For those who have been around the sport of short track racing, for good or bad, we sometimes find ourselves thinking about what it is that we like about a show... what it is we don't like... and ultimately, what we think is needed to move the sport forward. For those who are tired of hearing my opinion, your hopes have been answered as the information below is not from me this time!!!  (I can hear the "yeah's" from here!) Before you comment on the information below, please be sure that you read each of the "Rules of Thumb" provided below in BLUE, and also be sure to read the very last sentence of this post to see who the aurthor was, and to see when it was originally written/provided to The Vault. (Thanks.) Rule of Thumb
(A useful principle having wide application but not intended to be strictly accurate or reliable in every situation ) General Rules of Thumb: a. Majority of the fans are truly clueless to actual attendance figures and the promotional financial nut for a standard program of racing. b. Promoters who live in the past will be the past, in the future! c. A good P.R. person should be paid well and work full time, 365 days of the year! d. Promoters worry more about drawing fans who attend another speedway than they do getting new fans to attend. e. There is a fear that a "speedway regular" may get in for free or at a discounted rate for a show, thus preventing promotional two-for's and other discount enticements from being tried. f. The internet is part of our lives, yet it is ignored, underutilized and not kept "up to the minute" current, even though it is basically free. g. Unless changes in racing offerings are made or altered, spectators supported racing will no longer exist. h. Racing is entertainment. It must provide joy, excitement, danger, heroes and villains. i. The quality and cleanliness of fan conveniences must be impressive and continually maintained during events. j. Race fans can be poor speedway employees. Every job at a speedway is important and requires dedication and focus. k. Multi-tier concessions should be available. One level for kids and Senior Citizens, the 2nd higher quality pushing pricey. l. A signature item in the concession works wonders both in sales and preparation. m. Sun sheltered seating for eating should be provided and regulated to prevent them becoming lounges for "race track touts"! n. Every competitor who races is a star and should be treated as such. o. Beating a crowd in the head with A single volume PA setting won't work. People do like to talk to each other and give their ears a dose of quiet time. p. When the program starts, your track (if dirt) basically has been established. Stop-gap scraping and watering provide temporary improvement at best. q. Only die-hard regulars support sub-standard conditions in the program and /or facility. New people attending don't accept explanations. r. Announcers neglect to educate fans by explaining what they are watching. What is a street stock, crate motor, small block, handicapping, etc. s. Speedways will drag-out intermissions during shows that have moved along well (or too fast) until that point. t. A memory of an early finish outweighs the anger of "drag out all nighters." Particularly if things went wrong after a long intermission. u. The most important ingredient of a successful program is starting on time! v. Empty seats don't buy hot dogs! w. Promoters never sit in their own bleachers and watched a show from the time the gates open until the feature is over, experiencing the perspective of a fan. x. Fans are loyal to "their" speedway and are reluctant to try or change to another regardless if the show quality continually declines. y. Points for championships and point funds are good motivators for drivers and owner to race, regardless of how minimum they pay! z. Traveling "go along" shows are great for any promotion as long as they can support their own cost. The promotion will make money on the increase in admission charged to the regular weekly attendees.
The information presented (above) is based on observations formulated from 55 years of attending various speedways and being directly involved in assorted capacities in speedway operations for 18 of those years. Remember the definition of a rule of thumb given above. I have more but so do you. As always, thanks for Listening. (Provided by Russ Dodge - 2012) The above information was from the notes of the late Russ Dodge. Not all, but many of the "Rules of Thumb" he had made in 1973 during his involvement with Bridgeport Speedway as a promoter/other. Russ put the above information together and provided it to us here in The Vault back in 2012.... The original posting can be found in our "Senior Moments" section that Russ used to host for us: http://www.3widespicturevault.com/SENIOR_MOMENTS_VITALS&PICS/I04.03.12_RUS_DOD_BPT_0073S_1.htm
We miss Russ as he was a huge part of our site, and a huge source of motivation for what it is that I do around here. Just thought it would be interesting to post his thoughts (some over 50 years old now) and to look at how many of them still hold true, and would make for a better show if followed.
|
