This isn't good news

[Matt Albee]

$10,000 to win this weekend (2 day event) at VSP for those vintage Montes,,,50+ expected to show up

Maybe, maybe. I know when i was growing up, the local mechanics and gas station guys would grab a car from a salvage yard or the back row of a used car lot, knock the glass out, take out the interior, take off the muffler and go racing. Mainly because the local track would pay fifty, a hundred or two hundred to win on Friday or Saturday night. Meaning, the guys might be able to make some side money racing.
The plan might be for track owners to start concentrating on getting the young guys interested by putting up huge purses like that for essentially stock cars. Though in this case they should be imports, or at least something the younger crowd can relate to.

[MJM10]

Not sure it was any different 20-30 years ago,,,I didn't build my 1st race car until I was 29,when I finally had some disposable income...Didn't attend a NASCAR race until I was 26

Great point, I loved racing when I was a young kid...But 18-22 I was in college drinking and chasing girls, I could have cared less about anything racing related. I didn't start racing until I was 27, went to NSS during speedweeks when they had 28 tour mods and supers and was hooked. I'm not saying that's everyone but what person 18-24 is going to sit around on a Sunday (or a Saturday night even worse) and watch cars go in circles on TV, they have better things to do.

[SeminoleWind]

Certainly, the numbers for that crucial demographic are not very impressive, but racing has always been a sport that is followed by fans of an older age group and largely ignored by the younger ones.

As a high school kid of the 80's (St Thomas Aquinas, Ft Lauderdale), there were 3 kids out of 1400 who cared anything at all about racing. 1 worked for a crew at Hialeah. 1 had a dad that had helped the Allisons a decade earlier and myself, strictly a fan at the time.

I can remember sitting in the grandstands at Daytona and Atlanta and noticing the amount of senior citizens that dominated the grandstands, this was in the 80's and 90's. I actually think nascar may have a slighter younger crowd today than in past years.

On a positive note for the future of the sport: I co-own a racing supply business that outfits a fair amount of kids in helmets, HANS and firesuits. Whether or not these kids will continue to race into their 20's, 30's and beyond will be the question?

[egspeedway]

Yes racing is in trouble and I fear many other sports and activities that are not involved with the hand held device world of today. My grandson is in 1st grade and his mastery of hand helds is scary. Fortunately my son and his wife keep their son and daughter involved in outdoor sports like baseball and softball. When I am at the poker table half or more of the players are paying more attention to the hand held than the game. Fine by me as I am studying my opponents whether I am in a hand or not. Go to a restaruant if there are 4 people at the table one or more is on a hand held. The only solution I can see is to engage in cost efficient ways of running the sport with fewer fans and participants or for the major organizations to dramatically retool there presentation to attract new fans and reconnect with the old ones. Every time I hear a discussion of NASCAR on TV at least half say I don't watch it anymore as the races are too long and boring.Hand helds provide instant activity on multiple levels.

[kendo]

The first place most people see racing as a kid if they aren't from a racing family of sorts is usually TV. If the product on TV bores them and doesn't excite them, they pick up the remote and change the channel. That is absolutely what is happening. The only NEW racers you really seem to see anymore in my observations are either my age who grew up during NASCAR's absolute competitive peak in the 80s and 90s, or kids from a long time racing family.

Seats needed at Daytona before Dale Sr came along,,,Any questions?

[kendo]

Though in this case they should be imports.

Yup,,,,and that's when you lose the grey crowd

[Boneman]

Because I am a life-time racing addict, I will watch the old Montes drive in circles until sun-up. No problem. But, is that the way to attract new fans? I don't think so.

Consider this: why did NASCAR dream up the truck series 20 years ago? The thinking was to look in the parking lot of a big event, and see what the fans are driving. If that idea still holds true, why isn't there more emphasis on FWD, computerized compacts that are inexpensive and plentiful?

I like tube framed, purpose built racecars. But an easier path to entry, like running more modern cars, would help to bring in a new generation.

[OldSchool+]

Quality Post Award!

To Kendo, for his insightful post:

"Yup, [replace the Monte Carlos with rice burners],,,and that's when you lose the grey crowd"

Give us 20-30 years to go peacefully and then replace the V8s!

[Phil Jacques]

Seats needed at Daytona before Dale Sr came along,,,Any questions?

Not sure what you are getting at. I think I missed your point lol I think my brain is friend from too much time in the shop... I need a FL vacation soon haha

[jacko241]

I want to bring my sports car to New Smyrna! 2400 lbs , 445 hp! Porsche's rear engine placement, and brake rotors the size of manhole covers makes braking incredible.

[OldSchool+]

PJ--Maybe check the lid on the tire "conditioner" in the shop.

I think Kendo's intent was: Ironhead = Big Interest

I would disagree. NASCAR attracted national interest and was "trendy" and "hip" for a while.

Like every "bull" run at the stock market, many think it will never end, and 1.5 speedways with boocoo stands were built.

Joe Public lost interest, and then the economy tanked...

Like disco & Dale Sr., that non-race-fan fad has come and gone.

[OldSchool+]

Joe, why not?

I will bet they will let you cut a few laps during intermission.

Alternatively, you could wait for "fan participation" night, or a drifting event at Bithlo!

Gotta tell you though, at the end of the day, it is hard to beat your mod in the "cool" dept.

You could bring it in the trailer during a non-mod night, they no doubt would mention your ongoing event sponsorship during your hotlaps...

But NSS can be a cruel joint, and if it got loose...it might take a Yoho style insurance pkg to fix it.

[kendo]

PJ-

I think Kendo's intent was: Ironhead = Big Interest

I would disagree. NASCAR attracted national interest and was "trendy" and "hip" for a while.

.

Every other fan had an Earnhardt t-shirt and just about every RV flew the #3 flag,,,Announcers commonly referred to it as a "sea of black"...Come Monday morning at work,just about everyone (like him or disliked him) spent a good part of the day talking about him,,,You simply do not see that level of interest around ANY driver any more...We wont even get into the now defunct diecast craze.

Although I agree with the correction part,you don't think fans flocked the tracks in the 80-90's to see Brett Bodine and Rick Wilson,do you???

[OldSchool+]

I was one of the "other" fans.

I think that in his day, there was still Petty and Yarborough and so forth, and they were the draw.

Sr. was a dirty driver. The heart of gold thing? Fabricated by the news media in my opinion.

He was damn good at it, one of the best--possibly THE best, but they built grandstands due to the "new" Dale fan interest...I would disagree.

True story. I had a friend call the Wrangler Corporate Office and he found someone in Marketing and told them that if Wrangler was the only company on the planet making jeans he would wear corduroys as long as they were sponsoring Dale. The reply from Wrangler "Sir, this will be our last year with Dale".

[Phil Jacques]

I think the growing interest was there prior to Dale Earnhardt's arrival with guys like the Allisons and Yarborough however Dale brought the marketability to an even greater level.

Dale may have been a dirty driver, but he was also one of the most naturally talented to ever get in a car. The heart of gold part... I wouldn't know, but have heard outside of the drivers seat he was an absolute saint. I'll never know though.