I have to disagree with one point. Making the racing better to be able to charge a higher ticket price is not the way to go, not now anyways. We need fans now and we can bring our sport to a broader base by making it affordable for everyone. If a family knew they could get to the races every week for $20, the stands would be more full. Right now most families can't afford to take the entire famliy every week. Too many promoters feel that they need to charge more at the ticket window to make more money. I am in the thinking that by charging less you can get more. The biggest crowd for regular racing at KD this year was half price night for example. By charging a top dollar fewer fans will come, no matter how good the show. That was one of the reasons I didn't go to the ASA show at Cayuga. Do you want 400 fans at $20 or 800 at $10. I'll take 800 as it gives my concessions a bigger slice of the pie. Some of you may think that prices are reasonable, and to us, the true racing fans, they are. But we need to attract the casual fans and I have heard far too many saying they can't afford to go every week. If you don't believe me that this works, Brighton has the lowest ticket price around and the stands have been full every night I have been there this year.
I will agree that we have too many classes and tracks, rules have to be the same from track to track and purses have to be brought up. It's a vicious circle. We need more cars at the track to put on a better show for the fans, and higher purses would help but we can't up the purses until the fan support gets better.
We also need better promoters that don't cave to the racers demands all the time. I used to race a Thunder at Peterborough and I bought my first car for $1500 ( it was not junk either, numerous feature wins before I bought it ), spare parts included. The pits were full and I could race affordably. There were 35 to 40 Thunders every week and the fans packed the place. Not many left until after the last race , the Thunders. Over the years winter drivers meetings saw rule changes to let the cars go faster. Why did we need to go faster ? We were putting on one hell of a show to begin with. The costs have gradually risen such that a top Thunder now is what $8 - $9 grand ? It sure worked at Peterborough, they cancelled the class last year as only one showed up opening night.
Those are just a few things I would change but there are too many to list.
Yes what Slapdown is saying about the race cars is true. I have a Thunder Car I'm getting ready for Barrie (the fastest Thunders around IMHO) it was an ex-Sunset car which I got a good deal on. I will still end up with at least $10 - 12 grand in the car by the time it's done. Pretty pricey for a good fast car in the middle class at a small local track. And some points he is making I guess are true. I think of it from the standpoint of just me or me and my girlfriend, and her little guy (he's preschool so he's free) going to the races. It would be a lot more for a family with a couple (older) kids. But again, it's all about marketing...
22fan- There is a huge similarity between Coverage and Media, but they are separate as well.
Coverage means following up on Race Events, prior to- at the time- and after the fact, and in most cases this would be covered under Television and Radio Broadcasts.
The Media part tends to be directed towards the coverage by Newspaper, Magazine, TV and Radio News reports. Are they one in the same- Yes, but they do go about it separate way's and directions.
So far there have been some great idea's on here. Keep going !!
If you didn't notice I changed the title on this Subject from Facts about Stock Car Racing in Canada, to How to fix Stock Car Racing in Canada.
We will give this a couple of days, and then we should have CRO email this Forum to everyone that has something to do with Racing here in Canada.
i.e.- Sanctioning Bodies- Race Track Owners and Managers- Teams - Media for example.
I think there are some valid points being made here and should be heard by the people that make the calls. It might not fix it but it will help it if the right people read it and listen to it, then act on it .
All agreed !!
My suggestions for tracks:
Race Tracks: Cost at the gate for fans- no higher then $30.00 for Adults- Kids under 16- $10.00, and Children under the age of 10-FREE. Back Gate entry's the same except for Race Teams and that charge should be no more then $10.00 per Race member based on a head count of no more then 10 per team.
No more then 3 classes of Racing per event, and if it is a special for say NASCAR and a 300 Lapper, have the other racing bodies run there show as a big event at the same time, in other words, OSS: Twin 100's, Cup Lites Twin 50's and NASCAR 300 LAPPER.
The Track must run Special events over 2 days to make this a viable form of entertainment for the fans, as well gives the Race Track 2 days to cash in on.
Saturday- the Cup Lites and the OSS, as well NASCAR Practice and Qualifying. Big Show Sunday at Noon.
As well you must keep the race fans and teams happy Saturday night so have a Band, or a Dance, or a Demolition Derby, or a Truck Show, or a Car Show.. I think you get the idea.
For Sponsorship of Race Events allow the Sponsor to sell his products or at least display them at the Track on race day, as well, a free billboard, and front page coverage on the Racing Program.
The Sponsor should pay at least $65,000.00 to own the show, or have the Sponsor approach some of there suppliers to step up and help out.
Example- The main sponsor is Canadian Tire which sponsors the NASCAR event for $45,000., have Quaker State (supplier) sponsor the OSS event for $15,000., and have Rubbermaid (supplier) sponsor the Cup Lite race for another $5,000.00. The event title- The Canadian Tire NASCAR 300, brought to you by Canadian Tire, Quaker State Oil, and Rubermaid Products.
In addition to this, have a Bicycle Race for the kids, or a Go-Cart race for the kids, ( pushed type) on both days. Kids will show... and they get there with Mom and Dad... helps sell tickets.
One last thing that most tracks miss. They do not have to feed everyone themselves. Allow clubs like the Lions Club to come in and sell Sausage on a Bun, or the Optimist Club sell Roast Beef on a Bun, or Good Humor to sell Ice Cream, and at the end of the day the track is reimbursed 10% on the profits made by the clubs, at the same time they have helped out the local community clubs.
Now that makes for a good weekend !!
Just my thoughts......