Re: Observations from an old fan
 

Did that show with the track work take any longer than the other shows?
If not, Whats the B&**#

Re: Observations from an old fan
 

Originally Posted by TheGhostOfOpperman:
People 30 and under and people with kids don't want to come watch an hour long tractor show two times a night, they want to get there, see a show and then leave. If you can't prep a track for the night, you can kiss those fans goodbye,

You, sir, shouldn't disgrace Opperman's name with such drivel.

Re: Observations from an old fan
 

Paragon Speedway, sat July 26 Family Night Adults $10 Kids 12 & under FREE also Kids bicycle races. A Kid won't be at the races unless you take them.

That about sums it up Mr. Ford! 👍

Re: Observations from an old fan
 

Tri State ran USAC last .so people could go to the pits after the races and the drivers and cars would still be there The pits were packed and people were walking around with smiles on their faces kids were getting stuff signed and getting to sit in some of the cars. Thanks TSS and Drivers and owners and crews for doing this :6:. Seeing this reminded me of getting to do that when I was a kid years ago Man that Ben Her was a gasser ;)

Re: Observations from an old fan
 

In the "for what its worth" category, and not taking anything away from Keith Ford at Paragon, per Tr-State's website, kids 12 and under are free for all of their events. That seems to be the policy at most of the Indiana tracks, or was when we used to attend regularly. What we didn't see a lot of at Tri-State Speedway Saturday night was families. There were lots of guys, and lots of couples, and there were a few couples with a young (under 7) child in tow, but there weren't hardly any with multiple children and almost no pre-teen (10-12) kids in attendance, at least not on the backstretch. Since we haven't been attending races much for the last 10 years, I don't know if this is what is now normal or was unusual.

And before someone asks, we stopped going to so many races due to life getting in the way. A son in college participating in athletics involved lots of travel that taxed the budget in the early 2000's. Retirement and some health issues taxed the budget in the later 2000's. Moving 300 miles SW of Indy made races harder to get to. Not complaining about any of it. Just life!

Re: Observations from an old fan
 

Clay County Speedway in Flora always has plenty of kids and families attending. They also spend a lot of energy and attention to making it fun for the kids to come. Bike races, bike give aways, Easter egg hunts, kids clubs, selecting kids as trophy presenters, driver autograph sessions. They make an effort and it pays off. Many tracks don't even make an effort, then people complain when there aren't any kids there. Of course some people on here complain when kids ARE there, so who knows.

Another issue now that I don't think has been brought up. Kids aren't going to as many races to watch because many odnthem are already racing themselves. Which also takes mom and dad away too.

Back in the day you couldn't race this young, now you can. Makes a big difference.

Re: Observations from an old fan
 

Originally Posted by TheGhostOfOpperman:
People 30 and under and people with kids don't want to come watch an hour long tractor show two times a night, they want to get there, see a show and then leave. If you can't prep a track for the night, you can kiss those fans goodbye,

Itook my 5yo grandsons too TSS specifically for the Deere show and speedway man.There ape over that stuff.I aways see youngsters having a great time doing everything but watching the race,rolling in the grass at bton,playing with toy racecars in the bleachers etc.

Re: Observations from an old fan
 

When the kids were little they would save the dirt off of the race cars, and take it home and build miniature race tracks on a piece of plywood complete with bill boards, pits flag stands etc to race their Match Box sprints on, They even went so far as to clip the wings on some of them. Best I can remember I think they even had a miniature Chili Bowl with real Chili Bowl Dirt.

Honest Dad himself:6::6: