NASCAR at NHMS this Weekend

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by Skip

Might not be too many people this Sunday. The track is giving away thousands of free tickets across the State to a variety of agencies and politicos in an attempt once again to fill the stands. They offered the entity I work for 800 tickets alone!

Although I've been an auto racing fan since I was a kid, I really didn't get into NASCAR Cup racing until the early 90's. My brother, my wife, and I had tickets to both races in July and Sept. (Laconia Grandstand, turn 4) for many years.
For those of us that have been to a Cup race at Loudon, there truly is "nothing like being there". Having said that, even with all of the improvements that the Bahre Family made over the years, the hassle of the traffic, the summer heat, and in the end, ticket pricing, made us give our tickets up. In the 90's and early 2000's there was a waiting list of 30,000 people looking to get tickets. Now the races don't sell out and they have to advertise heavily. NASCAR has grown epicly in the last 20 years but the economy is affecting them just like all of us.

BT

[jmen24]

Skip, are you sure that the tickets were for Sunday's race. They might be, but the reason I ask is that they gave every household in Loudon 2 tickets for Saturday's races and a few other private orgs got the same. If they gave away Sunday tickets as well, then that is truely a gesture from a group. The economy is hitting NASCAR really hard these last few years.

Unless it is a military type organization than the Sunday tickets make sense, happens quite a bit.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by jmen24

Skip, are you sure that the tickets were for Sunday's race. They might be, but the reason I ask is that they gave every household in Loudon 2 tickets for Saturday's races and a few other private orgs got the same. If they gave away Sunday tickets as well, then that is truely a gesture from a group. The economy is hitting NASCAR really hard these last few years.

Unless it is a military type organization than the Sunday tickets make sense, happens quite a bit.

Definitely Sunday tickets, which we've been offered before but never such a staggering amount. As of today there have only been a handful of people choosing to take them.

Have had several acquaintances from other agencies telling me the same offer is being made across the State.

As another poster noted above I too was a season ticket holder (four tickets) for both races for over a decade but gave them up several years ago after the hassle at Loudon took it's toll on us. Today I wouldn't even go with the free ticket offer. NASCAR has left me behind with a lot of changes they've made the last few years that I think have really taken a lot of the challenge and sport out of the races.

That said I wish the new owners well and hope that even with the economy in the state that it is that they have a good turnout for the weekend!

[Happy Gourmand]

from WMUR
"Romney strategist Jim Merrill said the former Massachusetts Governor will meet with drivers in the infield and then hang out in the owner’s box."

[SIKSUKR]

They are giving away many tickets for Sundays race. Last week the Fischer Cats had a promo to the first 300 people that bought tickets would also get free tickets to the Sprint race on Sunday. I questioned if they were for Saturday also until I read the offer. You could buy tickets to the FC's for as little as $6. Parking however will cost you a little more.

[jmen24]

No kidding. They have got to be hurting bad to be giving out that volume of tickets for Sunday. Good for you guys.

Skip, could not agree more with the direction that NASCAR has taken in recent years. Everyone I know that went every year has also given up the tickets. The new cars on Loudon are extremely boring, IMO. Saturday is usually a good show and has been for years.

[Winnisquamguy]

Originally Posted by jmen24

The new cars on Loudon are extremely boring, IMO. Saturday is usually a good show and has been for years.

The new cars the old cars does it really matter they both stink, the track itself is boring with those cars. The modifieds was the only show that was worth going to, I guess the trucks put on a pretty decent show. The track is to flat and needs banking and when Smith took it over there was hope but not anymore. The camping out and partying with your friends was the best part but they ruined that when they started charging you for that and now those numbers are now way down.I see them loosing a race very soon, or should I say Smith moving it to one of his other tracks. Although people are not to happy with him after last weeks episode in Kentucky.

[trfour]

Video/s; http://www.nascar.com/video/preview/...iew/index.html

Terry
_____________________________

PS. Yes, we are all feeling the pinch of todays economy! Remember though that the good days will one day return to Loudon NH. and NHMS through NasCar's interests in the fan base this area is, and will become. And also important to remember is that none of the previous NasCar ticket sellouts at NHIS, were attended or purchased by the majority that have posted in this very thread...

[gtxrider]

A couple of years ago, two I think, Mr. Bahre gave away a few tickets at the Sandy Point Resturant. We had a tickets we could not use so we gave them back.

Attended both races last year but will miss this weekend not due to econonmic pressure. My couch will have to do on Sunday. I plan on being there for the fall race and perhaps the Indy car race in August.


GO Junior

[trfour]

The race lineup for Sundays Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at NHMS.
http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2011...ta/lineup.html

Terry
__________________________________

[Argie's Wife]

The race got out and traffic is STACKED up in Alton - whoa! We've got people inching by the house, whooping it up and waving. Lots of grills in the backs of pickup trucks and lots of out-of-state plates.

It's nice to see the good turn out - hoping the tourist industry did well this weekend!!!

[Superduty1]

Well, whether they gave the tickets away or you bought them, the stands for Sundays Sprint Cup race were at near capacity. It was good to see all the fans come out on a great sunny day in New Hampshire. I sure hope the new owners don't take a race away from Loudon because Nascar is good for New Hampshire. Even if you got the tickets for free, you spent money somewhere in this great state, either on gas, six pack, lodging, dinner, D and D, local supermarket, souvenirs at the track, you get the point.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Superduty1

. I sure hope the new owners don't take a race away from Loudon because Nascar is good for New Hampshire.

Unfortunately as a race fan for many years, I see the direction I believe Nascar is taking, or trying to take. Eventually NH is bound to lose one of the races. Slowly raceways are being built all over the country. I do believe the eventual goal of Nascar is to have tracks all over the country such that every venue and every corner of the country will have a race. This will mean that tracks like NHMS will end up forfeiting a second date. I believe that eventually the only tracks that will hold two events will be Daytona, and Talladega.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by Superduty1

Well, whether they gave the tickets away or you bought them, the stands for Sundays Sprint Cup race were at near capacity.

I didn't go to this race but I turned it on the tv with about 40 laps left and there was thousands and thousands of empty seats then.

[Webbsatwinni]

We went Sat for the modifieds, it was hot but a great day. They should have more misting stations though, the people were way overheated. I don't know why they were dehydrated, they were drinking lots of liquids.

[SPT13]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I didn't go to this race but I turned it on the tv with about 40 laps left and there was thousands and thousands of empty seats then.

I went Sunday, there were a lot of empty seats compared to yrs ago. There was a decent breeze, so heat wasnt to bad were we sat. A lot of people started to leave with 40-50 laps left, to beat traffic I assume

[sa meredith]

Thousands upon thousands of unsold tickets...despite advertising blitz past month or so...newspaper, radio, TV. Very little walk up crowd purchase.
This coming from a race day volunteer that I know, who directs traffic in the lots.
Says Fall race has 20K plus seats still available.
This is by no means a situation unique to NH. This sport routinely sold out every track it went to, for years and years, as the sport simply exploded in the early/mid 90's, into the early 2000's.
Now watch a Sunday race...pockets of empty seats are every where.
I was absolutely shocked...shocked...to be watching speed vision, and see an ad letting people know that tickets are available for the Bristol night race. After Daytona, it was considered one of the toughest race tickets to come by...Saturday Night at Bristol.
Now, they are trying hard to sell it out.
Sign of times???? I say not so much...
The sport has changed a bit, but really, for me, it just ran it's course. I enjoyed it for a solid 9/10 years, watched every week, but as my sports plate was full enough, I finally just had enough.
I think as time goes on, these venues that now all hold 100K plus, will never sell out.

[LIforrelaxin]

sa_meredith I don't disagree with you that for some people NASCAR has run it course it is out of there system and they are paying less attention to the sport. However I believe most of those people, where also the ones, that didn't go to the track to begin with. For many many people that I know who go or have gone to races religiously, the current economy has play a roll into the decision to purchase race tickets or not.

Lets start with the ticket price... At Loudon, the last time I went my tickets alone where 110$ a piece and very nice seats, when I went to Daytona my tickets where something like 180$ a piece. It gets awfully expensive to take your family to the race track for an enjoyable afternoon. My excursions to Loudon, have cost me anywhere from 500$ to 700$ by the time the weekend is over, when I include gas and food for the weekend. Luckily I have a place to stay so I never have lodging expenses.

Unfortunately NASCAR is not the only sport suffering for the problem, watch football games, basketball teams, etc. The only ones that sell out are the ones that are consistently winning. the difference is that in those sports it is a little easier to not show the empty seats, as once the game starts all those seats close to the playing area get filled as spectators move around. However in NASCAR the seats that get acquired after the start of the race, are the ones higher up in the stands. So the seats closest to the track end up empty, and on tv.

Unfortunately spectator sports have gotten outrageously expensive to see live. Nascar like any other sport is falling victim to this, and now we are starting to see its effects even in venues where they where traditionally sold out for years.

Finally if you ask me someone who has watched racing for over 30 years, the lack of character and uniqueness in the drivers today, has also caused some of the attendance issues at the track. The are all now highly polished, and politically correct. The reason, that men like Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliot, Buddy Baker, etc. help the sport grow, is that they where down to earth, no where near politically correct, and spoke there mind. The sport has lost some of it roots. People don't have nicknames anymore, no Intimidator, no King... Sure smoke has come along, but it is not the same. racing is falling into the slump of most professional sports, there are no captivating personalities, any more that make your turn in every week, just to see what they might try to get away with.

[SIKSUKR]

Ya, I guess Jimmy Johnson is too nice of a guy LI.

Wow, the Luoden tickets were $110? Yikes. I've never sat in the stands so I've never bought those seats. I have a few friends that have Rv's trackside on the hill so I get on their list and buy a general admision ticket. I think the last one a few years ago was around $55. What I like about being there is your not confined to a seat and get to walk around and barbecue etc. Getting too hot?...jump in the rv and watch a little in there, along with replays of the crashes. Don't know if I want to go in the grandstands after being in that area.

[ishoot308]

I must be missing something because I just do not see or get the attraction... 20 or 30 race cars all going around in a circle and all forced to go the same speed due to restrictor plates for 300 revolutions while the crowd bakes on aluminum seats in the hot sun...??? O.K, so I was told the race is won or lost by the pit crew... gotchya... so why not just have the pit crews change tires and refuel a car 10 times and see which crew is quickest and determine a winner rather than wasting all that fuel going around in circles at the same speed 300 times...??? What am I missing??? Maybe if they got rid of the restrictor plates it just might make it a tad more interesting!

Just an fyi...I have been to NHMS for the big races twice, once in the aluminum grandstands and once in a luxury box. Both times I felt I would have been better off staying at my RV in the campground watching the race on the big screen, or better yet at home! I absolutely hated it!

Ducking for cover now!

Dan

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I must be missing something because I just do not see or get the attraction... 20 or 30 race cars all going around in a circle and all forced to go the same speed due to restrictor plates for 300 revolutions while the crowd bakes on aluminum seats in the hot sun...??? O.K, so I was told the race is won or lost by the pit crew... gotchya... so why not just have the pit crews change tires and refuel a car 10 times and see which crew is quickest and determine a winner rather than wasting all that fuel going around in circles at the same speed 300 times...??? What am I missing??? Maybe if they got rid of the restrictor plates it just might make it a tad more interesting!

Just an fyi...I have been to NHMS for the big races twice, once in the aluminum grandstands and once in a luxury box. Both times I felt I would have been better off staying at my RV in the campground watching the race on the big screen, or better yet at home! I absolutely hated it!

Ducking for cover now!

Dan

No reason to duck for cover, your response is honesty...what is better then that... Although I love going to races, I find it more practical to watch them at home... With the occassional trip to a race track. While it is great fun tailgating and meeting people with a similar interest. After a year or two, it just seems to loose the excitement. Right now I am trying to decide which race track I want to go check out next... And then I am going to work towards a nice vacation, with the race as one of the highlights of the trip at a track I have never visited before. Las Vegas currently has some appeal....

[spider22]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I must be missing something because I just do not see or get the attraction... 20 or 30 race cars all going around in a circle and all forced to go the same speed due to restrictor plates for 300 revolutions while the crowd bakes on aluminum seats in the hot sun...??? O.K, so I was told the race is won or lost by the pit crew... gotchya... so why not just have the pit crews change tires and refuel a car 10 times and see which crew is quickest and determine a winner rather than wasting all that fuel going around in circles at the same speed 300 times...??? What am I missing??? Maybe if they got rid of the restrictor plates it just might make it a tad more interesting!

Just an fyi...I have been to NHMS for the big races twice, once in the aluminum grandstands and once in a luxury box. Both times I felt I would have been better off staying at my RV in the campground watching the race on the big screen, or better yet at home! I absolutely hated it!

Ducking for cover now!

Dan

Somebody correct me if I am wrong but I don't think they use restricter plates at Loudon.