Just wondering since its been brought to my attention and would like to see how the rest of the community feels about this subject.

Who races and comes out to events for big payouts and who comes out just for exposure?

Another member of this forum made a point that only exposure is important and not the payouts of which I disagree with but I want to see what the general idea thinks.

 

exposure ? where ?

 

Great point, please more incentive.

 

I'm sure there's that large percentage of those that come out to race just for the sake of racing and competition as the #1 priority, payour being the next incentive.

Those that own shops and build shop cars are naturally in it for exposure as well, but the competetiveness is just as important. I think either way you look at it, the payour itself is bottom on the priority list.

 

My priorities are something like this:

1. Having somewhere to race (Support the tracks so we will continue having somewhere to race)
2. Having someone to race (It is nice to be able to race someone and have fun doing it)
3. Exposure (I like seeing my car on the internet, in magazines, etc)
4. Payouts (I am not guaranteed a win so I wont focus on that)

 

Money is great, nobody will argue that.

For me, it's about having a good class to race in and racers to race against. The Outlaw race kicks *** because it brings out the best of the best. It does it with money, but for me, the reality is that I would be there if all the same racers were there, money or not. I just can't justify traveling across the country and there not being good competition or exposure.

Money and exposure both have their place in racing..

 

I think to some of the smaller scale of racing as import racing is the exposure is more important to us. If i bring my car out to an event and run a good time it will be spoken about for weeks to come by everyone. Next thing you know people see you nd say "im gonna bring my car to ur shop and i want u to make it fast like yours". Thats gonna bring the business. The $1000 you win at these events isnt gonna go that far.

 

To me its about exposure. . . Exposure for the friends and companies that bust their hump to help me race. Basically these people work, so that I can go out and have fun.

The money is great, dont get me wrong, but it is dwarfed in comparison by how much we spend on our cars.

I'd rather go out there and go rounds having a blast with all of my friends for a weekend, so that someone can come up to me and ask: hey who built this motor, or hey who helped you set up your suspension, who did your headwork, etc.

That way the people that help me every step of the way on my car can get repayment by getting good exposure, good word of mouth and hopefully some new business.

For me, thats what its all about.

 

All very valid points but, here's something that I would like to bring to the table, how would you the racers feel knowing that you pay close to 50 bucks for a tech card along with lets just says 500 other racers including acouple of thousand spectators and 1st place payouts for heads up classes are lets just say 250 bucks, would that sit right with you knowing how much money the promoters bring in and not really dishing for the competitors?

I feel as if there has to be a balance between all and without one there would not be there other.

 

We all have race cars and we want to race.

If the only venues to race at have low payouts, then it is what it is. When someone steps up and has the same quality event to offer and more money, people are likely to go there.

The idea of 500 racers and a couple thousand specatators with $250 to first place of the biggest class is pretty lame, but is that really happening? How many classes are we talking about? 500 racers is a lot of racers.

BOTI has been going on forever and they don't pay much at all, but when there's nowhere else to race...

 

I would run ADRL even though I know an 8.0 FWD car will get crushed...but look at those stands! That's gotta be a ton of fun!

I agree with Tony, the money is great of course but the level of competition is a huge attraction to almost all of us.

 

From what I was informed thats the case be in south florida. Payouts, tech, and class rules have changed on the spot. Alot of false advertizement going on.

 

The money from competitors and spectators are needed to pay for event expenses, not for racer payouts. Track rental alone can cost anywhere between $6k to $15k depending on the venue. Then you have to account for insurance, staff, clean up, travel, advertising, etc... then, you have to provide payouts. Each event costs a small fortune that can all be lost with a rain out or low turnout. If 1200 people are needed for an event to break even, but only 900 show up, the promotion company loses a lot more than a $250 payout, I assure you.

Events provide a ton of exposure, even without big media outlets. When a local shop wins an event in front of thousands of locals, they can expect to get their business down the road. The events also provide local shops with plenty of business months before the race takes places. Locals spend money getting ready.

 

I'm pretty sure thats the motivation behind Tony traveling 3000 miles to Nj for the fall nationals. Its as if all the parameters are there and balanced meaning the competition is there, the money is there, and the exposure is there do you see what I'm getting at?

 

Totally, I was even just talking to my dad about how I'd love to come down to MIR or the other races even to just show up and hang out with friends. Much like Steve did this year. That's what great about the sport, I'd go just for the turnout in that case as it's not too expensive.

But to get the big hitters to come from far away it's tough to say, 'Oh we have lots of people, and you get 100 bucks to win' lol

So you're on the right page, it's both.

 

The thing is, the money is there because we put it there. It's not because someone is doing us all a favor. The outlaw race is a unique situation and like you said, it has everything. I don't think you can expect that from any other event or series because the money isn't there.

 

Agreed and very understandable but I think I'm not alone when I say that I would be very upset if payouts or rules differ from what I seen advertized considering every single racer out there prepares their cars for a certain class trim and rules.

 

The 'everything' factor is the big one, and the thing about it is that since it's the right track, location and fan base people are willing to put up the money for it. If it was somewhere else it wouldn't do nearly as well.

BOTI had a chance to really knock us off our feet with a series this year, it's obvious people still want to race and have the means. But not hitting those big hitting tracks hurts, I know as a present day fan I wouldn't bother going to something that I knew would be lame turnout wise.

Noone will say things that we all don't know already, it's hard to make this sort of stuff work. But it's great to see Jason Miller, Javier and Roger stepping up to do what they can to help out. I think we can shake this all out, rome wasn't built in a day

 

Bottom line is that, I love to race and I do it because I love the rush, the adrenaline, for the customers and the fans that pay money to come see you!!!

When I build my cars, I do it to go racing & have fun with my friends, employee & customers that do the same thing I'm doing.

If you are looking to make a living out of this events, you are going in the wrong business buddy.

Instead of complaining you should be attending EVERY event that you can out there, just to support or participate in the sport of drag racing, so the sport can grow to the level that it use too. So we can have the big pay outs & the big attendance that we used to have!

Let me ask you this,
how many events have you attended or participated this year???


Fernando @ CFT

 

Im not sure who told you what or who u dont like here in SFL BUT ive been to ALL of the NSCRA events and and raced 2 of them. (Placed 3rd in one) Everyone got paid what they payouts were. Sometimes they got more when they offered the bountys for Repeat winners. Only time is when the class field wasnt filled.

Also from what ur thread is showing is that most people dont race for the $ they reace for more then that. I dont understand why ur making a big deal over nothing ur involved in.

 

Thats a great point in the fact that the support need to come from all ares. We all know that you wont get rich doing this so the ones who do it is all just for the love of the game more than any thing else. When I stopped racing in like 02. I still teaveled as much as possible to races all over. Like one said if I thought the race was not going to have a great racer (not) fan turn out, I did not go. Each time I woud still calculate and the difference of going with my GF and that if taking a car was not that different, But I do think that because of things like the internet most think its a waste of time and money to actually go to the event when they know that in hours there will be result thread up with pics and vids. I think it also depress racers to go out and support knowing that their car is not there.

 

aint none of us actually making a living when we are at the track.
hell even the CM team probably aint making much if anything. we all do it for the luv & thrill. ANY $$ we get is just icing on the cake.
ive been sitting curb side for a year & it sucks ***. but knowing the car is going to be nasty is what keeps me going . cant wait to go to the track & just drive.

our sport doesnt need to pay anything. but it makes us all feel better knowing we can go home with some $$ that can pay for the weekend or buy some tires.
we need the exposure so our sport doesn't continue to look like its dying out.
& i think the NSCRA is doing just that. things will get better. all in good time

 

I've attended every event this year that my schedule allowed. I'm out and about at the events partaking in this because I am a sport compact enthusiast and if the opportunity came about I would be perfect as an analyst. My views are one of many different but everyone around this has one common interest of sport compact drag racing. I'm sure the organizers of NSCRA mean well and want to assist everyone by providing sanctioned events to participate at but when things like such are botched, interesting topics/subjects like this come into play. Realize that your outlook is just one of many different views.

 

everyone here is making great points, its just too bad the op has a different agenda. he likes to stir the pot and will try to use all of you to do it

so i will bite for everyones sake...

what exactly did you here about people not getting paid in FL?

sure hope your not trying to stir the pot just before oct 3/4 in hopes pulling racers from the fl event to etown instead, however it wouldnt suprise me since thats how you roll....

 

I hate to have to disagree with you but there are many fine examples that would prove your statement to be not true. There is money to be made here thats why this is reffered to as an industrial business. Would you reffer to SEMA, Spocom, or PRI as reasons just to show up and hang out with old friends? or as a venue for business?

I think everyone is losing site here, Race shops/Tuner are basically obligated as businessmen to display what they sell infront of thousands of spectators. Now on the other hand you have your average Joe Dirt that just comes out for the love of this and couldn't careless if he made first round eliminations but is only worried about making one clean pass infront of thousands of spectators is that not all the exposure mainly needed?


This was posted by a member of the NSCRA
Sounds like he's bring a knife to a gun fight