10 replies to this topic

[Michael Jr.]

I'm becoming more aware of some really big Drag Races with an extraordinary number of participants.  I'm told as many as 1400 racers attended one event.  So I went to look at the pages for the tracks I'm aware of.  

I know that renting a large facility like a meeting room at a hotel is an option so this question isn't looking for the obvious such as changing venue.  I would like to learn how a race, held in a typical slot car facility, handles a large number of participants.  Let's take th 1400 off the table and just say 100 or 150 racers.  I can seat maybe 25 with pit boxes without having to get creative.  So where do we put the rest or are they phased in at different times during the day?

[Ghostrider513]

I think if I were organizing a venue I'd break it down into different classes first. That would make it easy to have contestants close to the track for their races.

Another area would have a pit area with a lot of available tables and vendors in the middle to support racers with parts. These two need to be separated from the racing.

 

If you stage quals, you could easily control 1500 racers because they all won't be there at the same time. Same thing with racing.

Ultimately if you could provide more than one track, you could move a lot of racers through quickly.

 

As for the tracks. If you had a track with the ability to sound like a draster/funny car track, and had micro video cameras connected to a few big screens, that would be ideal for the spectators too.

 

You want something that's fun as much as organized. Hope this helps.

[MSwiss]

There is not 1,400 drag racers attending events.

There was the recent Million where there was something like 1,007 cars.

Racers are entering up to 10 cars each, so there is most likely 110-130 racers.

It was held at the large facility of a popular 1/1 drag racer in southern Indiana.

Pics from the event showed something very uncongested.

[Michael Jr.]

There is not 1,400 drag racers attending events.

There was the recent Million where there was something like 1,007 cars.

Racers are entering up to 10 cars each, so there is most likely 110-130 racers.

It was held at the large facility of a popular 1/1 drag racer in southern Indiana.

Pics from the event showed something very uncongested.

 

Thanks and yes, that sounds like the same event.  Would love to see the picts.  I wondered if a hotel banquet room might be a good venue.

[Dave Crevie]

There have been hotel races in the past. But a banquet room can be expensive. The big O-scale model railroad convention draws about 5000 people, based on gate receipts. Those are $25/person. Table spaces are $100/table, and there are 90 of those. Booth spaces along the walls are $250 each, and there are 24 of those.($125000/$150000 total) The banquet hall uses about 20% of the revenue, the rest going for tour busses, three banquets in the upscale hall, group entries to the Museum of Science and Industry and to Illinois Railway Museum.  

[Michael Jr.]

Ouch.  Sounds like a hotel venue is out.

[sdsacr]

There is not 1,400 drag racers attending events.

There was the recent Million where there was something like 1,007 cars.

Racers are entering up to 10 cars each, so there is most likely 110-130 racers.

It was held at the large facility of a popular 1/1 drag racer in southern Indiana.

Pics from the event showed something very uncongested.

I attended this event. It was a 12 car limit, most entered the max but not everyone, so actual participants was around 85-90. The shop it was held in was very spacious, and we had lots of room to spread out. Total payout for the main event was just over $45,000.

[Michael Jr.]

I attended this event. It was a 12 car limit, most entered the max but not everyone, so actual participants was around 85-90. The shop it was held in was very spacious, and we had lots of room to spread out. Total payout for the main event was just over $45,000.

 

That's a lot of participants and a huge payout.  I'm just now becoming aware of events of this magnitude.  I think that this type of event would go a long way towards raising the awareness of slot car racing if it were reported on.

[MSwiss]

Spencer,
Thanks for the clarification.

Out of those 85-90 racers, how many do think have a realistic chance of winning?

In practice, how long was the wait to make a pass?

As far as hotel races go, it's a phenomenal amount of work.

I remember the Manchester race in 1997.

Great venue, although IMO, the track was not as terrific as it was when I went to a warmup in the small raceway, where it normally was.

It seemed well attended, but actually it was down a bit because it was on one end of the country and there weren't cheap flights to the closest airport.

I was told Joyce(?) lost money on the race, because she was unable to meet the minimum amount of booked rooms.

[sdsacr]

Spencer,
Thanks for the clarification.

Out of those 85-90 racers, how many do think have a realistic chance of winning?

In practice, how long was the wait to make a pass?

As far as hotel races go, it's a phenomenal amount of work.

I remember the Manchester race in 1997.

Great venue, although IMO, the track was not as terrific as it was when I went to a warmup in the small raceway, where it normally was.

It seemed well attended, but actually it was down a bit because it was on one end of the country and there weren't cheap flights to the closest airport.

I was told Joyce(?) lost money on the race, because she was unable to meet the minimum amount of booked rooms.

Honestly Mike, I think there were 30 or more guys there that could win if everything went there way. Lots of folks can get hot at the right time and win a bunch of rounds.

The line for time runs averaged 30-45 mins most days. This event began Wednesday morning, had prelim races all day Wed & Thursday with the main event spread at over two days, Friday and Saturday. Entry fee for the main event alone was $600 + optional $20 light money and $20 buy backs. This race is a big investment not only financially, but time wise also. Its not for everyone.

[Dave Crevie]

Try looking at local municipalities that have a large fieldhouse as part of their park district. Back around 1980 I rented my town's fieldhouse/senior center for $65.00/day for three days to hold a Midwest Narrow Guagers meet. The main room was 30 feet by 80 feet, large enough for two portable layouts. The smaller room was large enough for about a dozen display tables.  

 

Also, local community colleges rent rooms for various activities. They might have something large enough at a reasonable price.