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Photo ID # I04.03.12_RUS_DOD_BPT_0073S_1
Car #: #NA
Driver (s) : Russ Dodge
Location: Bridgeport Speedway
Date: 1973
Photographer: Bob Sweeten
Photo provided by: Russ Dodge
Comments: Senior Moment From Russ Dodge:

Rule of Thumb
( A useful principle having wide application but not intended to be strictly accurate or reliable in every situation )

 The information being presented is based on observations formulated from 55 years of attending various speedways and being directly involved in assorted capacities in speedway operations for 18 of those years.

"Whether To or Whether Not" that has to be answered when rain or snow enters the equation.  If "they" forecast rain and it hasn't started or it is raining lightly and it appears that it may stop, what's the right call?  The truth?  There isn't a right call!  "Get Mad, Get Glad" is the way it will eventually work out. 

Rules of Thumb on Weather:

a. If the speedway is operating in the red, pull the plug immediately whenever any doubt comes in to play concerning weather.

b. Uncertainty about the weather will always hurt the crowd at EVERY track.

c. A rain date for a regular weekly show will never draw a crowd as strong          as a show on the original date.

d. Coming up with an unannounced "spur of the moment" rain date is suicide!

e. Be consistent during the season, establishing if you're a pull the plug early operation or sit in the rain waiting until it stops, type of promotion.

f.  Rain check policies are not posted on the ticket both for people to read as      they should be to avoid confusion. 

g.  Several weather cancellations produce stronger car counts farther into         the racing season

h.  Never ask the group in the grandstands for their opinion by applause for       an answer to a promotional question.

i.  Promoting a speedway is a major investment and business and has to be approached that way in making every decision. 

General Rules of Thumb:

a.  Majority of the fans are truly clueless to actual attendance figures and the promotional financial nut for a standard program of racing.

b.  Promoters who live in the past will be the past, in the future!

c.  A good P.R. person should be paid well and work full time, 365 days of the year! 

d.  Promoters worry more about drawing  fans who attend another speedway  than they do getting new fans to attend.

e.  There is a fear that a "speedway regular" may get in for free or at a       discounted rate for a show, thus preventing promotional two-for's and other discount enticements from being tried.         

f.  The internet is part of our lives, yet it is ignored, underutilized and not          kept "up to the minute" current, even though it is basically free.

g.  Unless changes in racing offerings are made or altered, spectators         supported racing will no longer exist.

h.  Racing is entertainment.  It must provide joy, excitement, danger,  heroes and villains.

i.  The quality and cleanliness of fan conveniences must be impressive and           continually maintained during events.

j.  Race fans can be poor speedway employees.  Every job at a speedway is  important and requires dedication and focus.

k.  Multi-tier concessions should be available.   One level for kids and         Senior Citizens, the 2nd higher quality pushing pricey.

l.  A signature item in the concession works wonders both in sales and  preparation.

m.  Sun sheltered seating for eating should be provided and regulated to   prevent them becoming lounges for "race track touts"!

n.  Every competitor who races  is a star and should be treated as such.

o.  Beating a crowd in the head with  A single volume PA setting won't work.  People do like to talk to each other and give their ears a dose of quiet time.

p.  When the program starts, your track (if dirt) basically has been established.  Stop-gap scraping and watering provide temporary improvement at best.

q.  Only die-hard  regulars support sub-standard conditions in the program       and /or facility.  New people attending don't accept explanations.

r.  Announcers neglect to educate fans by explaining what they are watching. What is a street stock, crate motor, small block, handicapping, etc.

s.  Speedways will drag-out intermissions during shows that have moved along well (or too fast) until that point.   

t.  A memory  of an early finish outweighs the anger of "drag out all nighters."  Particularly if things went wrong after a long intermission.

u.  The most important ingredient of a successful  program is starting on time!

v.  Empty seats don't buy hot dogs!

w.  Promoters  never sit in their own bleachers and watched  a show from         the time the gates open until the feature is over, experiencing the perspective of a fan.

x.  Fans are loyal to "their" speedway and are reluctant to try or change to another regardless if the show quality continually declines.

y.  Points for championships and point funds are good motivators for drivers and owner to race, regardless of how minimum they pay!

z.  Traveling "go along" shows are great for any promotion as long as they can support their own cost.  The promotion will make money on the increase in admission charged to the regular weekly attendees.

Remember the definition of a rule of thumb given above.  I have more but so do you.  As always, thanks for Listening.

 Senior Moment by Russ Dodge

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Date: Visitor's  Name:

Comment:

04.03.12 George Perkins Under general rule of thumb section v....empty seats don't buy hot dogs. We had some new promoters at a local track down here in Tennessee take over a somewhat failing operation. I was racing at the time and also doing all the tracks sign work. They asked me if I had any ideas about putting people in the stands. I suggested giving tickets away in bulk at factories and such. They balked saying they would lose money. I told them they would make money selling food and beer. They tried it about six times during the season, giving the tickets out at places like Fed Ex headquarters. They place was packed on those nights usually selling out the concession stand and beer stand. They made a good bit of money. Unfortunately the owners of the track saw what was going on and wouldn't re-up the lease.
04.04.12 George Pavlisko All of the points in this Senior Moment is spot on. When I was looking at buying a track a couple of years ago I made the mistake of laying out my plans to prove that the lease purchase I was going to make would keep the place open and I could pat for the track with the profits from the changes being made to the track and programs.

I had the whole thing down so WELL that the owner did what I was going to do and the track still is alive to this day.

Empty Seats do not buy hot dogs but giving out tickets at the local schools (high school or College) to a group of students get you NEW FANS, PARENTS and warm bodies to watch the show. Item ³X² was from the old days or an up North thing, down here the fans go where there friends go period. MOST of the stands are friends with most of the pit area with the ALL ACCESS Admission now catching on in the area. You pay the same amount as a pit crew, sign the release and can go ANYPLACE you want. That would not work in NJ for sure but works well in Georgia.


-- Take Care
George Pavlisko
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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