52 replies to this topic

[AK1]

Plenty of passing last night, with a cushion. 2 grooves in 1 -2 and 3 grooves in 3 - 4. And recognized a lot of the normal local fans in the main grand stands.
It was a fun night. Glad we went, cant wait untile the next one.

Not just local fans...how about that young man from China that I had the pleasure of interviewing last night? And I thought I had a long way to get to the track every Saturday

[citeach]

Plenty of passing last night, with a cushion. 2 grooves in 1 -2 and 3 grooves in 3 - 4. And recognized a lot of the normal local fans in the main grand stands.
It was a fun night. Glad we went, cant wait untile the next one.

i'm hoping the track is the same for those 2 dates in august... see you then

[SP Motorsports]

I vote skip for promoter after Dean is done lol

[skip]

I vote skip for promoter after Dean is done lol

Im only good at promoting hotdogs.

[skip]

Not just local fans...how about that young man from China that I had the pleasure of interviewing last night? And I thought I had a long way to get to the track every Saturday

By the way Gerry i think you did a very good job last night for a first time in the booth. I heard some good comments from the fans. Nice job.

[skinnykenny]

I can't hear much from the track announcer while I'm in the infield but I did hear alot of impressed people over the GREAT job Gerry did announcing. Now maybe he can relax a little since he has 1 show under his belt. He was very nervous about being asked to announce. He spent the week preparing so that he knew the correct names and cars. If you see Gerry......give him a pat on the back for a job very well done!!!

[rogk01]

I will have to agree with you Skip, I thought Gerry did a great job. Hope it continues to be his calling if he enjoys it.

[Need for Speed]

There are many aspects of the whole deal.....but they all come down to MONEY....and somewhat to time.

1- Promotion.

That is something that has to happen....by the same competent person year after year.
Signs need put up in the local restaurants/bars, (bring your register receipt from xxxx restaurant/bar and get $x dollar discount, and vice versa with the WMP ticket stub) Hustle at the Indian Lake campgrounds for basically the same kind of deal. That lake is a BIG draw to the area.....and they need butts in the seats! because that = Money.

Have a race car show in Lakeview/Russells Point. area...give out 'buy one admission to WMP-get one free' tickets....the more butts in the seats the better....even if every other one was free....next week they might come back, and tell some friends and bring them too!

2- There is NO signage on US RT33 that mentions or directs people to WMP. There is no signage to direct people to the spectator parking lot, pits, etc This needs to be corrected!

3- The restroom/concession building was built for the kart track....fine. However, they are too far away from the grandstands of the big track! Men could care less about using a Port-A-John...... women and children are a different story. Also, people don't want to walk so far because they miss the racing action. The concession trailer behind the grandstands has helped.

4- Pay outs need to increase.
I talked with several sprint car guys last night. The Indiana boys love the track, and want to race here...and would race here...but the payout is too small!

Promotion = butts in the seats = the ability to pay more money to the racers = more racers = more butts in the seats = more money to improve and promote = PROFIT.....all of it has to click for the thing to come full circle.

The track was great shape last night. The racing is great...great finishes to very competitive races....but to get this deal to the next level, there is some work that needs to be done.

[RacinMama]

I thought you did an excellent job!

[skip]

Every one wants to compare WRP to all the other local tracks. Take a look around all the other tracks have been around for a few yrs and have had a fan base. Eldora is about the only track that has had the same person runing it since the begining. WRP has not been around long enought to have a real loyal fan base. But like i said before the crowd is growing. Dean has put out some info on it. There has been some flyers out , I have seen commercials on wlio tv. fremont and attica have been around for a few yrs and have had some different people runing them, but they also have had a following of fans for a few yrs. Dean is the one footing the bill, its his billfold that is feeling the pinch. So he is the one that has to do what he has to do to keep things going. Its easy for us to sit back and dog Dean when the only money we are losing is what we are paying to get in. As far as a show i feel the fans are getting their moneys worth. The only thing i can say is sit back and enjoy the racing and see what unfolds at the end of the yr.

[Truckfan]

I vote skip for promoter after Dean is done lol

As always most have reasonable opinions,Everybody knows Im not a big fan of Dean but, he is trying to get people in the stands.
I wish they would bring back the wave lap!!!! And ive asked for YEARS to have a meet the drivers night or day, Lima has done it
and I enjoyed it very much! Or maybe do a fan apreciation deal with all the trucks stocks mod sprint and mini's on display but , do it earlier
in the day? I want to see WMP make it without question! And if that means supporting Dean then Ill put my pride in my pocket

Edited by Truckfan, 07 June 2009 - 05:32 PM.

[AK1]

Thank you all very much for your kind words on my announcing debut last night. I will try my best to keep improving if and when I get another shot.

Edited by AK1, 08 June 2009 - 01:08 AM.

[AK1]

I wish they would bring back the wave lap!!!! And ive asked for YEARS to have a meet the drivers night or day, Lima has done it and I enjoyed it very much!

This is something I was thinking about last night while up in the booth. I will definitely bring it up before next weeks event.

Edited by AK1, 07 June 2009 - 08:17 PM.

[Truckfan]

Myself and a higher up had a conversation today about things we can do to attract fans, and I've seen some of the same things as well as other ideas we never gave a thought too posted in this thread. We plan to sit down with Dean and try to incorporate some of these ideas as soon as possible. Remember Dean is a businessman, and has a set budget for what he spends on advertising, staffing, etc. If it is in the budget you will see it soon, if not, maybe next season. Keep the ideas coming though, maybe you'll see them before you know it at WRP.


Thank you all very much for your kind words on my announcing debut last night. I will try my best to keep improving if and when I get another shot.

The ideas I stated would cost no money, and it would also give the drivers the option to take part in a bigger situation.Im not
sure if it would help or not but it cost nothing a little time maybe.The track guys are already there and most sprints have 4 wheelers
to push the sprints to the desired locatio.Heck I bet the truck class would even givem a push.Those guys will do anything to get
into the gate early! lol
Ive seen old car shows going on in the WalMart parking lot.Whos to say they wouldnt allow that in this case? Everybody shops at walmart,
dont have much choice these days!I believe if the drivers are asked to attend to help promote a hobby/job/sport they love they will. Sure
not everybody will show up due to obligations or live very far away but, if you got 5~10 from each class then you got attention!I spoke to a couple of drivers
afew weeks ago that without question would show up and help.Im sure the radio station would come out, If not get one from another town!
I just dont want WMP to end up like other tracks where the only thing that races on saturday night is the memories. Or shoulda
woulda coulda.The Shobes deserve better!!
And I think we can all agree on that!

Edited by Truckfan, 07 June 2009 - 06:56 PM.

[skip]

As always most have reasonable opinions,Everybody knows Im not a big fan of Dean but, he is trying to get people in the stands.
I wish they would bring back the wave lap!!!! And ive asked for YEARS to have a meet the drivers night or day, Lima has done it
and I enjoyed it very much! Or maybe do a fan apreciation deal with all the trucks stocks mod sprint and mini's on display but , do it earlier
in the day? I want to see WMP make it without question! And if that means supporting Dean then Ill put my pride in my pocket

Thats why i wanted to work the gate im working, You dont really need a fan apreciation night. This is one of the few places where the drivers in between their heats can go up into the stands to sit with their familys and talk to the fans. Last yr ( i think it was last yr) Critter Malone had some pics and he went up into the stands and was signing them and giving them out. But any thing will help to get fans in the stands. It just takes time to get a good fan base, plus this economy isnt helping. I dont know if its hear say but ive heard fremont has been having trouble getting fans. Its a tuff time out there and i would have to say if you can support your local track do it. No matter what track it is.

[master of all]

maybe some racers or photo guys could donate shirts, pics or driver profile signed and do trivia or even kids contest in front of bleachers. If u involve spectators in the show in between heats and features spectators would have lots of fun then they spread the word to co-workers and family members to come out to wmp and join in the fun and great racing. but u def need a meet the drivers nite. one thing u dont see at wmp is kids asking for autographs. just a couple thoughts.

[AK1]

maybe some racers or photo guys could donate shirts, pics or driver profile signed and do trivia or even kids contest in front of bleachers. If u involve spectators in the show in between heats and features spectators would have lots of fun then they spread the word to co-workers and family members to come out to wmp and join in the fun and great racing. but u def need a meet the drivers nite. one thing u dont see at wmp is kids asking for autographs. just a couple thoughts.

Giveaways during intermissions was another thing discussed today. Look for that to start as early as next week.

As for kids asking for autographs, I have to disagree. I was in the pits after the races talking to Jack Hewitt, and I saw a group of 4 or 5 boys running around asking drivers for autographs......but they made me feel old when they asked me who 'he'(Jack Hewitt) was.LOL.

[skip]

Giveaways during intermissions was another thing discussed today. Look for that to start as early as next week.

As for kids asking for autographs, I have to disagree. I was in the pits after the races talking to Jack Hewitt, and I saw a group of 4 or 5 boys running around asking drivers for autographs......but they made me feel old when they asked me who 'he'(Jack Hewitt) was.LOL.

Isnt that what was going on over by kennys van was the winners of the features giving autographs. By their cars? i think that is a pretty cool idea. the fans who are in the stands can come down and meet the driver and get a autograph.

[master of all]

Giveaways during intermissions was another thing discussed today. Look for that to start as early as next week.

As for kids asking for autographs, I have to disagree. I was in the pits after the races talking to Jack Hewitt, and I saw a group of 4 or 5 boys running around asking drivers for autographs......but they made me feel old when they asked me who 'he'(Jack Hewitt) was.LOL.

Lol not everyone goes to pits after races, but it wouldnt hurt to have a autograph session

[Need for Speed]

This is not a 'bash' on anyone at the track, or on this site, however.......

Things are better than they have been, times are tough for a lot of folks, etc, etc, etc....just excuses.

Instead of making excuses about car counts, fan counts, the track not being around as long, blah, blah, blah....you have to hustle more if you want to make a buck.

The people in the stands where I sit, are pretty much the same folks week after week.

This week after 2 years of trying, I finally talked a guy into coming that has been a sprint car fan since the late 50's, but he hasn't went to ANY races for the last 3 years because of: 1 Too dusty...2 Shows run too late...3 No passing...4 Costs too much to get in. This guy had a blast at WMP, he said "I'll definitely be back, and I'm going to bring some buddies of mine that have quit going because of the same reasons I did. That was a hell of a show for $12!"

I saw him, and his wife, this afternoon. His wife told me "He hasn't stopped talking about how much he enjoyed it, and how good the races were. He was home at 11:00, and I asked him. Did you leave early?"...he told her "Nope, I stayed for every lap, and I saw some great racing in 4 different classes, but they didn't screw around, they kept the show moving".....Then she told me "I'm going with him the next time the non-wing cars are there."

I talked to a friend of mine last week. I took him and his little boy to WMP a year ago. He told me his son has been really on him "Let's go back to that race track dad, I want to see those Modified cars again!!" After the races that night, I took them into the pits, and Ross got to meet the winner of the Mod feature, and see the car 'up close and personal'....he is hooked.

Mr. Keysor, you did a nice job on the Mic last night. Please, several times during the evening, encourage the fans to go into the pits after the races, and meet the drivers, and see the cars. Making it 'personal' is what makes this sport the best one out there.

The word is getting out about WMP...but it is happening apparently- too slow. In times like these, WMP needs to catch the attention of -new- people, not the same ol' race fan....they need to hustle.

Like TruckFan said about a radio station.....
Get a radio station to broadcast from a small race car show at Lowes in Wapak, interview some well spoken drivers, and have a drawing for some free passes to WMP for a certain night.

I talked to Dean last night after the races...I thanked him for watering the track to keep the dust down, and told him that makes the races better for everybody. I also thanked him for making 10 and under free....that saved me $10 last night alone. I also told him about the guy I talked into coming, and that he really liked what he saw, that he would be back, and he was going to bring friends of his.

I'm not bashing....I really enjoy going to WMP, and I let the top brass know that I enjoyed it. I also know a lot of other people would enjoy it too, and without those 'other people', the place is going to fade away.