Why were the stands half filled at The Winter Nationals? (2 Viewers)

[glofria]

Gino, I go to Pomona only to see my friends who race and do the cacklecar show with the Mandellas', Now this year we are having two cackle cars, and a few other suprises.

See you on the 22nd, we will be at Stith's show at the big church in Whittier with about 400 of our closest friends sending up yellow cloud smoke signals with a dozen or so top fuel cars and AA/FA's .

Come join us if you can.

Larry, most of our friends have long since retired and don't go anymore either. We have more fun going to events like Don Preito's Food and Gas Nationals visiting and bench racing. Those who still go like Ed Sigmon I see every so often, so there's really no reason to go anymore.

Ironically, we (dad and I) may go the Pomona on the 22nd for the truck auction to see if there's something we like. What is this other event you speak of? Perhaps we'll swing by on the way home.

Otherwise, it's the March Meet for us. Looks to be plenty of down time for us, I'll come find you.

 

[Nick Name]

My shop is at a racetrack and in the summer months they hold "street Style" drag racing on certain Saturday nights. Lots of young people show up. It is like old times. $10 to get in and $10 to run your car. And you get to make laps. It is 1000 ft.

They also have drifting events, and something called Time Attack that is all young people.

Drag racing is a participant sport. You have to get them to participate. That is the deal breaker these days.

I took my vette to Famosa on a test and tune just to see what it would turn in quarter mile. Paid $50.00 to run. Sat in line for 4 hours, finally got to make a run. Then back in line for another 4 hour wait.

How can you get anyone interested in doing that.

The outlaw stuff back east packs tracks out. That is clearly the future.

 

[Chuck]

Chuck, how many does that track hold 5-6,000? Big difference!

Joe its the show that Donald put on. It may not hold the same number as a national event you tell me how many times does an event like this pack the pits and the stands. The show has a lot of carnage, wheel stands as well as old style 60's and 70's flavor with a amped up announcer on the mic who knows almost everyone's first name. I am just saying per capita not many shows can pack a truck full on both sides and the pits.

Chuck
PAE

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

Drag racing is a participant sport. You have to get them to participate. That is the deal breaker these days.

I took my vette to Famosa on a test and tune just to see what it would turn in quarter mile. Paid $50.00 to run. Sat in line for 4 hours, finally got to make a run. Then back in line for another 4 hour wait.

How can you get anyone interested in doing that.(/quote)

Post of the week, right on Jay

 

[Larry jr.]

Gino the Whittier car show, google it.

 

[hotrod]

Seems that having two shows at the same track three months apart would have some affect on spectator attendance. Especially with the economy being the way that it is. When Dallas had two shows a year, we would always pick one of the events and skip the other. And, the economy was certainly better back then.

 

[rocketman]

Experiancing a few top fuel warmups myself I have found the pit awnings to be the main problem here. I have experianced a nitro warmup out in the open air and it was no problem, yet the same warmup under an awning and all the fumes get sent straight back down and it collects under the awning.

The awning turns the pit into a big gas chamber during a warmup.

There's a lot of truth to awnings even when we fire up my alcohol car I tear up sometimes and gag. But perception is everything and if everyone on the team is wearing a gas mask and for good reason and you got this haze hanging around what does the casual first time fan think? Or the guy's wife?

Speaking of that some of the Pomona crowd is a little rough, in fact, I got a camera stolen once at the Simpson booth. In the past we get seated behind or walk behind a smoker and my wife just gags and makes a snide comment. So I can relate to the earlier wife post. And here I thought I was the only one.

 

[glofria]

Gino the Whittier car show, google it.

Got it. We'll have to see how the day goes. Might be driving home with a new truck.

 

[Randy]

Randy, if those stands are open Brackett field has to close a runway..

As long as they don't close the restaurant. I stand corrected.

 

[vegasnitro]

I would guess that if the stands were needed, they would be open at the top end. If Brackett only had to run one runway, I am sure they will be OK. They have done it a gazillion times in the past. Not a lot of planes in and out of there anyway ...

 

[mick]

wonder who thinks the banners on the top end bleachers are worth more in advertising (which is hardly
ever in clear vision on TV) than selling the bleachers outright.....why are they even still there?
BIR removed 2 or 3 sections on their top end this last year which IMO was a great move letting more 'campers'
view from finish line area w/o having to pay extra for an actual bleacher seat (actual GA viewing)

 

[Raconteur]

wonder who thinks the banners on the top end bleachers are worth more in advertising (which is hardly
ever in clear vision on TV) than selling the bleachers outright.....why are they even still there?
BIR removed 2 or 3 sections on their top end this last year which IMO was a great move letting more 'campers'
view from finish line area w/o having to pay extra for an actual bleacher seat (actual GA viewing)

Too expensive to move them, NHRA has a number of reasons why the top end grandstands stay where they are. Anyone remember these great grandstands at Pomona?

Neither do I.

 

[mick]

......NHRA has a number of reasons why the top end grandstands stay where they are......

Ha!, like when all the bleachers are full again and they need extra seating!!

 

[Raconteur]

Ha!, like when all the bleachers are full again and they need extra seating!!

By leaving the grandstand there, capacity remains at 44,000.