$10,000 to win 'gambler' race at Sportsnationals?

I don't know if 16 guys would be interested in paying the 1000 dollar entry fee when they know only 4 or 5 cars stand much of a chance of winning. I like the idea of blown vs. blown and a-fuel vs. a-fuel and have them meet in the final. Maybe advertise it as the battle between nitro and blown. I think it has potential.

 

Will- What are you doing??? Are you trying to turn the Alky cars into bracket cars. Your format sounds like the Million Dollar Bracket Race... This is a very bad idea...I hope that others see the harm this can do...If the owners start having to PAY TO RACE when the expense is already outrageous that will be the final nail in the coffin...

 

Seems to me that it would be pretty easy to sell a free show likie this to any track operator.
If the participants are paying the purse does the track get all the spectator money?
You would have to at least be runner up to just break even. That is if you had no breakage!
Don't think this will fly Will.
If we are going to put a show of this caliber on we need to hire the track and promote the show.
This is what happened a long time ago with the United Dragracers association at Tulsa. The greatest race I have ever participated in!!!
Three classes only at that time. TF,FC,PS.
25,000 to win in all classes with 32 car fields.
There were over 100 entries in each class.

 

I've got to agree with imjustafan and Bob Holley on this one. I don't think it would be wise to promote a show where the alky cars had to pay to race. There is already a lot of expense in alky racing and to ask them to pay to race would be treating them like a bracket car. No ofense to bracket racers but they don't have near the expense the alky racers have. Just my .02 worth.

 

Will,
I am not trying to rain on your parade but since you are currently a promoter and aspire to do more it is my guess that you are receiving some moneatary benefit for your services. I am not knocking you for this as it seems that we need some promoting. With this idea it is like asking the actors of a play to cover the expenses and the ticket sales will go to someone else.
The blown vs blown and a-fuel vs a-fuel with the two winners meeting is a good idea and could be advertised and promoted. However I have an idea that you might consider promoting.
Go find a sponsor to cover the purse or at least 1/2 of it then sell the race to a good track owner that could easily cover the remaining pat of the purse and invite anyone in these classes to compete for the big bucks with no entry fee.
I would bet there would be one hell of a turnout and some terrefic racing. All the track operator would have to do is advertise this great show and everyone would be a winner.

 

Will,
Its nice to see ideas put on a public board like this - its tough though exposing yourself to a magnefying glass. I see what you're doing though an I like it. You make an offer thats almost too good to be true to a track operator and he will take it. Just as I think No Problem would (if good old NHRA don't get in the way). It also forces the masses to keep the top racers in the forefront as it should be. You are a sportsman class (the top of the sportsman) and should be there (and I know the money is the reason why you guys were not included, you have the highest payout per cars entered). Anyway, appreciate the candor and your efforts. If you guys ever want to venture to Kansas and race at a small town NHRA Div 5 1/4 mile track and have me put up part of a purse (maybe not half) - I would.
You guys would be the Heroes, the John Forces and Larry Dixons of a small town dragstrip!
Sorry for takin up space on your board!
Wayne Roberts

 

Will,

You need to pay the bills for awhile and see if you still feel this way. I gamble every time my car goes down the track. I'm not willing to pay a track operator to let me play on his track.

Sorry dude, but I'm agreeing with the other guys.

Bad idea. Hope this one dies a fast death.

 

I think the basic idea is ok but you should add a couple of things on the dragster side there should be a winner on the B/AD side and on the A/FD side then another payout for the winner of the match up of the two. Also as someone mentioned you/we should find a sponsor to throw in some cash for the payout,and as Wayne said ask the track to also through in some for some extra funding as they are the ones getting the show. That way everyone contributes. And yes these cars are expensive to run but look at the possibilities for a good payout and the promotion of the Alcohol cars. just my .02 Dave

 

If you can't take a big race like this and advertise the 3rd quickest and fastest class in all of drag racing and get enough spectators out to pay the purse it is a sad day. The problem is that the tracks are being courted with the idea of "no risk" shows. There are some out there who will book in a show but not very many. However it seems that promoting a race has been reduced to no risk.
NHRA should have required all classes be represented as a condition for getting the race.
Unless you are risking life and limb and your car
in the alky class it must be hard to comprehend what it means to pay for the race!
Dragracers for years have been exploited by sanctioning bodies. You know who they are!!!
When pro racers have to fear for that their sponcers and potential sponcers will be prostilited by their own sanctioning body it is sad. As in NASCAR the sponsors should be directed to the race teams. I'm sure you can think of many other issues like this.
There have been many attempts at forming racer associations some fairly successful some not. The reason for all attempts was because the ruleing bodies forgot forgot who puts on the show. I know many of you think the alky classes have no market value but I for one think that is wrong. What we have is no one willing to market us. Some might even say there are those who have a vested interest in seeing the alky classes not promoted.
Just my 2-cents.

 

Will, Sounds like the whole damm system is moving in the wrong direction. We are getting ready for our first season in TA/FC and I must say the handwriting on the wall looks a little grim! Pay for our own events and fund our own purse? Seems to me like this group has no professional guidence and direction. I don't want to be a bracket racer! Something is wrong with NHRA when the Super Stockers earn more cash than the fastest and most exciting cars in the sportsman division. Don't we have any input at all? Hate to think I'm spending a ton of cash on a class that is going backwards. HELP!

 

Will, Sounds like the whole damm system is moving in the wrong direction. We are getting ready for our first season in TA/FC and I must say the handwriting on the wall looks a little grim! Pay for our own events and fund our own purse? Seems to me like this group has no professional guidence and direction. I don't want to be a bracket racer! Something is wrong with NHRA when the Super Stockers earn more cash than the fastest and most exciting cars in the sportsman division. Don't we have any input at all? Hate to think I'm spending a ton of cash on a class that is going backwards. HELP!