Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Here's one possible reason.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/30/su...anted=all&_r=0

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

I think that is part of it. Look around this board at people who do nothing but complain. I think that is part of it too.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

This should torch off some interesting debate LOLLL!!!!!:44

The choices are so much greater for young people. They have alot more entertainment options and obligations . I haven't got to any races due to kids sports and now they are playing all stars. :(

Why do my kids like racing? Both myself and wife like to go. I think that's why I liked it. But we don't see these open wheel guys on tv like I did as a kid. ie Thursday night thunder. Got me fired up to go racing that weekend. Seeing the same guys sometimes.

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Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

This "green house gas" "global warming" "climate change" lie didnt just happen. It is all part of a agenda and the sheeple choose not to listen to how this will CHANGE the country. Most people spend twice as much a month on gas and food then what they did only 5 years ago on a average.

I am not sure how the sport of Auto racing is going to survive after the new health care bill starts rollng next year with the IRS hiring 16,000 (thats a fact jack) new employes to collect the payments. It will effect everyone on this board !!:7:

I happen to turn on the radio station this morning and it was a live remote from the parade in chicago were the guys hold hands and so do the chicks. Its hard to beleive in just a few years that what you were taught as a kid to be wrong is accepted today and your wrong if you voice your opinon.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

I think promoters have some, if not a lot to do with it.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

So much going on here I cant and won't even begin to start. So Fire up the Ice Cream Machine and Pop some :44:

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Because every other freaking race is rained out!

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

"I saw a man
He danced with his wife
In Chicago
Chicago, my home home town"

:37:

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Advertising!!! I talk to so many people in their 20's and they don't even know what a sprint car is.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

I think NASCAR has ruined our type of racing. The whole "all they do is drive in circles" criticism has really permeated public opinion. As has the "redneck" perception and the whole perception of tiers where NASCAR is the "major leagues" and everything else is amateur.

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Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Lots of competition for the few entertainment dollars we have left. Can't blame the promoters much, they can only use the available money we bring to them. It is up to us fans to bring new people into the sport. I never would have gone to my first sprint race had I not been invited by a friend that was already hooked in 1983.

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Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

When i was a kid I thought the future would be like the jetsons but after reading this i think we are heading back to the Flinstones! :10:

Yeah, I still am looking for my flying car that we should have by now, LOL.

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I agree. I would have never went if it wasnt for a friend taking me to a race at Kokomo..a KISS race and after one race I was hooked. The rest is history. Word of mouth is the best way to spread the word so if we don't bring along skeptics, they'll always be skeptics

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Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Start with not charging 10 -12 years old adult prices? Give kids a break, students half price till they get out of school... 13 and under free..Some place to start???

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Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

There's no singular reason for sure. I think you can point to the declining fascination with the automobile as one reason. I think the whole misconception about it just being cars going in circles is more of a function of the fact that driving a passenger car is the only relatable experience the bulk of a society has to compare it to. Most all of us have played football, basketball, baseball etc. at some point in our lives. We understand the difficulty and realize most of us aren't good enough to be professionals. With auto racing people seem to think anybody can do it, when the reality is they're in cars that are engineered to be easy to drive. They're predictable unless something fails or conditions like rain and snow cause loss of traction.

I'd also say that the tremendous increase in entertainment options seems to have also caused a huge decline in the attention span of people. Racing takes time to develop. The NFL really only requires the viewer to pay attention in about 10 second intervals at a time. MMA has short violent rounds.

Finally, I'd say the NASCAR or NAPCAR factor is huge. Its really the only option on mainstream tv consistently. They run far too many tracks ill suited for the cars in my opinion leading to really strung out boring races. Like it or not, they're the face of racing and what people think of first and probably as the only thing.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

When I was a young kid I used to stand by the mailbox every Friday waiting for the National Speed Sport News. I think I learned to read by reading and re-reading the NSSN stories. Then work on my mom and dad explain I just had to be at the next IMCA race, to see if Jerry Blundy could hold off Jim Moughan, some times they would give in and we would go.

No online updates back then...had to wait till Friday.

No Video games then or 500 channels of TV, No One to text, no going to a major university basketball or football camps...as a kid it gave me time to be interested in something.

Seems todays kids could be more in touch than ever with racing if they wanted to be.

Agree! Rarely if ever have I seen a track that is "standing room only" and there are quite a few tracks that charge for kids...even though the kids always want to go watch Robert there are certain tracks that I won't take the kids to or avoid it because they charge so much. Track ends up losing even more money because then I don't have to buy cheeseburgers, sodas, pizza, candy bars, etc for kids that aren't there!

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Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

We will hopefully have at least 1 new fan by sprint week..got a buddy coming down from south bend..he hears me talking about sprint cars and how great of racing they produce and all he knows is nascar..so he wants to see what i enjoy..i have turned a few ppl into open wheel fans..and hope to continue with time :)

Tyler

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

One problem I see is enclosed trailers. You see them going down the highway and don't know that there is a race car of some type inside. Maybe tracks should give a break on pit passes for open trailers. It's free advertisement for promoters .

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

I will credit to my local track Port Royal, PA

Student age is up to 18 and I belive kids under 10 are free.

Sat June 29 Camera & Autograph Night – Twin 15s for late models, 305 sprints, pro stocks, enduro dash, Kids Racecar Rides 7 pm A $15, S $5, P $25

Sat July 6 23rd annual Pa Sprint Speedweek, late models, enduro dash (TT) 7:30 pm A $22, S $5, P $30

Sat July 13 Kids Night - 410 sprints, Late Model Championship, pro stocks 7:30 pm A $15, S $5, P $30

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Yes any kid I know including myself likes to see race cars going down the highway.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

I took my Dad to the Burg for IMW race. I'm in my 60's and he is in his 80's. I said to him look at the people in the stands. At least 2/3 - 3/4 of the spectators had gray/white hair if they had any hair at all. When they are gone, who will fill the stands? Not many kids there.

There are no speedways in urban areas for young people to take a bus or train to it. That's why motocross and monster trucks are doing well. They have races at huge sports stadiums in major metro areas. And youth are hooked on video games, smart phones, and Japanese pocket rockets. There are indeed too many choices for the entertainment dollar and sprint racing doesn't really figure into it much any more.

So how do we change that?

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

I remember when the local TV station would give the race results of the weekend races from local tracks just like base ball and other sports

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

many times they would even have film!!!

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the car culture is ending because there are so many brands available and they are so generic and, incredibly expensive. It's very difficult to distinguish between all of these Korean and Japanese brands. Plus, who can get excited about 4 or, 6 cylinder front wheel drive????? There is just little connection between the street and the race track anymore nor, is there any passionate brand loyalty. Another thing that is disappearing is fathers making race fans out of their children. That's where my generation of race fans came from. We're growing old and the next generation isn't bringing the kids to the track as the generations before did. It's just too hard to tear them away from those video games, I guess.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

I see tons of kids at Race tracks, Putnamville and Bloomington. Burg for Fan Apreciation and such. where under 12 are free. Even hear the it's too expensive to bring the kids so we don't come much argument. I say "But you'll spend 20 on em at a 2hr movie"?

Hunters team put a car on the hill at Bloomington, There were kids climbing in and out all night playing race car driver.

More interaction, More repeat and life long customers. Sometimes I think it would be worth the sacrifice of a addmission price for kids to come back ten times a year because they've begun to know who the racers are. Buy a funnel cake every visit and in a couple years are paying full price themselves.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

I happen to take my son to the races at least 10 times a year. On top of that we race quarter midgets. I hate to break the bad news to all of you but the excitement that once was sprint car racing to us isn't the same to this group. If I gave my son the choice to go watch Monster Trucks, Supercross, or Sprint cars he would choose sprint cars last. These kids want the wow factor and what used to be the wow factor for us doesn't even come close for them. These kids want to see back flips and some big air with speed mixed in. My son can tell you every drivers name in Usac and 90% of the local show guys. So he's even what I would consider a diehard youngster and drives his own racecars. Still it's not what he chooses over the other "extreme" sports. It bothers me that the hair doesn't stand up on his arms like it does for me when I see one of my hero's banging the cushion 6" from the wall. But I'm telling you these kids are watching people do extraordinary things that we didn't have. I'm to young to remember the Evil Kneivel stuff but i'm betting a lot of you would have chose to go see it if he jumped every weekend. Wish I had a way to fix it but I truly believe that's what it is. :7:

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Did they factor in the cost of gas in their study?

My friend Sam, my wife & I used to drive Sam's motorhome to Indiana 4 to 5 times a summer during the 90's and early 2000's. (and we always brought newbies along to witness the greatest racing on the planet) Then the gas cost went up to the point it's not affordable for us to make the trip to Indiana but once, maybe twice a year; and we don't take the motorhome anymore.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Amen, lot of truth to your rant.

Jerry

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Very well said Jeff .

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

i no that when farrar owned lps mike clayton the pr guy always had a pocket of free general admission passes anytime he was out and met people that had never been to the track or just had not been there for a long time he would give them a couple of free passes. hoping to hook some new fans. didnt cost them a thing to do this because they wasnt gonna come but now they might because it was free and hey maybe u can at least sell them a cheese burger. dont no if anybody does this anymore but i think is was a great idea.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Im not going to knock on Promotors Several of Indiana's are dong a pretty good job, Getting the word out and new fans in.

Rudy, Just because he knew me offered my company 45 miles away passes one night, Know they spent time and $$ doing it and I think due to the for cast, I may have been the only one who showed. It was cloudy and sprinkled all day around. Know they do this with Churches, schools, scout groups etc and they know they get a hundred that night maybe two will become regulars and another 6-10 will come back from time to time.

I've taken every date I've ever had to the track and their kids when they've had them. Other than a show going long once. I never got a negative reaction, HOWEVER YOU DO TEND TO LOOSE THE KIDS INTEREST after about 9:30

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Glad I got to read the truth.

Jerry

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

And parents dont want to carry around sleeping kids late into the night. Most end up taking their kids home and never coming back.

Catepillars working on a track for an hour in the middle of a program is also frowned upon by paying customers.

Families also like to bring their own bag full of snacks and drinks in to satisfy their kids after their wallets were just drained by buying admission tickets.

All of these and more make it hard to get new fans to attend.

JMO

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

We have a few local tracks up here in Michigan that I have observed over the years. The only times I see them absolutely packed is when there is what I call a "stupid" show.
When a place has a school bus race or a pull a trailer figure 8 race, then it's packed. Not a sprint car race or a midget race, but a "stupid" race packs the place.
I, with my own philosophy, have come to an opinion of this: I could use the "stupid" factor and a lot of other factors that I have observed add up to this; I think Americans in general are more easily entertained now than they have ever been in the past.
Dumb is breeding dumb and it's compounding daily.
Simple minds are simply entertained. This is strictly my opinion.

I also do believe that auto racing in general is in serious trouble and pretty soon, like someone mentioned, "the clowns will be paying to give a show" It's already happening. A LOT of guys are receiving a very small percentage back on their out of pocket expenses and can no longer afford to field a race car, so they sell out or they park em in the garage and let em collect dust.
Organizations do NOTHING proactively anymore knowing that there is trouble brewing and when they are forced to react, it will be too late.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

When I say this I'm not looking to make anyone mad--but:15: In the pass I have taken newbies to the race track.
For every good time that is had more often this happens.
Dry dusty track-Some drunk stands in front of us the whole night-Some ones yells every dirty word in the world- Some support class A main with 5 cars in it takes 2 hours to run-By the time you can get into the pits to show them the cars everyone has left the track.

One thing I like about drag racing is you can walk around the pits. Look at the cars all night long. If they can do that, Is there a way to do it at short track? Yes I know about pits and safety. I have raced cars. Just making a point.

As far as cost. When I was a kid, you did not have a $150 a month cable bill. A $150 a month cell phone bill. It does add up. Also you did not have to spend $60 in gas to get to the track.
Back in the day you did not have video games like now. Must teens would live on the couch playing them if you let them. Add in text messages-surf the net. You never need to leave the house.
As far as cars. No ones works on them anymore. So no connection to them anymore. Plus now cars Do the braking for you. Traction control- They park them selves. In a few years Google will have the cars drive them selves. Gives you more time to play on the web as you sit behind the wheel.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

The past couple of years I have been doing some research. I can only speak for the crowd at Kokomo, but I would guess most tracks have the same situation. Years ago most of the crowd was local. Now over 70% travel over an hour to attend. I think the amount of travelers is probably close to what it used to be, but the number of locals has dropped off considerably. This has been common for the last 15 years or so. It has become more of a niche market. Cost of competing has changed things. When I was young there were probably 10 or more sprintcars within a 20 mile area of Kokomo. Those guys got their friends an co workers to come out and watch, and those are the people I think we lost. We are lucky because we have a class act like Josh Spencer who takes his car to events, and promotes his sponsors. There are many people working to try to bring more people in. I think live updates and negative comments hurt growth, but I know that is not all the problem.

Re: Why are we having problems getting new fans?
 

Last year I had some passes to Haubstadt and gave my daughters friend a couple Well MSCS got rained out so passes were good for next event which was late models I saw the 4 kids (they;re round 21 but still kids to me) and they thought they were cool I have seen these same kids at the sprint races since then After the races took them to the pits loved seeing their faces while looking at the cars up close and haveing drivers talk to them Think once we get people there a lot will return