In Ontario Canada, there are only 3 dragways open. A number of things are hurting the sport up here.
1. Cost. Plain and simple. I understand that tracks have to make money to survive, but raising the costs for drivers who are the draw for the events is a negative. The ticket prices for spectators is way too much...a huge negative when they push it as a "family" event when your kids are over the age of 10-12 and classify as an "adult" rate. Racing is a "family" passion! Too keep the people coming year after year, you need to keep all generations coming in the gates! When a family of 5 want to spend a Saturday at the track, entrance fees can be over $100, and your not allowed to bring your own food in either...that's an expensive day for the average Joe.
2. With only 3 dragways, the drive to the closest can be more than 3 hours away! And if your an entrepreneur, and want to open one...GOOD LUCK! There is no city, municipality, or town that will want one located in ear shot of their population. The public uproar over the noise, environmental impacts and the "encouragement" to "race" your car in so frowned upon! The government is too concerned with not rocking the boat.
3. With these 2 issues, it's hard for parents to involve their kids, and encourage the passion of the sport for the younger generations. Car shows, and cruise nights are losing participants. The parents are no longer working on their own cars, and showing their kids how to maintain them. It's easier to pay someone to do it...but the time you spend with your child replacing an air filter, is a core memory they'll have forever...leading to a family shared passion!
Ugh. Sorry for my vent! I just see so many wasted opportunities in my local area. I'm working on a business plan for a weekend dragrace/car show at a local airport. The two push backs I'll have from the board of directors of the airport are insurance, and the condition of the air strip after the races. They don't like black marks from the tires...even though their planes make them when they land. Wish me luck.
