Price Of Racing

[mr south 59]

Johnson Chassis have been manufacturing tube clip cars for 6 or 7 years now. They saw the problem many many years age. There are many tracks running the metric clip with Johnsons rule book. Check um out. Same mounting points as a metric.

http://www.johnsonchassis.com/CATALOG.html

Here is a little about their program.

http://www.johnsonchassis.com/upload...IS_PROGRAM.pdf

[Boneman]

Don, I'm glad we had a long talk.

Tim, there is no bigger supporter of local racing than me. Its a hobby I've loved for 24 seasons, and I've been a fan for almost 40. Yes, I throw some darts, but to only highlight things both good or bad, never to destroy.

Good evening KARNAC, I'm off to the garage where an engine is waiting to get finished.

[timesplitter]

stop relying on the internet . advertise the show in places people might see , like newspaper , radio and television . and do public car shows anywhere . pass out flyers , free tickets ,etc . potential new fans have never heard of any tracks website and are not going to search for one . new fans dont read karnac either . the internet has been the biggest downfall to local short tracks . its free and has made everyone lazy . yes it costs money to advertise but if done properly and consistantly it will pay great dividends . how did tracks advertise prior to the internet ? go back to doing things they way they were done years ago in all aspects of your program and it will heal and prosper . the only ego that is needed in racing is the guy that raced his butt off and won his race the week before . sure do miss the good ol days !

[Don Nerone]

Me to nobody cared if i could spell.


don62

[DieLawn 37]

Timesplitter hit the nail on the head!

I agree with splitter, since i've gotten into racing I've talked to a number of different people who thought Daytona was the closest Track. I'm not saying that all of these people are race fans but since coming to the track with me a few times, they are starting to fall in love with it just like I once did. As far as the "car show" idea, I've seen it work for other tracks. Think about how many people your local short track ( not naming any ) would reach out to if they set up a car show at a near by "more populated" area. Advertisement!! Like he said the internet is not enough. You can't expect someone to find you unless they already have an interest in racing. Reaching back out to joe public is the only thing thats going to help........ The same croud that has showed up for the past few years is slowly diminishing! If something doesn't happen to keep those around that have been faithful and nothing new happens to bring new racers and fans in...... what do you expect to happen to Short trakin???

Hope something comes around soon, I've really grown a love for it!

[Mike C]

Promoting racing and race tracks is going to come down to the racers themselves . The topic of promoting has been dicussed on every board , everywhere , everyday . And not much gets done , at least not long term .
I don't think relying on the internet is a very good idea either . But the internet does have a place in promoting races . But so does the local newspaper sports section , and local radio , and local tv . Not to mention placing posters in windows and at other sports events . The local minor league ball team announcer mentions the races every Friday or Saturday , and the race track announcer does the same for the ball team .
As for the racers themselves , remember that back in the early days of racing , and up to about 1980 , there was a race car of some sort parked proudly outside of almost every auto service , gas station , and tire store in town . Thats where todays racers need to step in and help out . Every race car needs to be parked in a very visible location every day of the week , in different locations each day within reason . Not just on weekends or one day a month , but every day of the week . Of course a person standing with it to answer questions and promote the track would be great , but a large poster or flyers could be placed there to do the same thing .

[Tim]

Mike, speaking of 1980, Robert Hart brought something very eye opening to me. In 1980 your choices for advertising were simple. For TV in Orlando, there was 2, 6 or 9. You had a 33% chance of hitting your customer. 2,6 and 9 now....no racetrack can afford it. So your left with 100 others stations and 1000 different shows to advertise on. And TV is THE best way to advertise. A picture says a thousand words(as I was taught). But where?

The only affordable way to promote racing at this point, is hitting the streets with posters, BOGO's, and free tickets....For the simple fact that when you spend 5k on advertising and you get a rainout....there are no refunds.

Racers bring fans. The more racers touch fans the the more racetracks have to advertise. It's very hard to promote a piece of real estate that has an event going on when nobody knows the people competing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Racers want show money, then show the racetracks the money in fans cause you showed up.....If you can show an attendance pickup because you were there, I can promise you the racetrack will compensate you for what you bring. It's just good business on their part. Why wouldn't they? And they will probably give you an incentive to come back and race again.

NOBODY likes NASCAR....EVERYONE has 1 or more favorite drivers....THAT is what makes NASCAR able to continue. It's the drivers!

[Bigbuck]

Tim, your comment about NASCAR was exactly correct, about the drivers although I really dont have a "favorite", with me its more about 2-3 I dont like, but your right, its about the drivers, the race, the show. Again, thats NASCARS product, without them there would be no show. BUT, the question remains, it hasnt been answered, how do you get more racers? I know the tracks want more but to be honest, I dont see them trying much of anything differant than what they been doin for 3-4 yrs. I don't claim to have all the answers but it really does seem like certain track owners, workers etc dont want advice or new ideas, sorry just my observation. How are the restrooms lookin Rex, good point. Is there food in the pits soon after they let the racers in, didnt used to be till 6:00 or after and ran out by intermission. The bad thing is, status quo is not working. I hope you figure it out, but this thread hasnt.

[VeaseyRacing]

10 years ago, there wasn't as much to do as there is today. There is so much out there for entertainment. Kids today don't even want to go outside. Their parents buy them a gaming console one time and the kids are content with sitting in there house doing nothing. And the parents don't have to leave the home to entertain anymore. So how do get into there home and get them out of their house?

Advertise. Who listens to the radio while sitting in there home? not me. Send out fliers at the grocery store, mailers to homes, even go to the extreme and put up a commercial. My local cable provider advertises for businesses to advertise with them. They will even help make the commercial.

The point is, if promoters are hurting for money, then do something different. Anything.

[Bigbuck]

10 years ago, there wasn't as much to do as there is today. There is so much out there for entertainment. Kids today don't even want to go outside. Their parents buy them a gaming console one time and the kids are content with sitting in there house doing nothing. And the parents don't have to leave the home to entertain anymore. So how do get into there home and get them out of their house?

Advertise. Who listens to the radio while sitting in there home? not me. Send out fliers at the grocery store, mailers to homes, even go to the extreme and put up a commercial. My local cable provider advertises for businesses to advertise with them. They will even help make the commercial.

The point is, if promoters are hurting for money, then do something different. Anything.

Exactly what they need, something differant

[Winger]

There is absolutely no reason to advertise if you aren't providing a quality product. Get the cars and put on a quality show and the fans will come. Then you can think about trying to get some more, and you can focus on getting new ones then. Why would you want to bring new fans in to watch 3-4 car fields?
How do you get the cars? Be fair, consistent, honest, and friendly. Make phone calls, pay a fair purse throughout the field and don't tie it to car count. Provide a decent facility. And I'll say it again, cut down on the number of classes racing. If you don't want to eliminate some then I don't have a problem with combining them until they evolve into one.

[Tim]

Ditto Winger~!

At least take the leadership role, make some changes, and let things evolve.....DO NOT cotinue to do the same thing over again.....thinking things willl change.

[Bigbuck]

[QUOTE=Winger;70121]There is absolutely no reason to advertise if you aren't providing a quality product. Get the cars and put on a quality show and the fans will come. Then you can think about trying to get some more, and you can focus on getting new ones then. Why would you want to bring new fans in to watch 3-4 car fields?
How do you get the cars? Be fair, consistent, honest, and friendly. Make phone calls, pay a fair purse throughout the field and don't tie it to car count. Provide a decent facility. And I'll say it again, cut down on the number of classes racing. If you don't want to eliminate some then I don't have a problem with combining them until they evolve into one.[/QUOTE
You r exactly right winger. but be careful of suggesting making calls, I was called a liar and accused of starting trouble when I did a yr or so ago. I guarantee more cars could be brought in, maybe not dozens but 2 added to 3 was 5 the last I knew, headed in the right direction. I can name at least 4 or 5 that no longer race, without even thinking about it, have talked to them,none of them have heard from anyone in management. And they keep saying running a track is a business! Are they too proud to give them a call, tell them they miss them, what can we do to get you back? I just do not understand why this is not done in FASCAR. Oh well, nothing invested here.

[VeaseyRacing]

There is absolutely no reason to advertise if you aren't providing a quality product. Get the cars and put on a quality show and the fans will come. Then you can think about trying to get some more, and you can focus on getting new ones then. Why would you want to bring new fans in to watch 3-4 car fields?
How do you get the cars? Be fair, consistent, honest, and friendly. Make phone calls, pay a fair purse throughout the field and don't tie it to car count. Provide a decent facility. And I'll say it again, cut down on the number of classes racing. If you don't want to eliminate some then I don't have a problem with combining them until they evolve into one.

I agree with this statement also. But look at the this perspective; If you advertise, maybe we can hit the teens that like to work on cars in their parent's garage. What if we can get them to come to the track ONCE and find out how easy it is to build a 4 cyl. scrambler or street stock? There is your new race car driver.

If the veterans of their track would go up to new faces in the pits and just say hello, maybe they will come back. I am from a business of customer service. There is so much out there, the next step should be to take care of the customers. I have came back to racing from quite a few years away and the my first practice night at Auburndale, my car broke on the track. Do you know that about 5 drivers came out and helped me push my car back to my pit stall. THAT is customer service.

At the point of the drivers that have been barred or suspended, those drivers did something wrong and are paying the price for it. I, for one, try to keep my mouth shut and try to obey the rules for the love of the sport. I want to race. I don't care if I win. I don't physically gain anything by it. I just want to have fun. The drivers that have been so far as to be barred or suspended have taken their sport too far. And please, this is my opinion and I am not denying that track owners/operators have taken their power to the extreme.

Still, the point, track owners and operators need to do something, anything.

And the same the with drivers, lets help the tracks for a change. The more the drivers help with bringing people in the stands, owners/operators would be willing to through some the drivers way.

[ronabneysr]

i don't think there is any thing you can do to

ever salvage racing like it use to be ----- one you want the track owner to lowere his price and cut the price of all food and drinks

but he still has to pay all his bills on what''''''''

now comes the racer his equiptment has gone up over fifty % of what it use to be do you wonder how much a late model cost or a open wheel or a sportsman --- tires engine 10.000 dollars use to build you a late model

now it won;t even build a mini stock