trying to drum up spectators for our race clue - need ideas...

[lauralynne]

Ok - for the non-racers and racers - what brings spectators to club level racing? our club is faltering in that department and I'm trying to brainstorm ideas as we go into winter and start planning for 2011 season.

What got you to the first race - what would GET you to your first race?
What does your club do - what do you wish your club would do?

Ideas - let's hear them!

[derf]

Strippers, bikini car wash, umbrella girls, lower ticket prices

[CasterTroy]

The economy is in the shitter.

Several of my friends are in a tight spot and selling their bikes, trailers and all that jazz.

You MAY just be seeing the slow back-lash. My office is seeing it all around us as engineers and architects are closing their doors daily and begging us for work. And we're blessed to have what we do.

[Rider]

Free female mud/oil wrestling shows.

[wildchild]

print up brochures with pictures of, well why people go see races. yes crashes.
hang them up in bike shops, send out some flyers, local bulletin boards. it's gruesome and we hate it. hate to hear people cheer when our car gets mangled but it's why they are there.

[skiergirl]

how about events for the kids of some sort - like a lunch time event not involving bikes but just something fun so people can bring their families along - stupid shit like egg races or crap like that that little kids like. Maybe let them actually sit on a real bike or something

For the older crowd - maybe a parade lap on the track during lunch for spectators with less gear requirement than a track day since it is a parade lap but gets them on the track for a bit.

Or for non riders - have someone take them on a parade lap as a passenger.

[smileyman]

You can get locals with press and ads. Find someone in your club that can give local TV and radio folks 2 up rides prior.
To get folks to travel overnight is nigh impossible unless someone they know is involved. Get the local bike shops involved, maybe get them some video and an on board lap to show on their shop DVD.
Other than it is beer and BBQ, ...

[CrazyKell]

Advertising.

Free weekend?

[Papa_Complex]

Ok - for the non-racers and racers - what brings spectators to club level racing? our club is faltering in that department and I'm trying to brainstorm ideas as we go into winter and start planning for 2011 season.

What got you to the first race - what would GET you to your first race?
What does your club do - what do you wish your club would do?

Ideas - let's hear them!

Knowing racers and helping out in the pits, so I guess I'm not much help there.

Strippers, bikini car wash, umbrella girls, lower ticket prices

... demo rides, music, vendors giving deals, beer garden...

[the chi]

The idea of a parade lap is a great one!

Maybe a booth at a local fair or festival with some cool displays to get some attention from locals, and interest in checking out an event.

[Papa_Complex]

One other thing, that I don't think regional racing series do much of.


ADVERTISE!

Most of the people I talk to in Napanee, 15 minutes away from Shannonville Motorsports Park, don't even know that there's a track, let alone what goes on there.

[Particle Man]

Free beer.

[Bluestreak]

Free beer.

Winner!!:cheers::dthumb:

[jtemple]

I can't stand watching races, personally. I'd rather ride. If I got to do a couple laps on the track, for free. I'd go.

[Amber Lamps]

Advertise and have a stunt show/contest between races. Get a local mc shop to donate a $100 gift cert or something. I'm sure there's tons of Jason Britten wannabes in your area. Get Hooters to have a bikini contest there.

[Particle Man]

Get Hooters to have a bikini contest there.

I'd go for that :whatwhat:

[OTB]

It's a tough world out there right now...I was at the WERA regionals last week at Summit and except for the racers, there wasn't 50 spectators.....

[smileyman]

Helps if they have reasonable fees for motorhomes or tent camping, decent concessions, good stands and race call PA

[TYEster]

I'd have no problem supporting local racing BUT my #1 deterrent...


Location location location. The nearest tracks that allow racing are a haul to get to. And since I love riding on the track I'd either A: want to race IN the race or B: have a trackday the day before the race and stay over and watch them the next.

[TommyHotWheel]

Radio stations...exposure, get some radio and TV stations onboard and make sure there is constant action and inexpensive entertainment. I bet some local bands or DJs would like some free exposure also.

[tallywacker]

It's a tough world out there right now...I was at the WERA regionals last week at Summit and except for the racers, there wasn't 50 spectators.....

No one promotes the races.

[Trip]

advertising + boobs (umbrella girls or some kind of promo girls) + prize contests

you need a combination of stuff, but if people don't know about it, they won't show. advertising is a must.

[lauralynne]

we're trying to increase spectators - we used to have probably 100 or so Non-racer spectators. I'd be surprised if we have 12 now. Our marketing budget is $0.00 - our club is in the red right now and marketing is the first cut (ya - I know...NOT my choice). We're brainstorming how to get the people to start coming again - we used to do what we called "taste of racing" which was what a lot of you mentioned - the Average Joe could take their bike around the track a few times. But something went wrong - someone crashed and threated lawsuit (but didn't sue) and there's no way in hell anyone in the club can be talked into that again. *sigh*
I like the family atmosphere idea for lunch time...lots of other good ideas thrown out there too.
I'm pushing for getting the shops involved - we do ZERO marketing with the shops right now (*eye roll* stupid that nobody's done it - they used it, it's gone by the wayside with the last 2 terms of marketing)
We have a booth at the International Motorcycle show but there's resistance to that even - because we can't show that it brings ANY income to the club and costs money there are members who say we shouldn't have a booth (um - there's only THOUSANDS of motorcyclists in one place - if we don't market THERE where would we market?!)

[tallywacker]

we're trying to increase spectators - we used to have probably 100 or so Non-racer spectators. I'd be surprised if we have 12 now. Our marketing budget is $0.00 - our club is in the red right now and marketing is the first cut (ya - I know...NOT my choice). We're brainstorming how to get the people to start coming again - we used to do what we called "taste of racing" which was what a lot of you mentioned - the Average Joe could take their bike around the track a few times. But something went wrong - someone crashed and threated lawsuit (but didn't sue) and there's no way in hell anyone in the club can be talked into that again. *sigh*
I like the family atmosphere idea for lunch time...lots of other good ideas thrown out there too.
I'm pushing for getting the shops involved - we do ZERO marketing with the shops right now (*eye roll* stupid that nobody's done it - they used it, it's gone by the wayside with the last 2 terms of marketing)
We have a booth at the International Motorcycle show but there's resistance to that even - because we can't show that it brings ANY income to the club and costs money there are members who say we shouldn't have a booth (um - there's only THOUSANDS of motorcyclists in one place - if we don't market THERE where would we market?!)

Marketing at $0 is your issue. Start there. If not how do you think magically people will find out about the races? You need radio exposure, scantly clad women, and organize a judged bike show as well to pull no racer types to the track to spectate. Look at every other successful race promotion and follow the template. You have spend money to make money. Organizations that stagnate without taking risk are doomed to go belly up. Have any of the idiots that run that ORG been to business school?

[azoomm]

You have spend money to make money. Organizations that stagnate without taking risk are doomed to go belly up. Have any of the idiots that run that ORG been to business school?

Or, it takes volunteer time... it can be done, but it takes the investment of those in the organization to create the buzz and excitement.

[tallywacker]

Or, it takes volunteer time... it can be done, but it takes the investment of those in the organization to create the buzz and excitement.

Exactly, I'm sure there are some competent business owners that race every weekend that can provide some idea's for your situation.

[TommyHotWheel]

Pull in the kids too...when kids want to get involved, the parents are right there with support and money.

[azoomm]

Exactly, I'm sure there are some competent business owners that race every weekend that can provide some idea's for your situation.

Surely there are dealers that would want to use it as a marketing opportunity. Sell it to them.... let them create the buzz.

[snobuny]

We have a booth at the International Motorcycle show but there's resistance to that even - because we can't show that it brings ANY income to the club and costs money there are members who say we shouldn't have a booth (um - there's only THOUSANDS of motorcyclists in one place - if we don't market THERE where would we market?!)

This might not be the best use of marketing dollars. I know its a motorcycle population but people have very short attention spans. If the show is not the day before a race your "spectators" may forget when the races are. Our show is usually off season, anything I pick up there is usually long in the trash prior to when the race season starts.

Your group might get more bang for your buck by advertising right before the event. That way people know about it right as its happening.....and can make a decision to attend. I know I don't put races on the calendar months in advance. If we are free the weekend when they happen, then we go.

[Particle Man]

I know its a motorcycle population but people have very short attention spans.

Squirrel!

[Papa_Complex]

Here is an example of what NOT to do, and why a marketing budget (or at least volunteers contacting media like azoom hints at) is necessary.

This year the owner of the track and regional racing series had a bright idea to try and bring in more spectators; he'd give away a car! Sure, it was only a Kia Rio, but a free car is a free car, right? It failed miserably. Want to know why?

He didn't advertise that he was giving away a car.

[the chi]

I didn't see if anyone mentioned it, but maybe some silly event, like a fiddy race or something equally amusing to both racers and non racers. Hardest I've ever laughed at the track was watching grown men race around on fiddies, cheating, picking it up and carry it across the dirt, etc...