Cliff
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The Austin track is kinda iffy now as to will it stay alive. Cost gazillion $ to build it and was designed for Formula One. Too bad they don't add a drag strip.
Charlotte Attendance (1 Viewer)
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Jimbo
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I am sure the N.H.R.A. is well aware of the attendance numbers at each event.
Trying to figure out what to do about it is another story along increasing car counts.
Jim Hill
www.nostalgicracingdecals.com
Trying to figure out what to do about it is another story along increasing car counts.
Jim Hill
www.nostalgicracingdecals.com
Luke Nieuwhof
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I was at the race on Sunday and no it wasn't very full in the stands. As per usual the pits seemed busy. A few things:
- The Panthers were playing at home, we were staying in the city and it was all anyone was talking about.
- While the hurricane didn't strike the area specifically, it affected a lot of areas 4-5 hours from the track. Some people near our place in south Georgia only had power restored on Friday. Many people who would normally travel would have cancelled plans. Some predictions showed the hurricane tracking over that part of the world. If I didn't have flights already booked I probably wouldn't have risked it weather wise, even though it actually turned out to be great weather.
- Perhaps the fans are voting with their feet and while the four wide isn't popular with the hardcore, does it resonate with a more casual spectator?
- The cooler weather of the March race perhaps helps as well. I took my girlfriend to the track on Sunday and by the end of first round of Top Fuel we were baking in the stands. It really can be quite uncomfortable in the heat. Second round we went and sat in the shade of the big screen.
I couldn't help but shake the thought - why don't we race more at night? Spectator comfort is better, spectator experience is better with nitro flames and lit up smoke...
- The Panthers were playing at home, we were staying in the city and it was all anyone was talking about.
- While the hurricane didn't strike the area specifically, it affected a lot of areas 4-5 hours from the track. Some people near our place in south Georgia only had power restored on Friday. Many people who would normally travel would have cancelled plans. Some predictions showed the hurricane tracking over that part of the world. If I didn't have flights already booked I probably wouldn't have risked it weather wise, even though it actually turned out to be great weather.
- Perhaps the fans are voting with their feet and while the four wide isn't popular with the hardcore, does it resonate with a more casual spectator?
- The cooler weather of the March race perhaps helps as well. I took my girlfriend to the track on Sunday and by the end of first round of Top Fuel we were baking in the stands. It really can be quite uncomfortable in the heat. Second round we went and sat in the shade of the big screen.
I couldn't help but shake the thought - why don't we race more at night? Spectator comfort is better, spectator experience is better with nitro flames and lit up smoke...
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Great summary Luke, and yes, I was there on Sunday with my girlfriend. Like you, I believe that the biggest impact on attendance for Sunday was the Panthers game. We stopped to grab some breakfast at Bojangles before heading to the racetrack and it was packed full of Panthers fans getting their big box of chicken for the game/tailgating. I believe that the game started at 1pm, so there was definitely no crossover of fans. Doug Herbert jumped on the PA at the track probably close to the final round and said that he just arrived from the Panthers game himself.
Jimbo
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Growing up in the 60's drag racing was all I ever thought about and I could not wait for the weekends to come to go back to the drag strip.
Today there are just so many choices of what to do on any weekend that it's mind boggling not to mention the all social media thing and simply playing games.
We never had of this stuff so it's not surprising to me to see all forms of racing and other sports such as golf, baseball and football wondering where have all of our fans gone!!!
Jim Hill
www.nostalgicracingdecals.com
Today there are just so many choices of what to do on any weekend that it's mind boggling not to mention the all social media thing and simply playing games.
We never had of this stuff so it's not surprising to me to see all forms of racing and other sports such as golf, baseball and football wondering where have all of our fans gone!!!
Jim Hill
www.nostalgicracingdecals.com
vegasnitro
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There is not really an audience for prototype racing in America, and I would say that outside of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, there is not a big crowd for any of their races. I watched some of the WEC race from Silverstone earlier this year, and let's just say plenty of good seats were available.
IndyCar only draws at the Indy 500 and Long Beach ... Every other race is an attendance struggle. Same for their TV ratings.
And you are correct, IndyCar would KILL to have NHRA's live gate or their TV ratings (with the obvious exception of the 500).
vegasnitro
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I have a few reasons for this:
1. It cuts the track/NHRA out of 1 day of spectator gate (I am assuming the race will be Saturday night). No one shows up on Thursday.
2. Noise ordinances, there too many tracks with too many neighbors.
3. The teams don't want it. I have often complained that there are no night sessions here in Vegas, where there are no noise ordinances. I was told by a LVMS track official that the teams want out early so they can go to dinners and see shows. I know that is Vegas specific, but I assume the teams don't want to be at the track until midnight or 1am at every venue.
Bob
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Chris, wanting to leave the track in time to get a decent dinner is everywhere! It sucks when the best selections available are fast food places with 24-hour drive up windows...
I was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Concord for the Carolina Nationals this past weekend. So was the entire John Force Racing team. The hotel's restaurant was still serving food until 10:00 Sunday night, and their bar was pretty lively for quite a while after that time. I watched most of the Sunday night football game sitting next to Mike Neff and his lady at the bar. John Force was also there for a while, as were Brittany Force and Robert Hight. That was a fun way to end the weekend!
I was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Concord for the Carolina Nationals this past weekend. So was the entire John Force Racing team. The hotel's restaurant was still serving food until 10:00 Sunday night, and their bar was pretty lively for quite a while after that time. I watched most of the Sunday night football game sitting next to Mike Neff and his lady at the bar. John Force was also there for a while, as were Brittany Force and Robert Hight. That was a fun way to end the weekend!
robinjackson
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Yes, indeed. And the WEC series is second only to F1 in world championship terms.
ironpony
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vegasnitro
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The one across I-85 from Concord Mills? If so, when I was a travelling network engineer for Hilton I did the wireless network there as well as their back office systems. Unfortunately, I did it in June or July when nothing was going on at the Speedway.
Bob
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That's the one, Chris. Three to five minutes from the track, depending on how long you have to wait for the left turn traffic light to get onto Bruton Smith Blvd!
Ken, there were also about a dozen "grunts" at the bar Sunday night at any given time while I was there.
Ken, there were also about a dozen "grunts" at the bar Sunday night at any given time while I was there.
How many more years until I can move up to a grunt position...I'm still in the runt position.
