Make Divisionals Great Again

[Bobby Fazio]

Originally Posted by Doug Hoven

Unfortunately I can't see Maple grove participating in any sort of "Free Spectator" day at any of their events.

Maple Grove is open to the idea when I spoke with Kenny Koretsky a few times this year. They hosted a carload special at our divisional in May and brought in a much higher spectator count than in recent years. Only problem was it started at 3pm which I hate because it doesn't get anyone in the gate early enough to watch us sportsman. We run our E1 around 3pm and make way for Top Alcohol the rest of the night which is the main draw. They qualify and run all eliminations and then there were fireworks at the end. Sunday is a ghost town when we complete our eliminations. I say qualify Top Alcohol on Saturday evening as an attraction and then run their eliminations on Sunday as another attraction to get people in the gate both days. Track is paying their entry fee and purse so they should be open to it.

[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.

[Steve Stasko]

Originally Posted by Bobby Fazio

I say qualify Top Alcohol on Saturday evening as an attraction and then run their eliminations on Sunday as another attraction to get people in the gate both days. Track is paying their entry fee and purse so they should be open to it.

How much time will this add to a Sunday schedule? Not everyone is self employed or can burn vacation time with ease. Depending on where you live...you're burning a half or whole day on Thursday for travel, Friday for time runs, and then potentially Monday for travel if the race runs late due to added time from track prep, any oil downs, etc. Don't forget weather delays either. Cecil County, 2018...around 50 racers left because they couldn't stay for Monday eliminations.

I agree that we need spectators in the seats, but it shouldn't come at the expense of the racers.

[1320racer]

You've think you know, think you have the formula, the special sauce but sound like an uneducated moron that hasn't read economics 101, with it all on the dime of the track owners.

Originally Posted by Steve Stasko

I agree that we need spectators in the seats, but it shouldn't come at the expense of the racers.

or track owners

Bottom line is customers and making a Buck. Tracks need to show a profit. For that you need drivers, crew and spectators. If you don’t have spectators your entry will double or triple. Spectators offset that. I’m not talking big buck races. I’m taking NHRA Divisional’s.

The only other way is an event sponsor. Most of those have sailed…

[1320racer]

and again, spectators ain't coming, haven't in decades and won't because what we do is boring to watch and makes no sense. Also we no longer have a car culture in this country, no longer are in love with our cars, no longer have auto shop in high schools, kids no longer dream of the day they get their license and the list goes on and on.

The fact is what we do is dying and has been for decades, the same can be said for bracket racing. There is not nearly enough young men and women coming into the sport as there are leaving it. Think for a moment what the car count will be in stock/super stock in just 10 years from now, when many here will be dead or too old to race.

I’ll agree to a point but if you advertise and make it attractive I believe they can put buns in the seats. Marketing…

Stock and Superstock is the most active car show in the nation. Not only do to see it, you get to see it perform. That’s huge!