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Video discussing red flags for NHRA
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
You don't. That's one big problem with drag racing. What participants and hard-core fans want is different from what casual fans want.
As for Indy being the Super Bowl of drag racing, casual fans don't see it that way. The Super Bowl determines the champion. Indy does not.
,Not sure if you ever raced at that event but I did back in the 80's and 90's and the memories of running at the big go are still talked about in my circle thirty plus years later. Not allowing eligible racers to race at Indy if they desire would be catastrophic to the sportsmen racers who whether or not the NHRA wants to admit it, are the reason the sanctioning body is still in business. It would also make Indy just another event.
I got to the stands, for first round and observed the joint was half empty. I thought perhaps it was due to the early start of 10 AM and it will fill up by second round. Well the crowd never showed up . It was a beautiful weather all weekend and there are zero excuses for not having a decent turn out. With the recent lack of participation and this weekends low attendance, I hope this serves as the ultimate wake up call for NHRA management. It’s time to change their model and their approach, as to how they are presenting this sport to the masses. There is a lot of nitpicking as far as what the problem is, ie bathrooms, executive salaries, John force, retiring, etc. but the fact is they are not keeping up with the rest of the world and their core audience is dying out. I couldn’t tell you what the main problem is, and I don’t know the solution, but what I do know is they’ve gotta try something different, because what they have now is not attracting many new eyes
A couple years ago there were 46 nitro cars. 36 this year.
TAFC only had 13. Pro Mod only 21. Fewer of the loud cars all the way around. CORRECTION 2022 had 42 nitro cars. Rose colored glasses.
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What you described at previous Indy weekends is great for the participants and hardcore fans. But it is not very inviting to casual fans who could fill the stands.
It is clear that if the sport changes to attract more spectators, hard-core fans and participants won't like it. If the sport continues to be beneficial for participants and hardcore fans, it will struggle to attract casual spectators. I am not saying either way is right or wrong. They are different groups with different needs.
All the nitpicking points to the same thing: Attending a drag race is not a good experience for spectators.
As for the bathrooms, I read a biography about baseball team owner Bill Veeck. One of the first things he did when he became a team owner was to upgrade the restrooms at the team's stadium. The reason: women did not like to attend baseball games because the restrooms were so poor. Veeck renovated the restrooms, installed better lighting, and made sure they were always clean. That helped him attract more women as fans.
I started thinking about this, but since they went back to racing on Monday, have the Monday crowds been all that great?
none
Nitro Member
The women's bathrooms are very important, most guys don't really care as long as we don't have to wait in a long line or can find a tree. But Billy Meyer years ago (when he was driving) brought a prospective sponsor to a race somewhere and the sponsor brought his wife. All the track had was Porta-Johns and the wife didn't care for them. The sponsor didn't stay for the event.
When he built to Motorplex years later he remembered that lesson and went to Texas Stadium home of the Dallas Cowboys at the time and counted the ladies bathrooms the Motorplex has more because he knew if the ladies want to leave, the husband/boyfriend is leaving too.
Little things make the biggest difference.
Alan
When he built to Motorplex years later he remembered that lesson and went to Texas Stadium home of the Dallas Cowboys at the time and counted the ladies bathrooms the Motorplex has more because he knew if the ladies want to leave, the husband/boyfriend is leaving too.
Little things make the biggest difference.
Alan
One other thing Indy is doing that I could see being an issue is flipping the pro and sportsmen pit sides. As long as the spectator parking remains on the same side north of the oval.
If that is flipped to the other side, getting out of there will be a pain, as will going to races at the oval which I sometimes do.
If that is flipped to the other side, getting out of there will be a pain, as will going to races at the oval which I sometimes do.
Topfuel386
Nitro Member
When you choose to use a porta potty over the brick and mortar bathroom's. It’s a problem.
on Monday i notice long lines in the 'brick and mortar' bathrooms and while the mens line moved pretty quickly(obviously), the women's line, not so much. Its gotta be a frustrating experience waiting in a slow line to pee and i'm sure some of the ladies were 'running against the clock', sorta speak! and probably thinking, 'never again'. It's not so bad with guys, where if ya gotta go bad enuff, any descrete location can double as a 'urinal' 
and i'm guessing most women would chose death over using a 'Porta Potty'
and i'm guessing most women would chose death over using a 'Porta Potty'
ironpony
Nitro Member
I will still go back to drag racing is not a Spector friendly sport for one, too much down time for most as most are there to see nitro. And two most younger people, people in general do not care about drag racing anymore. Kids do not even get their licenses, 30 years ago they were counting down to the day, 50 years ago they were building their car long before they could even get their permit.
Heck when I went over to wander around Darana yesterday I don't think anyone in the pits setting up was under 50.................
Heck when I went over to wander around Darana yesterday I don't think anyone in the pits setting up was under 50.................
Chili
Nitro Member
I agree with what you say about the age gap. I do think there are things NHRA could do to get their product into the eyes of the younger crowd. NPK did it. I don’t know what they did but their crowd was much younger than NHRA.
The downtime is a big issue too. During eliminations, the crowd empties during pro stock. The 8-15 minutes of track prep runs the non hardcore fans away. We can’t avoid the prep needed after an incident but if they could shorten up the time between classes that would certainly help.
If I was in charge of NHRA, I would have more night racing where possible. In the past few years, we see a decrease in crowds during eliminations. Friday seems to get good crowds especially when there is a night session. I would have two sessions on Friday with one of them being a night session. On Saturday I would either cut it to one session and first round or have two qualifying sessions during the day but run nitro first round on Saturday night. On Sunday there would only be three rounds of nitro and it could conceivably be a four hour show. A spectator could see second round at 11am, semi’s at 1 and finals at 2:45. Bring the family out and it’s completed in 4 hours. I also see no reason that they couldn’t have a warm weather race run qualifying Thursday and Friday with finals Saturday evening. A tight 4 hour nitro show would work for live TV.
While this isn’t a fix for every race since weather, curfew and lighting wouldn’t always make it possible. I just don’t understand why NHRA has the Sunday day eliminations for every race. I know “PRO” wouldn’t necessarily agree with my ideas, they need to do something to get more eyeballs on the sport.
J
Nitro Member
People been complaining about it for years,of course nhra deaf ears
They start eliminations @ 10am (prerace even earlier) , what other sport does that?
When @ the event for multiple days, I want to catch up on my sleep, have a leisurely breakfast, spend time in the pits.
Some of the best races I have been to were rain delayed, first round around 2:00 pm
When @ the event for multiple days, I want to catch up on my sleep, have a leisurely breakfast, spend time in the pits.
Some of the best races I have been to were rain delayed, first round around 2:00 pm
sammi
Nitro Member
The NHRA Board of Directors and top management have to change. You have
six of drag racing's greatest promoters and entreprenuers held at arm's length.
Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta, Kenny Bernstein, Terry Vance and John Force need to be involved in
NHRA's management, either as Board of Directors or upper management. These guys
were problem solvers and happily thought outside the box. They know how to build successful
organizations. Also, poor performance was never tolerated. Sadly, no NHRA "member" is allowed
a say in management decisions or who will lead their organization.
Bill Bader would make a wonderful, feet on the ground, chief executive.
six of drag racing's greatest promoters and entreprenuers held at arm's length.
Don Garlits, Don Prudhomme, Connie Kalitta, Kenny Bernstein, Terry Vance and John Force need to be involved in
NHRA's management, either as Board of Directors or upper management. These guys
were problem solvers and happily thought outside the box. They know how to build successful
organizations. Also, poor performance was never tolerated. Sadly, no NHRA "member" is allowed
a say in management decisions or who will lead their organization.
Bill Bader would make a wonderful, feet on the ground, chief executive.
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