Mean Streak Mud Racing

Learning From the Big Boys

In the March issue of Circle Track, Rob Fisher wrote an article with the same title. In it he spoke of how the largest sanctioning body in the country (NASCAR) saw poor ticket sales starting in 2008 and pulled their collective heads out of their asses and started asking FANS and not racers how to make things better. NASCAR, knowing it is in the entertainment business, created the Fan Council, made up of 12,000 online fans. They were polled on what needed improvement, and then changes were made.

When we the racers were asked what we wanted, the MRA was the end result. How many times have you gone to a race and there has been a good car count but the bleachers were empty? Is that race still occurring? How many of us know or are race promoters? This will come as no surprise but the MRA really, really needs fans! SO now for the $64,000 question, how? Strong class identity is a must. This is being discussed on the MRA forum in the Outlaw Super Stock thread. I feel that we need an online spectator poll like NASCAR's, or should be asking fans attending races to fill out an index card with what the MRA could do to improve. Asking for additional info, name, address, hobbies, etc. could make them eligible for a $100 gift card from a local sponsor. This info would then be used to compile a database for prospective sponsors. The not so Special Events has demographic info for all of the 4x4 Jambo's available by request.

Fan input notwithstanding, there are a few things that should be improved upon. The first is track construction and maintenance. Too many times I have looked at tracks that have been built out of level, the lights are not set level, the lanes are different lengths, and poor watering techniques have lead to vastly inconsistent racing surfaces. I do realize that most tracks are built just a few days before a race, but the MRA published track standards, and there is simply no excuse for piss poor craftsmanship. Think of it this way, with better tracks there should be more grooves to run with less grooming, and with quicker times the show will go quicker and the fans won't lose interest. The other thing I would love to see would be more eliminator style races. This style would add much more excitement for the fans and again this is not a bad thing. The other thing that race promoters could do is to pair up the trucks evenly to give the fans the appearance of side by side racing. If slower cars are bumping up, then pair them off towards the end of the round. No one wants to watch an all steel full size against a blower car.

Today's economy has made every dollar count. People are looking at money spent on entertainment as a budgetary item, and want the most bang for the buck. If we want them back, we owe it to them to put on the best show possible.

That's all for now.

Mud Racing Blog