Dirt tracks coping with dwindling interest

Vukie · 8/29/13, 12:47 PM

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/pro...9bb2963f4.html

johnnythunderhead · 8/29/13, 3:14 PM

a few things promoters can do to provide a positive experience for developing new fans: keep the tracks well watered, heavy and fast. a lot of folks who aren't already race fans will not enjoy getting sand blasted and covered with dirt, and will not come back. also keep the show running and have something interesting to occupy down-time while re-working the track before the features. and hopefully provide a strong field of cars and a wide, multi grooved track for good side by side racing. and as far as choosing background music, do not play continuous cheesy old 80's crap rock, play a good mix of stuff ranging from contemporary to old stuff. good concessions also go a long ways, as does a well spoken and an informative announcer, who announces the field of drivers before they're pushed off (rather than one who waits until they're already out on the track and are

drowning him, or her out) hopefully if all of that is accomplished they will not only come back, but they will talk it up and bring others with them! best of luck and let's keep dirt track racing alive and well!

Roy Bleckert · 8/29/13, 4:05 PM

Humpy Wheeler mainly talks about Nastycar , but you can apply what he says to Open Wheel Racing

davidm · 8/29/13, 4:20 PM

Williams Grove has been building a pretty good Saturday program running Super Sportsman, 358 Late Models and Street stocks. They are only charging $5.00 to get in with kids under 12 free. When they started they were maybe getting 3 to 4 hundred fans per night. Now it's getting close to 3k. You get a great mix of older race fans and young families with kids. They start racing at 6:30PM and typically are done before 10:00PM. With 75 to 85 cars in the pits weekly it's a great value, plus the get the kids involved. The announcer interviewing them during down time and they let them come down to victory lane to get pictures taken with each race winner. I’m sure they are building a new fan base that will pay off for years to come.

johnnythunderhead · 8/29/13, 7:04 PM

humpties right, dirt track racing is country and should remain country (nothing fancy needed) and hats off to the grove (ya got a nice facility, why limit its use to once a week, and why not build new drivers and race fans with that 2nd nite of racing, well done!) wish someone around here would build local run whatcha brung midget and modified classes around a second nite of racing/ or maybe bring back the wedge late models (I might start watching late model shows again if they did)

cleatziff · 8/29/13, 11:23 PM

It seems to me if dirt tracks want more people to come to their races they have to get the word out about their product. I know this costs more money. But they have to advertise. Maybe try purchasing some of the local spots during a nascar race.

It amazes me how few people know about. Dirt track racing.... Everytime I mention midget week in have to explain I am talking about racing. If dirt tracks want to create interest they have to get the word out that they are an alternative for people's entertainment dollars.

racerjim2 · 8/30/13, 2:34 PM

Face the real facts. Ticket prices for FAMILIES is way too much at most events. Competitors have let car costs go way too high. Serious rules changes need made and ticket prices have to come down to attract the kind of crowd you need for dirt racing on a weekly basis. And you need a strong weekly racing program to feed the bigger series if they are to continue. Also racing into the wee hours of the morning is NOT what most casual fans want.

johnnythunderhead · 8/30/13, 4:51 PM

ticket prices are cheap compared to any other sport, least around here they are

Scott Daloisio · 8/30/13, 10:33 PM

Things have been looking up for us the last three years at Perris Auto Speedway. And, nowhere is the competition for the entertainment dollar more fierce than here in Southern California. One of the keys is right in Dick Jordan's statement.

racerjim2 · 8/31/13, 1:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnythunderhead

ticket prices are cheap compared to any other sport, least around here they are

Racing is a blue collar sport. It doesn't attract the same crowd (on a regular basis) that pro sports does never did never will. Real dirt racers are rednecks not your yuppie crowd.

8/29/13, 7:04 PM	#5 Re: Dirt tracks coping with dwindling interest
johnnythunderhead Banned Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1,158	humpties right, dirt track racing is country and should remain country (nothing fancy needed) and hats off to the grove (ya got a nice facility, why limit its use to once a week, and why not build new drivers and race fans with that 2nd nite of racing, well done!) wish someone around here would build local run whatcha brung midget and modified classes around a second nite of racing/ or maybe bring back the wedge late models (I might start watching late model shows again if they did) _________________________________________________ Last edited by johnnythunderhead; 8/30/13 at 1:17 PM.

8/30/13, 4:51 PM	#8 Re: Dirt tracks coping with dwindling interest
johnnythunderhead Banned Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 1,158	ticket prices are cheap compared to any other sport, least around here they are

8/30/13, 10:33 PM	#9 Re: Dirt tracks coping with dwindling interest
Scott Daloisio Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1,383	Things have been looking up for us the last three years at Perris Auto Speedway. And, nowhere is the competition for the entertainment dollar more fierce than here in Southern California. One of the keys is right in Dick Jordan's statement.