Promoters see promise for upcoming season

From Racing Promotion Monthly

LAKE MARY, FL - The Speedweek Annual Workshop of the Thirty-Fourth Annual RPM Promoters Workshop concluded today with promoters upbeat about business prospects for the 2007 season and resolved to surmount the challenge of a highly competitive leisure time marketplace.  601 people, from 26 states and two Canadian provinces, heard Thirtieth Auto racing Promoter of the Year, Steve York, offer keynote remarks at the meeting, urging promoters to move the industry forward by answering the demand for leisure time entertainment. Racing Promotion Monthly editor Stewart Doty urged promoters to embrace new communication technologies as they promote short track events.  Speakers, panelists and presenters, gave promoters persuasive picture of the communication potential of the World Wide Web in the intensifying battle for ticket buyers’ leisure time.

Featured presentations included market researcher Steve Bruyn’s “Seeing the Forest Through the Trees,” a summary of market research illuminating fan media habits and ticket buying preferences, podcaster T.J. Milton who introduced podcasting to promoters;, webmaster Kevin Spiddle, who explained emerging RSS technologies; and media expert Bill Moffett, who told promoters how he would mix radio and TV with new technologies.  Other popular sessions included Ron Drager’s discussion of the Michigan Speedway Promoters Association, Nancy Bicknell’s description of how she turned her track into a value-priced venue and doubled attendance, and “The Tale of Two Tracks,” with promoters Todd Fisher and Toby Kruse, a candid session that compared the experience of two new promoters.

“Some promoters worry that their short tracks might become a dubious cultural icon like the drive-in theater. We say, ‘No way!’ as long as promoters continue to share promotional ideas and are responsive to ticket buyers’ changed attitudes, habits and demands,” said Racing Promotion Monthly editor and Workshops Chairman Stewart Doty.  Many tracks did well in 2006 and expect to do so again in 2007.  Next year, they’ll share what has been learned when they convene for the milestone 35th Annual Workshops Series.

The Speedweek Workshop, is produced by Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter of auto racing promoters.  The Workshops are produced with the year-round support of K&K Insurance Group, Inc., Hoosier Racing Tire.  The 34th Workshops Series was produced with additional sponsorship support from: the Eldorado Hotel Casino, INEX, GM Performance parts, Lucas Oil Products, Moffett Productions, Musco Sports Lighting, DIRT MotorSports, Simes Graphic Designs and Ticketmaster.  The Workshops of the Thirty-Fifth Annual Series are scheduled for November 29, 30 and December 1, 2007 at Reno, Nevada and February 11-13, 2008 at Lake Mary, Florida.  Promoters looking for more information on the 35th Annual Series and the promoters’ newsletter may contact Racing Promotion Monthly editorial offices, P.O. Box 427, Green Lake, WI 54941, 920-294-0830, FAX 920-294-0832, www.racingpromotionmonthly.net.