As I recall, cousin Carl fell for it 3 times

Re: don hawk new silver crown series director
 

Originally Posted by Jonr:
The series. When you look at the health of all of the series, SC is the one that is struggling the most. Within a Niche sport, SC is an even more unique Niche.

I know that many on this board have a large romance with this series, but there is absolutely no growth for this series. It struggles with the dates that it has. There is only one group that sanctions this class. There is zero "outlaw" or "local" racing happening. It does not have a marquee event that is a bucket list event. (Knoxville Nationals, Chili Bowl, etc) It does not have a speed week. There is nothing that it has that generates any interest other than it's long history.

I firmly believe that USAC would be better suited to retire this series and give their dates to the sprint cars and midgets.

:deadhorse:

Almost ALL the races are marquee events!

THAT Sumar Classic
Toledo, OH Rollie Beale Classic
Winchester, IN Rich Vogler Classic
IRP Hoosier Hundred
Springfield, IL Bettenhausen 100
Du Quoin, IL Ted Horn 100
Rossburg, OH 4-Crown Nationals

Not to mention other races at major tracks like Gateway, Port Royal, Bellville, Kansas State Fairgrounds, Brownsburg & Salem!

This series prepares drivers that do move "up" about running longer events and how a car changes through-out.

Does there need to be something to draw more interest? Likely that is the case for every racing series...

Getting guys like RTJ to run (other thread) could help.

Re: don hawk new silver crown series director
 

anything that runs around the top of Belleville is a marquee event,especially if it does not have a wing

Re: don hawk new silver crown series director
 

Don Hawk revolutionized the racing merch business when he was working for Earnhardt, he worked for Speedway Motorsports for over a decade he is pretty much overqualified for the job.

I’m not sure how revolutionizing merch sales in Nascar equals overqualified in a niche open wheel series, but ok. Like I said in my first post, I’m willing to give him a chance. If he improves things I will stand up and applaud

Re: don hawk new silver crown series director
 

Originally Posted by flagboy55:
I’m not sure how revolutionizing merch sales in Nascar equals overqualified in a niche open wheel series, but ok. Like I said in my first post, I’m willing to give him a chance. If he improves things I will stand up and applaud

Drivers went from making less on their merch than they were driving the car to making millions on merch alone. Before think about "giving him a chance" you need to do a little research.

Re: don hawk new silver crown series director
 

Originally Posted by jdull99:
Almost ALL the races are marquee events!

THAT Sumar Classic
Toledo, OH Rollie Beale Classic
Winchester, IN Rich Vogler Classic
IRP Hoosier Hundred
Springfield, IL Bettenhausen 100
Du Quoin, IL Ted Horn 100
Rossburg, OH 4-Crown Nationals

.......

Will any of these events be sellouts? Will any of these events be the top drawing event at that track? Will any of these events have more than half the stands sold out? For the half mile events, would a USAC sprint car or a WOO sprint car race make more money?

Just because it was a big race 30 years ago does not make it a big race today.

:deadhorse:

Re: don hawk new silver crown series director
 

Since Belleville has come back on the tour, its Silver Crown race has been on par with the WoO races there in the 2010s. The Hutchinson, Kansas race last year, featured the largest crowd at that facility in 40 years. Both had crowds which were 70-90% of capacity. I think this shows that the Silver Crown division is still viable and there are venues out there where the big cars can go and be successful.

Re: don hawk new silver crown series director
 

Originally Posted by Jonr:
Will any of these events be sellouts? Will any of these events be the top drawing event at that track? Will any of these events have more than half the stands sold out? For the half mile events, would a USAC sprint car or a WOO sprint car race make more money?

Just because it was a big race 30 years ago does not make it a big race today.

:deadhorse:

Everyone is watching on FLO now...;)

"Make" more $? I suspect the WoO sanction fee is larger, so the equation would be different...ya, they would proly sell more tix; but the promoter might make less $ overall...(&, ya, I do suspect the promoters make little or none off some Silver Crown races...which is too bad; but I still think they are marquee races in the historical perspective. & bless the hearts of guys like Bob Sargent holding as many races as he does!).

Re: don hawk new silver crown series director
 

Originally Posted by Jonr:
Will any of these events be sellouts? Will any of these events be the top drawing event at that track? Will any of these events have more than half the stands sold out? For the half mile events, would a USAC sprint car or a WOO sprint car race make more money?

Just because it was a big race 30 years ago does not make it a big race today.

:deadhorse:

In regards to the Silver Crown races at Belleville, I've attended every one that ever has been run there travelling all the way from north central Illinois specifically for those events. I will vouch for what Bobcat47 says 100%. There was a near capacity crowd at both events since they've made their return to The Highbanks a couple years ago and we certainly got our money's worth. It was great to see, for sure. I would say, given the team participation and fan support it could easily qualify as a "marquee event".


Why some of the other venue's lack in spectator support (specifically the two remaining 1 mile dirt tracks)? I have a totally unscientific theory on that which will remain a subject for another day but it absolutely cannot be for the lack of good racing, especially over the past decade or more. Absolutely no one can say those races have not been very entertaining over that time span.

God bless Bob Sargent!!:27: