When is enough enough

[3 wide]

I just saw were a racetrack is running a 2 thousand to win late model race with 150 entry fee sounds a little high to me

[4Barrel]

Easy answer. If you don’t like it, don’t go. That sounds brash, but it’ll show what the market will support.

[over4T]

I've always been against ANY entry fees for racers. We bring, equipment and cars, often in the $100K+ range, pay pit fees that are usually double what the spectators pay and then go out and risk our health and/or bankruptcy to entertain folks. If we weren't all stupid we'd just go pot bowling in a beer league. Charging $150 entry fee for a $2K purse is just insulting and part of being the job of promoter is to PROMOTE.

[foxfire2dirtracing]

What track is this?

[4Barrel]

Look at it like this. People who buy a rifle don’t get paid to hunt deer. People who spend money on a boat and a fishing rod don’t get paid by the lake to show up and fish. Got a cool Polaris RZR? You don’t get paid to ride it. Treat the racing hobby the same way. Why expect to get paid to participate in your hobby? Did you get into racing as a hobby or as a business? You’re doing it to entertain yourself first.

[EvelB7]

Look at it like this. People who buy a rifle don’t get paid to hunt deer. People who spend money on a boat and a fishing rod don’t get paid by the lake to show up and fish. Got a cool Polaris RZR? You don’t get paid to ride it. Treat the racing hobby the same way. Why expect to get paid to participate in your hobby? Did you get into racing as a hobby or as a business? You’re doing it to entertain yourself first.

And exactly why racing has turned to the 'back gate economics'....Racing use to be entertainment, no different from the movies (and I do not think the actors pay to be in the films...) but somewhere we added a million classes so we could take some of the grandstand people and bring them to the pits. Not saying your are wrong, in fact, totally correct on how the industry works these days, just tough for some of us to understand (or accept) the change.

[riddle28]

And exactly why racing has turned to the 'back gate economics'....Racing use to be entertainment, no different from the movies (and I do not think the actors pay to be in the films...) but somewhere we added a million classes so we could take some of the grandstand people and bring them to the pits. Not saying your are wrong, in fact, totally correct on how the industry works these days, just tough for some of us to understand (or accept) the change.

we used to have fans that paid to watch at weekly races too and series that didnt sell tv rights to the entertainment you give them essentially for free either. The tv deal is what has kept nascar going and DLM racing gets a little 10-20k bump on some of their races because of it. I dont know hardly anyone connected to racing that doesnt have a flo subscription, and it seems like theyve taken alot more than theyve gave

[EvelB7]

we used to have fans that paid to watch at weekly races too and series that didnt sell tv rights to the entertainment you give them essentially for free either. The tv deal is what has kept nascar going and DLM racing gets a little 10-20k bump on some of their races because of it. I dont know hardly anyone connected to racing that doesnt have a flo subscription, and it seems like theyve taken alot more than theyve gave

In the big picture, probably two key things that have gotten us to this point: (1) racing hasn't kept up with the entertainment value for the spectator, other options have came along and people's interest has changed- of course there are many more options than when I came along in the 70's. (2) promoting is a lost art- promotors switched from trying to gain more fans to trying to gain more competitors (and I am sure the thought was more competitors would bring more fans).

Personally think not enough thought has gone into the product (races over after 11pm, heads up starts that promote single lane tracks, cars that no one can identify with). Boost the entertainment value and learn how to promote it in todays world....