I think they are becoming more and more like a duck with one leg.LAME!!

Do you think the popularity (or perceived lack of it) is actually the fault of anything but a cyclic event?

Just about all sports go through a wax/wane situation and Speedway is certainly no different.

Take Cricket and the Shane Warne situation. In the mid to late 70's every kid wanted to be a fast bowler a la Lillee & Thompson then early 90's if you weren;t a leg spinner no-one would talk to you.

Speedway is no different, guys like Johnnie Stewart in the 60's transferred to Ron Mackay in the 70's but the Sprintcars had Gary Rush in the 80's & 90's so I believe it is a cyclic situation that will, in time put the balance of power back with the midgets.

CYA
Geoff

Geoff - The only time that the Midgets were a main draw was prior to Sprintcars and lots of competition for peoples time and money entertainment wise. The idea that the Midgets can be a big draw and all is needed is better promotion is what is really holding the division back (bull!!). What is needed is a concerted effort to attract more competitors that can afford to race. Most of the present racers are either sons of former racers or mates, pit crew etc. How many come from road racing, Karts, or just fans who would like to race but thought it was too hard, they are the ones we are missing out on. The future as I see it needs to be built around the SSS as the showcase much as WSS is for the sprintcars. If the Sprintcars did not have WSS they would not be what they are today as the flow on effect down to club racing would not be there. Take a new guy who wants to race WSS but has never driven a sprintcar where does he start, club racing where does he race in between WSS rounds? The same should and does for the Midgets with SSS. We just need to stop looking to promoters to fix the problem, unfortunately the Midgets keep looking backwards to the 50s 60s and trying to go back rather than forwards. The history is great but it is the past not the future.

Again I think you're wrong. There is a lot that can be learnt from the past and applying what worked in the past in a modern context works wonders. It's called sticking to your roots. If you cut off your nose to spite your face as you suggest we do, we'll go even further backwards. I can give examples but unless you know the situations I'm discussing it'll be meaningless.

And that is what I mean, everything is cyclic so..........what do the Midget racers do to invent a new cycle?

Is there something in the rules that will change the tide? maybe compulsory fastest to the rear starts?

Whatever it is (and no, I don't have the answer) it needs to be found fairly quickly before both the promoter and the fan lose interest in what is currently offered.

Cost containment is only part of the answer I believe. The "Stock Block" engine rule maybe a possible fix but there are certainly smarter people than me trying to keep Midgets in he forefront of Australian Speedway and I wish them all the best, how they do it will be the difficult part.
CYA
Geoff

Just for starters NASR is a corporation so therefore disqualified from government funding which speedway may need in the future. Also NASRs strategic plan is not to accumulate wealth. Never seen a successful business run that way before.

I think that anybody that thinks speedcars can regain their former popularity simply by waiting for the cycle to change, putting an add on television, or by making a few simple rule changes are having themselves on. Speedway as a whole does not involve the success of one division only.

The division needs fresh blood behind the scenes who are 110% motivated and keen to push it further. Needs a huge marketing ploy to encourage young and talented drivers to join the fold who will race for many years to come.

And doesn't need to race for "no" or "less" prize money.

ps. With the change in ownership at PCR, things can only get better down this way!! HOORAY!


AHHHH memories of great crowds

YouTube - speedcarsonline's Channel

YouTube - speedcarsonline's Channel

YouTube - Sports tonight race round up

YouTube - speedcarsonline's Channel

Lets get radical.
This might set the cat amongst the pigeons.......

AMF, you surprise me. Some of your comments are quite sound. Yes its the marketing machine that draws the crowds to Cricket, AFL, NRL, V8's and F1. Also the Wiggles and most big musical shows. Their fans have been conditioned to pay whatever is asked to go to a show. We live in a 'if it costs more it must be better' world. Yet we consistently have people whining about speedway gate fees. What do you get for $20 at any of the above - hardly even pays the booking fee. Most people spend more in a week on coffee.

For those who keep harping on about reducing the gate cost and attracting more fans, do the sums. (Al, you're a banky, back me up here). 2000 fans at $25, reduce the price to $20 (20%) and you need 25% MORE people to get the SAME gate takings. Ah, make more money in the canteen though, I hear you say. What about the extra staff required, security, parking, tickets, toilet paper, cleaners, whatever.. Lets face it, this really won't get us ahead. Speedway is not like a discount department store, otherwise Woolies and Coles would be running them all by now.
Fact is that novelty events draw the crowds. Whether it be moster trucks, demo derbys or fireworks. They are usually advertised heavily and more often than not cost more to attend. Is it the quality of the show the people are drawn to, or the marketing and hype that goes with it? I believe its the latter.
If we really market the sport (regardless of division) and charge a reasonable dollar, say at least $50 to get in the gate, the whole equation changes. You need only half the spectators to raise the same gate (and less support staff and all the other stuff too). All of a sudden you have a different audience. Those just looking for a cheap night in their flanno shirts out are forced to see it differently. Those who are looking for quality based on entry price will see it as an opportunity to get their friends involved in something different. The diehards will complain, but most will still fork out the extra cash and be there. At the end of the day not only is there money for improvements and more marketing, but extra for the competitiors, and you have a new league of fans who are happy to pay and don't see it as a hillbilly sport.
Told you it was radical.
Okay, let the cat out now.

Phil - $50 will work if the number of meetings are reduced. Ie. If a track is seeing sprintcars twice a year - then people will pay the extra. If they are running 26 shows with the same format then people don't "need" to go and will find something else to do that is cheaper.

ps. made it about Sprintcars because the midgets I watch have a good format (SSS), and then run fastest off the rear at the local club shows.... never a dull moment!!

The other part of the equation is frequency. I don't think weekly shows are sustainable. Even most diehard footy fans only go to the game when their team plays at home. At that's not every week.

Change your old way of thinking! Its only the diehards that NEED to go. You have to make people WANT to go. Then you convert them to being diehards.
If it is a better show make it $70!! Where would that get you a seat at the MCG or SFS?

If you did a survey and asked 'Do you believe you get what you pay for?' I reckon more than 80% of the population would answer Yes.
So why are we trying to be so cheap?

[QUOTE=Miss Informed;641235]Phil - $50 will work if the number of meetings are reduced. Ie. If a track is seeing sprintcars twice a year - then people will pay the extra.

I will pay $50 to see Super Stocks and Midgets on the same night at TPCR ...
That would be exciting entertainment...

You need to attract the young kids to pester there parents to take them to the speedway.
At the SSS Speedway city met a bloke in the stands while filming he promised his grandson he would take him to the speedway. We discussed the sppedway scene for a while and he told me it was the first time he had been since the 70's. Watched the race and loved it , non stop action.
I invited him back to the pits with his grandson, put the grandson in Troy's car, Grazza gave him stickers , Grandad took photos etc. The smile on the kids face and Granddads after that just got us 2 more fans.
Someone previously said get the drivers amongst the crowd , one thing about speedway is accessibility to the drivers, need to be marketed.
Once the kids are hooked they will be back.

Yep. Just ask the Wiggles.