Racers thoughts

[Smartalec]

Hi all,
In recent chats with both Tony Truman and Dave Church an idea came up about how to create more crowd "interaction" at primarily, the national off road meetings. I'd like to run the idea past everyone and get some feedback on here as to your thoughts and suggestions.

The idea is simply this, if we take a typical national entry of around 120 drivers and everyone participates. Each person pays £2 and for their money they get to draw a driver out of the hat, this driver is "theirs" for the day and in the finals if their driver wins then they win the money. The amount of money won is obviously dependant on how many people participate and how many finals there are. In the above example the amount of money won on each final would be £20, this is enough to create interest and not enough to spoil anything, it's basically enough to cover your petrol (for most people) for the weekend.

The main point of this is nothing to do with the money, it's to do with the fact that potentially for EVERY final there could be ten different people (and their mates) cheering for someone they might not have even spoken to before. This coupled with the commentary of MC DC and MC TT would be interesting/loud LOL.

I'd prefer to have one of the major distributors contribute prizes so we didn't have to rely on the money aspect but you all know that won't happen. I think a couple of quid is well within everyone's reach (at national level) and I think that this would create an excellent atmosphere for the finals. How many times has the K final been watched by anyone except the marshalls? ........... it would be good for someone who's constantly in the last final to be cheered on by one of the top boys

Your thoughts?

[Lee]

Thats a cool idea, i like the idea of cheering on someone that you don't even know

[Stu]

I do like that idea, but it needs to be optional.

It could be built in easily, if a winning driver does not belong to anyone then second place comes into play.

[telboy]

You could sort it all at booking in. When you go and book in, you pay yer £2 and draw the ticket from a box. Easy.

Good idea too. It'll give encouragement to those that are not as talented as the top drivers.

[Smartalec]

Originally Posted by Stu

I do like that idea, but it needs to be optional.

It could be built in easily, if a winning driver does not belong to anyone then second place comes into play.

Yep, should definitely be optional. Everyone is entitled to one draw or one go as it were and if there are say ten names left in the hat at the end then if someone wants another draw they can on a first-come first-serve basis until all the drivers are taken. That way ALL entrants should get someone rooting for them.

[Smartalec]

Originally Posted by telboy

Good idea too. It'll give encouragement to those that are not as talented as the top drivers.

That's right, I feel there's not enough support for the younger/less talented drivers especially as at National level you could win the B final and get nothing.......... i'd shave my head if I ever got near to winning the B final LOL ........... what happened to the days of trophies and stuff?

[Stu]

Originally Posted by telboy

You could sort it all at booking in. When you go and book in, you pay yer £2 and draw the ticket from a box. Easy.

I don't think it can be part of the booking in procedure.

Only when the confirmed heat list is posted can the process of sorting names for the draw start - so it can't be done until after it's been posted after practice #1.

Plus Stu already has his hands full sorting the actual booking in process.

[dave g]

but you will still only have 10 people cheering drivers on per race..but good idea tho

[Smartalec]

Originally Posted by dave g

but you will still only have 10 people cheering drivers on per race..but good idea tho

True, but at the moment in the lower finals there's virtually no one at all watching/cheering.

And if the ten that are cheering for "their man" (or woman) are with their mates who don't have anyone to cheer for they would probably join in ......... i'm sure it could get good

[Smartalec]

Imagine this as a possibility ............... Neil Cragg, Lee Martin and Bradders rooting for Billy Ten Year Old in the K Final !!!! ......... The smile on the face of Billy would be priceless .......... i'd pay to see that

[blitzboy]

liking the idea if its for all the finals as you say it gives some of us less talented drivers something to aim for , as its my first year of nationals and seeming to be in the lower finals , after the a final has been on and everyone has watched that the crowd seems to vanish so it would be cool to here some supports for the lower haets , the only final i ve had so far this year that pulled the crowd and had loads of support was at south port with jimmy in the 4wd and it was a scream i have to admit even i was cracking up with the supporters comments for jimmy , stotfold in a week so its it worth a go there guys

[Rocking Donkey]

I remember Darren from DMS used to run a similar sweepstake at the indoor meets he used to run at the sport centre in Watford. I'm sure he will have some tips for how to get this running smoothly.

I remember drawing Darren Bloom's dad in the dads race. He was laps ahead of the field in every qualifying round. In the final he stuck his car into the wall at top speed on the first corner! Easy come, easy go!

It was a fun idea

[blue_pinky]

Craig Harris runs this type of thing at some of our clubs special events as well, with a bit of the theory being that you mentor or get mentored by the driver you pick if you have time to kill.

Certainly helps to improve the interaction between people when people are willing and able to make the effort!

[Si Coe]

Liking the idea but as said, needs to be optional.

Heres how I'd do it:

Every person that takes part gets a driver picked at random for every person. Yes that means you might end up rooting for Ellis or Lee, but as said it might also be Billy Ten Year Old. This part can be assigned as early as the first heat listing - which means you get to follow your nominated driver all day. That part means there is an incentive to find, talk to and even assist your nominated driver - a great boost! In fact, put the name of the nominated drivers 'sponsor' next to their name on the heat listing!

Now for the fun part - all the money goes into a pot. If a nominated driver wins a final - you win a share of the pot. If there are no nominated drivers in a final, or the only nominated driver doesn't win that just means there is more money at stake for the other finals. And should no nominated drivers win a final - the pot rolls over to the next national. So its not £20 if your driver wins, but an unknown amount that could be more or less than £20, depending on how many nominated drivers win finals!

[Chrislong]

Ace idea. Im all for it.

If I was to draw a name, then you'd have me, Claire and whoever cheering. Then say if a friend draws someone in the final - there will be rivalry in shouting for there sweep to come in 1st...! Ace

[Chrislong]

Yeh, needs to be optional....

But if names unsold after everyone booked in, then people should be allowed to buy more sweeps until all sold.

[Smartalec]

Originally Posted by Chrislong

Yeh, needs to be optional....

But if names unsold after everyone booked in, then people should be allowed to buy more sweeps until all sold.

Spot on matey, as i said ....... And just to clarify that it wasn't suggested that the brca officials would run this, they have enough to do ........ I could sort it out if its what people wanted

[Agt26]

I remember that there was something similar done at my local club. In the finals the top 6 A finalists drove the lowest finals cars for the second half of the race. Obviously not possible at nationals but it was great watching all the top drivers cheering on "Billy ten year old".

[Smartalec]

Originally Posted by Agt26

I remember that there was something similar done at my local club. In the finals the top 6 A finalists drove the lowest finals cars for the second half of the race. Obviously not possible at nationals but it was great watching all the top drivers cheering on "Billy ten year old".

Good old Billy

[Smartalec]

More thoughts would be nice