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Canadian Oval / Road Racing => Canadian Tracks => Sunset Speedway => Topic started by: HackitAuto on August 04, 2008, 10:15:17 PM
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does anyone know if they are still having the demo derby at Sunset?
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does anyone know if they are still having the demo derby at Sunset?
Are you bringing your boat.
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does anyone know if they are still having the demo derby at Sunset?
Sorry to say you missed it,the demo has been going on since the season started.
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does anyone know if they are still having the demo derby at Sunset?
Sorry to say you missed it,the demo has been going on since the season started.
I know he was at the one at pbo sun. night.
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does any one acually know if they are running one. It is what i used to do and if any race car drivers wanna join in I welcome the challange. you will be in hackit's world then and i will gladly ring your bell.
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As far as the schedule states there is suppose to be a demolition derby on Sept. 06 but who knows what Wes will do... :S
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As far as Wes and Fred have stated there is going to be one. I have 3 cars going in. I used to do derbies prior to racing also. :)
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All I can say...if this derby is going on...Where?? and I wont miss it!! LOL :D
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You have to be careful running demo derbies and other side shows at your race track. You are sending the message that the racing is not enough to get you there and keep the fan's attention, you need another show to make it actually interesting.
I would argue that Peterborough has gone down this road, with gimmick races. It hasn't increased their fan count, but I think it may have turned off some of the core race fans.
I'm not against derbies, I too used to run them myself.
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You have to be careful running demo derbies and other side shows at your race track. You are sending the message that the racing is not enough to get you there and keep the fan's attention, you need another show to make it actually interesting.
I disagree. Variety is the spice of life.
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Yea I would consider my self a "hardcore" but I see nothing wrong with ending the night off with a fun event like a demo derby.
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You have to be careful running demo derbies and other side shows at your race track. You are sending the message that the racing is not enough to get you there and keep the fan's attention, you need another show to make it actually interesting.
They have been running Demo Derbies at stock car races across North America for over 60 years . Some of the most successful tracks ever have run Demo Derbies over the years , even Lowe's aka Charlotte . Side shows as you call them such as Ken Carter , The Hell Drivers and demo derbies etc etc are a big fan draw and very popular with the majority of people .
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Darn I keep missing the the demo derby at the Cup races I guess.... ;)
If at the end of the night the fans want more, before next week, you didn't put on a very good show..
Plus any 1/2 decent derby is going to take longer than 1/2 an hour, so you can't run it after the show, or you will be going all night. unless of course you cut your racing for it.... Hmmmmmm....
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Not if you watch the ARCA race earlier in the weekend... ;D Seriously though, the side shows are there (stuff like the US Army Challenge, or the Dewalt interactive display, or the pre-race concerts) but not on the track (excluding the annual 'Invasion of Grenada' at Lowes). 'Gimmicky' or non-racing stuff shouldn't be the bread and butter, but there's no reason it can't be used to bring people in and turn them into weekly racing fans.
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I love the gimmicky stuff. I think there needs to be more. Anybody remember seeing Bo from The Dukes of Hazard perform at Barrie Speedway years ago?
I used to go to Pinecrest and Sunset with my Dad when I was a kid. The one thing I remember very vividly from Pinecrest is the Hell Drivers.. man they were awesome. To see cars go over jumps or the t-bones was just as cool to a kid then as I am sure they are today.
Even as an adult I sat fixed to the tv watching the camper/trailer races. These guys have a truck and pull around a trailer (some big silverstreams while others boats) and nothing stops the race. These guys will spin in a corner and the other guy will driver through side of trailer and keep racing with fridges and stoves around the track to avoid... super cool.
Of course this is just my opinion but I think going to the races should be like going to the circus and be a different treat every week.
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Flamboro use to have a guy jump cars on his motorbike...always had a better crowd when he was there.
The first time i went to watch at Flamboro was because they had a demo...that was 1978...and i've missed only about 5 weekends since then.
(add sarcastic remark here)...lol.
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Speaking of the Hell Drivers:
http://www.varneymotorspeedway.com/
Sunday august 17th at Varney.
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And Kawartha runs a great show without gimicks...
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And Kawartha runs a great show without gimicks...
Ross, nobody is saying you NEED them...but they also don't hurt. If you ask me.
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And so does Delaware with them.
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...no gimmicks at Kawartha...naw, just slots ;D
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No race fan allowed in the slots ;) LOL
Guess I ejoyed the Jet thing at Brighton LOL
Naw want to do the derby, atleast run it in the afternoon, with the race at night. Do both correctly...
Get a driver to try and win the derby and a feature in the same night LOL
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Stunt drivers at Varney.. now that looks cool. If I was just an average Joe thinking about what to do with the kids I would want to go see that.
I was standing with Glenn at Sunset one night when it was drizzling and he was waiting to call it for the night. He had a steady stream of phone calls of people asking if the school bus races were still on for the night.
I always thought race tracks weren't all about racing. They also included special events like demo derbys, stunt drivers, school bus races, train races, trailer races, visiting series, kids bike races and on and on. You have to remember that not everybody is a hard core fan of that track coming out week after week to root on their favourite driver. Some people come out to see some of these gimmicks and bring the kids. I know of people that hardly make it to the races but show up for fireworks, demo derby and kids bike races. Some people with kids need the diversion to keep their kids from losing interest.
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But still my question is.."Where are they going to hold the demo derby?" We have cars pitting in the infeild...hmmm..?? Does anyone know?
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They used to be on the front stretch and the last event of the evening. Im sure its great for the track.
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They used to be on the front stretch and the last event of the evening. Im sure its great for the track.
OH WOW!! :S
Thats kind of crazy... I hope if thats the plan, I hope they have that clean up crew work serious overtime..lol!! I know its the end of the night and all...but that can't be good for the racing the following weekend... :-\
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I always thought race tracks weren't all about racing.
Do you run late models on the ball diamond durning the 7th inning strech? 4-funs on the soccer pitch? Thunders on the ice during second intermission? Kids bike races at the opera?
Also, for the suggestion that the run the deby on the track, you'd end up killing people. The cars would get far to much traction. Unless you dump a load of dirt on the track... Or maybe sunset is going to convert to a dirt track LOL
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Yea they had better work fast considering they shut the track lights off a half-hour after the last event.
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I always thought race tracks weren't all about racing.
Also, for the suggestion that the run the deby on the track, you'd end up killing people. The cars would get far to much traction. Unless you dump a load of dirt on the track... Or maybe sunset is going to convert to a dirt track LOL
we'd better inform the families of all the drivers who survived the last 20 derbys at sunset then
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Do you run late models on the ball diamond durning the 7th inning strech? 4-funs on the soccer pitch? Thunders on the ice during second intermission? Kids bike races at the opera?
What do you think the 7th-inning stretch is in the first place? There's plenty of gimmicky/non-sport stuff going on at other sporting events as well, although in different amounts and types depending on their business models and target audiences. If it's helping to put butts in seats (and indirectly helping to pay purses) then what's the big deal?
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Every sport has a gimic... what do you think a pre show-half tme shows are?? Even Nascar with there pre show!! They bring in people to sing...
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we'd better inform the families of all the drivers who survived the last 20 derbys at sunset then
They were run on paved? Hey if its been done, what can I say.
Having run in over 10, and seen countless derbys, I've NEVER seen one on paved. I can get enough traction on mud, to make a hit hard enough to almost tip a car. I don't want to know how hard a hit could be deleivered hooked up on a paved surface.
Also with paved, you cannot slide the car around two make sharp turns and hits. Who wants to make a 3-point turn in the middle of the derby? Even if you spun it around, its going to be a smoke show...
Do they wet or grease the track or something? Bad idea written all over this one.
Look if you guys want this stuff so bad i suggest that you go to Peterborough. Enter you kid in some stupid race. Watch a "Pastor" drive a 4-fun car at snails pace. Heck suggest something to them, they might do it. Flag football anyone? Personal I'll be at a RACE track, RACING or watching a RACE.
They can do whatever they like "pre" race. I culdn't care less. I show up for the racing. Show up early enough, and you can watch them setup the stands at Kawartha!! Try running that crap "post" race, and see who stick around...
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we'd better inform the families of all the drivers who survived the last 20 derbys at sunset then
They were run on paved? Hey if its been done, what can I say.
Having run in over 10, and seen countless derbys, I've NEVER seen one on paved. I can get enough traction on mud, to make a hit hard enough to almost tip a car. I don't want to know how hard a hit could be deleivered hooked up on a paved surface.
Also with paved, you cannot slide the car around two make sharp turns and hits. Who wants to make a 3-point turn in the middle of the derby? Even if you spun it around, its going to be a smoke show...
Do they wet or grease the track or something? Bad idea written all over this one.
Look if you guys want this stuff so bad i suggest that you go to Peterborough. Enter you kid in some stupid race. Watch a "Pastor" drive a 4-fun car at snails pace. Heck suggest something to them, they might do it. Flag football anyone? Personal I'll be at a RACE track, RACING or watching a RACE.
They can do whatever they like "pre" race. I culdn't care less. I show up for the racing. Show up early enough, and you can watch them setup the stands at Kawartha!! Try running that crap "post" race, and see who stick around...
as far as i know theyve never wet or greased the track
although it seems every time a derby is ran every single car blows at least 1 tire within 35 seconds of the derby starting, making sliding a little easier...
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Spencer, I believe they used to wet the front stretch with that big old water truck (not sure if it still sits at the track or not), could be wrong, I was just a little puke at the time!
Rossevans, as for people sticking around for these 'gimmicks' that seem to irritate you so much; I will certainly hang around, and I know as a kid watching at Barrie, the 'gimmicks' were the highlight of our night.
Didn't Barrie have derby's too? I seem to remember motorcycle jumps over vehicles too. My parents told us it was Eivel Kneivel, but they could have been lying!! (they lied about our old dog running away too!) lol
Can anyone confirm, or correct my memory?
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you know...now that you mention it, i seem to remember them using that big greyish blue water truck for something....
maybe it was demo derbies, but that was a long time ago
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Ok, seems you guys need ideas for RACECARS...
1) Barrie Vs Sunset night(s)
Sunset runs a Sunday instead of Saterday. Lots of notice is given, and it promoted at both tracks. On the Sunday, Barrie cars come to sunset. Each class is lined up in reverse order to their points standing. Alternating sunset and barrie cars.
All points are recorded and totaled all night for both tracks. Fans are given a running score of which track is leading in the points.
Week after its the rematch. Sunset runs sat as ussual, Sunday only for Barrie, with the sunset cars coming to Barrie.
2) LLM vs thunders (or thunders vs mini ect ect)
Do the math and find out how many laps based on time it would take a LLM to run down a thunder. Give the thunders whatever head start is required, so the LLMs should catch them with 2 laps to go..... Works for all the classes. Mix them up do one a night, and you have an extra race for almost the whole year.
3) King of the Hill for 1 million dollars (you can find an insurace company that will sell you coverage for the prize) with a catch.....
The driver has to be the fastest king of the hill driver. But to win the million, they must go up agaist and beat a LLM (or whatever class car would be close in speed yet unbeatable)
4) Swap a car race....
Find a mid pack Thunder or mini driver, who would be willing to let Walters drive it for a race.....
5) Invitational Driver night
Get a NCTS driver to come to the track, and find an LLM team that will let him run their car....
6) elmination race
Standing start, reverse order to points. 2 car lengths between cars. Last car to cross the line each lap is elminated...
7) Pit stop race
Add a pit stop to any race, where one tire has to be changed.
8) Twin 25's, 15's whatever...
reverse the order after the 1st race.
You really don't need the dog and pony to sell a race, you have your cars...
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Ross all of these are really cool ideas...perhaps they can be used at other tracks too not just Barrie and Sunset?
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Ross all of these are really cool ideas...perhaps they can be used at other tracks too not just Barrie and Sunset?
Tottally.. I'm not even from those tracks. I was just using it as an example, because the tracks are close, and the setup for the cars are close..
Us Kawartha guy could come down to sunset and clear your guys clock... Some good friendly rivalry.. ;)
You hear the fans here asking all the time "What cars are going to show up for the Wednesday night at X or the invitation at Y". They want to see their drivers up agaist another tracks drivers. Why not promote that? Have the Kawartha fans show up for the Friday show, then also come out on Saterday to see how Ryens compairs to the Sunset guys... Thats one race fan filling 2 seats on one weekend....
Goes back to even the idea of the Sunday no points inviational. But takes it a step further. Track pride is on the line. So you have a bit of a reason to risk your car, without points racing...
CCS and Kawartha have been doing that a bit with the lates. I think it could be promoted a bit more and made a FRIENDLY us vs them competion...
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Those ideas are good and fine, but go down to Lake Erie (the textbook example of how a track should be run in this area) and ask what drew better, their Late Model 150 or their 'Night of Fire'? Given the right circumstances, there's tracks that manage to do both sucessfully (look up Langley Speedway and their "Wednesday Night Wackyness") Your ideas *might* appease the die-hards and bring more of them out (from my experiences the so-called die-hards find ways of not going to things under claims of racing seriousness) but in a sport where new blood needs to be found (in the seats and in the pits) things like this work to do so. It shouldn't replace the actual racing, but if it's getting people out to see the regular classes and making them into weekly attendees, isn't it a success?
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even the winner of the 2007 Short Track In North America Award Thompson Speedway devotes an entire night every year to monster trucks, stunt drivers and demo derbies. And they PACK the place....
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You guys are admiting that racing doesn sell. You need a demo derby, or some side show to "pack" the place.
Sorry I just don't buy it... Sell RACING and you will pack the place.
Those that show up for the side show are there for a curiosity. They will not be back the next week to watch racing. They move on to another event. The Zoo, the drivein ect.. They are simply looking for variaty in what they do. You can't base your track on that.
What you need is the die hards. The people that go to a leafs game to watch the hockey. These are the folks that would like to be there every week. They are the ones that buy the seaons tickets. Look at nascar. Its the guys that live and breath it that keep it going. The guy that has Dale Earnhard underware and toothbrushes. Promote your product, not a gimick. ITs like selling the cerial box for the toy inside. You make a few quick sales but its dosn't last.
The track that have the most fan are the tracks that have the srongest classes of racing. Simple as that. Want to fill a place.. Caugua, the old Canada Day challenge. CASCAR with a few NASCAR drivers. IT packed that place. RACING PACKED CAUGA!! Not some side show at a track with 1/20th the seats....
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with your reasoning, mosport should be turning people away
but then have more trouble packing the place than the tracks that have "side shows"
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The track that have the most fan are the tracks that have the srongest classes of racing. Simple as that. Want to fill a place.. Caugua, the old Canada Day challenge. CASCAR with a few NASCAR drivers. IT packed that place. RACING PACKED CAUGA!! Not some side show at a track with 1/20th the seats....
And that wasn't a side show relative to the rest of the CASCAR season? Nobody's saying at all that the racing doesn't sell, just that there's more than racing alone to get people in the doors.
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Spencer, I believe they used to wet the front stretch with that big old water truck (not sure if it still sits at the track or not), could be wrong, I was just a little puke at the time!
Rossevans, as for people sticking around for these 'gimmicks' that seem to irritate you so much; I will certainly hang around, and I know as a kid watching at Barrie, the 'gimmicks' were the highlight of our night.
Didn't Barrie have derby's too? I seem to remember motorcycle jumps over vehicles too. My parents told us it was Eivel Kneivel, but they could have been lying!! (they lied about our old dog running away too!) lol
Can anyone confirm, or correct my memory?
In 1976 Larry "Hurricane" McLean did a motorcycle jump at Barrie. He crashed and slid along the track and into the wall but he was unhurt other than being slighty shaken. I was in the tower that night when they brought him back up and he was saying he'd be okay in a bit and I thought he was nutz.
The Mad Canadian Ken Carter used to do some jumps in cars at many Speedways before his untimely death in a stunt at Peterborough.
There was a guy in a wheelchair Jim somebody (Wagner?) I think who did ramp stuff as well, T-Bone crashes and things like that.
I also remember a jet car at Barrie, they basically just fired it up with it chained on the back of the ramp truck and aimed the flames from the exhaust at some old cars stacked up.
Demo derbies were a staple throughout the 70s. Driver and 4 time Barrie Champion (in the Diamonds and 4 cyls) Garf Peacock was particularly good at them.
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dad ran a demo derby at Barrie in 78' the year before his rookie year. He won...we have some pics of that car and dad beside it. he looks so young. He was only 18.
I particularly like the demo derbies and of course the ever so popular hell drivers. They would drive around the track on two wheels. was great to watch.
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with your reasoning, mosport should be turning people away
but then have more trouble packing the place than the tracks that have "side shows"
No using my logic Kawartha should be full. They are pulling in the largest number of fans around these parts.
Sideshow Peterborough should be dead, and it is...
Mosport has 4 regular ThunderCars, unfortunatly that says it all. Thats not the kinda racing I'm talking about to pack a place. Fortunatly they have not resorted to sideshows. Too much history and class about that track..
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[And that wasn't a side show relative to the rest of the CASCAR season? Nobody's saying at all that the racing doesn't sell, just that there's more than racing alone to get people in the doors.
How about the track is a great place to score crack? Will get every druggie in the door... Tracks don't have to be desparte to get fans, and sideshow are..
If Kenseth vs. Thomson, in a great battle for the lead for the win is a side show, I have no idea what racing is.
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dad ran a demo derby at Barrie in 78' the year before his rookie year. He won...we have some pics of that car and dad beside it. he looks so young. He was only 18.
I particularly like the demo derbies and of course the ever so popular hell drivers. They would drive around the track on two wheels. was great to watch.
Ok who knew I'm older than your dad? 1978 would be the year after my rookie year :):):)
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[And that wasn't a side show relative to the rest of the CASCAR season? Nobody's saying at all that the racing doesn't sell, just that there's more than racing alone to get people in the doors.
How about the track is a great place to score crack? Will get every druggie in the door... Tracks don't have to be desparte to get fans, and sideshow are..
If Kenseth vs. Thomson, in a great battle for the lead for the win is a side show, I have no idea what racing is.
Give me a break. Sideshows aren't a desperate last-ditch ploy to get fans but (if done right) are just a part of a promoter's bag of tricks to draw people out and part of the motorsports tradition (as opposed to just racing). There's no doubt the regular classes should be the focus of the track and to where virtually all of the track's efforts should go towards, but if you can get people in the door by doing stuff like that (and get more people watching you) then why not? The fact of the matter is that things like that, while they might piss you and the other racing-centric purists off, are working to draw casual fans in across pavement and dirt tracks alike and turn some of them into regular fans when they're done correctly.
As far as the Canada Day Shootout, how many people would've shown up if it was just the CASCAR regulars only? Maybe we've got differing ideas of what sideshows are, but to some people tossing Cup drivers out there might constitute a desperate attempt to get fans in the seats...
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Statsman, thanks for the info! Glad to hear I wasn't dreaming it all up!
but to some people tossing Cup drivers out there might constitute a desperate attempt to get fans in the seats...
Could definitely be viewed that way Mobil1...
rossevans, to reach the masses, you have to offer some variety. Your ideas are all very interesting and seem well thought out. I fear that there are not enough 'die hard' fans to propel this sport into the future. These extras add to the overall show, but should not become the show IMO.
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Give me a break. Sideshows aren't a desperate last-ditch ploy to get fans but (if done right) are just a part of a promoter's bag of tricks to draw people out and part of the motorsports tradition (as opposed to just racing). There's no doubt the regular classes should be the focus of the track and to where virtually all of the track's efforts should go towards, but if you can get people in the door by doing stuff like that (and get more people watching you) then why not? The fact of the matter is that things like that, while they might piss you and the other racing-centric purists off, are working to draw casual fans in across pavement and dirt tracks alike and turn some of them into regular fans when they're done correctly.
Well said. The buses were a great example - the drivers may not like it but the fans loved it. It is time for promoters to start thinking like the fans of today, then maybe they'll fill the stands more often.
And by the way one of the BEST special events I remember as a kid was the Hell Drivers. I wouldn't dare call those guys a "side show" to their faces. :)
Mark
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Not enough race fans out there. Fine then make some.
A darn hockey game dosen't need a sideshow and its packed. Why do all of you view our sport as being so lame that it cannot stand on its own???
If I was a potential fan listening to this, I would avoid a track. I can see a demo derby at the local fair, and most likely they have a beer tent. Racing alone can't entertain me, so why have it get in the way of my demo derby?
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Not enough race fans out there. Fine then make some.
A darn hockey game dosen't need a sideshow and its packed. Why do all of you view our sport as being so lame that it cannot stand on its own???
If I was a potential fan listening to this, I would avoid a track. I can see a demo derby at the local fair, and most likely they have a beer tent. Racing alone can't entertain me, so why have it get in the way of my demo derby?
+10
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Everyone here can stand racing on its own...if we didn't then why watch it in the first place. The demo derby is a one night event...which people are looking forward to. We still come out every other night...if I didn't like racing why would I spend the 20$ a week to get in the pits...???
I mean why don't you just let it be...we obviously want to see the derby and nothing you say here is going to change that!
And P.S hate to brake it to you but even hockey games have side shows...if you've ever seen one...its between each peirod when they do things to entertain the fans!!
racing is racing...and always will be no matter what track you go to...no matter what time of year (past, present or future) your going to have the fans there for the racing...and some there for the side show either way the track is making the money, and having fans in the seats! Thats just the way it is!! So get over it already!!
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The demo derby is a one night event...which people are looking forward to.
What the point is, is its a slippery slope to mix these sideshows with racing.
The demo derby will bring out more fans, but to say these fans will come back, would not be true. You will get increased attendance for one night. You risk the promoter looking at that and saying hey, lets do it again, to increase the numbers in the stands.
Problem now is, all the true racing fans are getting sick of watching this crap. The novelty has worn out. So they pick another track, with RACING to go to. These are the guys that SUPPORT the track night after night, not just showing up for one sideshow a year. Numbers start going down, so the promoter goes back to his bag of tricks and makes even more side shows. More RACING fans leave, the place is 1/2 full of people that want to see a side show. Thats the end for that track, we lose another track. All the racers lose, and the sideshow fans move on to the next quick thrill.
Hockey games do not hold a tractor pull a demo derby or a dancing bear that jumps a motorcycle over fire during intermission! They concentrate on ther product, HOCKEY.. Hint hint nudge nudge
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I love hockey.
Except for the agonizing moments when no fight is happening.
;)
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You're ignoring the fact that things like that do work to make racing fans out of people who come out to see it, and gets people involved who might not necessarily have had the opportunity to get out there (ie. Chaos Cars). If things like that don't work, do you think successful tracks like Thompson, Lake Erie, Irwindale and Toledo would be doing it year after year? I know from my experiences, I haven't heard of one person not going to Delaware at all because of the Chaos Cars, or even anyone saying they're skipping the night because they're on the card. Even looking here, true 'racing fans' appear to enjoy motorsports-oriented side-shows, and they haven't turned out badly. Your argument is based on the idea that the promoters are going to do it all wrong, but one single demo derby isn't going to signal the endfall of racing as we know it, nor are motorsports-oriented sideshows going to be the deciding factor in whether a track lives or dies. I think if hockey teams had the same hardcore fan pool to draw from as racing, they'd be doing the side-show acts as well in order to pull in casual fans who might not have given hockey a shot before.
If you want to try another slippery slope on for size, what is considered 'true racing'? Do you draw the line at enduros or 4-funs, or do they not count? Does true racing only consist of heats and a feature, or are even heats or Australian Pursuits too gimmicky for your liking? Autograph sessions aren't racing, so why not axe those? Just in general, what's the difference between side-shows, hype-building actions and 'true racing'?
There's a lot more to motorsports than just racing alone...
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Thats the best i've heard this who forum... GOOD JOB ;D
**2 Thumbs UP **
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If you want to try another slippery slope on for size, what is considered 'true racing'? Do you draw the line at enduros or 4-funs, or do they not count? Does true racing only consist of heats and a feature, or are even heats or Australian Pursuits too gimmicky for your liking? Autograph sessions aren't racing, so why not axe those? Just in general, what's the difference between side-shows, hype-building actions and 'true racing'?
There's a lot more to motorsports than just racing alone...
Why isn't 4-fun and enduro's racing? We are talking about side shows not lower classes. Without a street stock class, enduro is about the only feeder series for Thunder producing driver such as myself, but more imporantly Willy Ryens. 4-fun could use an improvement in safety and would be better run as a mini, but its stll racing.
If you read my post, I suggested an Austrailian Persuit and others as a subsitution to side shows.
Autograph sessions, I find again get in the way of racing. Want an autograph, buy a pit pass and come and get one. HOWEVER it does introduce the fans to the drivers, and may make it more personal for them. BUT its about your product, drivers and the racers, not a one shot side show.
Just because it has a engine and moves dosn't mean its racing. Jumping a motor cycle has as much in common with racing as using a gas lawnmower to cut your lawn.
See with these side shows, you've seen it once, you seen them all.... How many time do you want to watch some guy jump something on a motorcycle? Gets old real quick. Racing on the other hand is different each night, which is part of what makes it enjoyable.
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I'm saying that some 'true racing fans' don't view those classes as being serious racing classes, and are seen as sideshows to the latemodels or thunder cars in certain circles. I'm also saying that some people would find your ideas just as gimmicky as what you find gimmicky, so where do you draw the line?
Again, there's more to motorsports than just racing alone, and successful tracks have figured that out and worked with it without causing the death of their weekly racing classes.
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Just because it has a engine and moves dosn't mean its racing. Jumping a motor cycle has as much in common with racing as using a gas lawnmower to cut your lawn.
Can you clarify this? Last I checked my lawnmower runs on gas...
See with these side shows, you've seen it once, you seen them all.... How many time do you want to watch some guy jump something on a motorcycle? Gets old real quick. Racing on the other hand is different each night, which is part of what makes it enjoyable.
That isn't always true. Something different always happens with a "side show" or they wouldn't get booked by the tracks. As for racing, how many times do you get a track where the top five in a division usually end up being the top five every week, often with one or two guys dominating the wins? That fits the definition of something that isn't different every night.
Ross, remember that you are looking at it from a driver's point of view. That puts you in a "die hard" group of fans who love racing. The fans who come out and pay at the grandstand gate are all kinds of people who want to see a show. Next time something different runs at the track take a look at the crowd - a loonie says it is bigger, not smaller. So cutting out "side shows" is like turning away people at the gate.
Mark
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Wow mr ross, You have a hatred for side shows. i have done derby's for a about five years and fans sure do yell loud when you make an end to end hit. When i won at Sunset a couple years ago (the derby and the backwards race) after it was all over the promoter dude was very happy and coulden't stop telling my friends and I about how happy he was! Derby's also have a very large following like there friends, girlfriends, ex wives, and many unplaned children with them (the next generation of derby drivers) and they bring money into the speedway for your beloved purses! But to think like you for a min, why not put stompen tom in a derby car and i promise you that alot of race cardrivers will be steping up to drive in derby cars. anyways that is just my view.
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why not put stompen tom in a derby car and i promise you that alot of race cardrivers will be steping up to drive in derby cars. anyways that is just my view.
Yeah probably LOL
I've run derbys myself. I'm not knocking them. I'm saying they shouldn't be used as a side show, belittles them much the same as the racing.. Kinda like how about I come out to Simcoe and run a few laps in the pit in my thunder to entertain the fans? Your thinking I'm nuts now, but isn't the same the other way around?
BTW while we got you here 1) Did they run the derby on the PAVED track? 2) if they did, how did that work? 3) water or oiled it or crazy hard hits??
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BTW while we got you here 1) Did they run the derby on the PAVED track? 2) if they did, how did that work? 3) water or oiled it or crazy hard hits??
The one time I seen a demo at Sunset...it was on the pavement...dry pavement...although they made the "arena" very small...it still produced some extremtly hard hits
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it was on the very dry front stretch! my neck hurt for about a week, but it made some crazy hard hits and a very good show. If you don't like the derby's at the track nobody will make you watch them