Another thing about the Virginia Race

david ring · 05-05-2008, 11:29 AM

Apparently the Napa AutoCare Centers gave away free tickets to the race. I think the track charged $5 for parking. The stands were packed-the most I've ever seen at any points race. I'm sure the track made more from parking and the concessions than if they'd charged the usual admission fees. Thanks to VMP and Napa. I hope tracks holding points races pick up on this-I know Maple Grove had a good crowd last year with its promotion they had and Lebanon Valley always does well with theirs as well.

Philip Saran · 05-05-2008, 11:41 AM

Very nice to hear that Napa and the track stepped up and provided
a way to draw in more spectators.

I hate it when I attend any event at Pomona Raceway anymore, the
parking will run $8 to $20 depending on how close you might want
to park and don't even get me started with the spectator ticket prices!

Both Irwindale and Fontana tracks do not charge for parking and the
ticket prices are very fair.

Dick Butler · 05-05-2008, 01:05 PM

The future of Drag Racing sportsman style is GET THEM TO THE TRACK...(spectators)

SC1448 · 05-05-2008, 03:43 PM

Going some rounds with fans in the stands plus getting it all done on Saturday made the weekend a blast for me. Great job by the track and all the D-1 cronies for making the right calls! It was worth the trip.
-Don

Greg Hill · 05-05-2008, 03:59 PM

If NHRA wants to grow this is a great way to attract new fans. There are always great cars at divisional races and most of the time the fans never know that they are there. If you give away the tickets or only charge $5 that's better than having no fans at all. Norwalk packs them in for a points race, so does No problem as well as Bowling Green. It can be done it just requires effort and thought with some good promotion. Last year on my way up to Norwalk for the points race I was listening to a local radio station and Bill Bader Jr. was doing the radio spots for that weekend. You would have thought it was the biggest race of the year. they had about 8,000 fans for Saturday night with fireworks, jet cars an $1 a pound ice cream. Those fans also got treated to probably 500 nice sportsmen race cars. With the cost of fuel, food and other everyday living expenses going through the roof some inexpensive entertainment might just be what the doctor ordered.

Greg

Real Racer · 05-05-2008, 09:58 PM

And yet at the Indy points race there were the usual 30 to 40 people in the stands, most of which were with racers.
But wait, NHRA owns Indy don't they.

Byron Worner · 05-05-2008, 09:58 PM

What good does it do for a track to charge regular prices for admission to a points race and get nobody? A lot of track managers should look at the way Virginia, Norwalk etc do it. Pack the place at $5 per person or have empty stands at the regular price.
I think the crew passes could be a little less. We paid $60.00 each at Virginia and only raced 2 days. D1 should discount the Maple Grove crew passes to compensate.

joe176 · 05-05-2008, 10:14 PM

Byron, I paid $215 total for crew and driver...congrats on the runner up.....and yes it was nice to be able to get on the road early sunday when you have a long ride home. Still wonder why we have a Div 1 race in Div 2.

Don Whitmore · 05-05-2008, 10:32 PM

Speaking of tracks that take care of the fans and racers, check out D5's Cordova, Illinois and Earlville, Iowa. Cordova hosts the 'World Series of Drag Racing' and at Earlville, they bring the fans in from the parking lots by tractor and wagon. Some think Earlville should host a Sportsnationals.

Jason Kenny · 05-05-2008, 11:05 PM

The difference in crew price depended upon when you bought them.

I bought a tech card and a crew pass at 4pm on Thursday and paid $230.
Dad bought a tech card and crew pass at 7pm on Thursday and paid $215.

05-05-2008, 11:29 AM	#1
david ring Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oneonta.,NY Posts: 889 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Another thing about the Virginia Race Apparently the Napa AutoCare Centers gave away free tickets to the race. I think the track charged $5 for parking. The stands were packed-the most I've ever seen at any points race. I'm sure the track made more from parking and the concessions than if they'd charged the usual admission fees. Thanks to VMP and Napa. I hope tracks holding points races pick up on this-I know Maple Grove had a good crowd last year with its promotion they had and Lebanon Valley always does well with theirs as well.

05-05-2008, 11:41 AM	#2
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 721 Likes: 158 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Another thing about the Virginia Race Very nice to hear that Napa and the track stepped up and provided a way to draw in more spectators. I hate it when I attend any event at Pomona Raceway anymore, the parking will run $8 to $20 depending on how close you might want to park and don't even get me started with the spectator ticket prices! Both Irwindale and Fontana tracks do not charge for parking and the ticket prices are very fair. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

05-05-2008, 01:05 PM	#3
Dick Butler VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Richmond Indiana Posts: 1,197 Likes: 5 Liked 32 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Another thing about the Virginia Race The future of Drag Racing sportsman style is GET THEM TO THE TRACK...(spectators)

05-05-2008, 03:43 PM	#4
SC1448 Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Southampton, PA Posts: 226 Likes: 4 Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Another thing about the Virginia Race Going some rounds with fans in the stands plus getting it all done on Saturday made the weekend a blast for me. Great job by the track and all the D-1 cronies for making the right calls! It was worth the trip. -Don

05-05-2008, 03:59 PM	#5
Greg Hill VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville , KY Posts: 1,994 Likes: 63 Liked 270 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Another thing about the Virginia Race If NHRA wants to grow this is a great way to attract new fans. There are always great cars at divisional races and most of the time the fans never know that they are there. If you give away the tickets or only charge $5 that's better than having no fans at all. Norwalk packs them in for a points race, so does No problem as well as Bowling Green. It can be done it just requires effort and thought with some good promotion. Last year on my way up to Norwalk for the points race I was listening to a local radio station and Bill Bader Jr. was doing the radio spots for that weekend. You would have thought it was the biggest race of the year. they had about 8,000 fans for Saturday night with fireworks, jet cars an $1 a pound ice cream. Those fans also got treated to probably 500 nice sportsmen race cars. With the cost of fuel, food and other everyday living expenses going through the roof some inexpensive entertainment might just be what the doctor ordered. Greg

05-05-2008, 09:58 PM	#6
Real Racer Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 99 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Another thing about the Virginia Race And yet at the Indy points race there were the usual 30 to 40 people in the stands, most of which were with racers. But wait, NHRA owns Indy don't they.

05-05-2008, 09:58 PM	#7
Byron Worner Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 229 Likes: 11 Liked 28 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Another thing about the Virginia Race What good does it do for a track to charge regular prices for admission to a points race and get nobody? A lot of track managers should look at the way Virginia, Norwalk etc do it. Pack the place at $5 per person or have empty stands at the regular price. I think the crew passes could be a little less. We paid $60.00 each at Virginia and only raced 2 days. D1 should discount the Maple Grove crew passes to compensate.

05-05-2008, 10:14 PM	#8
joe176 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NY Posts: 601 Likes: 34 Liked 41 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Another thing about the Virginia Race Byron, I paid $215 total for crew and driver...congrats on the runner up.....and yes it was nice to be able to get on the road early sunday when you have a long ride home. Still wonder why we have a Div 1 race in Div 2.

05-05-2008, 10:32 PM	#9
Don Whitmore Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 140 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Another thing about the Virginia Race Speaking of tracks that take care of the fans and racers, check out D5's Cordova, Illinois and Earlville, Iowa. Cordova hosts the 'World Series of Drag Racing' and at Earlville, they bring the fans in from the parking lots by tractor and wagon. Some think Earlville should host a Sportsnationals.

05-05-2008, 11:05 PM	#10
Jason Kenny Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kutztown, PA Posts: 108 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Another thing about the Virginia Race The difference in crew price depended upon when you bought them. I bought a tech card and a crew pass at 4pm on Thursday and paid $230. Dad bought a tech card and crew pass at 7pm on Thursday and paid $215.