It takes atmosphere

FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING KARNAC's FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING
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It takes atmosphere to draw fans. Atmosphere, the intangible asset, is always present at successful tracks. It is the spark of anticipation seems to make the week before a race pass by so slowly, its what wakes the drivers up way too early on race day just so they can get started loading up. I know it makes racers and fans like me drive extra miles just so they can be in on the "can’t miss’ event.

I don’t have to point out that an electric atmosphere is missing from most tracks. My home track for example; is only charged up on Crash A Rama nights. Otherwise it is like going to another day at work, or maybe to renew your license at the DMV.

So how do you generate excitement? Man, that is the question. I know it is not done by running a very similar show week after week. That kind of schedule only interests the racers and a few die hard fans.

I don’t have the answer to making every week a “must see” event, but I do have a few suggestions.

Present a series that means something. Remember when the Triple Crown was in its heyday? It was 3 big SLM races within 48 hours, and was the highlight of the year for lots of fans. How about trying a short series of three races or so, that are run on consecutive weeks? This way, the fans can see the beginning and the end of the series, instead of having it spread out through out the year. Maybe if they see the first week and enjoy it, they will be back for weeks #2 and #3. It doesn’t have to be SLM, use any class that is healthy and has the potential for drawing in some out of towners. E mod, for example. Or the entry level junker class.

Naturally, a good announcer is key, but how about having guests up there too? For example, bring in a DJ for a few hours, a TV sports person, a local athlete, anyone who is interesting and is interested in the sport. It would sound pretty good if they could discuss the show from the point of view of a newbie and an experienced pro.

Of course it would help if that guest could somehow publicize the track during the week before they appear.

I’ve always liked “Bounty nights”. Obviously it is no good to have the same car win week in and week out. Bountys have worked in the past to liven things up and add some interest. It would not be much benefit to place a bounty on a driver who is in a track specific class. Make the money attractive enough, and the rules compatible enough, to draw some out of town cars, and get the locals out of the garage.

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If anyone on here remembers going to Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa, you would understand what Rex is talking about… You could feel the “atmosphere” of that place 10 miles away!!

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Holy Radiators, Batman!

Present a series that means something. Remember when the Triple Crown was in its heyday? It was 3 big SLM races within 48 hours, and was the highlight of the year for lots of fans. How about trying a short series of three races or so, that are run on consecutive weeks? This way, the fans can see the beginning and the end of the series, instead of having it spread out through out the year. Maybe if they see the first week and enjoy it, they will be back for weeks #2 and #3. It doesn’t have to be SLM, use any class that is healthy and has the potential for drawing in some out of towners. E mod, for example. Or the entry level junker class.

THIS…is one of the better ideas I’ve seen suggested for short track racing in this day and age. Rex hits the nail on the head by pointing out the shortened attention span of today’s short track racing fan. The Average Joe in the grandstands isn’t going to follow a series all over the state anxiously awaiting the crowning of it’s high point driver whom they had never even heard of (before that time 6 months ago when he ran fourth at their favorite track).

Short tracks need something…ANYTHING…that will interest a new generation of gearheads. A way to tie the old up with some of the new stuff that Detroit AND Japan are putting out there in the mainstream. It’s no longer “computers are gonna take over everything one of these days!”…one of these days has come and gone out the back door, man. Racing…hell, our whole way of life that we enjoyed up til about 20 years ago is but a fading memory. Days of wine and roses, my friends.

A couple of years ago I wrote a post that likened one promoter’s course of action to that of a frustrated man beating a round peg into a square hole and ignoring one friend’s advice to try another style of peg and taking another friend’s suggestion to just whack it harder and damn the consequences.
Which leads me to ask again: Why is it so hard for a promoter/owner to take a suggestion from a fan and work towards a compromise that could, in the long term, be a great benefit to each of them reaching their respective expectations? Even a poorly proposed idea may have some merit to it. It just makes no sense to turn a cold ear to the people you want and need to fill your seats. Racers can bitch and moan about being treated poorly by a promoter/owner/techman/etc…but they at least have SOME access to the officials. A fan has almost no recourse when he or she has a serious critique or suggestion that may or may not be a boon to their local track.

end of part one of “the rant”
more to be ranted about later…
It’s been a long day and my good friend Jack Daniel’s just showed up and he brought my old pal Coke with him.
We’re going into the living room to catch up for a while…

OJ outta the box

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Mr. Westerman…

a big “mmm-Giggity” to the memory of those nights at the Gate listening to Gordon Solie and watching my heroes…