We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

[oldrustycars]

Some of the old car mags are pushing the "Take a kid to a car show" thing. I totally agree. Couple years ago I was at the Jefferson swap meet. There was a group of Arab exchange students who were directing parking. I asked what they thought about all this, they were just amazed. I asked what they honestly thought about Americans before they came here, it was about what you'd think they thought of us. But after time in Wisconsin, and seeing this huge car show and swap, they had a completely different opinion of us. Thats exactly what I wanted to hear.
So....do you have non-gearhead neighbors? Maybe the child of a non gearhead who seems to like cars? Someone from a different country or culture? Take em to a clay track stock car race. Maybe a cruise night. Expose them to our world. Myself, I'm taking my wife's Indian friend's husband to a drag race. He doesnt much like me, or our country, but we do share an interest in photography. So I'm insisting we take our gear and head out to Byron Dragway this year, let him see what a bunch of fun loving people us gearhead Americans are.

[fahrenschnell]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

I completely agree.....I try to take my son along everywhere car related (or otherwise for that matter)

But I also invite everyone to come to the races.....What is not to love?

Seth

[DanStokes]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

I've become a Maxton Ambassador (hey Keith, where's my sash?!). As soon as this site gets a stable name I'll print calling cards with the ECTA (Maxton) info and the site address. I'd love to have LOTS of spectators at each meet - it's a TON of fun and still affordable. We even have pretty decent track food (now there's a thread!). I guess I'm agreeing - let's spread the word. "The first time is free, the next time it's $50.00 - and up from there". God Damn the pusher man (extra points if any of you can identify THAT line).

Dan

[88pony]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

My son and his friends love their sports, but take them to a race or a car show they come unglued. Always a good time. ...God Damn, I say the pusher...

[antmnte]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

Take a kid to a car show huh! Id like to take the little shi@ down the street to a car show-in China ,in my trunk, and leave his smart ass there! I know, my wife says I ge too mad.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

My kids beg to go.....to shows, the track...whatever...they dig it.....the baby is gonna be my car crazy one tho.....my daughter is into it and helps me my middle son digs it but just likes to look and watch........the oldest is lost to me...he never took to it....but the baby...now this dude is cool....he digs all thing mechanical trucks, cars, trains, boats....he just goes nuts over the stuff......its awesome to see the world thru his eyes....see the excitment and wonder when he sees a big diesel on the street or a fire truck....little dude just loves to pretend to drive daddys race car or daddys monster truck...lol......there is hope guys...if you guys got a tyke like mine there is hope......

[mlcraven]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

My wife and I are empty-nesters now but not yet grandparents. While I certainly look forward to the latter development, in the interim we've found a work-around.

The wife works at Bank of America with a lot of younger gals who are single moms. Nice ladies for whom things didn't work out in the relationship or the guy was a jerk or whatever, the usual stuff. And once burned twice shy, many don't seem too eager to take the plunge a second time.

Anyway, I'll get to the point. Last summer we took some of the gals with young sons out to the race track (Luskville Dragway just across the river in Quebec) for the jet car nights, gasser war and nostalgia day and such. It just lights the eyes of those little guys up and they talk about it for weeks afterwards (so I'm told). The wife and young mothers sit in the stands and drink beer and yak, I take the little fellows over to the pit side and we wander amongst the racecars. Try that at the circle track...

For me, one of the (several) truly remarkable things about drag racing is the up close and personal experience and the way owners, drivers and crew (many of them rough-looking customers on the outside) are so approachable and great with the fans -- and ESPECIALLY with young children. It may not turn around a broken home or save society, but it's going to pay a dividend in the long run.

So to all you folks who do race regularly and take the time to say a kind word and pay attention to kids visiting the pits who you don't even know, THANK-YOU.

[BangShift McT]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

Judging from the Mopar shows I attend, I AM the kid at the car show...

[todryd]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

You'll be happy to hear that the MPMC (the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council) which is a sub-committee within SEMA has officially designated August as Motorsports Awareness Month and will be promoting their "Take a Friend to a Race". This program started last year, but 2009 is really the first year where it will get some wheels and speed.

I copied the following from http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?id=60142 and you can also grab their logo and get other info there as well.

"In addition to manufacturing many of the parts used in sanctioned racing events, MPMC is dedicated to the Motorsports industry as a whole. After all, MPMC members are avid racing enthusiasts themselves! The Motorsports Awareness Task Force of MPMC has recently launched ?Take a Friend to a Race?, a grassroots program aimed at increasing attendance at Motorsports events by introducing new fans to the sport.

Take a Friend to a Race simply involves contacting a friend, neighbor or relative who has never attended a motorsports event, and taking them along with you. The sensory experience of a live race often creates life long fans, and that is the ultimate goal of Take a Friend to a Race; create new Motorsports fans. Who knows? That neighbor that you introduce to racing could easily become a participant, or even a future star of the sport!

Take a Friend to a Race culminates each year during the month of August, which has been designated Motorsports Awareness Month. August is the last month of summer vacation, and since racing is a family oriented sport, makes it the perfect time to organize family outings or vacations around Motorsports activity. Company outings can also be easily organized around a racing event. Most local tracks, and even national tracks, welcome and cater to such events."

Todd

[Weldangrind]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

I've been taking my kids and their friends (and my friends) to car shows, drag races, whatever as long as we've had kids. The rules (that the kids had to recite) were "no asking for food or drinks from the concession and no asking when we're going home". I always packed plenty of drinks and snacks for the kids, and I don't like being rushed. The kids (now 11 and 14) still love going.

quote author=DanStokes link=topic=9815.msg193496#msg193496 date=1234451700]
God Damn the pusher man (extra points if any of you can identify THAT line).

Dan
[/quote]
Steppenwolf. Name the writer of the song for extra points.

[milner351]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

Thanks to those of you that take others to car events - I've tried, but sometimes they just don't get it.

However - when I was a kid I would BEG my parents to let me go with whoever was going to anything car related.... and the times they let me are forever chrystalized in my mind. Dad would usually cave in and take my brother and I to the world of wheels at McCormick place in Chicago - man - those were the days! I think I even kissed Catherine Bach when the duke boys where there
(had to stand in a long line to get an autographed photo of her with a lipstick mark on it)

[DanStokes]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

I didn't look it up, so I get extra credit if I'm right and a pass if I'm wrong. I'm guessing it was John Kay.

Dan

quote author=DanStokes link=topic=9815.msg193496#msg193496 date=1234451700]
God Damn the pusher man (extra points if any of you can identify THAT line).

Dan

Steppenwolf. Name the writer of the song for extra points.
[/quote]

[RustyRodder]

Re: We need to expose more people to the lifestyle

My kids beg to go.....to shows, the track...whatever...they dig it.....the baby is gonna be my car crazy one tho.....my daughter is into it and helps me my middle son digs it but just likes to look and watch........the oldest is lost to me...he never took to it....but the baby...now this dude is cool....he digs all thing mechanical trucks, cars, trains, boats....he just goes nuts over the stuff......its awesome to see the world thru his eyes....see the excitment and wonder when he sees a big diesel on the street or a fire truck....little dude just loves to pretend to drive daddys race car or daddys monster truck...lol......there is hope guys...if you guys got a tyke like mine there is hope......

sounds like my nephew!