REASONS FOR FEWER FANS
I read (Ian Tocher’s) article regarding the declining fan base in drag racing. I believe that a number of factors have combined that spell lower fan turnouts at races, both local and national.
- One factor is the cost of attending. This includes high gas prices, high ticket prices, high souvenir prices and high food/beverage prices. A single day at the races for a family of 4 can easily top $250.
- Summer breaks from schools are almost 30% shorter in many areas, with the trend nationwide heading toward "Year-round" schools. This means families have
less time to get a "summer" vacation in, so a higher percentage of them are away from home than used to be...possibly a fairly high percentage.ADVERTISEMENT
- Too many cars that look just totally "weird" to the average Joe. Few street cars have huge hood scoops on them and I have NEVER seen a dragster sitting at the traffic light ahead of me. People can't identify with cars that have hood scoops, blowers thru the hood, huge wings, that sort of thing. I wish Pro Stock would go to fuel injection with NO hood scoops. The cars would then LOOK like stock cars, more or less.
- Too many classes allow delay boxes and other electronic devices designed to slow the cars down. BORING! People come to the races to see SPEED and quick ETs. I have watched the stand empty when the classes allowing those devices come up to the line. No one likes them except the racers. But it seems to be about half of the "show" and people remember how bored they were during that whole time. These cars sound like they've got severe engine problems right after launching and the cars just crawl for a while before they begin to accelerate. No thanks!
- And then there's TV coverage. I don't want to shoot myself in the foot here because I really enjoy being able to see the races I can't attend (or can't afford to attend). But lots of folks just say "I'll watch it on TV". So that's certainly not helping attendance.
It's not just any one thing but if I had to put a finger on one item, I'd call it apathy on the part of the fans. They can no longer identify with the cars, some of the racing is downright boring and it just costs too much for them to bother with.
Steve Graham
BEARISH ON DRAG RACING
I haven’t been to a drag race in years, since going to many such races back in the glory days in the ‘60s, and I would have to agree with you. I used to attend drags at a few bullring out of the way strips in eastern PA and the attendance was always good, races and fans. You knew these guys were racing for the love of racing, because no plastic trophy would pay for the equipment some of them showed up with.
Having attended Island Dragway many times, Maple Grove a few, and Englishtown once, I can say that no track was supported better than Mountain View Drag Strip, in the woods outside Wind Gap, PA. It was so far back in the woods that even with directions you could miss it. I think the starter was a black bear. LOL.
Richard Coleman
IT’S A WONDER
Burk, great editorial! For once I agree with everything you said.
Again, well done.
Jeff Garvin
Daytona, FL
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