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Also previously mentioned in DRO is the 50th Anniversary
show at Southeastern Dragway. Find your way down to Dallas,
Georgia, and you will see an eight-car nitro nostalgia Funny
Car shootout with some jet Funny Cars thrown in for good measure.
I haven't been to a 50th Anny show anywhere that wasn't worth
the trip. If you're from that area, at worst it would be a
good opportunity to see a large slice of southeastern drag
racing history. Be there!
On July 16th Thompson Dragway in Ohio will be hosting their
annual Fueler and Gasser Nationals. This event has a rich
history, most of which I am woefully ignorant of. Ohio has
always been a hotbed of gasser stars and cars, so this event
goes a long way towards making sure current day fans get a
dose of relevant drag racing history and action, all for the
same ticket price! On the 16th, Thompson will also host a
four-car Nostalgia flopper match, with Chuck Horvath, Dennis
Salzwimmer, the Klingerman Brothers and Army Armstrong are
the invitees. History Note: The emergence of the funny car
was regarded, in some circles, as a contributing factor in
the demise of the Gasser, as a feature attraction. Will fear
and loathing rear its ugly head once again? Go to Thompson,
and see for yourself!
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And
let's not forget the Mother Of All Nostalgia Funny Car shows,
the Fourth Annual Funny Car Reunion at Englishtown, New Jersey.
I have the date as July 31st. Right now, that's about all
I do have on this event. Somebody doing PR up there, or what?
Let me know the particulars, and I'll do my part. As the say
on Fox News, stay tuned for further developments.
And speaking of BIG Flopper Events, I need someone to update
me on the St.' Louis F/C fall race. Will it happen in 2005?
If so, who will be there? ETC, ETC, ETC. I can't help ya if
ya can't help yourselves! My e-mail inbox awaits your submissions,
if ya please.
And now for a little Match Race Business lesson. Call it Flopper
101, if you will. If you review the study material (this column),
you may note a recurring name in the match race lineups. If
you missed it, the recurring name is Dennis Salzwimmer. He
is the owner of the Rubber City Thunder Monza out of Akron,
Ohio, and judging from the material he sent me, knows how
to do business on the match race circuit.
Taken as a body of work, his promotional materials could
serve as a good primer on how to get bookings, and present
your race team as a professional entity. His press book contains
a business card, a hero card (with space for autograph), a
nice selection of action photos, an '05 schedule (races and
displays), some personal bio info, an overview of the car
specs, some crew information, and an overview of their 2004
exploits. But it also contains something else -- information
on other race teams that are looking for bookings. Hey, ya
can't match race if ya haven't got anybody to match up with!
A good approach, but one I have never seen in any other press
book. Judging from the team's schedule, this approach pays
off. Food for thought, at the very least.
All joking aside, you would not believe the number or racers
who want match race bookings, but, when asked, can't lay their
hands on a single item listed in the Rubber City Thunder arsenal
of public relations material. And they can't figure out why
they can't get any bookings, or sponsors, or anything else
that will spend. Guys, open your minds, change your approach,
and get up on the Match Race Business Plan For Success! You
can do it -- here is an example of one who did, and is out
racing and getting paid for it.
And now for the monthly plea for news. Send it -- bring it
-- e-mail it -- just do it. A number of racers, track owners,
promoters, and other drag addicts have, and I think they are
glad they did. They aren't sending bombs yet, anyway!! Later!
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