[Old Goat Racer]

For the record my son is 46. I have given his son (my grandson) my 12.0 car.
And there is 1 more 8 year old grandson who is paying very close attention to bracket racing.
ALL my cars WILL be handed down when I'm DUN !

"TAKE A KID TO A DRAG RACE" !

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by Old Goat Racer

For the record my son is 46. I have given his son (my grandson) my 12.0 car.
And there is 1 more 8 year old grandson who is paying very close attention to bracket racing.
ALL my cars WILL be handed down when I'm DUN !

"TAKE A KID TO A DRAG RACE" !

What about people that only had girls? Not many women can, or want to field a race car, or even a show car. I have only 1 child, and she isn't particularly interested in my cars. On the bright side I do have a grandson, he's too young, (4) to tell if he has any interest, or not.

[johnta1]

What about people that only had girls? Not many women can, or want to field a race car, or even a show car.

And that's our problem how?



My wife never knew a thing about cars, owned a furd.
Well didn't take long to change that.

She races regularly, won money, can do her own work now.
All Pontiac of course (all Firebirds)
My sons were in Pontiacs.

My brother (who I got interested in Pontiacs) got his wife interested in Pontiacs.
She got her license to race his Pontiac powered dragster.
His daughter also got into Pontiacs, she also got her license to race his dragster.

Most of my Pontiac friends at our track had wifes and kids who raced Pontiacs.

Just have to be Pontiac fanatics I guess.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by johnta1

And that's our problem how?

Whoa John, are you just itching for a confrontation, or what?

I never said or insinuated it was yours or anyone else's problem, I just stated my daughter has little interest in owning, showing or racing a classic Pontiac car. Then went on to say I do have a grandson who may be interested in cars. That's my own situation, and I just shared it with the others reading here.

Your avoiding the obvious here, that not bringing more people into the hobby as quickly as older people exit it makes it a ever declining number. It's a fact and there is no argument, because numbers don't lie.

The number of attendees at Norwalk has leveled off, I expect it to start declining in a few years. That is the crown jewel of Pontiac show/race events. I believe it's a very good indicator of the current state of the Pontiac hobby.

The loss of the 2 Pontiac dedicated magazines is also an indicator of the state of the hobby.

The low attendance of the race/show this thread is started about is also a good indicator. The still poor economy has a bearing on this too. I however don't see the average Pontiac enthusiast coming into a boatload of disposable income in the near future either. Still another reason to get as many people involved as possible.

My wife never knew a thing about cars, owned a furd.
Well didn't take long to change that.

She races regularly, won money, can do her own work now.
All Pontiac of course (all Firebirds)
My sons were in Pontiacs.

My brother (who I got interested in Pontiacs) got his wife interested in Pontiacs.
She got her license to race his Pontiac powered dragster.
His daughter also got into Pontiacs, she also got her license to race his dragster.

Most of my Pontiac friends at our track had wifes and kids who raced Pontiacs.

Just have to be Pontiac fanatics I guess.

That's wonderful that all the people your related to love the hobby, however not all families have that dynamic.

[Rob B]

Some people will never get it.

[mgarblik]

Running a successful event like Norwalk is a thankless job. I think if they want to make the "Pontiac Nationals" kind of a little club event, they can tweak the rules a little expect the event to possibly draw 100 cars in year 5 or 6. It's going to be a very slow growing deal and peak small. If that's the goal fine. If the long term goal is to have anything even approaching a Mopar Nationals or a Super Chevy or a Fun Ford event, the numbers just are not there with 1955-1981 Pontiacs only. They will probably need to move to a smaller, lower cost track to make it work, but that's the promoter's business. Again, I wish them well.

[Old Goat Racer]

There's a high school 12.00 bracket class at Gateway. 10-12 kids. 4 of them are girls.
I've seen a small decline at Norwalk as well.
Could it be there are more than enough Pontiac events across the country? Add them up.
The Ford event at Gateway is a flop. GMP has to have a points race at the same time.
But "Super Chevy" fills the house.
Just observing

[mgarblik]

There are so many factors that effect participation and attendance. There is no doubt that computers, smart phones and game systems have taken lots of young males especially out of the car loving culture. I am just amazed at how many young people see little or no need to get a license the second they are eligible. They have a smart phone to keep in touch with people and don't need to drive to see them. They share experiences in on-line games and don't need to street race for real when they have grand theft auto. That's just a fact. My son-in law just got his FIRST driver's license at 28 years old!!! Just didn't want the cost and hassle of a car and he had a bike. Go figure. It's a different culture. That's why I feel we do need to be inclusive with the people who are still interested and want to race. It's Ok to love our Pontiacs and kick the other brands asses at the track. Corporate or Brand X, bring them on.

[johnta1]

Some people will never get it.

I would say you're right, you don't get it?

Tell me how many 'potential new' Pontiac people would be going to this race or any Pontiac race?

I would wager that the only ones would already be Pontiac people.

N2RacingV8's already said he's a Pontiac guy?



Now everywhere I go, I talk Pontiac, encourage Pontiac knowledge, and persuade people to know Pontiac.

I always promote Pontiacs especially when I am at a race track, where normally I am the only Pontiac person there.



So if you were referring to me as not getting it, you would be mistaken.



As mgarblik seems to intimate, just racing should be encouraged, I also talk up drag racing everywhere.
(just also includes running a Pontiac and being the fastest one there)

[Jim Zeek]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Now possibly if they decide they need more money, they can expand to a BOP event like Zeek probably did because they couldn't pull the people.
(and still couldn't get a turn-out?)

wrong AGAIN john. I never did a bop event. economy went in the toilet and had people wanting to change things to try and make it better instead of consistency so I walked away. its tough in a month with 3 events (mothers day, oc cruise and memorial day) to make anything happen. why didn't you or gtogeorge show up at any of them?

[johnta1]

I explained why in my response.

Why weren't you at Sikeston?
Or Cordova?
Or Joliet?
Or Dallas?
Or (forgot about) Kilkare for the TA Nats?

Or even Butler's race? (not sure if I remember you being there?)

[GTOGEORGE]

Originally Posted by Jim Zeek

wrong AGAIN john. I never did a bop event. economy went in the toilet and had people wanting to change things to try and make it better instead of consistency so I walked away. its tough in a month with 3 events (mothers day, oc cruise and memorial day) to make anything happen. why didn't you or gtogeorge show up at any of them?

I actually go to others races then Pontiac besides if its longer then 450 miles it ain't happening.

GTO George

[Rob B]

I think we have more cars and people around our camping area at the py open house than...oh never mind, I dont get it. some of the people and their cars are late model pontiacs, we're making th em wear a scarlet P on thier chest.

[PaulatFast]

Just for reference we quickly threw together a race for the day after the GTOAA Convention at a backwoods eighth mile track. No advertising at all. Unfortunately the track flooded Saturday night and couldn't open for racing on Sunday, I guarantee you we would have had more racers than this event did. Of course we welcomed all racers with any drive trains, John Holmes even made the trip from Morrison IL... We had folks calling all morning yesterday inquiring about the races status.

The only thing I can figure is it is about how you treat folks...

[Old Man Taylor]

Paul - You guys did a great job. Everything ran smoothly from an attendees point of view. I had a great time there.

[GTOGEORGE]

2016 U.S. Pontiac Nationals just 5+ months away!!



GTO George

[ponchjoe]

Not sure I can stomach another one

[GTOGEORGE]

I had FUN!



GTO George

[gman005]

Me Linda and Gil plan on going again. I just booked my room. I just hope the car is ready.

[GTOGEORGE]

The dragstrip is awesome and you also have the campgrounds, amusement park & water park! A bonus is the Nostolgia race the following weekend!!


GTO George