Where to begin? I had an extremely interesting day on Monday at day one of a 3 day conference of short-track promoters, owners and other race industry types. It is taking place in Daytona Beach, and includes hundreds of track personnel from around the country. The goal is to give speedway operators and promoters a chance to hear what works from their peers, and what doesn?t. They are encouraged to work together, become friends, share ideas and build the racing community, all to benefit their bottom line and the racing industry in general. These worthy goals are pushed from the start by the event?s main organizer Stewart Doty, who is publisher of the Race Promoters Monthly newsletter.
The participants took it to heart too. It was a very friendly event, and they gladly took time to answer questions from complete strangers like myself.
There was much to learn; I wish I could have returned today but real life called and I am back at work. Hopefully I can do a half day tomorrow.
As a huge fan, it was cool to be hanging around with people I?d always heard about. Howie Commander, for example. He is boss at Lebanon Valley Speedway and has been a regional leader in racing for generations. Yesterday, he was sitting next to me. I suspect I was more jazzed about this than he was!
Anyway, after sitting in on a few sessions, I got some mixed messages. On one hand, I found that the type of promotion that we are used to here in Florida is not really that unusual! In fact, some of the things that irk us came right from workshops like these. I learned enough to know I?d never want to be a promoter, and that we need to be very thankful for those willing to take it on!
On the other hand, I listened to Vicki Emig, the former promoter of Mercer Raceway in PA. She took over a closed dirt track, built it into a successful money maker, and eventually sold it to move on to other racing ventures. She was really smart, creative and successful in the short track business. And guess what? (drumroll please) She convinced me that several message board types, including myself, are right. Things can be done differently and successfully where marketing a track is concerned.
In all, a fascinating day! What luck, now I will be an even more qualified arm-chair quarterback!
