You know what I want? (1 Viewer)

[yoda]

A fan-selected popularity contest at all National Events. Winner gets $5k...

Fans can text a car or driver's name in during the first 3 rounds the car that makes them stand up and go Woot Woot! Voting can be based on Best Burnout, Best Wheels Up Pass, Best Save, Best Paint, Best Back Up Girl, whatever... But sooner or later, one team is going to figure it out and bring the show back to Sunday, and the floodgates will open to try and get that cash...

Charge .25 a text- that will help the ballot box from getting stuffed too badly, and only make the call-in number available on the big screen and from the guys on the mic- that way the votes are coming from those in the stands.

 

[PJ]

I see what you're thinking but....

Burnouts are set to the tune up. Jim Head has said they really aren't needed anymore. Not sure a crew chief would mess with a tune up for 5k

Same goes for wheels up pass. Chassis is set for the tune up to minimize going sky high. I do miss those Pro Stock launches though.

Now best back up girl, now you are on to something. The Mello Yellow back up girl of the race. Heck we need to expand the sport, so have a back up dude for ladies even.

 

[mick]

love it martin, think you're onto something here.

 

[.]

I would rather see a team go an entire year with a "fans car". Where fans spend say 10, 25, or 50 bucks, get to sign the car, clear coat it, and at the end of the year draw a name give it to one person who's name is on the car. If they don't want it, sell it and donate the proceeds to that persons favorite charity.

 

[PJ]

interesting idea Greg. Although would there be enough room to fit enough names? Roughly $3,000,000 to run a season even at $100 per name that would be 30,000 names. Make it $1000 and you start pricing average fan out it. That is an interesting idea though.

 

[.]

interesting idea Greg. Although would there be enough room to fit enough names? Roughly $3,000,000 to run a season even at $100 per name that would be 30,000 names. Make it $1000 and you start pricing average fan out it. That is an interesting idea though.

I don't think you do it to finance a car for an entire year. Heck, don't even approach it as a financing deal, but rather as a fan and charity appreciation deal. Maybe 2 or 4 events. Indy for sure. If 1 body isn't big enough, do it with 2.

What you do is bring the body with you to the races you aren't racing it at, sell a small area *yes, you would have to have a template of the area or someone would make their signature huge*, and then race it at a few races. Sell it on Ebay or maybe even to an alcohol racer and donate the money to a charity maybe.

Only negative I could see is blowing it up and into the stands or getting into a wall or sand trap with it.

Seems to me I remember someone trying this before. I know they have in NASCAR and sold space on WOO wings on sprint cars.

 

[PJ]

Mike Ashley did something where he had a special Indy body and then auctioned it off for charity. I can't remember all the details.

This is a a good idea. Get me a car and I'll let people sign it

 

[Paul]

Damn, I can't text with my phone, might be time for a new one?

 

[StockersRock]

Mike Ashley did something where he had a special Indy body and then auctioned it off for charity. I can't remember all the details.

Didn't he win with it too?

 

[Nick Name]

Damn, I can't text with my phone, might be time for a new one?

I heard you can do that with some of the newer ones.

 

[vegasnitro]

Didn't he win with it too?

Yup, 2007. Was a great weekend. On Saturday Night, Mike Ashley had a Mater Meeting in his pit hospitality area. Everyone got TShirts and my Dad shot the breeze with Mark Oswald for a while and Oswald gave my Dad the blower belt off the car. The car was a special body for the son of Oakley Rolling O Store proprietor at the time, Donnie Faulkner. I don't remember the details, but Donnie's son either died just before or just after birth, and they named him after Eric Medlen. Here is a picture that I took of the car and Donnie at the Winner's Circle that great weekend.

EDIT: after searching the Google way back machine, this comes from the NHRA.com article about Ashley winning Indy in 2007:

"Aside from the win at the U.S. Nationals, Ashley noted how the victory would help bring awareness to the Foundation. After this one-race appearance of the "Purpose beyond Reason"-titled car, it is being sent to Scottsdale Ariz. where it will be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction January 12-20, 2008, with all funds raised going directly to the Eric Blake Faulkner Foundation to support the Perinatal Loss Program at the St. Vincent Health System Hospital in Little Rock, Ark."

http://www.nhra.net/apcm/APCMviewer_sp.asp?a=23893&print=yes

 

[Muddy]

Say what you want about Mike Ashley he was very good about supporting people and charities. He put his money where his mouth was.

 

[robslob]

You mean he put other people's money where his mouth was...

 

[Toejam]

Does anybody think a car other than a JFR car could win?

 

[yoda]

Does anybody think a car other than a JFR car could win?

I don't know; but Diehl's long burnouts and the new face of Mrs. Haddock sure would give John a run for his money- especially if he's just giving the same ol', same ol'....

 

[Jimbo]

Drag racing could really use a few more showman right now to make the show more interesting as long as they don't go to far and turn the sponsors off!!!

Racing in general needs more car-actors and people not afraid of speaking their minds. Jungle Jim was a master showman and really added a great deal to drag racing years ago.

The problem today is everyone is trying to be politically correct in everything they say and do which makes them all run of the mill and very few stand out of the crowd.

If they really want to spice up the show let them simply be themselves. Other then J.F. what other drivers really stand out and have some caractor today in drag racing?

Just my opinion. Jimbo

 

[yoda]

Drag racing could really use a few more showman right now to make the show more interesting as long as they don't go to far and turn the sponsors off!!!

Racing in general needs more car-actors and people not afraid of speaking their minds. Jungle Jim was a master showman and really added a great deal to drag racing years ago.

The problem today is everyone is trying to be politically correct in everything they say and do which makes them all run of the mill and very few stand out of the crowd.

If they really want to spice up the show let them simply be themselves. Other then J.F. what other drivers really stand out and have some caractor today in drag racing?

Just my opinion. Jimbo

Watch the ESPN3 Friday show- more than one driver shows a personality...

 

[MHayes]

Other then J.F. what other drivers really stand out and have some caractor today in drag racing?

The first two that come to my mind are Antron and Fast Jack........I always enjoy listening to what they have to say!

 

[Nick Name]

Jungle Jim was a master showman and really added a great deal to drag racing years ago[/I]
Just my opinion. Jimbo

If Jungle was racing NHRA today he couldn't afford the fines for simply being jungle.

 

[my friends call me Zappy]

The first two that come to my mind are Antron and Fast Jack........I always enjoy listening to what they have to say!

I would also add, Garlits, Steve Johnson, Clay Millican......