I agree that the event did not seem to have the attendance of past years. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I suspect it is multifaceted.
sorry steve, but said like a politician....just like they try to explain our country's economic downturn...
"the contributing factors seem to be multifaceted"....well maybe someone should identify specific factors.
someone in this thread already mentioned downturn in displays in mfg. midway......wonder why?
could it be less fans? less fans wandering in pits?
lets see - mfg. midway companies pay nhra to be there.....nhra's racers lessen entertainment value in pit area.....
less fans visit pits = less fans in mfg. midway = mfg. midway companies choose to spend money elsewhere.
nhra raises prices elsewhere to compensate for lost revenue from mfg. midway.
think about the pits purely from a fan's comfort/health aspect.
80's and 90's you went to pits; the cars cackled beautifully and the fuel volume was such that you did not get,
with rare exception, obnoxious nitro clouds practically asphyxiating the crowd. the teams could use a rag over
noses until engine was off, or they used nothing at all.
today the cackle is gone, the wacks are gone, and fuel volume is so high that rarely a team member can be seen
without a breathing mask....when the casual fans see this then wonders why he/she is subjected to these fumes
while being caught between trailers with multiple cars firing and there's no easy way to escape the fumes!?
is this really a fun experience?...they go sit behind the bleachers with a beverage or food.
"thanks honey, you drug me back there once and once was enough"
did their asphyxiating experience in the pits combined with on-track action convince them that this form of
entertainment is worth pursuing again?....or do they say to themselves, 'been there, done that'
and sum of us lifers say 'why do i still come here year after year?' obviously there
are a few that have quite.
