NOSTALGIA MAKES RACING FUN AGAIN
Re: reasonable people and the feasibility of a profitable nostalgia racing circuit.
I think it is beyond reason that this style of racing will ever make a profit. And that is why I have much hope for its success in both popularity and profitability. Let me briefly explain.
As far as popularity, there are more guys building nostalgia funny cars and top fuelers now than there are people building funny cars and top fuelers for competition in the NHRA. Further, it's the guys from the late '60s and through '70s that are wanting to get back in sport. And the big draw for them is that it has the unreasonable hope that drag racing will be fun again.
I don't know about you, but watching the "old timers" mixing it up with the current generation in race cars that have no electronics, 100% nitro, and are beautiful in their simplicity, while enjoying it all in a laid-back atmosphere has the NHRA experience beat
every time. Sure, there needs to be something done with the oil-downs, but the show and, more importantly, the ethos is unreasonably viable. The soul of drag racing is not one of reason. It just wants to be revealed.
I think an essential element to bring a Nostalgia drag racing circuit to more people and do it profitably is to pay more attention to cultural, social and relational aspects. Further, leadership with a policy to bring people together and face the challenges that undoubtedly will come, but always with the hope for what could be.
I think each of us wants to be connected to something outside of ourselves, to be part of a group, to be able to say, yes, I want to be a part of that. I think Nostalgia drag racing has all those elements. We just need someone to bring it together.
Brett Porter
Edmonds, WA
A DIFFERENT WAY TO HANDLE NOSTALGIA
Gotta disagree with you on the Nostalgia Drag Racing Series/Circuit comment. We (NPCA) are going about things a little differently than any other nostalgia drag racing organization, past or present. Don't get me wrong, I don't think for one minute that we have all the answers, but we have learned from others' mistakes and we are now headed in the right direction with our association.
Unlike many others (promoters) who tried to make money or just plain robbed the racers, any money we do make goes back to the racers, not to the track or a promoter! We run our races in conjunction with the track's E.T. Bracket program. The track keeps their spectator and crew entry money in return for giving us a prepared race track, tech, safety personnel, track personnel, our own pits, a high profile area for the street rodders to hang out, and exhibition space for our sponsors. We keep the racer entry, of which 100% goes directly back into their class's purse along with all sponsor monies.
We are not a non-profit organization, just a NON-GREED organization. Isn't that the way an association is supposed to work? Our operating costs are minimal because we use mostly volunteers and we trade for marketing partnerships. Member dues take care of the rest.
As far as not having enough cars, you are dead wrong on that one, the cars are there and more are being put together every day. Take it from someone who has spent the last 8 months doing the research. Getting them organized is another story, but we have and are working on that.
The fans are there as well. Here in Indy it is definitely a tough sell, as we are home to three of the largest and most prestigious auto races in the country, the Indy 500, the Brickyard 400, and the U.S. Nationals! Fans here are spoiled for sure. But, we believe there is still a market for the nostalgia scene as a whole for the racer, the fan and street rodder.
And finally, the sponsors - "THE MONEY." It is there too, and we have our share of it for only starting this deal 6 months ago. It's kind of like a job in sales that pays 100% commission. How much money you wanna make? It is totally dependent on how hard you wanna work! Again, unlike many others, we have a different approach to this as well, but if I told you, I'd have to kill you. LOL -- Kidding, only kidding! Truthfully though, our focus is not only on automotive or high performance companies. We are looking at and working with many non-automotive related companies. Not groundbreaking stuff, but I think most really don't focus enough attention in the non-automotive area.
Hope to prove you wrong; we're sure as hell going to try, I'll guarantee you that.
See ya at the NOSTALGIA drag races!
Sincerely,
Troy Coker
Carmel, IN
P.S. What do you think of a pre-1972 bodied, no nitrous Pro Mod class?
For more info go to: www.nostalgiaprocomp.com
