DG]

I don't know if trying to get average fans to come out to a divisional race is going to work. I think focusing on making the event more attractive to the racers families and friends would be more effective. They are the low hanging fruit. We all have family and friends that want to support us, but don't come out very often because they spend a lot on money for a ticket/pass watch us go down the track for a 10 seconds a couple of times and then sit around bored for hours on end. If the track is a few hours drive away, hotel and other costs come into play. Heck, I kind of discourage people from coming out because I know they will just get bored and never come back. People want affordable and enjoyable experiences that they will look forward to coming back to the following year. Some ways to attract these people are:

>people like camping, provide space for them to bring their RV on site for a nominal fee, this will allow a group of buddies or a family an affordable option to stay over night, eat and drink
>allow friends and family to come and go all weekend so they can enjoy other nearby activities in the area like golfing, gambling, amusement parks etc in the hours between us going down the track. Let the event become a race-vacation.
>Include a free event tee shirt for the kids under 12 to show all their friends back at school
>kids under 18 get in free, heck they might bring their friends along
>host a racer BBQ with local cover band Saturday evening for us to all gather at
> provide a bounce house for kids which allows young moms a little break
>provide a shade/tent area to get out of the elements, just like NHRA provides for its VIP's at National events
< host a local car show

[B Parker]

I hate to say it this way but unless you're racing a class or have friends that are doing it in another class. Watching most of our sportsman racing is like watching paint dry. How many of you are in the bleachers after you make a pass watching other classes? Not me unless I have someone that I want to check out how they have done. For me personally I have seen enough pro runs to last me a lifetime. I still may go up to watch a round of Pro Stock.

What we do have is the greatest traveling car show on the planet. It would be great if tracks could capitalize on that.

Everyone will say I'm nut's no way to do it. I said that about being able to go to the corner store and buy some Pot. No way that would ever happen.

You can now bet on about everything under the sun.
You want to watch the stands fill fast get gambling involved. I don't think it would be that tough for the Pros that do it for a living to set it up.

Please all you old people don't think they need to put betting booths at every track. I can place a bet in less than a minute on my phone on about every game. I don't understand why it has taken so long. BP

[Bobby Fazio]

Dude should have realized that In-N-Out Burgers were only $6-8 at Pomona. But I wholeheartedly agree that the cost of everything is way out of line. I have been arguing that NHRA national tickets are way too expensive for their demographic but as long as they keep posting pics of sellout crowds, I have no case. Seems Saturday is their only sellout day though, no one seems to care as much for Sunday finals anymore. Anyways, this thread is about increasing divisional spectator attendance!

Originally Posted by BKSG1198

"Im really perturbed in Pomona raceway I dont care what association it partakes in but if its $15 for a hot dog or $23 for a sandwich it better be at least descent it amazes me the cost of everything and get sub-par absolute junk . I understand inflation but these venues are failing if you disagree you are the problem . No common family can come out here and afford for a good time"

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

this thread is about increasing divisional spectator attendance!

It is? I thought it was about how to "Make Divisionals Great Again"

Divisionals are for RACERS not spectators and for racers, that starts and ends with MONEY in the pocket of class winners. Increase the payout and make the contingency program great again! That's ALL class racers really care about. No racer is not entering a divisional race because there are no spectators in the stands.

[Bobby Fazio]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Divisionals are for RACERS not spectators and for racers, that starts and ends with MONEY in the pocket of class winners. Increase the payout and make the contingency program great again!

And how do you plan to do that with no spectators? Please go read an economics 101 book and then come back on this thread when you are ready to not sound like an uneducated moron. Thanks.