I know this topic has been beaten on many times. But after reading a comment on another Drag Racing Forum, it made me think about how the scene is evolving each year and where its going to lead.

The person who posted this had mentioned how he had tried to check out an unspecified Import Event and said, "not sure id go again because its mostly a party with a little racing on the side."

I really dont know how to take that. Are the events heading to the right direction with all the car shows, bikini contests, dj contests, etc.? I understand that the promoters have to market the event and try to bring in the crowds.
But are these side shows/attractions good for the cause of getting more people to watch the races? It seems just like a band aid to make it seem like people want to go to the races. Oooh look at the crowds, alot of racing enthusiasts are here to watch the top guys, but when it comes down to it, all they came for are the car shows and WE the racers, are THEIR side show.

I know the promoters mean well in bringing up the scene. But Speaking as a Racer, all I want is a good race event that FOCUSES on just racing. Whether there is a vendor area to interactive racing related attractions for spectators, JUST as long as its still racing.
Is this possible?

Sorry for the rant at 3AM. I couldnt sleep.

 

Will, you make some great points, but speaking as someone who has worked as a race promoter, it's hard to bring the crowds. The sponsors want big crowd numbers, as do racers. The promoters have to pay out the racers, as well as try to eke out a living doing what we do. The company I worked for didn't have a lot of extra stuff, like bikini contests, and that type of stuff, and we always prmoted ourselves as a "race for racers", it's a tough place to make a living man. We constantly had to fight to try to bring people out to our races, as well we were under constant pressure from sponsors, and spectators alike to try to put on more of a show. I can see your points, but it's also not easy on the pomoters side of things either.

Clayton

 

you made some good points guys but alot of the places these events are held are in little towns and are way on the outskirts , to keep people there all day especialy on saturday you need to have extra things going on , i find the saturday evening/night activities a BLAST kinda breaks up the weekend.

Also easier for the racers from out-of-town to go and party with everyone wihtout having to search for a "good" place

 

this reminda me of our local import events (Cmi). i go to race or watch other fast cars race. but when they stop the racing so bikers can do stunts it kinda gets on my nerves. not to mention now they started having pocket bike races. who wants to see lil pocket bikes racing for a 330? i know i dont. i paid to see some real races and fast cars...But in all honesty i do like some side attractions, mainly the wet-t-shirt contest that they have at our events where the ladies just cant seem to keep there shirts on for more then 20 secs.

 

i feel what your saying big wil but its just that the import drag racing industry just
isn't as popular and nothing like the domestic side.
That is the only way they can bring in the crowds in which in turn keeps the events going that we can race at.
it sucks but it's true.
i know first hand because the only way i can get friends to come out and support us is by telling them that there will be a bikini contest/dj/carshow and GIRLS.
perfect example.....we make to the finals at the NHRA season final in pomona and there are none of my friends to be found....nobody to record video or nothing... they were all at the bikini contest.
LOL
hope things get better.

 

Thanks for the replies. YA I guess we just have to deal with it. For now its what will start up the scene.

But ya RYAN. You know Im there watching hehe. As much as I like women, hehe, I'd rather be there supporting you guys than drooling over bikini clad women 400 feet away. LOL

Clayton, congrats buddy.

 

thanks man! LOL

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TEAM562racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i know first hand because the only way i can get friends to come out and support us is by telling them that there will be a bikini contest/dj/carshow and GIRLS.
perfect example.....we make to the finals at the NHRA season final in pomona and there are none of my friends to be found....nobody to record video or nothing... they were all at the bikini contest. </TD></TR></TABLE>

u need better friends locally all my closest friends race, so if anyone does good we all get to see it. when im out of town and doin good usually my best friend is there too watchin me in my glory. moral of the story, u definitely need better friends.

 

The simple fact of the matter is there are breaks when it comes to drag racing. At the NHRA events, the big boys only run once every 2-3 hours (depending on if things are on time or not). There's breaks for track prep, bracket racing, etc. You pretty much have to have SOMETHING for the fans to do during that down time. That's where the car show / manufacturer midway / bikini contests come in.

Now some promotors emphasis these other "side attractions" more than others. With varried success. In some parts of the country, the "party" is more important than the racing. In others, it doesn't matter if there's an orgy going on, the fans will stay in the stands from dawn til dusk.

Some fans will go to the drag races and only watch 20 minutes of racing. Some will go to the track and the only time they aren't in the stands is when they're in the pits catching up with their favorite driver. As long as both walk away with smiling faces, should we really care why they went to the track?

 

Ryan, we got your car on video in the Finals. We never get to see hot chicks at the bikini show. I feel you on that one. But we all seem to have a good time. I just hope all this hype and extra stuff will help with the turnouts at the events, so that we can all continue to race. These people that come to watch whatever help pay for us to race. Hope to see more people out there this season. Lates, Scott

 

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I think that's a key word...spectators are needed...but think about your average Joe who would probably like watching the races, bikini shows, whatever that has NO idea that its occuring in his own town. Out here in DC, one of the largest tracks, MIR, promotes "some" races on various radio stations....the larger domestic races are advertised so anybody who is listening is atleast aware of the race. This gives a huge turnout of spectators and gets t he word out to people who may not be necessarily "in the sport". If they are not "involved" with the sport, i.e. checking websites, reading magazines, or even knowing the schedule, they have no idea the race is in town. I think more focus needs to be put towards advertisement and I think it will go a long way.

As for the bikini contests, I think it only benefits bringing spectators. As you said, lots of people come to the races simply for that, and the racing is a side-show. If those people don't come, you only have less spectators. The same goes for the TV shows......on a 30 minute show, 20 minutes are of a$$ shaking, and 3 minutes are for racing...I disagree with it, but I think that brings more spectators to the tracks, as well as television viewers...

i wouldn't so much call it a band-aid, but you would only have the die-hard spectators in the stands that followed the sport only for racing, thus simply causing less crowds... I think more focus nees to be put towards advertisement and getting the non-sport enthusiasts into the track, no matter why they are there, a$$es or tire smoke...

Just my two cents...

 

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH BRAUNING

 

 

come on will you know as well as i know that this industry is still nowhere near the domestic standards when they advertise they advertise the carsand the personalities behind them. john force for example he is a house hold name. the time will come when the race events will focus on racing and not just **** and *** but for the time being we will just have to deal with it . you know who are the race fans and who are not .

 

Well said mbrauning the sport dose need more advertising radio would play a big part .
and as far as the bikini contest domestic races have it to the sport will grow domestic racing has just been around alot longer so imports will just have to pay its dues and wait for its turn **** I remember going to races in Cali back in 94 to watch the cars do 13's and 14's and there would only be like maybe 50 people there now the events are huge compared to 1994 so the little side show that they have are a pro and a con just think about it