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Great thread, D.O. And some fabulous ideas being tossed about here. The most important idea so far is to attract NEW YOUNG FANS. Reach out to them at the school level, TV, cyberspace. All places where the young generation hangs out. Once they are at the track get them involved and close to the action. For track operators and competitors cost reductions are a must. Someone mentioned 360's. The initial cost of a 360 is not much less than a 410, if anything. Where the savings come in is rebuilds. A 410 needs to be rebuilt every 6 - 10 races or so. A 360 can go a full 20 or 25 race season without a rebuild. The savings are significant. The only question there is whether a 360 series will be accepted as a major entity. I have no problem with that but many do. Smaller tires were mentioned and this subject always is hotly debated. I say decrease the size of the wheel so that nothing over 13" wide will fit on it and let everyone run what they want - Hoosier, Goodyear, whatever. Just measure the wheel. The smaller tires will help the track surface to hold up longer, maybe long enough that we can once again get through a racing program without waiting for the track to be reworked. That will help the new, young fans to get home at a decent hour as well as old farts like me.:O: And one last thing; outlaw ALL cockpit adjustables and limit the number of open reds in a feature to one. (on edit) Another thing is to create rivalries. Years ago there was always the good guy - bad guy thing. In today's atmosphere of big time sponsors everyone is being promoted as Pepsodent Kids. The hell with that! Promote Dave Darland and Jon Stanbrough as the seasoned veterans they are. Darren Clayton as the brash upstart. Billy P. as the tough, take no s**t badass like his father was. You get the idea. That will generate passion and will be valuable in keeping the new young fans once they come to the track.
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