KARNAC MEDIA
(August 20, 2010) Recently I read a story by Wayne Wyatt in Late Model Racer that made more sense than I have seen written in a very long time. Wayne also was writing about his local racetracks and what was and was not working at them.
Recently, a few of our short tracks in Florida, are not doing that well. Averaging 30 cars and maybe 200 fans won’t keep any track open for long.
So what makes a track tick?? What makes the fans come and the drivers?? Is the economy stopping fans?? Is the economy stopping drivers??
Wayne pointed out in his story it was the tracks that run maybe only 4 divisions, instead of 6 or 7, are the ones getting more cars. Fifteen to twenty cars in a division does make for a good race and plenty of entertainment for the fans.
But what really got my attention was when he wrote on one track that did run 4 divisions but every weekend had a special event, never the same, that got the fans coming back for more just to see what the special was going to be. Now that, got my attention.
Of course Wayne never did write down what the specials were but I can only imagine that it could be an enduro race, or a figure 8 race, or a mattress race, or anything wild and crazy to get the fans attention, standing on their feet for more.
Why do Car Warz or Crash-A-Ramas fill the stands??
That one night offers everything different that is not seen during the normal race year. School Bus races, chain races, flag pole races, blindfold races, demo derbys. You name it and they will try it and guess what, it works.
I have often wondered why those fans and every weekend fans aren’t the same because they are not. The average every weekend dedicated race fan does not go to Car Warz or Crash-A-Rama and the Car Warz/Crash-A-Rama fans don’t go to the weekend races. Why is this??
Local short track racing beats NASCAR hands down any day of the week. Those racers are the heart of racing and they do put their hearts into racing. But why are they disappearing and not putting that firesuit on and helmet and running their cars?? Is it the economy?? Is it the purse?? Is it the rules?? Is it tech?? What is happening to our racers??
Some tracks call their racers every week and invite them to come and race. This has proven that it does work and it does make the racer feel wanted and needed at the track. What better way to make the average Joe feel like Mighty Joe Young. Everyone wants to be wanted and needed and that simple phone call says you are.
Other tracks just wait and see what they get. If they get them good, if they don’t, oh well, it is something. Do management and racers sit down together and simple say what it is that will make them come back week after week?? Or is this to much trouble and you really just don’t want to hear the answers.
Local short track racers don’t expect to get rich racing, heck, some don’t even expect to come out even at the end of the night but they do want their hard work to be acknowledged somehow. Whether it is “thank you for coming” at payout or a “thank you for being here” at sign-in, they need to know that they are welcome and needed.
Fans can’t control purses, drivers can’t control purses, but you need both to have purses and to see them get better. No one has money to just throw away and if your track does not have a decent show, the fans won’t come back. And then you start getting bouncing checks to the drivers and they won’t be back. You have got to have both to make it work.
We have watched NASCAR and local short tracks increase general admission to the point where you can’t go to the races. Make general admission reasonable for the Average Joe and his family and just maybe, more people will come. Don’t nickel and dime them too death. Let them in for a reasonable fee and just maybe, they will spend more in concessions.
Is there a magic wand to fix our local short tracks??
No, there is not.
But who wants to see another track replaced by a shopping mall or storage facilities. I know I don’t.
If you are a local short track fan, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TRACK. If you are a racer and want to race but feel you can’t for whatever reason anymore at your home track, try talking to the owner. Some do honestly have ears that hear.