Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

While browsing the  participants at the upcoming Heartland Auto Racing Show in Des Moines later this month I noticed that one very big name track wasn't listed... I'm guessing it was an oversight cause you would think that since other major and minor tracks, as well as manufactures  are respresnted this one would be there also...Oh Well !!!

Hmmmmm,  I guess their races are all sold out and they don't need anymore customers....

Listing on their website only shows Iowa Speedway as ANY racetrack being there.  Everything else is pretty much websites or companies selling parts and pieces.

This show is not geared toward fans at all from the looks of it, it is geared toward the racers only (you had to register online to attend and online registration is closed, it's not open to the public).

National Sprint Car Hall of Fame is an exhibitor, I'm sure tehy are representing the racetrack at this event (as the Racetrack promotes them at other events that they attend and the Hall of Fame doesn't).

Was with somebody that had a list of all exhibitors and said  place was not listed ...if they are well my bad but I'm guessing they won't be there..

There's al list on their website.  Only (1) track in Iowa is even listed (Iowa Speedway).

Everything else listed is vendors (parts suppliers and such), a few websites (4m.net), the Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum and (1) sanctioning body (USRA).

From the looks of hte vendors, the show is geared toward modifieds and late models.

The show is being put on by a gentlemen that works for Mastersbuilt Chassis is my understanding. You can pay at the door i think it was $15 for 1 day or $25 for two days. It is geared towards your mod and latemodel guys. 

hehehe the list wasn't from the web site, it was from a participent who will be there BTW Iowa Speedway will be there, that in itself it reason alone for any track to be there...

Huh ?

it was the same list on the message board as from their website. 

Below is the list per Hearland's website, like I stated before, this show appears to be geared toward the mod and late model racers (not the fans either, the racers).  Seems to me like it'd be a waste of $$$ for any track to be at this show if the point is to attract fans unless you're trying to attract competitors for your weekly events (when I look @ Knoxville's website, there are currently ZERO shows scheduled for IMCA Mods or IMCA Lates or USRA or USMTS).  What would be accomplished by being in this show in lieu of another show that is catering to fans or open wheel racers?

To me, $$ is better spent on TV and radio advertising....

Right Foot Performance

B.E. Fast Racing/ Larry Shaw Modifieds

BAE Operations

Performance Engineering & Manufacturing

Bob Harris Enterprises

Envy Suspension

Basset Racing Wheels

Pitboxes.com

Quickcar Racing Products

Diversified Machine (DMI Rear Ends)

DRP Performance Products

Wegner Motorsports

R2C Performance Filters

Pro-Line Building Company

PBM Performance

World Products

Erson Cams

Schumann’s Sales and Services

PowerTrain Technology

AFCO Racing Products

Hammond Motorsports

MasterSbilt Race Cars

Real Wheels

American Racer

S & T Fab Shop

MasterSbilt Modifieds

Genesis Shocks

Mid-West Control Products

Gotta Race

Day Automotive

NitroQuest

CPD Tools

Six Two Graphics

LaJoie of Seating

Simpson

TWM Racing Products

Velocita-USA

Wilwood Disc Brakes

PXP Racewear

Wrisco Industries

United States Racing Association

Mittler Brothers Machine & Tool

JRI Industries

Howard’s Cams

Speedway Illustrated

VP Race Fuels

Schaeffer Oil

E-Z Lifts

Bad Dog Tools

NecksGen

Competitive Edge Racing Software

4m.net

Harris Auto Racing

Arizona Sport Shirts

Iowa Speedway

Diamond Oil/ Sunoco

Racemarc

Karl Performance

Victory Chassis

Wehr’s Machine

Speedwerx

Rod End Supply

Appleton Rack and Pinion

3 Wide Media

National Sprint Car Hall of Fame

Kustom Sprint Car Components

Xtreme Fuel Stick

Razor Chassis

Strange Oval/ Strange Engineering

Intergra Shocks/ Keyser MFG

Chix Gear

Fast Shafts

Propan/ TopCover

Three Wide Clothing

KEVKO Oil Pans

Element 102

Karsyns Krusaders

Performance Bodies

Landrum Springs

BSB MFG

FK/ Fragola

UB Machine

hehehehe bottom line it that it's an opportunity for tracks etc to shocase their operation.. much like a mini PRI... Doesnt matter what kind of racing it is... When an operation get so smug that they think they don't need to participate in things like this the deserve what they get.. fail or survive... From the looks in the stands this summer I guess they are happy.. They probaby patted themselves on the back thinking they scored another big night, LOL .... Doesn't matter to me one way or the other.. They deserve what they get !!

so who would they showcase it to??  A bunch of racers that have zero interest in sprint car racing?

My point would be that they are no different than any other business.  You have to select where you are going to be based on what the ROI is going to be. 

Let's say my business sells hunting supplies. Am I going to a show in New York City to try to sell my wares to the public there?  No, because the market although very large, isn't the correct demographic for my product.  the correct demographic may be a small town of 3000 in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri or Iowa.  For the $$ I spend, I get a return by the people actually BUYING my product.

This is nothing close to a mini PRI or IMIS and even if it was, it would still be a waste of advertising $$$$.  there are ZERO FANS IN ATTENDANCE.  The entire point of the show is for the racers to get product deals and to make contacts with manufacturers and distributors.  What exactly does any racetrack sell or distribute direct to racers (outside of purse $$)??

If this were the sports and vacation show in DesMoines, I'd agree with you that they should be there (because that is where race fans (and POTENTIAL FANS) are going to be).

Even more reason to not attend (where is the help going to come from??) 

Same night/weekend as the Banquet (if you've never attended the banquet, I have no doubt that it is a TON of work both the day prior and the day of the banquet (and then the banquet itself that night).

Do the Fairboard and Raceway staff spend their time and $$$ on the Heartland Auto Racing Show and Auction or spend the time taking care of the sponsors, racers, officials, fans, crew members, etc. that supported them all year (and most for many, MANY years).

If I were them, I'd be taking care of people from FVP, Casey's, Lucas Oil, etc. at my banquet, which I'm sure is what their plan for that weekend is.

The other thing to keep in mind is that this is the first year of this event.   I would imagine that many people who are not listed as vendors/particpants will be there to determine what type of event it is.  

There are other noteable ommissions from this list.  No IMCA.  No Speedway Motors.  No ButletBuilt seats.   No Impact
Safety.  No Lucas Oil.   However, everyone of them has one of thier competitors at this show.   If it is a sucess, you can bet that the list of people attending in year two will be greater.

If the weather is decent, I was planning on driving up for this show.

yep you got all the answers !!!