Crowd funding prizes?
Discussion
I’ve read a lot recently on here and other forums about the costs of drag racing and the relatively tiny compensation there is from prize money. I had never realised before quite how hard it is to be in drag racing – it shows just how much people love the sport that they are prepared to do it no matter what.
I understand that venues like Santa Pod have to keep ticket prices down to get people through the door, and they also re-invest that money in side shows and maintaining the venue itself which must leave little money for prize incentives for racers.
I just wonder if the idea of crowd-funding prizes has been floated around before? If there was a pot of money that I could contribute to that I knew would go towards a prize for the winner of something like the Nitro Funny Car series I would almost certainly chuck a tenner in there once a year if I thought it could lead to a bit more action on the track… if say 3000 other hard core drag fans did the same you would suddenly have a pretty serious prize incentive for people to race hard. And you would never know what some crazy-rich drag fan might chuck in the pot…
Perhaps it would offend people if those in charge were suddenly asking people for more money when they already charge for entry fee’s, but to me a drag racing event seems incredibly cheap compared to other events like gigs and festivals, so I wouldn’t mind.
How would other people feel about crowd funded prizes?
I understand that venues like Santa Pod have to keep ticket prices down to get people through the door, and they also re-invest that money in side shows and maintaining the venue itself which must leave little money for prize incentives for racers.
I just wonder if the idea of crowd-funding prizes has been floated around before? If there was a pot of money that I could contribute to that I knew would go towards a prize for the winner of something like the Nitro Funny Car series I would almost certainly chuck a tenner in there once a year if I thought it could lead to a bit more action on the track… if say 3000 other hard core drag fans did the same you would suddenly have a pretty serious prize incentive for people to race hard. And you would never know what some crazy-rich drag fan might chuck in the pot…
Perhaps it would offend people if those in charge were suddenly asking people for more money when they already charge for entry fee’s, but to me a drag racing event seems incredibly cheap compared to other events like gigs and festivals, so I wouldn’t mind.
How would other people feel about crowd funded prizes?
True you’re right… I suppose when bands get crowd funding to make records the people who contribute get a signed CD, a t-shirt or whatever
Depending on the amount you put in the pot I can think of rewards though. How about….
Stickers
Hat with series logo
T-shirt
Signed poster from team of your choice
Bundles of the above
And then if you put in a big chunk you could get to attend the ceremony and party when trophy is handed over, or a meet and greet with the winning team
I still maintain as a fan I would stick money in a prize pot without the above incentives just to know I’m helping the cause but I might be over estimating how many other people would actually do that….
Depending on the amount you put in the pot I can think of rewards though. How about….
Stickers
Hat with series logo
T-shirt
Signed poster from team of your choice
Bundles of the above
And then if you put in a big chunk you could get to attend the ceremony and party when trophy is handed over, or a meet and greet with the winning team
I still maintain as a fan I would stick money in a prize pot without the above incentives just to know I’m helping the cause but I might be over estimating how many other people would actually do that….
NitroWars said:
Once you have taken racers and crew out of the equation I doubt whether you have 1,000 dedicated fans. Just look at the number of spectators at the non FIA events.
Are you sure youre sure, youre sure, youre sure Jim? ;-PEdited by NitroWars on Thursday 12th March 15:50
agreed tho, in reality there is a great core of fans, but not everyone goes to the national events....im a massive drag racing nut and even I don't find the time to go to all the national stuff...although that may be changing this year/next year with the new car
Gassing Station | Drag Racing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff