An article today that makes a GREAT point...

http://racedayct.com/2014/06/keeping...-local-racing/

Self promotion seems to be a thing of the past almost. Obviously, not sure how it's done down there these days. I know I don't remember ever seeing a car on display anywhere in my years living down there. I do know that up here, this is just about the first public racing display I have heard of since I was a little kid.

I am curious what everyone's thoughts are here, and is this currently done or not in FL? The article makes a great point... Putting these cars in front of fresh faces be it Kids, Adults or whatever will have some impact. Let's hear some opinions! This really has me intrigued. It's not something I had thought much about before.

[OldSchool+]

Phil,

Would suggest that running a car is generally a money pit these days and most are just trying to get to the next race.

Bux up teams w/major sponsorship--maybe.

Good idea though--perhaps Mr Garrity could benefit from similar marketing of his good looking ride.

[Boneman]

TBARA is involved in activities like this. Many of our teams have set up at schools, festivals, stores and malls. Our racers understand the value and are generally happy to help.

[Phil Jacques]

Phil,

Would suggest that running a car is generally a money pit these days and most are just trying to get to the next race.

Bux up teams w/major sponsorship--maybe.

Good idea though--perhaps Mr Garrity could benefit from similar marketing of his good looking ride.

Here is the thing we are discussing here... What is the point in TRAVELING the promote and why would you promote near a track? Most people near the track already know it's there and likely go already... Promote in your own town. Find a large high traffic gas station, shopping center or something, call them up and ask to display your car. I am sure that they would be more than happy to have you.

I posted this same thing up here and we have people CRYING saying "well if I go out and promote for the track, I want something in return"... To me though, if you stop and think about it. If you are able to bring more fans in on a consistent basis, the tracks are making more money and may allow the tracks to be able to raise purses. To me the whole "I want something in return" mentality shows an extreme sense of entitlement. I remember being a kid and there were cars everywhere on display. Now, there is nothing. I firmly believe if we could break out of this "social media" shell everyone has grown into, and branched out to public promotion like there use to be when I was a kid and I am sure use to happen down there at some point as well, we could introduce our sport to a whole new group of young fans.

[Phil Jacques]

TBARA is involved in activities like this. Many of our teams have set up at schools, festivals, stores and malls. Our racers understand the value and are generally happy to help.

That is great to hear Rex! There needs to be more of that imo!

[OldSchool+]

"To me the whole 'I want something in return' mentality shows an extreme sense of entitlement." --PJ

I got it--and agree in theory.

But if the car is costing about $300 a week more than it is earning--assuming no engine or front clip is needed, and the kids are growing out of last years clothes, it is also easy to see how the racer could think "this ain't fair!", and "You want me to do what??"

I would suggest that it is first and foremost the promoter's job to ensure that an average guy can "make it" (to fill his field), and then after you have a happy crowd of track-dedicated guys they can go to the ice cream shop for show and tell.

[Phil Jacques]

"To me the whole 'I want something in return' mentality shows an extreme sense of entitlement." --PJ

I got it--and agree in theory.

But if the car is costing about $300 a week more than it is earning--assuming no engine or front clip is needed, and the kids are growing out of last years clothes, it is also easy to see how the racer could think "this ain't fair!", and "You want me to do what??"

I would suggest that it is first and foremost the promoter's job to ensure that an average guy can "make it" (to fill his field), and then after you have a happy crowd of track-dedicated guys they can go to the ice cream shop for show and tell.

If you believe any one of us are in racing at this level to make any kind of money, you are sadly mistaken. There are very few who come out ahead in weekly racing. Even up here. MOST of us have a weekly racing budget. We know what we can spend comfortably to be able to race. If we can not afford it, we put band aids on any issues we may have or just don't race.

Sure, it's the promoters job to get the word out about the track, but think about the impact of seeing an actual race car somewhere. It doesn't really have to cost you any more than $20 and 4 or 5 hours of your afternoon if you do it smart. Load up and haul down to a local place. Display for a few hours, maybe sign a few autographs and tell people about the car and where it races, load up and go home. Not only does it help the track, but it also provides added exposure for your sponsors which makes them VERY happy and can sometimes lead to a little bonus from them. Had my Kart on display at supermarket near me one time and the sponsor came in and noticed and paid for another set of tires for me. That was a huge help!

It goes many ways if you stop and put some thought into it.

[Phil Jacques]

I can understand the argument of not wanting to do it because the track should be doing the work to promote. I just personally feel with the way things are, we could all do ourselves a favor and step up and help out. That's all.

[Phil Jacques]

Here's a side thought... If a track, say Desoto, NSS, OSW etc were to offer a free pit pass to any driver who publicly displayed their car at some point during the week, would that make it more enticing for someone to go out and do? You were planning on spending the 20-30 to get into the pits anyway so the cost becomes offset that way. I believe tracks and drivers should work together to make the product better and promote it together. One should not sit and rely on the other.

[OldSchool+]

Phil,

Arguing at "cross purposes" is always futile.

That is, one guy says "I like Chevys!" and the other one says "Oh yeah, well, I like strawberry yogurt!!". Hard to have that discussion...

You are saying--this would promote our sport, I am saying the guy that would be showing up is already over stressed and under paid, and is about one straw away from going postal.

But your premise is correct, of course. And the pit pass thing is a great idea, too.

[scottgarrity07]

This article is from the area of the country I used to race in. As a matter of fact I used to race against Larry Goss quite a bit in Late Models at the Speedbowl (btw, he is a wildman behind the wheel). When I was there I had an amazing sponsorship deal with WCCC, a local rock station. They had a deal with my home track. The track bought radio ads and in turn the radio station had billboards on the backstretch and ads in the program, so it was a semi-bartered deal. The radio station would do a "Weekend Racing Roundup" on monday a.m.'s with national AND local results during breaks on "The Howard Stern Show". In addition, the station would offer up spots on my car to some of their advertisers. It was a great relationship. I would do appearances all the time at racing shows, restaurants, bars, schools and events. Everyone won on this deal. I'm still trying to make connections here to find a good sponsor, but it has not been easy. It is the main reason I keep my car looking good. No one wants to sponsor a junker. When I find that sponsor I will be back out there doing appearances with my car and talking to everyone about the sport I love so much.

[Groundpounder]

http://racedayct.com/2014/06/keeping...-local-racing/

Putting these cars in front of fresh faces be it Kids, Adults or whatever will have some impact. Let's hear some opinions!

Prove to me what this impact is...how do you know it even works? Show me in dollars. My observations over many years show the benefit is marginal at best. This is great in theory but I am from Missouri, show me.

BTW, NASCAR show cars get paid handsomely to do their appearances through their sponsors. Is the cost worth it at a local level for a handful of people...probably not IMHO...the travel time is worth something and if you guys complain about the high cost of racing, this little bit adds to it. If you do have that big sponsor, now that's different.

It IS the promoters job to fill his seats. Note the name promoter. He pays for advertising (LOL) show he should pay for the cost of show cars with more than a free pit pass. Remember, he's the only one here with a chance of making a buck. Let the racers race and the promoters do...whatever they do.

Now if you want to do that on your own dime...have at it.

[Phil Jacques]

Prove to me what this impact is...how do you know it even works? Show me in dollars. My observations over many years show the benefit is marginal at best.

BTW, NASCAR show cars get paid handsomely to do their appearances through their sponsors. Is the cost worth it locally...probably not IMHO...the travel time is worth something and if you guys complain about the high cost of racing, this little bit adds to it. If you do have that big sponsor, now that's different.

It IS the promoters job to fill his seats. Note the name promoter. He pays for advertising (LOL) show he should pay for the cost of show cars with more than a free pit pass. Remember, he's the only one here with a chance of making a buck. Let the racers race and the promoters do...whatever they do.

Now if you want to do that on your own dime...have at it.

First off, I will say that I will gladly display my car on my own dime to an extent. Probably about 10-15 mile radius around me. If a bunch of guys did this, you could gain a lot of exposure and cover a lot of ground very quickly for both yourself and the track. Should they compensate you in some way for your efforts? Sure, but I think free pit entry for at least you, maybe a couple crew guys is very fair.

I understand 110% the argument of the Promoter having to do his job, and I agree it should be that easy. But the sad fact is that it is not that easy and won't ever be that easy like it was in the 50s 60s and 70s ever again. Oval racing is not the hot thing right now. There are still plenty of kids out there into cars and racing but it's a different kind of "racing" they are into. I would almost be willing to bet if there was some sort of import tuner only division, it would take off. That's just what kids are into these days. Drifting, Import Drag Racing etc. That's all super super popular right now. We need to find ways to get out there and try to still be relevant. People who complain about racing being too expensive are right. It's way too expensive, which is another reason it's dying off and another discussion all together but let's stay on topic here. Regardless of cost, if you spend $30 to transport your car for display once a month or once every couple months, is it really that big of a deal? So, you didn't get Pizza one night. Your arteries will thank you.

Your argument of tracks being the only one here with a chance of making a buck is a sticky subject. Tracks are currently the only ones in weekly racing with a real odds on chance of making a buck. I honestly don't believe most tracks do enough to support their divisions with purses. How come dirt tracks find ways to get sponsors to support higher purses, and pavement tracks don't? Just doesn't make sense to me. Maybe there is something more to it? I don't know... I can tell you for a fact though that I would be more likely to go to a track that pays $500 to win, instead of a track that pays $250 to win if they were similar distances away. In my opinion, the top 5 in each division at each track should at least break even, but I also know that is much easier said than done and will not be holding my breath for that.

Unfortunately, this generation is what I call an "instant gratification" generation. People want things and they want it now or they think what they are doing isn't working. I shake my head when I see tracks try new things for 1 week and it doesn't work out to the exact ways they expect it to so they scrap it.

The ULTIMATE situation, would be for the tracks to select their winners each week to display their cars at different locations within a 20-30 mile radius of their specific track and pay them for their time. That would be preferably and I think a situation like that would work. But the question is, are the tracks willing to step up and take the chance on added exposure at their expense for something they are not 100% sure will work?

As I said, I will always do it on my dime. I enjoy being part of my community. And I have fun seeing kids faces when they see the racecars. It makes me think back to when I was a kid and how I felt the first time I got to see a racecar in person.

I understand that a lot of people do have family activities to tend to most weeks, work or a number of other commitments. I am not here to tell people they are bad people for not getting out and promoting their tracks/cars. Really hope I didn't come across like that.

[Boneman]

Prove to me what this impact is...how do you know it even works?

Bingo. These events CAN be very effective, or (I have been involved in several of them) they can be a borderline waste of time with little or no benefit. When someone thinks that it will work, and then goes through the trouble of putting one together, then thoughtful racers will step up to help. The key is to set up winning displays that truly spread the word.

Here are my opinions on the winners and losers:
losers:
schools - even though the kids mob the cars, they are only happy to be out of class, and are daydreaming about minecraft and X box.

displays at an empty track - why show off the upcoming event when the only people who see it are the die-hards that are at the track anyway?

anyplace unexpected - if you try to get someone's attention while they are on the way into a restaurant or a store, its a waste of time. Their mind is on the task at hand.

Winners!
festivals - At any type of festival, the attendees are people who are actively in search of entertainment. They want to learn and see new things, and I don't care if it is the Asian Dog Bar B Q festival or Moonshine Days at Winter Park. Catch the people when they are receptive and have entertainment on their minds.

car shows - It doesn't matter what is on display, if there are gearheads there to see it, then they need to see our cars too.

other motorsports with a crowd - Cross promote between anyplace that is drawing fans: drags, motocross, 4 wheelers, mud trucks, airboats, drifting. All of these venues are active and right in our backyard. If they will work together with us (it has to go both ways) then we should.

[Phil Jacques]

Prove to me what this impact is...how do you know it even works?

Bingo. These events CAN be very effective, or (I have been involved in several of them) they can be a borderline waste of time with little or no benefit.

Agree 110%! Hard to know what's going to work well unless you try it. I've only ever displayed in a supermarket with a gokart, not a full sized car. My thoughts would have been for places like supermarkets, high traffic gas station/plazas or malls. But I can see how places like that would not be as beneficial as people are there for a purpose and may not want to spend time looking at racecars.

I guess it's a double edged sword. There are aspects of it where it would be extremely positive, and aspects where it would be a royal pain in the A$$ lol

Displaying at actual events would seem to be the more productive way of going about this.