Getting the Word out!

[chris]

To keep the threads in a straight line, I am starting this thread to continue a topic started by T on another subject. The marketing of the track and our series is something that is on our agenda at each of our meetings. Our main objective is to get as many people through the gate as possible so they can get a glimpse of what we do. A perfect example of this theory in action is our one and only flyintiger, Mr. Reggie. He wandered in a week early or late, I can't remember, for another event, we got to talking and badda boom badda bing he is in a spec miata haulin the mail with us.
In regards to the newspapers and TV, Kent has invited all of the news stations, daring Errin from BR, I have made contacts with local NO radio stations and its not a big draw for them. Channel 4 in NO gives us a few minutes for the Charity Challenge, but that's more a personal favor to the Pouparts. We did a paid radio commercial over the past Christmas holiday and the return on the dollar was minimal.
Word of mouth from you all, our racers, cornerworkers and fans of the aforementioned groups seem to be the best advertising we can get. Getting people to see that doing something as cool as what we do, and get the thrills that we do are well within their reach is going to make them come back.
Invite a friend, tell a co worker, heck you may just pick up some crew for the season if nothing else.
Also, if you have any ideas for events that we can hold, or host at the facility, please do not hesitate to talk with me about it. Remember, 5 years ago, the Charity event was two guys talking in an office and last November, someone said lets do a night race and look what happened.
Thanks for all you guys do to support Circuit Grand Bayou.

Chris W

[Flying Tiger]

Networking works, and I'm working on someone from the law office who is planning to attend on Aug. 22nd to look and see what goes on - and hopefully get personally involved later. Lord knows this racing stuff is FUN.

[turbot]

LOL, I'm surrounded by drag racers, that's why I try and spread the word.

Eon on the other hand, sometimes has his own darned fan club out at the track... ;D

He also has a CGB facebook page that he keeps pretty current.

Anyway, only reason I brought it up was....., it dawned on me when I talked to the sports guy over here at our local paper....., I charged right in and told him I'd have a complete story that would only need his editing and we even had the pics, because I knew right off...., if you do someone's job FOR them, it's pretty hard to not accept that offer.

True to form, you could hear the tone of his voice change from unconcerned to "yeah, sure, send me what you got" as if he sat up in his chair, realizing that this would be a freebie.

People need incentive to go out of their way, and that's why I thought, if the track was a paying advertiser with a major paper, defining CGB as a "customer", then they'd be more willing to use their resources to help us out on our end.

Chris and crew have enough to do.

I think we need to find someone who can write the race article and couple them with the pics and do the leg work for the media source.

T

[John D]

The "lowest hanging fruit" to pick from is going to be those that are already in motor sports. drag racers and auto crossers. To get a drag racer, remind him how much seat time he gets now as to what he will get in road racing. Most drag racers have twice as much tied up in their car than most road racing cars.
Auto crossers are th closest to road racing. Their issue is cost to road racing. Clear those few hurdles, or sell these 2 groups and you will get your quickest growth.
Chris is dead on regarding the media. I think its a waist of "immediate time". Long term exposure in small consistent pieces will work but it will take time for potential racers, who are not in motor sports, to catch on.

[Flying Tiger]

I think we need to find someone who can write the race article and couple them with the pics and do the leg work for the media source.

T
T, I'll offer my help to edit and work on the grammatical stuff if you or someone want to draft some stuff for news releases. My local area has a number of drag racers and dirt trackers, none of whom know what it is to race on asphalt. Maybe a blitz of the papers could do NO HARM, and might do some good for the right readers. I don't mind trying to "drag" some of the drag racers with me, and some news articles might help that, too. Just MHO.