Could any of these attract new fans?

[Boneman]

The idea here is to put NEW fans in the seats to see stock car racing. There is lots of different motor sports out there, and I suspect that we are not attracting enough of "their" fans to "our" tracks. Maybe new fans will come out to see a different kind of event, BUT at the same time see some good oval racing, and hopefully get hooked so they come back.

I've added a few pictures of other types of motorsports that I know are active in Florida. I don't think that any of these could or should headline a racing show, however, if they were added they would attract friends and families of the participants, and who knows who else. That is the group of new fans we could target: someone interested in motorsports, but not active in oval racing.

Disclaimer: don't get after me because some of these events are dorky. I didn't say I was interested personally, but I do know these things can be found in Florida, and the goal is to attract new fans to our tracks.

Mini moto racing: This looks much safer than full size bikes. These mini bikes are also a lot cheaper. They could run on a small track or an improvised road course inside our ovals. I bet their owners are looking for a place to show their bikes off.

4 wheelers: run them on an infield road course, maybe throw in a mudhole (they can run underwater), or give them a jump. The point is these things are all over central Florida, and the land available to the riders is diminishing.

Lawn mowers: Go ahead and laugh, I don't like them either. HOWEVER, there are a few active clubs in Florida who race these things, and I bet they would love to be at a real speedway (on the grass of course), instead of racing in some field. Look at their participation rates. They get more mowers than the number of cars that show up at some of our tracks.

[andre]

They are all very good pit fillers.

That's it.

André

[Boneman]

If they are pit fillers, great! That is the idea. Maybe they can see how dorky their racers are and get an oval tracker instead.

[Racefan99]

I've personally seen every one of these classes race (except that the ATV's I saw were the oval variety, at Hendry County Speedway), and all were VERY entertaining.

The stands are empty at most tracks. Fans aren't being entertained. We need more new faces at our tracks, and this would give some new competitors and their supporters a reason to come out.

You can't tell me that fans in the stands wouldn't enjoy watching a lawn mower race, at Intermission! I once saw a group of elderly women at a lawn mower race in Lehigh Acres, Florida, waving their fists and yelling obscenities, because someone dared to cut off their favorite driver in a corner. Casual race fans love that sort of thing. I haven't seen fans get that passionate at a car race, in a long time.

Bring on the lawn mowers!!!! Bring on the Pocket Rockets!!!! Bring on the ATV's!!!!

[Boneman]

You are right, there may be a side-effect of the fans actually liking what they see. I hope so! In the right hands, any of these could be fun to watch.

I left that off intentionally to focus less on the entertainment value, and more on the angle of attracting new competitors and fans to stock car racing.

[Todd McCreary]

Fans aren't being entertained. We need more new faces at our tracks

so you can "not entertain" even more people? the second point doesn't follow from the first, you know.

am i against more cars in the pits? no.

but you've got to fix what's on the track before you can worry about making new fans. otherwise you're just showing even more people that they shouldn't bother making the trip out.




don't get after me because some of these events are dorky.

don't worry Boneman, you'd still be a dork whether you liked them or not.

[Patrobins]

I dont see where these events can be called "Dorky". Anyone that have ever drove any type of atv knows that these things are a blast.

[Todd McCreary]

I dont see where these events can be called "Dorky"

loosen up your necktie Pat. we'eze be joking.