All you experts

[UREZ2PASS]

If you internet experts owned two asphalt racetracks within 50 miles of each other in Florida and wanted to make the shows better, how would you accomplish the following goals ?

1. Higher car count. Remember most weekly show cars are local drivers.
2. Higher fan count
3. Larger purses
4. Higher concession sales
5. Concession menu
6. Teching racecars
7. Keeping the cost down for car owners
8. Promoting weekly shows
9. Advertising
10. Type of racecars.

The rules are, you can't close either track, neither track can be converted to dirt, and limited revenue expenses.

[UREZ2PASS]

Together, we can put together a solid business plan.

Please no chest pounding, slams, bashing, or promoting your favorite track or promoter in order to do a little sucking up.

[VeaseyRacing]

To me it looks like all the tracks are trying to do something to make more money. But some are going about it the wrong way. You can't tackle everything at once. The promoters need to prioritize.

1st thing, if you don't have a show, then why advertise to get fans? So, the car count would need to come up.

I am not a marketing expert so I will not speculate on how to do this.

[UREZ2PASS]

To me it looks like all the tracks are trying to do something to make more money. But some are going about it the wrong way. You can't tackle everything at once. The promoters need to prioritize.

1st thing, if you don't have a show, then why advertise to get fans? So, the car count would need to come up.

I am not a marketing expert so I will not speculate on how to do this.

First reply and something well worth exploring. Good job !

Racetrack lowers profit margins in order to reinvest in other areas.

THANK YOU !

[Boneman]

"you internet experts"

Yes? You rang?

Higher car count
Track tires (if any) will be hard, cheap and very durable. I don’t care how fast they are, I don’t care what tires the other tracks run, I don’t care how many we sell.
Also, as many classes as possible will be on cheap DOT tires.
Run no classes based on antique Detroit cars that are scarce. Instead, put emphasis on purpose built racecars, spec classes and a wide-open, entry-level class for modern and inexpensive vehicles.

Higher fan count
Have inexpensive admission, clean restrooms, and design the weekly show with a rotating focus to appeal to groups like young singles, families with kids, and hard-core race fans.

Larger purses
Print money like the government does. Once the show and attendance base is established, chase sponsor money, but this has to lag the establishment of a good program.

Higher concession sales
Clean and modern facilities, with a contemporary menu, are essential. “Just hot dogs and hamburgers”, are you kidding? Higher sales will come with full stands and an interesting menu. Be sure to have a stand in the pits too, and keep it open.

Concession menu
Concession food is a massive industry. Consult on hot trends, get machines on consignment, invite in specialty caterers in exchange for a fee or a percentage.

Teching racecars
Run late model rules that balance horse power and design with weight, in order to give everyone a place to race on equal footing.
Have a class or two for gearheads that encourages innovation like modifieds or “southern sportsmen”.
Have minimal rules in the entry level class, but balance that with a system of performance penalties. After X wins, you must always start in the back, after a few more, you will start to carry more weight, etc..
Encourage self-policing through affordable tear-down fees.

Keeping the cost down for car owners
Avoid shows where the participants are expected to arrive in the morning and spend the whole damn day. Offer admission incentives for the entry level racers. For example, if you race tonight, you get a free pit pass next week.

Promoting weekly shows
This is the most important job, so it needs to be in the hands of a trained sales person who can sell the show to the media, the public, to a board of directors for sponsorship, to the racers and especially to new fans.
Maintain a useful and up to date website, and design programs to exploit free social media.

Advertising
Have a visible, modern and effective sign by the street (New Smyrna’s is excellent, Orlando’s is horrible).
Engage the local media and take advantage of the free stuff that is out there.


Type of racecars.
EXCITING and INTERESTING classes: sprints, figure 8, modifieds, combined LM, no class that contains the word “stock” in its name, inexpensive and available junkyard entry level cars, Legends (but NO bandeleros. If we have to take Bandos, then the Legends are out too). Visits by pavement motorcycles, shifter karts, drifters (in moderation), drag car night, racing lawn mowers and anything else that moves fast and is interesting to gear heads! Get them to our track and maybe they will want to stay!

In addition
Build and maintain a relationship with the racers, owners, sponsors and all participants. Be visible, be engaged, be involved and put out effort, effort and more effort.

[UREZ2PASS]

Well done Boneman !

[VeaseyRacing]

Excellent read Boneman.

I like the idea of getting fans involved. Say, for example, you tell the fans (and maybe advertise it) bring your John Deer mower or you old riding mower, race it around the track for a lap during intermission, top 3 mowers get free passes for next weekend.

The point, make the crowd come back.

[Boneman]

Veasey, I'll tell you right now that racing mowers are not my thing, BUT I've seen them in action. Those damn things are way too fast. If we can get some new gearheads to buy a pit pass and see what we do, maybe they will realize how lame mowers are and want to get a racecar instead.

[UREZ2PASS]

There needs to be a push to get racefans introduced to drivers. Racefans follow drivers, they buy souvenirs, and they will return to a racetrack to follow their drivers. How can a racetrack familiarize racefans with drivers ?

[Tommy King]

I agree with everything Boneman said except......The Bando and legend car deal. Bandos or a quarter midget track if your track is over a 1/2 mile is absolutely essential. I believe both programs should be on another night from the main raceday and ran as a club type environment. This ensures a future crop of racers instead of a lost generation.

Oh yeah and what we're talking about here is my main topic on my show tonight. We dissect successful programs and kick all the dead horses one last time before they start shutting their gates.

[UREZ2PASS]

I agree with everything Boneman said except......The Bando and legend car deal. Bandos or a quarter midget track if your track is over a 1/2 mile is absolutely essential. I believe both programs should be on another night from the main raceday and ran as a club type environment. This ensures a future crop of racers instead of a lost generation.

Oh yeah and what we're talking about here is my main topic on my show tonight. We dissect successful programs and kick all the dead horses one last time before they start shutting their gates.

In my opinion, Bandolero's should race before the weekly show starts or during intermission. There is a place for them, but not during the weekly race schedule. Legends put on a great show when there is a bunch of them. Like any class though, two or three cars is painful to watch.

[Frasson118]

Higher car count - as much as I hate adding classes, this doesn't really fit into that. Create an "outlaw" class.... basically, if you've got a car, bring it out, and we'll get you out there. There are far too many cars parked because they are too old/outdated to compete with the latest technology. If they could race against other cars that are also outdated, you might see a bunch of them come back. Equalize them with handicapped starting spots, weight, spoilers and body work.... nothing that costs a bunch of cash.

Fan count - the big question. This may sound crazy, take some investment, and some patience.... the track supplies 10 Strictly Stock type cars, and elect certain local rival businesses to provide 5 member team drivers. I'm thinking a Home Depot vs Lowes night, Napa vs Advance Auto Parts, Coke employees vs Pepsi.... each week a different group that will each bring out a bunch of employees to see their friends in action. Pump up the inter-company rivalry, and get their friends vocally involved. They might have a great time, and either want to return, or even better, want to try it themselves.

Concessions - gotta have better, yet affordable options. Folks have to eat, and many of the successful tracks have food that's worth waiting to get to, rather than McDonalds getting that cash before these people get to the track. Fried Bologna sandwiches and Buffalo wings always go over big.

Tech - not a clue.... not a nuts & bolts guy.

Larger purses - pretty much can't be done unless the first 2 categories improve.

Keeping costs down for car owners - very first thing..... GET RID OF PRACTICE DAYS. The expenses are the same as race day, burning up tires, fuel and engine life.... with ZERO return. Boneman is right about a tire rule that is best for the racer, not what's best for the track. I also know of some tracks that allow 2 people per car in for free... usually driver & owner, or driver & wife. If they get in free, it's more affordable to race, and likely will bring a few paying crew with them. Now we have 4 people buying food and drinks rather than 2.

Advertising is a tricky one... no one method is the right answer, there must be a mix. Facebook is NOT the answer, just the easiest for lazy people to do. Again, Rex is right on about the signage... Orlando's ugly, faded out sign doesn't attract the eye at all. If it does, you'll get a beautiful view of some beat up, graffitti covered buses. It presents the image of a scrapyard, not a professionally run business.



Types of racecars - 4 classes at most, with a traveling series added on once in a while

[Frasson118]

Continued.... 4 classes max. Too many choices promotes tiny fields of cars. Combined Super & Pro LM's, a Modified class with an IMCA style rule book (no 25k motors), a Sportsman/Outlaw class, and an entry level junkyard-salvaged class. Eliminate Mini Stocks, Legends, Bando's, and Super Stocks entirely. Who even wants to see a 10 car field of nothing but 25 year old Monte Carlos?
Another thing that is VERY important, yet completely overlooked... demand that the cars are attractive, and nicely lettered. If half the field is covered in primer, bond, and duct tape numbers, they LOOK like junk.... and peoples perception is that they ARE junk. Women especially, like a neat, clean, color coordinated appearance. Butt ugly racecars don't attract new fans. And DO NOT allow these cars to represent your speedway at other public functions. Bright colors attract the eye, not primer and duct tape.

In Addition - a smart track owner will use that piece of property for more uses than a once a week racetrack. Car shows, swap meets, Street Car racing, concerts, Bike Week rally's.... be creative. There's a lot of amenities at a racetrack to host many types of events, most of which don't even have a payout of any sort. The track is more likely to re-invest in itself if it needs to impress several different demographics of paying customers. With all the rainouts that OSW suffers, they HAVE to find additional ways of bringing income in. All the eggs are in one basket, and that basket has a gaping hole in it.

Fun thread.... got me thinking (damn you EZ)....!

[Edm]

Most of it is beating a dead horse and has been said over and over again. Great points and very logical, hopefully someone motivated will listen.

I was a kid in California and one of the tracks would fence off an area near the grandstand entrance and line up the racecars on both sides. Standing in line with racecars on both sides was always really cool.

Sell tires that last.

Combine classes to make a full field.

ALLOW COOLERS, will it hurt food sales? Maybe, will it help attract more fans? More than likely. It would make it easier for the unemployed and money tight fans to watch.

Fast cars start in the back. The more passing the better the show (PERIOD)
Like I said before, watching hot laps is boring.

Keep the show moving.

Update the show for the strictly stocks, make a small road coarse, run them through the x, clockwise, mix it up.

Run the winter months. Take the summer off.

Unless you can compete with an xbox you are not going to win over the younger crowd.

Add other stuff, burnout contests, drifting, monster trucks, anything to utilize the facility and attract people.

leg work, you cannot sit there and expect people to show up.

[tccaz]

Another thing that is VERY important, yet completely overlooked... demand that the cars are attractive, and nicely lettered. If half the field is covered in primer, bond, and duct tape numbers, they LOOK like junk.... and peoples perception is that they ARE junk. Women especially, like a neat, clean, color coordinated appearance. Butt ugly racecars don't attract new fans. And DO NOT allow these cars to represent your speedway at other public functions. Bright colors attract the eye, not primer and duct tape.



I agree with this completely nothing pisses me off more than to see a car with wrinkled up fenders, crappy paint, and duct tape numbers I don't know anyone into cars that doesn't know someone that can throw on a coat of paint for nothing or next to nothing every paint and body shop has extra paint lying around. An ugly race car only shows me the owner doesn't care about it and he will be one of the guys just making laps.


That brings up another point why does a race track let guys race who NEVER compete I will never understand why people race week after week just making laps RACE TO WIN if you can't win in the class you are in drop down a class this will make the racing better because more cars will be competitive.