As much as I don't like to admit it, I think you are on to something. I think for every "open wheel purist" like myself who goes for good clean racing, there are probably in equal (if not greater) number who's main reason for attending is to see the crashes.

The sport would probably have to rationalise the existing non contact classes first, but introducing contact racing may just be the answer.

Dont have a problem at Western Springs in Auckland drawing a crowd, some times the gates are closed and cant fit them all in. Its mainly a midget track and promoted well on TV with shows like The Dirt. So there is a formula for successful promotion of speedway possibly could be copied from NZ.
Also the calibre of drivers here add to the package, Pickens and Mosen very successful at the Chilli Bowl, Pickens, Mosen, Insley 1,2 and 3 at the Parramatta 50 lapper, Mosen wins round 7 of the SSS , that might be the problem your drivers aint good enough to draw a crowd.
SMS for more Kiwis and Yanks to save the day,if you drop the 3 race rule there would be more at the AUS title also.

There not Superstocks Michael.

We've called them Shopping Trolleys for years!

Apologies to those who race them!

Don't forget French onion soup and sour cream !!!

They pay bigger prize money in NZ for Midget Racing would they not???. The promoter also pays for your attendance of your drivers from the USA say does he not at the Springs ???
It wont happen here unfortunatly for Midgets by a Promoter I dont believe.
As I have noticed more people overall in NZ attend the Superstock Racing.

Awesome!! What shopping centre..I will meet you in the Isle ha ha ha....for some real bash and crash ...

All correct, Superstocks draw huge crowds, the showgrounds at Palmerston North holds 20,000 people, again when the NZ teams racing is on the gates get closed, tickets are hard to come by.
The key point is speedway is popular and draws crowds when there is good promotion. NZ clearly has a smaller population, same issues with other sports crowd attendances but speedways still gets crowds.
So why cant it happen in AUS

Having started racing Midgets at Liverpool on bitumen right through till the early 90's I do no what a crowd is and what a promoter can achieve (Mike & Steve Raymond). But even then the Super Sedans V8 were the bigger draw card but not that much more popular. Western Springs is a one off unique set up. Auckland does not have the entertainment diversity of most Australian cities, the track suites midgets, climate and have a look how short there season is etc. Where else in NZ do the midgets draw large crowds certainly not on the South Island. Do not get me wrong I think the Midgets put on the best racing consistently of any motor sport division in the country and without promotion should fill tracks just by word of mouth but they dont. The Super series is fantastic also but people these days want more diversity. As for the competitors paying for there prizemoney well what is new, go enter a super sprint at Lakeside and it will cost you around $200 and you do not even get a trophy. If you think you have the answers I am sure the promoters would love to hear from you! Many should take the time to read the NSW Midget clubs history on their excellent new site.

Car trouble by the top Aussi drivers wouldn't have been a factor?

I've seen midget racing at both tracks (Springs / PCR this current season and the meeting a week or so ago at PCR was easy as good.

I know it might be difficult for the drivers but taking a wander through the crowd like at PCR last time can be a simple free form of promotion.

I think that most of you guys are overlooking one important factor, and that is most of the tracks I have travelled to are "Dumps", they havent had a penny spent on them since the Sixties or Seventies,and for the money they charge you get bugger all facilities anyway thats my opinion

Speedcars are the top billing in NZ where as Sprintcars are here !?
Who are the five best sprint car drivers from NZ ????
Lets compare Apples with Apples not Apples with Lamb Roasts !!!

Where are the mods when ya need them....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I strongly protest the last comment, everyone knows that apples are better suited to pork roasts!

Advertising is okay in small country towns with one television and radio station but ineffective in a large city such as Sydney where there are at least fifty odd.

The problems associated with speedway began in the 1920s. Word got out speedway was a sport of the future, plenty of money could be made all that was required was to hire out a showground/greyhound track or something similar for a few hours on a Saturday night and lots of money could be made or likewise a track could be built on vacant land awaiting development providing facilities only necessary to make the venue operational and so speedways sprung up everywhere to as far afield as England with enterprising promoters in control.

Now 80 years later things are very much different. Noise, safety, the non availability of land awaiting development, residential housing encroachment on existing speedways and competition for the entertainment dollar make speedway a far less financially viable proposition than has been the case in the past.

The problem is due to the unavailability of suitable venues, the majority of enterprising promoters have now all gone. They took all the profits with them and reinvested nothing back into the sport and as a result speedway does not have a cent in the bank to bless itself with.

The time has now come where speedway requires a National Governing Body that meets all governance requirements so as it can take on the role of regulating, promoting and developing the sport at the one time in a similar fashion to swimming, afl, league and cricket and every other sport.

One governing body to take on the role of guiding the sports destiny as is the case in New Zealand where speedway is reportedly the nations fifth most popular sport. One governing body to accumulate wealth and reinvest this money into owning and operating venues without a reliance on private enterprise investment.

Its going to take a long time to achieve this goal but the longer its delayed the more difficult it becomes.

Isn't this what NASR is supposed to be doing?