5000 entries??

[Boneman]

There is something that our racing world can learn from the Turkey Rod Run. It is a huge car show and swap meet that I went to this weekend at Daytona Speedway. The pre-registration was shut off at 3400 cars, then a rumored 1500 or so just drove on in, which swelled the ranks of participants to around 5000. I'd be interested to know the "official" number. And the spectator turn-out was huge. I had to park almost a mile from the track.

Seeing this level of participation, are you content to hear any track operators blame their terrible car count on "the economy"? Not me. Many of our tracks survive on 1% of this participation rate, and if we make it to 2%, then we are thrilled with the outcome.

Yes, I know car shows are different than our weekly racing: this was a 4 day event, it is once a year, the cars don't get torn up, etc. etc.. But I contend that racing and events of this type are more alike than they are different. They both require car work, towing, travel and lots of spending money.

So why are so many more drawn to car shows? IMHO the event is completely boring after just an hour or two. I don't know how they can even stand it over 4 days. But clearly, this organization is doing something right.

This post is nothing but questions. I have no answers, believe it or not. The main point I am trying to make is that we are only tapping into a very small amount of the car nuts out there, so we have no business being content with small classes and empty pits. There are lots of potential racers out there, we are just not reaching them. And we better not give up trying.

[OLD STYLE RACER 2]

You said the reason why and didn't even know it. THIS show is only once a year AND it's at Daytona Speedway. I think that's why almost everyone knows about it.
My dad showed there for many years but when it comes to car shows, there's one every weekend if you want to go. They're just like racing.
My dad raced and then showed his vette when he was done racing. He ended up leaving both for the same reason....POLITICS. Trust me when I say this but it's worse in the Car Showing world then it is in racing.

[Boneman]

Its not that simple. There are lots of well attended car shows every year, and hundreds of owners tow from all over to attend. Daytona is a draw no doubt, but if we had an event there we would still get only a very small percentage of the participants.

I am guessing here, but I bet it costs a bunch to enter this event, and that there is no payout at all, right?

[Cara]

The organizers of the Daytona show also wanted to get more people to participate so they were not as strict as they had been in the past on what was allowed to be shown. I have done this show in the Spring but only attended the Fall one. They knew alot of people were just sitting home doing nothing and wanted them to get out and enjoy themselves. I went last year and it was so windy that it nearly knocked you down but my husband decided this year to attend the auto show at the convention center because we got in for free through his company.

[ronabneysr]

do you know why people go to local stock car races

they go for entertainment . do you think they get it . sure you have a certain amount that go because of each car maybee a street stock has three guys that work on or own that car then the wife and kids and maybee a neighbor go to watch that car

but most of the people that go to the races have some thing to do with a car or know the driver

i saw some pictures other day old pictures cars were so old tires on them could not have been over four inches wide ugliest cars i ever seen

but the stand were so full people were standing up all the way around track you could not get any one else in the place


why .. some times i look up in the stands and i wonder how and owner can even keep the track open . then i know drivers that have two and three cars in there garage sitting on jack stands says it's cheaper to not race them

then i here o they are going to have and engine you can run all year cheap motor crate motor then all cars will be competive sure how cheap are those motors once you cheat them up

so why don't some one come up with something that will put entertainment back in stands and people and figure out a way to get back to racing instead of i start on pole and ever body drop in line and follow me till i get dumped next car ok let's follow the leader man ain't that exciting

[Frasson118]

One of the reasons there is little interest in racecars anymore, is that no one ever SEES them. They travel in enclosed trailers, are parked inside shops, are built in a "factory" somewhere. When I grew up, every car could be seen hauling down the road, they were parked in gas station lots during the week, and guys built their own stuff in a garage behind someones house.

It's hard to get excited by seeing a 40 foot, plain white trailer headed down the road. Could be a racecar inside... or could be a landscaping crew.

[Edm]

One of the reasons there is little interest in racecars anymore, is that no one ever SEES them. They travel in enclosed trailers, are parked inside shops, are built in a "factory" somewhere. When I grew up, every car could be seen hauling down the road, they were parked in gas station lots during the week, and guys built their own stuff in a garage behind someones house.

This is true but where one of the main problem lies is in the cities. A lot of cities and small towns have passed ordinances where its illegal to make noise at night or have a racecar/un-registered vehicle, trailer or boat stored in plain view.

It's hard to get excited by seeing a 40 foot, plain white trailer headed down the road. Could be a racecar inside... or could be a landscaping crew.

can't argue with that

[tccaz]

I think there are a couple of answers to this question.

ONE most of those people showing those cars are usually old time racers themselves and they feel they are too old to race. This way they are still hands on and they get to drive the cars and have everyone show their appreciation of the work put into their rides. They also don't have to rebuild every week they are happy adjusting the valves and polishing it not having to put it back together every week because someone else used their car for target practice.

TWO how many young people did you see showing those cars? Not many I bet people under 35 or 40 only know how to turn the key on their car if it doesn't start they call the garage. My wife had to help a friend of ours put a battery in his truck the other day.

THREE I blame the car manufacturers because back in the day and I only mean in the 50s to the late 70s you could tell what kind of car you were looking at!!!!! How can you get excited to say you drive the GENERIC CRAP that they think we are supposed to buy? No young kids are going to get interested in short track racing if all they can buy new is a 4 cyl efi equiped turbo charge toy. Sorry for the ramble



Tom

[Bigbuck]

Youre right

You said the reason why and didn't even know it. THIS show is only once a year AND it's at Daytona Speedway. I think that's why almost everyone knows about it.
My dad showed there for many years but when it comes to car shows, there's one every weekend if you want to go. They're just like racing.
My dad raced and then showed his vette when he was done racing. He ended up leaving both for the same reason....POLITICS. Trust me when I say this but it's worse in the Car Showing world then it is in racing.

I agree Old Style, bacause once a yr and at Daytona, although in my opinion its too big. Takes almost an hr to walk from your car across the street, in gate 7 and then to the swap meet area, to say nothing about buying anything to lug back. But I agree, it was a good show. Also a little more there to see and do than at a Sat. night at NSS. Swap meet, many people would go just for that. antique cars, street rods, just seeing Daytona, the garages, old race cars, and even a few newer ones, LOTS more going on than at a Sat night race track. Plus you can walk around and "mingle" with thousands of people if thats your thing. A LOT of people like looking at these street rods, antique cars and have no interest in racing. Just a few of my observations. Oh, Boneman, please dont slam me for giving my opinion again, thanks!!!

[Boneman]

I don't slam anyone, even if they miss the point.

We all agree that we like the Rod Run, but the question remains, can we tap into that group of car nuts and some of them to join us? I have a suggestion.

Over the years there has been lots of visiting car clubs at our tracks. They may drive their stuff around during the national anthem or something, then they usually set up out front where the fans can see their cars. Why not leave them out front in the beginning of the show for the fans, then move them into the pits for the races? Its a lot easier for them to take an interest in racing if they see it close up.

Maybe, just maybe, we could win a few converts when they see how much more exciting it is to race, instead of just idling around in some antique.

[tccaz]

Just another quick thought the new GREEN movement should be another stake in the heart of racing of all kinds. The new chevy volt should be electrifying crowds at race tracks everywhere.