Let's Talk Tow Money

[Dave M]

My Opinion

I like Tow Money and Prize money. Last weekend tow money was enough to cover half the trip in fuel. That is pretty darn good. So suddenely you lose the excuse about high gas prices, because you just cut that expense in half for them. Prize money is to be mailed, we received cash in hand at the race course on Sunday to use on our way home if we wanted.

That said, what draws me to a race ? All of it. If the water is good I can over look a less than perfect pit area. If the water is okay, and the pits are awesome, I can live with that.

I call around to find out who is coming to the race, regardless. I want the competition to be the best. But I am not going to go to some crap place and tear equipment up when there is debris flaoting around. Back in the day the equipment was cheap, today it is a huge expense.

Here is the best way to draw the crowds in my opinion. Offer free beer and food at a local Moose Lodge or something. The parties int he pits are fun, but a lot of folks liek ot get cleaned up after a day in the water and sweating and such. Look at Constantine for the stocks. Horrible pits, okay water. Party is why most come, as the American Legion puts on a good one each year.

There is no one answer as to what will draw a nunch of racers, but a big one would be make it a National Championship bid.

[Gunjumper]

$$$$$$$$$$$

Agreed, keep the fifty bucks, put it back into the race and make it a better event, which will pull more boats, which will in turn pull more boats, which will in turn pull more boats, and that will pull more boats, and so on... Think about it this way, a quality event doesn't require perfect everything, Lock Havens' water isn't the best and the pits are a challenge, but what was the vote for fav's a few weeks ago? Next weekend I know a bunch of Northern trailers heading to Wilson, it has a bad track record for blowouts and bumpy water, but theres a free dinner Sat night and it's just a fun weekend, no prize or tow money offered, just a good time. Trailers follow other trailers, not tow money...

[sam]

Well said, Greg

[Kev43V]

So Kev.... when you coming out west? Seems like your coffee is a part of a successful race!

wow I am honored that you have that impression...
could it be? It just might be a bit of icing on the cake. but i doubt it has any real impact on racer turn out LOL. on the other hand I have had several racers spouses tell me that if I will have coffee they will attend more races. (these would be some of those wonderful spouses that actually tolorate the other half racing. I do mean wonderful as it is hard for many spouses to tolorate an expensive and dangerous hobby that they have zero intrest in)


I have been trying to determine just how far I can afford to travel with Kevs and the promotion booth. would Clubs be willing to give a stipend to help cover gas to an event for having the promotional booth there? ( Kevs and the promo booth are pretty much joined at the hip at this time.) while Kevs generates a few nickles to rub together at the end of a weekend. It is not so lucrative that would cover the extra day(s) off work and travel expenses to distant races. But I would like to get the booth to races outside R7. if for no other reason than for people to see what I am doing. you may very well see it and see things you can change to do what I am doing even better than I have managed to do.

[T Chance]

Next month I'm going to Pleasant Prairie. I don't know if there is prize money, I don't know if there are trophies, I don't know if there is tow money. All I know is that my class is on the schedule and I have a place to race my boat.

[BP125V]

not sure.

Bill, #1 & #2 seem to be in conflict with #6

How would you suggest this be resolved?

Sam,

I'm not sure I understand your question. Of the items I've listed above not all were tried at once at the same event, this is just a list of different things we have done over the years.

T. Chance - I hope the weather is as good this year as it was last year. Pleasant Prairie WI is exaclty the site Greg Lyons is talking about, slowly every year it has gotten bigger.

Bill