Racing Promotion Monthly 38th Year

RPM Website Relaunched

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 05:42:47 -0500

Racingpromotionmonthly.net, the website of Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters, producer of the RPM Promoters Workshops, has a new look, more information, an RSS link for promoters, an integrated blog and improved functionality. The site also includes the updated Directory of Services for Promoters, a one-stop shopping center offering a complete listing of firms that exhibited products or services at the recent RPM Promoters Workshops.

"The Web has become an important resource for promoters and RPM's new Web site provides improved access to the information and resources available from RPM, and about the Workshops," said Stewart Doty, editor of the newsletter. "The Web is the perfect tool for bringing together the community of promoters, helping them share ideas and experience." Racing Promotion Monthly, also referred to as the RPM Newsletter, was created as a resource for auto racing promoters in 1971. RPM is mailed free of charge to promoters throughout North America courtesy of K& K Insurance Group and Hoosier Racing Tire. Racing Promotion Monthly produced its first race promoters’ workshop in 1972. Each winter since, promoters, race track owners, officials, and series and sanctioning groups gather, network and exchange ideas at two conventions. In the RPM Newsletter and at the RPM Workshops, race promoters share expertise, experience and ideas, helping each other produce better entertainment and increase car counts, ticket sales and profit.

The 36th Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series kicks off December 4th at the Eldorado Hotel Casino, Reno, NV, and concludes in Florida during the 2009 February Speedweek. The conventions of the 36th Annual Series are the 96th and 97th produced by Racing Promotion Monthly. More than 1400 track operators, their employees, and industry leaders attended last year’s Workshops. Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter of auto racing promoters, and the Workshops are produced with the year-round support of K&K Insurance Group, Inc., Hoosier Racing Tire. For information about a subscription to Racing Promotion Monthly, or to request information on the RPM Promoters Workshops, contact RPM via the Web at: www.racingpromotionmonthly.net or contact the editorial offices of Racing Promotion Monthly at PO Box 195, Edgar, WI 54426, 715-536-1067.

Two Earls of Race Promotion

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:15:16 -0500

Many fans take racing for granted. We did when we were younger, and a fan. We went to the track, found a pit full of cars and what seemed to be a good crowd, turned our attention to our favorite drivers, and that was that. We gave the big picture no more thought. Like most fans, we just wanted to see good racing.

Now older and with business experience as well as the perspective of 17 years publishing Racing Promotion Monthly, we see a different picture--one that evokes admiration at every track we visit. When a fan, we were unaware that just shy of 1100 people are the stewards of the sport we enjoy--short track racing. For readers who might not stop to wonder about such a thing--as we did not--that's the approximate number of promoters, track owners, managers. In our huge country of nearly 300 million that encompasses most of a continent, in a sport that, by some estimates, counts more than a half million drivers--and easily quadruple that, if not more, crew members--a mere 1100 souls hold our sport together. Without them, there is no short track racing.

These promoters, track owners, and managers are remarkable people, and we have the privilege of serving them as editor of their trade publication. Doing so, we are acquainted with the lion's share of promoters, a few nationally-known, most known only locally. But, we do not score them based on fame. Only one promoter is a "star," who fans ask for HIS autograph, and who had a bobblehead doll made in his likeness--the incomparable, recently retired Earl Baltes. But, the careers of other promoters are marked by equally considerable, if less well known, accomplishment, in their own right.

There is only one Earl Baltes, but there are about 1099 Earls Benson. Who is this other Earl? Earl Benson is the opposite Earl of race promotion. Benson has owned and promoted his Watertown, South Dakota, track for 30 years. Watertown is not on the national TV weather map. Benson's Casino Speedway is not well-known outside South Dakota. Benson is not widely known outside his community, and that suits him just fine. But, he is typical of the passionate people who hold the keys to our sport. Every Sunday--yes, Sunday, night--Benson's stands are full, or nearly so, his pits sometimes overflow onto a city street, and many a hot dog, walking taco, soda, and the occasional beer is consumed by fans. By day, Benson is a building materials company executive. By night, and on weekends, with his wife Sandy, whom he calls Chairman of the Board, he is a promoter. While most of us can handle no more than two jobs--our day job and our families--Benson and other promoters like him, somehow handle promotion in addition; which really involves four more time-consuming management roles--running sports bar, acting as a sports marketer, being a sports venue executive, and finally a promoter of events.

Both Earls--and other promoters--are (or in Baltes' case, recent were) stewards of large parcels of property on which they pay taxes year around. They employ several dozen people, whom they pay, and pay taxes for. They promote events bringing significant economic impact to their communities. They do all this with revenue from as few as 16 business nights each year. They also often find themselves going toe-to-toe with bureaucrats of every description, fighting for the right to continue in business, and to give racers a place to race, and fans a place to watch. Topping it all, they fight an unpredictable and confusing leisure time market, with the limited resources available to a privately-owned, local retail business without taxpayer subsidy.

We race fans are in their debt for doing these things, and that's why we appreciate this space graciously given by National Speed Sport News. Next season, when you go to your local track, seek out the promoter, track owner, or manager. Shake his or her hand, and express your appreciation for what they do. Get to know him or her personally--as something more than the butt of criticism from some ill-mannered and clueless keyboard commando in a Web forum, or the subject of hearsay among drivers. If you have ideas about how he or she might increase your satisfaction as a customer, share them. But more important, when you go out into the community, tell people how much you enjoy the races, and urge people to take in a race night. Offer to take new people as your guest, to next week's races, or encourage them to sponsor racing with their businesses. Introduce your friends and neighbors to your Earl, without whom there would be no racing nearby.

“Most Elusive Fan Born Today,” Shields.

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:29:04 -0600

LAKE MARY, FL (February 13, 2008) - The Speedweek Annual Workshop of the Thirty-Fifth Annual RPM Promoters Workshop concluded today with promoters upbeat about business prospects for the 2008 season. The three-day Workshop opened with keynote remarks from Ben Shields, coauthor of "The Elusive Fan, Reinventing Sports in a Crowded Marketplace." Shields told promoters the most elusive fan is the fan born today, and he urged promoters to fulfill the huge appetite young people have for interactive media.

Featured presentations included "The Fans' Eye View," in which Karen & Kevin Flynn, who attended more than 1100 sporting events at 192 venues, briefed promoters on the entertainment value and customer service offered at events, "Drifting In The Web," in which Jacob Agajanian recounted how the "Drift Versus Grip" charity event, at Irwindale Speedway, was marketed using web media exclusively; and "Eat Drink, Make Money," in which Joe Doellefeld showed promoters how to plan menus, mercha-dise food and beverage, and increase profits.

Among other presentations were Dennis Gage's interview of 31st Auto Racing Promoter of the Year John Padjen, "New Promoters' Perspective," with Steve Beitler, Skagit (WA) Speedway; "The Short Track Short Course, six sessions covering the breadth of track operation and promotion; and "TechSpec, four sessions covering crate and custom-built engines, policing issues, the administration of rules and the management of the tech process. The final day included the annual Workshops risk management session, and the "New Promoters Forum."

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 35th 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, World Racing Group, Simes Graphic Designs and RACEceiver. The Workshops of the Thirty-Sixth Annual Series are scheduled for 4-6 December, 2008 at Reno, Nevada and 9-11 February, 2009 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 195, Edgar, WI 54426, 715-536-1067, FAX 715-536-3616, www.racingpromotionmonthly.net.

Phillips/Gurley Are 32nd ARPYs

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:28:37 -0600

LAKE MARY, FL (February 11, 2008) - In the Grand Ballroom at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, February 11, Lynn Phillips and Alfred Gurley, promoters of Talladega (AL) Short Track, were revealed as the Thirty-Second Auto Racing Promoters of the Year by Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters. Phillips and Gurley received the industry's most prestigious award on their seventh nomination. The ceremony was part of the Speedweek National Workshops, the concluding event of the Thirty-Fifth Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series, forums and trade shows for promoters, which will conclude Wednesday, February 13, at the hotel. The Auto Racing Promoter of the Year is selected annually in balloting by promoters nationwide.

Honored as Regional Auto Racing Promoters of the Year were Mark Arute, Stafford (CT) Motor Speedway; Howard Commander, Lebanon Valley (NY) Speedway; Lynn Phillips, and partner Alfred Gurley, Talladega (AL) Short Track; the Nuckles Family, Columbus (OH) Motor Speedway; Les McBurney, Angell Park (WI) Speedway; Joe and Tracy Clay, I-30 (AR) Speedway; C-Ray Hall, 81 (KS) Speedway; and Joe & Walt Doellefeld, Stateline (ID) Stadium & Speedway.

Two other awards were presented during the ceremonies. Donald Anspaugh, racing defense attorney received the Ninth annual Stew Reamer Service Award, recognizing lifetime service to the weekly auto racing industry. National Speed Sport News, presented the eighteenth annual National Speed Sport News Award for outstanding annual short track event to the Prelude to the Dream, the annual charity event at Eldora (OH) Speedway.

The Lake Mary Workshop is the second event of the Thirty-fifth Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series and the 95th produced by RPM during its 35-year run. Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter of auto racing promoters, and the Workshops are produced with the year-round support of K&K Insurance Group, Inc., Hoosier Racing Tire. The 35th Workshops are produced with additional sponsorship support from: the Eldorado Hotel Casino, 600 Racing, GM Performance Parts, Lucas Oil Products, Moffett Productions, Musco Sports Lighting, World Racing Group, Simes Graphic Designs and RACEceiver. More information is available from RPM at 715-536-1067, or on the World Wide Web at www.racingpromotionmonthly.net.