Racing Promotion Monthly

Transcription

Racing Promotion Monthly
The Idea Newsletter For Auto Racing Promoters
Producer Of The Annual RPM Promoters Workshops
Vegas, Indy, Daytona Workshops App, P22, Ballot, P25, Download Schedules, P12
Page 5
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 12
Page 22 & 25
Kenny Wallace
Opens RPM@Vegas
Workshops
IMCA
DIRTcar
App & Ballot
Dates, Hotels,
Schedules
Becomes Supporting
Sponsor
IMCA
Super Nationals
“Crate” Sprint
Introduced
Get Credentials,
Nominate ARPYs
Revisited
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Kart racing
Motorcycle racing
Boat racing
Tractor/truck pulls
Drag racing
Demolition derbies
Road courses
Racing associations
Indoor karting
Short track oval racing
Super speedways
Snowmobile competitions
Motorsports Country Clubs
Motorsports driving schools
Specialty motorsports events
Independent car club activities
www.hoosiertire.com •
574-784-3152
Racing Promotion Monthly The Idea Newsletter For Auto Racing Promoters
Issue 45.08
Volume 45, Number 8
Producer of the Annual
RPM Promoters Workshops
Presenter of the
Auto Racing Promoter of the Year
Awards Sponsored By
Charlotte Motor Speedway...
This Month In RPM
P5 Kenny Wallace Live In Las Vegas
P6 Welcome New Readers
P8 Workshops Dates, Places, Hotels
P9 IMCA Joins As Supporting Sponsor
P9 Workshops Session Preview, Building Big Events
P10 IMCA Super Nationals Revisited
P10 Workshops Session Preview, Adapting To The New Facebook
P11 National Crate Sprint Class Announced
P11 Workshops Session Preview, Digital Timing & Scoring
P12 Legalert: Pit Vehicle Liability
P12 INEX Updates, News From Around The Sport
P13 Profile, Rodney Wing, Regional Promoter of the Year
P15 Profile, Jody Deery, Auto Racing Promoter of the Year
P16 Exhibitors: Directory Of Services For Promoters
P21 Stop the Online BS!
P22 FAXable Credential Application
P24 Nominate Regional ARPYs now
P25 FAX Ballot, Regional Auto Racing Promoter of the Year
Contact:
[email protected]
P: 715.536.1067
F: 715-536-3616
EDITOR: Stewart Doty FOUNDER: Stew Reamer
PHONE 715-536-1067 FAX 715-536-3616
MAIL: PO Box 406, Merrill, WI 54452
E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]
Copyright 2015, Racing Promotion Monthly.
EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER:
The RPM E-Letter, Racing
Promotion Monthly,
InsideGroove, and Websites
are digests of ideas
provided to the operators of
auto racing facilities.
Published material is
informational in nature and
is adapted from many
sources. The editor,
publisher, parent
corporation, the
publication's sponsors and
all their heirs and assigns,
assume no responsibility
for the practicality of the
ideas and information
appearing herein. Persons
using or adapting ideas or
procedures from the ELetter and RPM do so of
their own freewill, and
assume all risk for
incidents which may occur
because of, or despite, the
adaptation or use of such
ideas and procedures.
Editorial content and views
expressed are those of the
editors, and do not
necessarily reflect opinions
of the newsletter's
sponsors.
PRIVACY POLICY: RPM
does not sell subscriber
information. When
promoters and other
readers provide RPM with
their mailing address,
telephone numbers, cell
phone numbers, or e-mail
addresses, for any reason,
they are used only by RPM
for communicating with
subscribers. Data are not
sold or distributed to third
parties. RPM does,
however, provide exhibitors
with a list of mailing
addresses and phone
numbers for tracks
registered for the
Workshops, a service
offered as part of
commercial registration for
more than 20 years.
On The Cover...
Dean Malone provided this aerial of Boone
Speedway during the IMCA Super Nationals.
(Track Photo)
The voice of short track owners and promoters, fostering
cooperation, communication and the exchange of expertise.
The Promoters’ Front Page
More Ideas, More Cars, More Fans
Kenny Wallace Joins Promoters At RPM@Vegas
IMCA Supernationals Revisited
Three years ago, we invited driver and
commentator Kenny Wallace to offer his
opening remarks at the Speedweek
Workshop. Like readers, we had seen him
on television and at the races. We knew
something of the TV Kenny, his infectious
humor, his occasional wackiness and his
enthusiasm for racing. We should have
foreseen his popularity but were
unprepared for his unique humility, his
happy-go-lucky outlook, and his
extraordinary ability to relate to promoters.
He began with an apology to the audience,
saying he didn’t quite know why he had
been invited or what he could say that
would be instructive for promoters and
followed immediately with immensely
entertaining, stream-of-consciousness,
monologue that ranged from thoughts of
hair implants to his funeral wishes,
wrapped around good short track stories,
reflections on his career, the sport
generally, his track ownership, and his
modified barnstorming, all which left some
in the audience nearly in tears from
laughter. He elevated himself that day to
a place alongside Tom Curley as “most
popular speaker at RPM.” And as it all
happened, we thought we’d have to pick
Curley, who was in the audience that
morning, off the floor he was laughing so
hard. And Wallace didn’t stop there,
making the rounds of our exhibit area,
mingling with promoters, posing for
pictures, signing autographs, and not
unsurprisingly booking a few race dates
for his 2013 season. It doesn’t get much
better than that, in a sport prone to taking
itself too seriously.
We are fortunate that Oklahoma modified
car owner Jessie Hoskins hired Wallace to
race the IMCA Duel in the Desert at Las
Vegas Motor Speedway next month, and
that his TV producers worked with Kenny
to make it all happen. It enabled us to
persuade Kenny to join us a second time,
this time at the inaugural Las Vegas
Workshop of the modern era, Thursday
Morning, November 12.
Kenny is the perfect personality to kick off
RPM’s return to Las Vegas after a 38-year
absence and we look forward to his
humorous insights into racing life, and
promoting. Wallace this season will race
more than 70 short track events primarily
in his Toyota, UNOH, dirt modifieds. In his
NASCAR career, he
(See Wallace, P6)
Herman Live In Las Vegas: Kenny Wallace will open the RPM
Promoters Workshops on November 12 and later race the Duel
In The Desert at LVMS.
(Kenny Wallace Racing Photo)
5
(Wallace, From P5)
Welcome
Readers
Welcome to the Racing Promotion
Monthly promoters’ community. As an
RPM reader, you benefit from more than
40 seasons of experience, expertise, and
ideas, proven by successful short track
people. This newsletter and the RPM
Promoters Workshops produced by
Racing Promotion Monthly are the point
of contact for any promoter looking for
ideas, advice, feedback, or a gateway to
tap into the resources and collected
experience of more than 1,000
promoters, from 107 Workshops, and a
45-year knowledge base of over 500
issues of this newsletter. If you are a
newcomer just getting your feet wet in
the complex business of track operation
and race event promotion, looking for
others you can bounce ideas off, trying to
sift fact from myth, we are available to
talk with you seven days a week and will
facilitate or answer every inquiry. Plan to
attend one of the three RPM Promoters
Workshops next winter. The Workshops
and this newsletter are time well-spent
that will boost your attendance and
strengthen your bottom line. Enjoy this
newsletter and the others that follow.
Follow RPM on Twitter, Facebook, or
LinkedIn. Subscribe to the RPM
Newsletter RSS feed, and you’ll not miss
a single update. Thank you for reading
and best of luck with your endeavors!
6
remember, or record, a great IMCA race
weekend at LVMS with over 250 cars
logged 905 starts, including 344 in Cup
expected, and famous Las Vegas fun, all
races and 547 in the series now
for the most reasonable of airfares and
sponsored by XFinity. He is heard and
seen on Sirius XM Radio and FOXSports1, lodging.
commentating on NASCAR events. He
And Kenny’s Therapist Will
also is a partner in the consortium that
Be There Too...
owns and operates Macon (IL) Speedway,
the biggest little dirt track in our industry-- Wallace once quipped that Joyce
a fifth-mile dirt track in central Illinois, with Standridge (who is also to be with us at
Las Vegas) was his “therapist” as well as
managing partner Bob Sargent, Ken
his biographer. We wouldn’t pretend to
Schrader, and Tony Stewart.
know who Wallace relies for clinical
What Happens In Vegas... assistance, nor whether Standridge
Will Boost Your Car Counts regards herself as his therapist, but we
are certain of two things--they go back a
& Ticket Sales!
long way, and Ms. Standridge has
If you haven’t met or heard Kenny Wallace forgotten more about what’s important in
in person, if you’re new to promotion and short track racing than many of us know.
haven’t been to a Workshop, or if you just We expect it to be a Workshop day to
haven’t been to a Workshop in a while, we remember. (Find more about Standridge
encourage you to join us next month at
on page nine.)
RPM@Vegas. Along with “Herman Live In
(Continued, P9)
Las Vegas,” you’ll enjoy 15 sessions, and
all the ideas you can write down,
Author, Racer’s Wife, Keen Observer Of The
Sport : Joyce Standridge will offer promoters her
“View From The Chigger Patch” at RPMs @Vegas,
@Indy, and @Daytona. Bring your notebooks and
tape recorders, because she’s seen it all.
(Standridge Photo)
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Phone: (724) 360-8000
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Phone: (865) 457-9888
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Phone: (972) 289-RACE (7223)
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Road & Drag
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Email: road&[email protected]
2608 E. California
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Phone: (559) 485-4512
www.hoosiertirewest.com
43rd Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series
RPM@Vegas
RPM@Indy
RPM@Daytona
November 11-13, 2015
December 9, 2015
February 14-16, 2016
Event Schedule
Event Schedule
Event Schedule
Pre-Registration, Exhibit Set-Up, Welcome Reception,
November 11, 2015, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
December 9, 2015, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
February 14, 2016, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
Sessions: November 12, 2015, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sessions: December 9, 2015, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sessions: February 15, 2016, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sessions: November 13, 2015, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
RPM@Vegas Official Hotel:
PALACE STATION HOTEL & CASINO, 2411 West Sahara Ave., Las
Vegas, NV. Standard Tower Rooms, $34.99 Monday-Thursday,
$84.99 Friday, Saturday; and standard Courtyard Rooms $24.99
Monday-Thursday, $54.99 Friday, Saturday, triple or quad
occupancy rates are higher. Rates are subject to a $9.99 service
fee per night and local room tax at prevailing rate. Reservation
cutoff is 10/17/2015, or upon block sellout. Reservations: (800)
634-3101, and ask for offer code “PCIRPM” to receive the RPM
Promoters Workshops room rate.
14
Sessions: February 16, 2016, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
RPM@Indy Official Hotels:
RPM@Daytona Official Hotel:
MICROTEL INN & SUITES, Indianapolis Airport, 5815 Rockville Rd.,
Indianapolis, IN 46224. Hotel direct reservations: 317-247-9703.
Special Workshops Group Rate: $59.95/night, plus tax, Reference
“RPM Promoters Workshop” when calling.
HILTON DAYTONA BEACH OCEAN WALK VILLAGE Official
Workshops hotel and meeting site: 100 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona
Beach, FL, Hilton Hotels reservations: 866-536-8477, Hotel direct
reservations: 386-254-8200 (9a-5p weekdays). Special Group
Rate: $139/night, Saturday-Tuesday, Reference “RPM Promoters
Workshops” when calling. www.daytonahilton.com
SLEEP INN & SUITES, Downtown Indianapolis 1244 West 16th St.,
Indianapolis, IN 46202 Hotel direct reservations: 317-653-1854,
Web: www.sleepinnindy.com/hotel/in312 Special Group Rate:
$89.95/night. Reference “RPM Promoters Workshop” when
calling. IMCA, A Supporting Sponsor
Time for a brief commercial break. We
announced in the September InsideGroove
that nominations are open for Regional Auto
Racing Promoters of the Year. A
retrospective on 40 years of ARPYs and the
ballot can be found on page 24. Nominate
today!
year and with the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway as it preps for the 100th Running
of its 500-mile race. We consider ourselves
fortunate to have the support of auto racing's
two century brands, and consider it a
privilege to work with both of them, and we
look forward to welcoming IMCA, who are no
strangers to the Workshops, as a supporting
sponsor in Las Vegas next month.
IMCA Supporting Sponsor
Super Nationals Revisited
We cannot recall when we first met IMCA’s
Kathy Root, but we know it was long before
she contemplated owning the organization,
and we contemplated being your editor. But,
under her guidance and adherence to Keith
Knaack’s principles, she brought the
organization to unique prominence in our
industry as the leading sanctioning
organization of weekly racing for avocational
racers. After more than 20 years of
purposefully resisting racing’s ill-conceived
passing fancies harmful to weekly racers and
the tracks that host them (which often
perplexes and frustrates racing observers),
she recently stepped back, handing
operations and decision making to her son
Brett Root. Brett this year will preside over
the completion of the 2015 season and at the
conclusion will present awards to champions
in IMCA’s 100th year of sanctioning
automobile races. They haven’t made much
noise about hitting the big 1-0-0, playing it
conservatively, so we’ll toot their horn for
them. As we pondered the significance of
IMCA’s 100th year, we realized it precedes
another century mark--the 100th Running of
the Indianapolis 500. How cool is this? Short
track racing beats the world’s most famous
race by one year! We know of no other
sanctioning group that has raced to the
century mark. This winter, Racing Promotion
Monthly is affiliated with IMCA in its 100th
Even readers new to promotion should know
of the IMCA Super Nationals. Several years
after Keith Knaack introduced his modified,
we covered the 4th such event for Stock Car
Racing Magazine a race we recall that drew
maybe 50 cars to the fairgrounds at
Independence, Iowa. (Our notes from the
weekend are long gone, as is our copy of the
magazine.) In early September, we enjoyed
a couple of days at the 33rd Annual IMCA
Super Nationals, the 28th such event hosted
at Boone Speedway. Over its six-day run, the
event drew an amazing (and record) 876
cars. For stat keepers, these numbers: 278
Modifieds, 193 Stock Cars, 33 Late Models,
167 SportMods, 141 Hobby Stocks, 63 Sport
Compacts. It was the eighth year the event
exceeded 800 entries. Drivers came from 25
states, Canada and Australia. The total
payout was $275,000 plus $60,000 in
contingencies.
Nominate Regional ARPYs
Novel Race Car Wrap: As IMCA celebrated 100 years of
race sanctioning, Texas driver Carbie McClearen (not
surprising that with such a name as Carbie he has such a
sense of humor) decided to celebrate the historic event
and show his admiration for Brett Root’s business acumen
with this specially created wrap for his IMCA Stock Car.
Humpy might have had million-dollar bills but he never
had a car.
(RPM Photo)
In our opinion, the Super National is only now
getting the respect it deserves. This is
because our sport, despite describing itself
as “grassroots,” is prone to paying greater
attention to professionals competing at short
tracks, the several Outlaw series, the several
Lucas Series, and other long-running
marquee events. There’s nothing wrong with
(See Boone, P10)
Session
Preview
RPM@Vegas, RPM@Indy
RPM@Daytona
The View From The Chigger Patch
Joyce Standridge joins us at all three
Workshops. Joyce is an auto racing
journalist, driver’s wife, car owner, pit
crew member, track employee, and
primarily racing fan. She is an
accomplished author, collaborating with
Ken Shrader and Kenny Wallace on
autobiographies. Joyce is a national award
winning writer for Speedway Illustrated. In
her “The View From the Chigger Patch,”
she’ll talk with promoters about the issues
faced by low-buck racing families and the
meaning they have for the sport as a
whole.
RPM@Vegas, RPM@Daytona
Building Your Own Marquee Events
Alabama track owner/promoter Billy
Thomas, joins us to share lessons he’s
learned building big events at East
Alabama Motor Speedway, the 37-yearold Alabama State Championships, the
41-year-old National 100, the Bama Bash
and the Jimmy Thomas Memorial.
Thomas is a believer in profitable, riskaverse, self-promoted special events and
one of the best at increasing event-related
revenue streams of all kinds. This
promises to be some of the best practical
advice ever heard at the Workshops.
9
IMCA Super Nationals Revisited
(Boone, From P9)
Session
Preview
RPM@Vegas, RPM@Indy,
RPM@Daytona
Adapting To The New Facebook
Kristin Swartzlander, DirtyMouth
Communications, sums up changes taking
place on the Facebook platform and their
effect on promoters. Swartzlander who
has worked with pro sports, as well as
tracks and teams, will explain how
Facebook is changing and how the
bottom has fallen out on the 'old way' of
using it. She’ll explain how promoters
can increase engagement despite the
changes, and build an audience they own,
so that the ever-evolving Facebook cannot
continue to block you from the audience
you have built.
Communicating To The Thick Slice
Communicator Mike Lysakowski will share
samples he’s accumulated as he coaches
promoters to sell racing to what he calls
the “thick slice,” of the pie chart--potential
ticket buyers not now regular fans. He’ll
explain "What NOT to do" in print ads,
schedule brochures, websites, and
Facebook pages, and talk with promoters
about the importance of understanding the
viewpoint of the target audience showing
where promoters often target the wrong
audience with the wrong message. 10
this, but the Super Nationals are otherwise
known as “America’s Racing Vacation” and
are an annual gathering place for the racers at
the 900-plus short tracks in this nation. We
overheard an observer say, “These guys skimp
and save for a year, eat PB&J sandwiches, just
to get here to be part of the happening.” While
IMCA does have its own “pros,” the observer
summed up the cache of the race week. Look
closely at Dean Malone’s aerial photo on our
cover. Think about what’s involved in laying
out a race property for a week such as this.
We observed 20 heats for Stock Cars and 30
heats for Modifieds, plus last chance races
and feature events the days we attended. The
track was never dusty! The races ran off like
clockwork. There is an impressive array of
John Deere equipment working the track after
each group of 10 races. Every race was
intense throughout the field for every position.
They came for the fun, but leave no money on
the table. Cars were wrecked, cars were
rebuilt, motors were changed; bodies were rehung every day.
Headlines, Of The Wrong Kind
News-wise; unfortunately, the race made
national headlines the result of Robert
Lawton’s late-night, fatigue-induced,
exasperation with a few handicapped fans,
which is unfortunate for the sport, for the
event, for Lawton, and for the aggrieved
wheelchair using fans. He was simply trying to
keep an exit aisle clear on feature race night
when two wheelchair occupants, among a
group of approximately 8-10 who regularly
attend races at Boone, took exception to, and
would not comply with, his request that they
vacate an aisle where he had earlier allowed
them to watch racing earlier in the season,
during regular weekly shows when the
premises is not at capacity. Those who know
Lawton from his many years on Workshops
panels know that he is disinclined to mince
words. He’ll tell you exactly what he thinks
without hesitation. (This frankness, by the way,
made him an all-time favorite panelist at the
Workshops.) He admits that he was correctly
quoted by the press after he told the fans that
if they didn’t relocate, he’d simply ban
wheelchairs and their occupants from the
premises, henceforth. After reflection and
some PR damage control, Lawton confesses
he could have measured his words more
carefully. But, it is noteworthy that the
uncooperative fan is also the person who
shopped the story to WHO, the most prominent
TV station in nearby Des Moines, IA. The news
result was inevitable. But in Lawton’s
defense, all but two of the fans accommodated
his request, and the uncooperative fans
tripped his trigger; a lapse any promoter can
relate to. (In the words of a promoter who
called our offices upon reading of the incident
to find out the background, said. “Been there,
done that,” concluding it doesn’t make it right,
but he’d been similarly hasty with his words in
the heat of the moment.) We’re all human
after all. When we are, it boosts the ratings of
newscasts and the tally of hits to news sites.
Fallout From A Flyer Filmed?
Following our departure from Boone, a
Modified racer got some serious air leaving the
high banks of the speedway and bouncing into
the brush, eventually coming to rest in a
drainage area bordering the track. At the risk
of appearing cavalier about a racing accident,
the significance we find in the accident is not
(See Flyer, P11)
Make’n It Happen: The Super Nationals found a home at
Boone Speedway 28 years ago after five years of moving
from track to track. Afterward, Robert & Bea Lawton
(lower picture) and partner Everett Sather worked each
year to make America’s Racing Vacation the phenomena it
is today. When Sather retired, (Kathy and Brett Root,
upper picture) of IMCA became partners in the race week.
The event continues to grow each year.
(RPM Photo)
Fallout From A Flyer Filmed?
(Flyer, From P10)
Session
Preview
RPM@Vegas, RPM@Indy
RPM@Daytona
Latest From Our Legal Eagles
Cary Agajanian, Paul Tetreault, and Don
Ornelas of the law firm Agajanian, McFall,
Weiss, Tetreault, & Crist, will summarize
significant case law and regulation events
from the year and answer promoters’
questions on matters of law, regulations,
ordinances, corporate structure, and more.
An hour or more of pro-bono legal advice
essential to all promoters.
RPM@Indy, RPM@Daytona
Partner With Sponsors For Profit
Mark Gundrum, VP Business
Development, and Corporate
Partnerships, ARCA Racing Series, returns
to share with promoters practical
partnering strategies proven in business
relationships between ARCA and its
sponsors. Gundrum began his career
working at short tracks and later worked
for Rex Robbins at ASA. He accumulated a
wealth of practical experience and street
smarts. Bring a pen and notebook, a tape
recorder, or your tablet, or smartphone for
this one. You’ll never remember
everything he’ll cover if you don’t.
so much the accident itself nor the response by
track crews and medics, but in the fact that the
driver’s GoPro-type camera apparently survived
the wreck and continued to record the driver after
the car came to rest including much of the
extrication process by track crews and
paramedics, and this video account is available on
YouTube (HERE). There is a tendency now to
regard such video recorders merely as fun and
handy tools for promotional video. Little thought is
given to intellectual property, liability, public
relations, and brand issues surrounding most
short track race events by promoters. Unlike
NASCAR that controls all on board cameras in its
events (for brand management, race control, and
liability reasons), it’s impractical for short tracks
with upwards of 50 independent entrants who are
free to race wherever and whenever they like. We
know of no short track rules addressing the
cameras and few promoters who feel they can
devote time to the myriad considerations related to
the cameras. The result will be more videos such
as the video from Boone posted to YouTube for
bragging rights and fun. But, we wonder, should
promoters be concerned about the cameras?
What if an injured driver is clearly suffering from
serious injuries, or is killed, and someone morbid
posts the video? What if, in the view of YouTube
onlookers, the emergency response can be seen
as slow, inadequate in some way, inept in some
way? What if your track safety crew isn’t mindful
of what it’s saying and the fact it could be
recorded without them realizing it? What if
entrants who perceive themselves through the
prism of victimhood use the videos with malicious
intent? In videos such as these, a few seconds can
appear to be an eternity and people will always
debate the appropriateness and promptness of
emergency response. Will ambulance chasers
use the videos to persuade otherwise disinclined
plaintiffs to initiate suits? Will these videos appear
in evidence in litigation? No doubt elsewhere in
daily life they already do so. All good questions,
these.
The Crate Nation, Still Growing
Thus far, “crate engines” have been almost
entirely limited to stock car and modified classes
because technology did not exist to mate them to
the drivelines of open wheeled cars. But, last
February at the Speedweek Workshop, during our
Workshop session discussing GM sealed engines,
driveline specialist Don Blackshear introduced to
promoters his innovative patented balance hub
assembly, now known as the “Crate Innovations
C11-21115” that enables the installation of “602”
and “604” Chevrolet sealed engines in sprint cars
without modification of the driveline (RPM issue
45.02). After experimentation and initial efforts to
adapt the engines by promoters such as Glenn
Styres at Osweken (Ontario) Speedway, sealed
engines can now be easily mounted in sprint cars.
DIRTcar announced September 25 the
introduction of its Pro Sprint Division, a winged
sprint class developed around the Chevrolet
Performance “602” sealed engine. 1998 Auto
Racing Promoter of the Year Larry Kemp, former
GM at Eldora Speedway, spearheaded the twoyear project to develop the class working with
Rich Farmer, Fremont (OH) Speedway, Pace
Performance, of Boardman, OH, a prominent
sealed engine supplier and service center to Vicki
Emig’s Pennsylvania-based RUSH Series for
Modifieds and Late Models, and with Don
Blackshear, Don Blackshear Automotive,
Hermitage, PA. Ed Kennedy’s Plymouth (IN)
Speedway, where much of the testing for the
concept was done, is the first track to enter a
sanction agreement with DIRTcar for the class in
2016. Kemp says the class is intended to an
“entry level” sprint class for weekly tracks, as and
affordable stepping stone from junior classes an
(See Crate Nation, P12)
Session
Preview
RPM@Vegas, RPM@Indy
RPM@Daytona
39th Auto Racing Promoter of the Year
RPM readers selected Gary Howe,
Kalamazoo Speedway, as 39th ARPY. His
path to ARPY is a testament to the culture
of the Workshops. Howe admits that
when he attended his first Workshop, he
thought he knew it all, and the speakers at
our podiums were all wet. He returned
home, did things his way, made the
mistakes new promoters make, and
created years of hardship for himself, but
now credits the promoters and the
Workshops for enabling him to become the
success he is now. Howe will share pearls
of wisdom gathered along the way.
Digital Timing & Scoring Pitfalls
Liz Fredrickson, Chief Scorer, NASCAR
K&N Pro Series East, anchors our
electronic timing & scoring session. Now
commonplace, the high-tech systems,
like all technology, come with advantages
but are not without challenges and
Fredrickson has dealt with all of them--as
they say, in real time, during events. She
and colleagues will share a few war
stories but also wisdom and experience
that will help you make your towers run
more smoothly.
11
DIRTCar “Crate” Sprint Introduced
Legalert
Pit Vehicle Liability
Please discuss liabilities associated with pit
vehicles, ATVs, golf carts, bicycles,
scooters, and mules?
As with any aspect of your business, pit
vehicles used by teams in pit areas are a risk
management issue. Some tracks have rules
covering these vehicles, including low speed
limits, limited hours of operation, operator age
limits, areas that are off-limits, and even
operator licensing. Consider some rules if you
don't have them and worry about problems.
While we know no tracks that do, if your state
or outdoor groups offer ATV safety courses with
diplomas or cards after completion, it might be
recommendable to have underage pit vehicle
drivers show them as a condition of being
granted a track license. Instruct your security to
police pit vehicle use diligently. Check for state
and local laws and regulations as well. Most
racing insurers require that entrants provide
proof of pit vehicle liability and property
insurance. If an incident with a pit vehicle
occurs, it is also recommendable to follow your
insurer's reporting guidelines and keep a record
of the incident. It might be recommendable to
get a police report if an officer is on the
premises. Despite these and any other
measures you might take, you nonetheless face
the prospect that you can be accused of
negligence for not properly controlling the
vehicles.
DISCLAIMER: While these legal questions have been
researched, we do not represent this as legal advice.
Laws vary. Readers should consult with local counsel
in all matters. RPM assumes no responsibility for
actions taken because of, or despite, answers
appearing herein.
YOU CAN HELP! If you’re are involved in a legal
challenge of any kind, or if you know of, or hear of,
any challenges involving racing operations, or
challenges to other sports or attractions that could
threaten motorsports, call or write RPM editorial
offices.
12
(Crate Nation, From P11)
them on the agenda. RPM@Vegas will feature 15
as an alternative to mini-sprint-type classes based sessions, over two days, Thursday, Friday
on motorcycle engines which cost more than the November 12 & 13. The one-day RPM@Indy
family racing operations common to “small car” offers a sampling of eight sessions drawn from
racing can afford. The Pro Sprint joins the IMCA the RPM@Vegas agenda. RPM@Daytona will
Racesaver Sprints as an affordable alternative for offer an agenda quite similar to RPM@Vegas with
drivers looking to race sprint cars and for tracks adjustments to accommodate our awards
ceremonies, and that agenda will be firmed up
looking to entertain fans with sprint car racing.
and published in early January. But for planning
Kemp, a friend and former employee of Keith
purposes now, presume it will be much like the
Knaack, long-time thinker about economy racing Vegas schedule linked in this story.
classes, who promoted the hometown track
DOWNLOAD RPM@VEGAS SCHEDULE HERE
where Knaack launched the IMCA Modified,
sought to assemble a complete package for
DOWNLOAD RPM@INDY SCHEDULE HERE
DIRTcar with a wide range of cost control
measures besides the engine/driveline package. The Finale At The Fairgrounds
Pace Performance is the exclusive supplier and
As we write this DIRTcar is teching cars for the
upfitter of the engines. The class will enforce a
Finale At The Fairgrounds, the 44th running of
“no rebuild” policy with the engines. The cars will Super DIRT Week. We’ll miss the party
race on spec Hoosier Tires, utilize a 5x4 wing with unfortunately because we’re deep in preparations
a weight break, and approved DIRTcar decaled
for the Workshops, and at the keyboard putting
shocks. The class requires the use of spec
together this newsletter, but wish everyone well.
headers, a spec carburetor, spec MSD control
It’s a spectacular race weekend. We’re
unit, spec Chevrolet Performance distributor, and disappointed the Moody Mile will go away and
a spec muffler for tracks where mufflers are
with it an over-100-year tradition of auto racing at
required.
the New York State Fairgrounds, but the place
was showing its age, we are told, and in tough
DIRTcar and Bill Martens of Chevrolet
shape--heck it didn’t look so hot the last time we
Performance will attend all three Workshops.
stopped in. We’re excited at the prospect of
Kemp will join us at RPM@Indy and @Daytona.
DIRTcar carrying on the tradition at Glenn
Workshops Session Schedules Donnelly’s new Central New York Raceway Park
Published
where there is an agreement to host the event
next October. Donnelly, Carl Myers, and their
Pulling together your Workshops is more time
partners will have their hands full getting CNYRP
consuming and complex than many readers might
ready for next October, especially if the winter is
expect, especially when our first gathering is three
unkind, but we are confident it will somehow get
weeks earlier than it has been in the past. But,
done. Donnelly expects to start building
preliminary session schedules finished and we
grandstands and buildings later this month, with a
can now share them with you. (Through the live
Memorial day 2016 target date for for the first
links at the conclusion of this story.) You will note
race. It will be multi-purpose half-mile for
that in sidebars this month offer synopses of
harness racing and cars, he said.
Workshops sessions along with a graphic
indicating the Workshop you can expect to find
Updates
Oktoberfest Weekend: Chuck Deery
predicts his annual season-ender at
LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds will attract
500 cars and 15000 fans, and we have
little reason to doubt his prediction. He
was the 25th Auto Racing Promoter of
the Year and has patiently built the
speedway and its events during his 20plus year run at the track. Fiftieth NSTC:
Jody, Susan, and David Deery celebrated
the 50th National Short Track
Championship October 4 at Rockford (IL)
Speedway. Soon to be 91 years old, Jody
Deery has seen all of the race events as
the principal in the family business and
she threw the green flag for the start of
the race. Susquehanna Speedway Park
Sold: Todd and Rhonda Fisher recently
sold Susky to Scott Gobrecht who will
operate the speedway beginning in
2016. Fisher has owned and operated
the track for 12 years. Fisher brought
stability to a troubled operation many
thought was beyond reclamation and
enjoyed a successful run. We wish the
Fishers well in future endeavors and
wish Gobrecht well as he embarks on his
tenure as track owner. Badlands
Speedway: Entrepreneur Charles
Brennan is making a lot of noise in Sioux
Falls, SD after purchasing Huset’s
Speedway and renaming it Badlands
Speedway. He claims ties to the
entertainment business and the website
for Badlands promises a regional
entertainment amphitheater and bigmoney races. We’ll keep an eye out for
things promoters can learn...
Alan Kreitzer
Silver Spring (PA) Speedway
Introducing
Regional Auto Racing
Promoters of The Year
When readers selected Alan Kreitzer as Regional Auto Racing Promoter of
the Year, he was operating Silver Spring (PA) Speedway and was involved
with Williams Grove (PA) Speedway. Kreitzer closed Silver Spring and sold
the property for development, but remains involved in the operation of
Lincoln (PA) Speedway today and the traveling Super Sportsman Series, the
open wheel class that formerly headlines at Silver Spring.
Session
Preview
RPM@Vegas, RPM@Indy
RPM@Daytona
Two Popular Workshops Forums
2015 Season Recap, An Open Forum
Discussion: Promoters and Workshops
moderators capsulize 2015 and share
their analysis of the 2015 season,
discussing tech, car class dynamics, car
counts, successful and unsuccessful
promotions, ticket sales peaks and
valleys, and more, attempting to sum up
an overall picture of the 2015 season.
How was your season? Looking for
benchmarks? Was it just your track, or
are there others like yours? Want to
compare results? Here’s your chance.
David Laber
816-295-1855
Donna Dinius
260-459-5551
David Laber
816-295-1855
Bianca Bird
260-459-5738
Steve Sinclair
260-459-5714
Kathy Rhoades
260-459-5168
Steve Sinclair
260-459-5714
Toni Fries
260-459-5126
Kevin Cismowski
260-459-5679
Kerri Hamilton
260-459-5773
Kevin Cismowski
260-459-5679
Lori Tschantz
260-459-5739
Do You Want More Cars, More Fans, In
2016? Promoters and Workshops
moderators compare and share thinking
and plans for the 2016 season. After
analyzing 2015, what will stay the same
and what will change? What worked in
2015? What will be kept in 2016? They’ll
talk class trends, tech issues, whether
schedules and race nights will change,
promotions they’ll implement, or abandon,
new or renewed ticket promotions, and
more. Especially at Vegas which gives you
12 extra weeks to prepare for the new
session this session can help you make
the choices you contemplate.
13
THE RPM PROMOTERS WORKSHOP
HAS A NEW DATE AND LOCATION!
Dick O’Brien
ARPY 1981
Promoters selected the New York General manager of Oswego
Speedway as 1981 Auto Racing Promoter of the Year. O’Brien
and his wife Linda worked with the Bill, George, and Harry
Caruso, and the Caruso family to promote the Speedway and
the Supermodified racing for which it is known throughout the
1970‘s and 1980’s.
Session
Preview
Third Workshop, The 100th Running
When we convene at Indianapolis Motor
Speedway for our third RPM@Indy
Workshop, the historic running of the
100th Indianapolis 500--the longest
continuously presented race meet in
motorsports will be six months away
Doug Boles, president of the Speedway,
the Hulman George family, and the staff of
Indianapolis Motor Speedway want to
make you welcome, and help you to get to
know their tradition. They’ve invited us to
help them celebrate the 100th running of
“The Greatest Spectacle In Racing.” As
you are seated at the Workshop, you’ll
look out at the front straight away below,
and on the yard of bricks. You’ll feel the
tradition. You’ll be surrounded by the
history. And if RPM does its job well, you’ll
share and compare with colleagues, and
depart at day’s end with valuable practical
ideas that will increase your car counts
and sell more tickets in 2016. What could
be better!
15
Directory Of Services
For Promoters
ADMISSION CONTROL, TICKETS
DIAMOND TICKETING SYSTEMS
www.diamondticketing.com
845 E. 4800 South, Murray, UT, 84107, 866-323-5411, ext 107
Diamond Ticketing Systems provides customized snd costeffective ticketing solutions focused on helping motorsports
organizations build revenue and increase marketing exposure.
TICKETFORCE
www.ticketforce.com
4858 E. Baseline Rd, Ste 103, Mesa, AZ 85206 877-726-3581
TicketForce utilizes a powerful web-based ticketing system to
provide the racing industry a fully customizable solution to
ticketing online, mobile, and Facebook ticketing.
WELDON, WILLIAMS & LICK
www.wwlinc.com [email protected]
711 North A St., Fort Smith, AR 72901, 800-242-4995
WW&L, Inc. specializes in roll tickets and fast turnaround event
tickets. We also sell the automated KIS Ticket System.
APPAREL, SOUVENIRS, NOVELTIES
ADVERTISING EDGE
www.advertisingedge.com
9840 Prospect Ave., Santee, CA 92071, 800-258-9774
In-house manufacturer of and for embroidery, screen printing,
direct to garment printing, full-color sublimation, promo
products. 16
RACE TRACK WHOLESALE
www.racetrackwholesale.com
817 Delaware, Independence, MO 64050, 816-718-2231 FAX
866-365-2231
Wholesale distributor of racing souvenirs, t-shirts, and
promotional products serving the grassroots racing industry
since 2008.
ADVERTISING DESIGN
SIMES GRAPHIC DESIGNS
www.simesgraphicdesigns.com
414 Main St., Mandan, ND 58554, 888-457-4637 Simes Graphic is full service art studio that services short track
racing. They design and print all types of brochures, posters,
promotional materials.
AUDIO, VIDEO PRODUCTION
MOFFETT PRODUCTIONS
www.moffett.com,
16140 Kuykendahl St., #126, Houston, TX 77068,
800-HOTT ADS
Professional audio production. Radio spots, TV ads, Tracks Trax
race track audio CDs. Great creative, fast service, reasonable
prices.
AWARDS & TROPHIES
SIMES GRAPHIC DESIGNS
www.simesgraphicdesigns.com
414 Main St., Mandan, ND 58554,, 888-457-4637 Simes Graphic is full service art studio that services short track
racing. They manufacture high-end custom cast aluminum
trophies.
BANNERS & SIGNAGE
TOTAL TRACK SOLUTIONS
www.totaltracksolutions.com
7613 Hamilton Avenue, Mt. Healthy, OH 45231 513-521-7446
Wholesale pricing. Banners, billboards, mesh, flags, car wraps,
decals, installation, signage consultation,marketing plans, a
division of GCI Digital Imaging.
BLEACHERS AND SEATING
BLEACHER BUILDERS INCORPORATED
www.bleacherbuilders.com
2710 South Blaine Street, Muncie, IN 47302, 765-716-5767
Specializing in grandstands and suites for speedways,
engineering, design/build, used bleachers, suites, press boxes,
buying used seating from major speedways.
COMPUTER TIMING & SCORING, SCOREBOARDS
DAKTRONICS
www.daktronics.com [email protected]
201 Daktronics Drive, Brookings, SD 57006, 800-325-8766
Daktronics is recognized worldwide as the leading designer and
manufacturer of electronic scoreboards, message centers, and
large LED video displays.
MYLAPS TIMING & SCORING
www.mylaps.com
2030 Powers Ferry Rd SE, Ste. 110, Atlanta, GA 30339,
678-816-4000
MyLaps offers the best in class sports timing systems to measure,
publish, and analyze race and participant results for all sports and
specifically auto racing.
Supporting Sponsor of the RPM Promoters Workshops
Spec racing with INEX. Legends Cars, Bandoleros, Thunder Roadsters
and the new U.S. Legends Modified. Entry classes that attract new
participants. Strict rules enforcement alleviates rules problems.
Complete car manufacturing, promotion and rules enforcement.
5245 NC 49 South, Harrisburg, NC 28075 704-455-3906
Circle track crate engines. Engine, chassis and other racing/high
performance accessories
available at your local GM dealer.
For more information, contact Bill Martens: [email protected]
6200 Grand Pointe Drive, Grand Blanc, MI 48349 800-GM USE US (468-7387)
www.chevroletperformance.com/circletrack/
www.uslegendcars.com
One-Way Radios
Race Management System
Raceceiver is the world’s smallest radio receiver, used for one-way
communications to drivers. Raceceiver Race Management System by
Westhold, transponder scoring for short tracks.
www.raceceiver.com
872 Main Street SW Ste D2., Gainesville, GA 30501 866-301-7223
FIRETHORN MARKETING
Custom website design, and developer of custom e-mail
marketing campaigns. E-commerce specialists.
www.firethornmarketing.com
11550 Indian Hill Way., Zionsville, IN 46077, 304-481-9807
For Promoters
RACECEIVER RACE MANAGEMENT
www.raceceiver.com,
872 Main St. SW, Unit D2, Gainesville, GA 30501, 866-301-7223
Raceceiver race communications. Raceceiver race management
timing and scoring system.
WESTHOLD CORPORATION
www.westhold.com [email protected]
742 Charcot Avenue, Avenue, San Jose, CA 95131,
408-533-0050
Westhold is a leading seller and manufacturer of race timing and
scoring systems, scoreboards, message centers, video displays,
and software.
CRATE ENGINES/PERFORMANCE PARTS
CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE
www.chevrolet.com/performance/crate-engines.html
6200 Grand Pointe Dr., Grand Blanc, MI 48349, 810-606-3655 Circle track crate engines. Engine, chassis, and other racing/
high-performance accessories available at your local GM dealer.
For information, contact Bill Martens.
FORD RACING
www.fordracingparts.com
24796 Davenport Ave., Novi, MI 48374, 800-367-3788
Sealed racing engines and engine components
FUEL, LUBE, ADDITIVES
LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS
www.lucasoil.com
302 N. Sheridan St., Corona, CA 92880, 800-342-2512
Nationally known manufacturer and marketer of lubricants and
additives for fleets and automobiles, owner or sponsor of Lucas
18
Oil I-10 and Lucas Oil (MO) Speedways, drag racing, drag boat
racing, pulling, motocross, off-road racing, ASCS Sprint Car
Series, Lucas Oil MLRA Series, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt
Series, and MAV TV American Real.
SUNOCO RACING FUELS
www.racegas.com
PO Box 1226, Linwood, PA 19061, 800-722-3427
The largest refiner of racing gasoline. National distribution of
quality brands. SUNOCO, Turbo Blue, and Trick.
GAMING DESTINATIONS
ELDORADO HOTEL/CASINO
www.eldoradoreno.com
345 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 8950, 800-648-5966
Superb dining in five themed restaurants, 800 gorgeous rooms,
and suites, 81,000 sq. ft. of fun and gaming, world class
entertainment. Sponsor of Workshops.
INSURANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT
ALLIED SPECIALTY INSURANCE
www.alliedspecialty.com [email protected]
10451 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, FL 33706, 800-237-3355
Allied Specialty Insurance is a leader in the Motorsports industry
since 1983. Call us for a speedy quote!
JONES BIRDSONG MOTORSPORT INSURANCE
www.jonesbirdsong.com
8935 South Pecos Road, Unit 22B, Henderson, NV 89074,
866-998-3804
Jones Birdsong Motorsports offers the widest range of products
designed to protect motorsports associations, facilities, teams,
and special events.
K&K INSURANCE GROUP
1712 Magnavox Way, Ft. Wayne, IN 46804, 800-348-1839
www.kandkcanada.com
K&K Insurance Group Canada,
#101-5800 Explorer Drive, Mississauga, ON, L4W 5K9,
800-753-2632
The industry’s largest provider of racing insurance. More than 40
years of underwriting and risk management experience.
Motorsport’s most experienced in-house claims staff.
International service capability. Proud sponsors of RPM and the
RPM Promoters Workshops.
NAUGHTON INSURANCE, INC.
www.naughtoninsurance.com [email protected]
1365 Wampanoag Trail, East Providence, RI 02915,
401-433-4000
Motorsports insurance programs for race tracks, teams,
sanctioning groups, and drivers since 1947. Programs available
in all 50 states.
SPORTS INSURANCE SPECIALISTS
www.sportsinsurancespecialists.com
4115 Clubview Drive,
Fort Wayne, IN 46804, 855-969-0305 Sports Insurance Specialists offers a complete motorsports
portfolio of participant and spectator insurance. A proven
industry leader. “Let’s kick some risk.”
For Promoters
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
MUSCO LIGHTING, INC.
www.musco.com
100 First Avenue W., Oskaloosa, IA 52577, 800-825-6020
Manufacturer of race track lighting systems for short tracks,
dragstrips and superspeedways. Featuring the Light Structure
Green System and S.C. 2 Retrofit systems.
MARKETING & MEDIA CONSULTATION
DIRTYMOUTH COMMUNICATIONS
www.dirtymouthcommunications.com
170 Morehead Road, Sarver, PA 16055 724-448-5120
Helping tracks, sanctioning bodies and entrepreneurs build
profitable racing programs by integrating marketing, social
media, public relations and sponsorship activation.
RACING TIRES
HOOSIER RACING TIRE
www.hoosiertire.com
65465 US 31 South, Lakeville, IN 46536, 574-784-3152
Complete line of custom-manufactured spec racing tires for oval
tracks, drag racing and road racing. The only company
exclusively manufacturing racing tires. Proud sponsor of RPM
and the RPM Promoters Workshops.
RACE TIRES AMERICA
www.americanraceronline.com
1545 Washington St., Indiana, PA 15701, 800-662-2168
Making competitive, cost-effective race tires, so that you can
focus on increased car counts and exciting shows.
20
TOWEL CITY RETREADING
www.towelcityracingtires.com
1601 N. Ridge Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28083, 704-933-2143
Forty-six years experience manufacturing economical longwearing retreaded racing tires, 7 to 13‚ widths, dirt or asphalt.
Track tire plans available.
RADIOS, COMMUNICATIONS
AMERICAN ELECTRONICS, INC.
www.americanelectronicsinc.com
PO Box 301, Greenwood, IN 46142, 800-872-1373
Two-way radios, noise-canceling headsets, and accessories
designed for speedways, and dragstrips. Exclusive home of the
FREEDOM radio and the BOSS II and EARS headsets.
RACECEIVER RACE COMMUNICATIONS
www.raceceiver.com
872 Main St. SW, Unit D2, Gainesville, GA 30501, 866-301-7223
Raceceiver one-way radios and race communications.
SANCTIONING GROUPS
IMCA-INTERNATIONAL MOTOR CONTEST ASSOCIATION
www.imca.com
1800 West D Street, Vinton, IA 52349, 319-472-2201
The nation’s oldest, largest, and leading sanctioning body. We
focus on affordable divisions to assist the profitability of our
sanctioned facilities and events.
INEX
www.uslegendcars.com
5245 NC 49 South, Harrisburg, NC 28075, 704-455-3906
Spec racing with INEX. Legends Cars, Bandoleros, Thunder
Roadsters, Modifieds. Entry classes that attract new participants.
Strict rules enforcement alleviates rules problems. Complete car
manufacturing, promotion and rules enforcement.
NASCAR
www.nascar.com
One Daytona Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114, 386-310-6272
The NASCAR Home Tracks Program offers sanctioning
opportunities for weekly racing and touring series events across
North America and Europe.
WISSOTA PROMOTERS ASSOC.
www.wissota.org
PO Box 297, Dassel, MN 55325, 320-275-9922
A member-driven sanction in the Upper Midwest featuring six
divisions of race cars: Late Models, Modifieds, Super Stocks,
Midwest Modifieds, Street Stocks and Mod Fours. As a member
of WISSOTA, you vote on policies and rules and help guide YOUR
organization. Click on Promoter Center at wissota.org.
SPONSORSHIP
SPEEDWAY BENEFITS
www.speedwaybenefits.com
Speedway Benefits unites the best ideas from the most
knowledgable in the industry, to help promoters innovate,
improve, and maximize profits.
WEB DESIGN & HOSTING
FIRETHORN MARKETING
www.firethornmarketing.com
11550 Indian Hill Way., Zionsville, IN 46077, 304-481-9807
Developer of custom e-mail marketing campaigns and custom
website design. E-commerce specialists.
IMCA-INTERNATIONAL MOTOR CONTEST ASSOCIATION
The nation’s oldest, largest, and leading sanctioning body. We focus on
affordable divisions to assist the profitability of our sanctioned facilities
and events.
1800 West D Street, Vinton, IA 52349, 319-472-2201
www.imca.com
TRY SOMETHING
NEW... E-FLYERS
WHY NOT THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX...
PROMOTE YOUR NEXT BIG EVENT WITH
A E-FLYER OR PRINTED POSTER/FLYER!
FROM
SIMES
GRAPHIC
DESIGNS
WHAT’S AN E-FLYER? An e-flyer is the same great artwork we
use in all our printed materials, but in a digital form that is used
in e-mails. A super way to promote upcoming events and to keep
everyone up to date on what is important at your track. We even
give you a pdf that is usable in printing flyers for handout at the
track, all for one reasonable price. Special price for readers of the
RPM newsletter $75.00 per flyer... That includes a print ready pdf
file and a jpg made for your website.
NEED A TRACK & EVENT POSTERS & FLYERS? A colorful poster
or flyer is still one of the best ways to attract attention to your
next big event. A powerful poster is great for store windows,
restaurants, and other visible locations. We’ll custom-design the
perfect one. IN A HURRY? Full-color posters or flyers in quantities
as low as 50 to 250 that ship the same day of approval.
TO ORDER OR LEARN MORE INFORMATION E-MAIL OR CALL
.com
[email protected] or 888-457-4637
MARKET YOUR BIG RACE
WITH POSTER OR FLYERS!
Editorial: Stop The Online BS!
We know we’re preaching to the choir, but
we’ve got to get this off our chest! Being a
promoter is tough. Governing any sport is
fraught with challenges, managerial, and
interpersonal, then add the challenges of
small business ownership. As they say, “It’s
lonely at the top,” and we find promoters
generally are people who thrive on
challenges, and are self-confident enough
to persevere despite the criticism of people
who would never volunteer for their jobs.
Like other leaders, promoters laugh it off
believing they aren’t there to be liked, but
only respected. Over two-plus decades,
we’ve watched the promoters difficult job
exponentially increase in difficulty as people
changed. Our population’s now common
tendency to see themselves as victims adds
an entirely new dimension to the difficulties
of track ownership and race operations.
The dominant paradigm guiding many
people today seems to be this, “If you’re in
a position of power or control (such as track
owner) then you came to that position
somehow in an illegitimate way, at the
expense of someone and, as you are in that
position now, you keep the power through
the exploitation of someone else.” This is
what the modern paradigm of victimhood
teaches, and it’s repeated every night in
evening newscasts. Most promoters are
essentially volunteers. Those that manage
club-operated tracks do so for little pay
because leader-types must find something
to lead. They’re just those kind of people.
Promoters who own or lease step up to the
plate for two reasons, some see what they
believe to be an opportunity to make a
profit, others are sportsmen, they have the
means, and motivation (As some would say,
love for the sport) that challenge them to
work for the good of a group entrants and
fans who share their enthusiasm. We know
no promoter who does what he or she does
to screw someone else, to deprive someone
else of all their money, to make someone
else look bad. Yet, when we walk pit road
this is what we most often hear in
conversation between entrants. This is the
part about racing we do not understand.
Promoters, just like the elected officials that
volunteer to run our communities, do what
they do to enable others to pursue their
dreams and passions. So too racing
officials. None do it for the money. They
could make more doing almost anything
else. So why must they be targets of so
much disdain, even hatred? The reason:
drivers and car owners just can’t admit to
themselves, or in front of others, that
tonight’s race wasn’t their best, or that they
setup the car wrong, or that despite all the
money they invest their stuff still isn’t
enough, or that they’re embarrassed in front
of their friends at not doing better. It’s been
this way since we bought our first pit pass.
Thirty years ago, disappointed racers went
to bar afterward, had a beer, griped about
the promoter, and drove home. The half
dozen folks along the bar knew the racer
was just bummed out and inebriated and
ignored all he said. Nowadays, sobriety
laws mean racers can’t stop at the bar, so
they go home, have a beer, fire up the
computer, The tablet, the smartphone, login
to social media, and say all things they
would have said at the bar--and the millions
of folks online with them have no idea
they’re inebriated, no idea they’re feeling
sorry for themselves, and no idea their
talking nonsense. It’s got to stop before
those who love the sport the most destroy it
for themselves and everyone else!
Credential Application 43rd RPM Promoters Workshops
Credential Application, RPM@Indy 2015
RPM@Indy, Dec. 9, 2015
RPM@Vegas, Nov. 11-13, 2015; RPM@Daytona, Feb. 14-16, 2016
Applications by mail, FAX, e-mail, after deadlines are void. Late entries welcome at Workshop. No late entry up charge.
Track or Organization
Please Print Legibly All Information
_________________________________________________________________
Track/Series/Club/Firm
RPM@Vegas
RPM@Daytona
Fax/Postal/E-Mail Advanced Application Deadline for RPM@Vegas,
October 26, 2015. For RPM@Daytona, February 6, 2016
Credentials Requested For...
RPM@Indy
Fax/Postal/E-Mail Advanced Application
Deadline, November 27, 2015
Credentials Requested For...
_________________________________________________________________
Contact Name
________________________________________________________________
Owner/Promoter/First Registrant
$295.00
______________________________________________________________
Owner/Promoter/First Registrant
$195.00
_________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address
________________________________________________________________
2nd Registrant
Advanced Discount $270.00
______________________________________________________________
2nd Registrant
$195.00
_________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip
________________________________________________________________
3rd Registrant
______________________________________________________________
3rd Registrant
$195.00
_________________________________________________________________
Telephone
FAX
________________________________________________________________
4th Registrant
______________________________________________________________
4th Registrant
$195.00
_________________________________________________________________
E-Mail Address
________________________________________________________________
5th Registrant
______________________________________________________________
5th Registrant
$195.00
Total Fees (US Dollars Only Please)..........................
Total Fees (US Dollars Only Please).......................
Only applications with e-mail receive confirmation.
Reserve Your Palace Station
“Boarding Pass”
Reserve Your “Player’s Card” Now! Claim it When You Arrive.
_____________________________________________________
Full Name As Shown On ID (Print Legibly, Please)
Credential Discount Void After Deadline. All Late Entries, $290.00
____________________________________________________
Name On Card
____________________________________________________
Card Number
____________________________________________________
Expiration Date
Security Code
_____________________________________________________
Complete Address as Shown on ID
SIGNATURE: I hereby agree to terms & condition at the right, registration fees, and charges to
my credit card.
_____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Signature
Date
Date of Birth ___________________________________________
Enquire upon arrival at hotel registration (the hotel Front
Desk) to claim your Boarding Pass.
Send This Application To...
FAX app to 715.536.3616
Mail to: RPM Workshops, PO Box 406, Merrill, WI 54452
Email to: [email protected]
Workshop Dates & Times
RPM@Vegas, Nov. 11-13, 2015 Pre-Registration, Wed. Evening, 11/11/15,
Sessions, Nov 12-13, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
RPM@Indy, Open at 7:30 a.m., Sessions, 9-5:30 p.m. Weds., Dec. 9, 2015
RPM@Daytona, Feb. 14-16, 2016 Pre-Registration, Sun. Evening, 02/14/16
Sessions, Feb. 15-16, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
More Information
Call/Email Stewart Doty, 715.536.1067, [email protected]
Terms/Conditions & Refund Policy
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND: Admission to the
RPM Promoters Workshops is limited to authorized
members of the motorsports industry. This
registration is offered only to weekly-schedule oval
track and dragstrip promoters (and owners, lessees,
managers, etc.) and their designated staff members,
officers of racing associations and touring series and
their designated staff members, promoters of
specialty motorsports events and their designated
staff members and the motorsports press. Decisions
regarding eligibility to register and attend are solely
within the discretion of Workshops management.
Workshops management reserves the exclusive right
to offer registration to other individuals. Workshops
management, in all instances, reserves the right to
decline registration and admission at these private
meetings. Receipt or possession of this application
does not imply or constitute a right of admission or a
right to participate in the Workshops. The
registration fees here are offered to race facility
owners, lessees, promoters, managers, association
officers and their staff. Participation by commercial
firms shall be through commercial registration only,
as detailed in the solicitation of such firms.
REFUNDS AND DEADLINES: Registrations after
deadline dates are void. Fee refunds are made upon
written request, following the Speedweek Workshop.
Fees may also be credited toward registration at
subsequent Workshops. If a registrant attends any
meeting session, he or she is ineligible for refund.
All refunds are subject to 10% handling charge.
Substitutions accepted only prior to registration
deadlines. Substitutions are not accepted at the
door. All at-the-door registrations, new or
substitute, will be charged at-the-door registration
fees.
REGISTER IN ADVANCE, PLEASE: Fees shown on
this application are for PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY.
Pre-registering saves you money (at-the-door
registrants will be admitted at the flat rate of
$290.00 per person).
For
Entered _____________ Check Amt. _____________
Official
Use Only Charged _____________ Confirmed ______________
Mark Your Calendar, December 9, 2015
The RPM Promoters Workshops
Return To Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Celebrating 40 years of
Promotional Excellence
Who Will You Nominate For Promoter of the Year?
Cusack, Terry Eames, C.J. Richards, Alex Freisen,
Ben Dodge, Mark Arute, Red MacDonald, Bill
Ryan, Andrew Harpell, Sylvia Shirley Porter, Gary
Donna Howe, James Griffin, Adam Nelson, Roger
Who’s Eligible, Who’s Received
Hadan, Steve Beitler, Wayne Anderson/Linus Don
the Award?
Honor Roll, Regional Auto Racing Mack/Darren Evavold, Bruce Rogers, Todd Fisher,
Promoters of the
Fritz Roehrig, Al Varnadore/Todd Hutto, Jim Doran,
Paul Zimmerman, the Bassuener Family, Orville
Year
Honor Roll of
Chenoweth, Toby
Bob Barkhimer, Ned Jarrett,
Promoters of the
Kruse, Rodney Wing,
Harvey Tattersall, John
Redd Griffin, Roger
Year
Marcum, Ed Bloom, Bob
Hadan, Dan Robinson,
Previous recipients of the
Slack, Dick Tobias, Roger
Kurt Beeksma and the
Auto Racing Promoter of the
Holdeman, Ken Clapp,
Ashland Bayfield
Year Award, the “ARPY
Marshall Wilkings, Keith Hall,
2015
County Racing
Award,” are: Hugh Deery,
Stan Durrett, Darwin Hentz,
Association, Harold
1976 and 1984
Jim Corcoran, Leroy Nelson,
Crook, Joe Phyliss
posthumously; J.C.
Jim Raper, Doug Fort, Dan
Loven, Rich Farmer,
Agajanian, 1977; D. Anthony
Jones, John Stiles, George
Doug Traci Hobbs,
Venditti, 1978; Jack Gunn,
Butland, Gary Cressey, Sharon
Ron Scott Wimmer,
1979; George Eisenhart,
Craig Kelley, Marty Jones,
Tim Pat Bryant, Dan The Best of The Best: Pictured here on the occasion of the 30th ARPY Award: (Back) Bob
1980; Dick O'Brien, 1981;
Dave Manes, Bill Leesch,
Daniels, C-Ray Hall, Glenn Donnelly, Cary Agajanian, Tom Curley, Howard Commander,
Robinson.
Robert Lawton, (Center) Chuck Deery, Ralph Capitani, Andy Vertrees, Steve York, Charles
Howard Tiedt, 1982; Don Martin, 1983; Glenn
Roger Van Daalwyk, Frank
Cathell, Paul Kuhl, Larry Kemp, (Bottom) Jody Deery, Earl Baltes, Berniece Baltes, Beverly
Donnelly, 1985; Cary Agajanian, 1986; Bud
Plessinger, Bill Lipkey, Mason Day, the Meals
Edwards, Lanny Edwards, Zonda Powell, Charles Powell.
(Lukens Photo)
Lunsford, 1987; Bob Daniels, 1988; Howard
Family, the Beacham Family, Benny Yount, Rick
Farren, Mick Beadle, the Rubin Brothers, John
Commander, 1989; Ray Wilkings, 1990; Paul
Bandimere, Lee Baumgarten, the Cook Brothers,
Kuhl, 1991; Robert Lawton; 1992; Earl Baltes,
Marion Collins, Tom Helfrich, Russell Hackett, Bob
1993; Jody Deery, 1994; Andy Vertrees, 1995;
Charles Powell, 1996; C-Ray Hall, 1997; Larry
Fredrickson, Mike Lamm, the Chrysler Family,
Kemp, 1998; Charles Cathell, 1999; Charles
Mark Chewning, Alan Kreitzer, Dale Johnnie
Pinelis, the Stone Family with Ted Austad, Bob
Deery, 2000; Ralph Capitani, 2001; Lanny
Edwards, 2002; Bob Nadine Strauss, 2003; Tom Allen, Craig Cormack, Mooney Starr, Joe Clay,
John Hellendrung, Ray Marler and Ken Schrader,
Curley, 2004, Steve York, 2005; John Padjen,
2006; Lynn Phillips, 2007, Joe and Walt
Les McBurney, Harvey Fink, Don Hoenig, Andy
What Is The ARPY Award?
Doellefeld, 2008, the Nuckles Family, 2009, the
Queensland family, 2010, Robert Sargent, 2011,
Ron Drager Scott Schultz, 2012, Roger Hadan,
2013, Gary Donna Howe, 2014.
Nominate 40th Auto Racing Promoter of the Year
Vote By FAX-Back or E-mail
Honor Roll,
Auto Racing Promoters of the Year
Bob Sargent, Macon (IL) Speedway, received the award last year.
Previous winners are: Hugh Deery, 1976/1984; J.C. Agajanian,
1977; D. Anthony Venditti, 1978; Jack Gunn, 1979; George
Eisenhart, 1980; Dick O'Brien, 1981; Howard Tiedt, 1982; Don
Martin, 1983; Glenn Donnelly, 1985; Cary Agajanian, 1986; Bud
Lunsford, 1987; Bob Daniels, 1988; Howard Commander, 1989; Ray
Wilkings, 1990; Paul Kuhl, 1991; Robert Lawton; 1992; Earl Baltes,
1993; Jody Deery, 1994; Andy Vertrees, 1995; Charles Powell,
1996; C-Ray Hall, 1997; Larry Kemp, 1998; Charles Cathell, 1999;
Charles Deery, 2000; Ralph Capitani, 2001; Lanny Edwards, 2002;
Nadine Bob Strauss, 2003; Tom Curley, 2004, Steve York, 2005;
John Padjen, 2006; Lynn Phillips Alfred Gurley, 2007; Joe Walt
Doellefeld, 2008; and the Nuckles family, Columbus (OH) Motor
Speedway, 2009, The Queensland Family, 2010; Bob Sargent, 2011;
Ron Drager and Scott Schultz, 2012; Roger Michelle Hadan, 2013;
Gary Donna Howe.
Past Regional Auto Racing Promoters of the Year:
Bob Barkhimer, Ned Jarrett, Harvey Tattersall, John Marcum, Ed
Bloom, Bob Slack, Dick Tobias, Roger Holdeman, Ken Clapp,
Marshall Wilkings, Keith Hall, Stan Durrett, Darwin Hentz, Jim
Corcoran, Leroy Nelson, Jim Raper, Doug Fort, Dan Jones, John
Stiles, George Butland, Gary Cressey, Sharon Craig Kelley, Marty
Jones, Dave Manes, Bill Leesch, Roger Van Daalwyk, Frank
Plessinger, Bill Lipkey, Mason Day, the Meals Family, the Beacham
Family, Benny Yount, Rick Farren, Mick Beadle, the Rubin Brothers,
John Bandimere, Lee Baumgarten, the Cook Brothers, Marion
Collins, Tom Helfrich, Russell Hackett, Bob Fredrickson, Mike Lamm,
the Chrysler Family, Mark Chewning, Alan Kreitzer, Dale Johnnie
Pinelis, the Stone Family Ted Austad, Bob Allen, Craig Cormack,
Mooney Starr, Joe Clay, John Hellendrung, Ray Marler Ken
Schrader, Les McBurney, Harvey Fink, Don Hoenig, Andy Cusack,
Terry Eames, C.J. Richards, Alex Freisen, Ben Dodge, Mark Arute,
Red MacDonald, Bill Ryan, Andrew Harpell, Sylvia Shirley Porter,
Gary Donna Howe, James Griffin, Adam Nelson, Roger Hadan, Steve
Beitler, Wayne Anderson/Linus Don Mack/Darren Evavold, Bruce
Rogers, Todd Fisher, Fritz Roehrig, Al Varnadore/Todd Hutto, Jim
Doran, Paul Zimmerman, the Bassuener Family, Orville Chenoweth,
Toby Kruse, Rodney Wing, Redd Griffin, Roger Hadan, Dan Robinson,
Kurt Beeksma and the Ashland Bayfield County Racing Association,
Harold Crook, Joe Phyliss Loven, Rich Farmer, Doug Traci Hobbs,
Ron Scott Wimmer, Tim Pat Bryant, Dan Robinson.
Supported by Charlotte Motor Speedway, Recognizing Excellence In Promotion!
Deadline December 18, 2015.
Racing Promotion Monthly and Charlotte Motor Speedway team up again to recognize excellence in race promotion through the Auto Racing Promoter of the Year Award. We appreciate the
commitment of MARCUS SMITH and the employees of Charlotte Motor Speedway as they assist us in calling attention to the work of the men and women who lead the short track industry.
STEP ONE: Determine and indicate your region
REGION 1--EASTERN REGION: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New
Jersey. REGION 2--SOUTHEASTERN REGION: Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina. REGION 3--CENTRAL REGION: West
Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois. REGION 4--NORTHERN REGION: Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin. REGION
5--GREAT PLAINS REGION: Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado. REGION 6--GREAT PLAINS AND WEST REGION: Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas,
Mississippi, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, California.
My Region is: ___________________________________ (enter number and name, please)
STEP TWO: Read nominee qualifications and balloting guidelines.
NOMINEE QUALIFICATIONS: Nominees shall be promoters (individuals who present and manage auto racing) at North American oval tracks of 5/8 miles or less, and dragstrips, presenting at least six events
each calendar year. Consider these criteria as you nominate. SUCCESS LONGEVITY: The nominee's operation should be a successful, profitable track or strip, in continuing operation. IMAGE:The nominee's
operation should be well- known in the industry, through continuing favorable publicity and advertising for the facility and its events. NOMINEE’S REPUTATION: The nominee's character and reputation within
the industry, as well as in other businesses or endeavors, should be beyond reproach... BETTERMENT OF THE INDUSTRY: Nominee's interest in and involvement with the problems facing the industry, his/her
participation in industry meetings, and his/her willingness to share ideas and help others, should all be considered in your selection. BALLOT GUIDELINES: Cast only one ballot, please. We do this on the honor
system. Multiple or duplicate ballots from any e-mail or FAX number are not counted.
STEP THREE: Nominate candidates... (Please type first name, last name, track name, and state)
Enter the names of up to four individuals, FROM YOUR REGION ONLY, whom you believe are qualified as nominees for Auto Racing Promoter of the Year. If nominees are not from correct
region, ballot is void. AUTO RACING PROMOTER OFTHE YEAR NOMINEES--nominate up to four from within your region, (see guide to states below)
__________________________________________________
Name, race track, state please...
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
STEP FOUR: Wild card nomination (optional)...
Enter the name of one promoter, FROM ANY REGION, whom you believe is qualified as a nominee for Auto Racing Promoter of the Year. You must nominate at least one promoter from
within your own region to qualify for the privilege of nominating a wild card candidate. (Please type first name, last name, track name, state, region)
____________________________________________________________________ Region ________
Name, race track, state, please...
Send ballot by FAX to
715.536.3616
or e-mail to
[email protected]
STEP FIVE: Nominate annual award for outstanding annual short track event...
List one special event as your nominee for Outstanding Annual Short Track Event. Eligible are special events of one day or more, presented each year at weekly
schedule oval tracks of 5/8 mile or less, or at dragstrips. Events must have been presented for three consecutive years or longer. Typical eligible events would be:
Chili Bowl, National Short Track Championship, Gold Cup, Snowball Derby, etc. NOMINATED EVENTS MAY BE FROM ANY REGION.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Event name, race track, state, please...
/RacingPromotionMonthly
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/RPMNewsletter
/RacingPromotionMonthly.Com

Racing Promotion Monthly

Transcription

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