Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Promoters Workshop Returns to Daytona

After a five-year absence, the Speedweek RPM Promoters Workshop, one of two national conventions for auto racing promoters, produced by Racing Promotion Monthly, is returning to Daytona Beach in February 2010. Promoters will convene February 8-10, 2010, at the Hilton Daytona Beach/Ocean Walk Village, Daytona Beach's premier beach side hotel.

The Hilton Daytona Beach is the centerpiece hotel of downtown Daytona Beach, centrally located on the "World's Most Famous Beach" across the street from the Ocean Center and a block for the famous Daytona Beach boardwalk. The 744-room hotel offers the popular nearby Ocean Walk Shops, four gourmet restaurants, a sports bar, a deli. It also offers guests a full-service spa, three pools, concierge service, organized and professionally supervised children's activities, a fitness center, playground, volleyball, a well-equipped business center, and more.

Rate and reservation information and the agenda for the Speedweek National Workshop of the 37th Workshops Series will be announced in September.

The Thirty-Seventh Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series begins December 3, 2009 in Reno, NV, with the three-day Western National Workshop, and concludes during Speedweek. The Speedweek Workshop will be the 99th produced by Racing Promotion Monthly since 1974. More than 1200 track operators, their employees, and industry leaders attended last year’s Workshops. Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters (www.racingpromotionmonthly.net), and the Workshops are produced with the year-round support of K&K Insurance Group, Inc., Hoosier Racing Tire. More information can be found on the Workshops Website www.rpmpromotersworkshops.com, or is available from RPM at 715-536-1067.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Promoters Upbeat About 2009

The Speedweek Annual Workshop of the Thirty-Sixth Annual RPM Promoters Workshop Series concluded with promoters looking for a good 2009 season despite a tough economy. Highlights from the workshop included the revealing of Joe and Walt Doellefeld, Stateline Stadium & Speedway, Idaho as 33rd Auto Racing Promoters of the Year and the keynote address of H.A. (Humpy) Wheeler President and CEO of The Wheeler Company .

Other sessions during the three-day workshop stressed building a base crowd of local fans, and new communication technologies such as viral marketing, SMS messaging, and online social networking as well as topics covering the breadth of track operation.

“We’re entering the decade of the ten-dollar ticket,” said Stewart Doty, Workshop organizer. “Short tracks prospered throughout past recessions because they were the reasonably priced, nearby entertainment attraction for families, and we see the same trend developing again.”

The Speedweek Workshop was the final event of the Thirty-Sixth Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series. 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 Thirty-Sixth 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, RACEceiver; AMI Graphics; and the WISSOTA Promoters Association.

The Thirty-Seventh Annual Series will kick off December 3-5, 2009 at the Eldorado Hotel casino, Reno, Nevada, and return to the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary February 8-10, 2010. More information on the Workshops and the promoters’ newsletter may found on the web at www.racingpromotionmonthly.net, or from RPM editorial offices, P.O. Box 195, Edgar, WI 54426, 715-536-1067, FAX 715-536-3616.

Create The Illusion, Make It Reality, Wheeler Tells Promoters

In a motivational keynote address Monday, H.A. (Humpy) Wheeler, President, and CEO of The Wheeler Company, a sports management consulting firm, told promoters they must create the Illusion that their events are so big fans cannot miss them, then make it a reality on race day.

Wheeler’s remarks opened the Speedweek Workshop of the 36th Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series. His remarks were the first of thirty-six sessions which also included promoter Roger Slack’s “It’s The Show Stupid," Craig Armstrong’s “Building Local Buzz,” Jenni & Terry Hoenig’s, "No More Regulars Shows," and “Capturing Drifters and Their Fans” presented by Karl Fredrickson, editor of Speedway Illustrated Magazine.

The Speedweek Workshop is the second event of the Thirty-Sixth Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series and the 97th produced by RPM during its 36-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 Thirty-Sixth 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, RACEceiver; AMI Graphics; and the WISSOTA Promoters Association. More information is available from RPM at 715-536-1067, or on the World Wide Web at www.racingpromotionmonthly.net.

Doellefelds, 33rd Auto Racing Promoters of the Year



In the Grand Ballroom at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, February 9, Joe and Walt Doellefeld, promoters of Stateline Stadium & Speedway located in Post Falls, ID. was revealed as the Thirty-Third Auto Racing Promoter of the Year by Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters. The Doellefelds received the industry's most prestigious award on their fifth nomination. The ceremony was part of the Speedweek National Workshops, the concluding event of the Thirty-Sixth Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series, forums and trade shows for promoters, which will conclude Wednesday, February 11, 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 Bill Ryan, Oxford Plains (ME) Speedway; Bruce Rogers, Grandview (PA) Speedway; Billy Thomas, East Alabama Motor Speedway; the Nuckles Family, Columbus (OH) Motor Speedway; The Queensland family, Deer Creek (MN) Speedway; Toby Kruse, Marshalltown (IA) Speedway; Lanny Edwards, Devils Bowl (TX) Speedway; and Joe & Walt Doellefeld, Stateline (ID) Stadium & Speedway.

Two other awards were presented during the ceremonies. John McKarns, whose motorsports ventures have included ARTGO promotions and MotorSports Management Services which operates the weekly racing program at the LaCrosse (WI) Fairgrounds Speedway was awarded the Tenth Annual Stew Reamer Service Award, recognizing lifetime service to the weekly auto racing industry. National Speed Sport News, presented the nineteenth annual National Speed Sport News Award for outstanding annual short track event to the Dirt Track World Championships.

The Speedweek Workshop is the second event of the Thirty-Sixth Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series and the 97th produced by RPM during its 36-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 Thirty-Sixth 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, RACEceiver; AMI Graphics; and the WISSOTA Promoters Association. More information is available from RPM at 715-536-1067, or on the World Wide Web at www.racingpromotionmonthly.net.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Four First-Time Promoter of the Year Nominees

Four candidates for the Thirty-Third Auto Racing Promoter of the Year (ARPY) Award, chosen by promoters in balloting held by Racing Promotion Monthly, received their first nomination. One regional nominee already received his industry's highest honor, and the eight nominees share 19 previous regional awards. Three operate paved tracks and five dirt tracks. Four sanction their racing and four operate independently.

Leading the nominees are four first-time regional nominees: Bill Ryan, Oxford Plains (ME) Speedway; Billy Thomas, East Alabama Motor Speedway; Toby Kruse, Marshalltown (IA) Speedway; and Randy & Deb Queensland and their family, Deer Creek (MN) Speedway. Multi-time nominees include: Bruce Rogers, Grandview (PA) Speedway, his third nomination; the Doellefeld brothers, Stateline (ID) Stadium & Speedway nominated for the fourth time, Jim Nuckles and the Nuckles Family, Columbus (OH) Motor Speedway, nominated for the seventh time; and 2002 Auto Racing Promoter of the Year Lanny Edwards, Devil's Bowl (TX) Speedway. The selection of Edwards, brings to ten, the promoters who have been re-nominated after winning the penultimate award and gives Edwards a record ten regional awards.

The ARPY ballot will soon be in the hands of promoters. The Thirty-Third ARPY will be revealed during the Thirty-Sixth Annual RPM Promoters Workshops at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, Lake Mary, FL; February 9, 2009.

The Auto Racing Promoter of the Year is short track racing’s most prestigious award. It is awarded each year after voting by promoters. The award was originated in 1976 by the editors of Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters. Voting is conducted in two phases: a preliminary ballot in the newsletter nominates candidates in eight regions. The eight candidates become Regional Promoters of the Year and then appear on a second ballot for final voting.

Lynn Phillips was selected 32nd Auto Racing Promoter of the Year last year. Previous winners of the ARPY award are: Hugh Deery, 1976/1984; J.C. Agajanian, 1977; D. Anthony Venditti, 1978; Jack Gunn, 1979; George Eisenhart, 1980; Dick O'Brien, 1981; Howard Tiedt, 1982; Don Martin, 1983; Glenn Donnelly, 1985; Cary Agajanian, 1986; Bud Lunsford, 1987; Bob Daniels, 1988; Howard Commander, 1989; Ray Wilkings, 1990; Paul Kuhl, 1991; Robert Lawton; 1992; Earl Baltes, 1993; Jody Deery, 1994; Andy Vertrees, 1995; Charles Powell, 1996; C-Ray Hall, 1997; Larry Kemp, 1998; Charles Cathell, 1999; Charles Deery, 2000; Ralph Capitani, 2001; Lanny Edwards, 2002; Bob & Nadine Strauss, 2003; Tom Curley, 2004, Steve York, 2005; John Padjen, 2006.

More information on the nominees or the award ceremonies is available from Racing Promotion Monthly, 715-536-1067

Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters (www.racingpromotionmonthly.net), and the Workshops are produced with the year-round support of K&K Insurance Group, Inc., Hoosier Racing Tire. The RPM Promoters Workshops are produced with additional support from: The Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno, INEX, Musco Sports Lighting, GM Performance Parts, Moffett Productions, The World Racing Group, Raceceiver, Lucas Oil, Simes Graphic Designs, AMI Graphics, and the WISSOTA Promoters Association. Visit wwww.rpmpromotersworkshops.com for information on the RPM Promoters Workshop. The Speedweek Workshop is the 97th produced by Racing Promotion Monthly since 1974. More than 1400 track operators, their employees, and industry leaders attended last year’s Workshops. More information is available from RPM at 715-536-1067.

Friday, December 26, 2008

Speedweek RPM Workshop, February 9-11

The Thirty-Sixth Annual RPM Promoters Workshops Series, Speedweek National Workshop, produced by Racing Promotion Monthly, and presented by K&K Insurance and Hoosier Racing Tire, will discuss how promoters can prosper during recessionary times by strengthening their weekly racing. The 36-session Workshop will open with keynote remarks from H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, and will celebrate the selection of the Thirty-Third Auto Racing Promoter of the Year, Monday morning, February 9, at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary, Lake Mary, FL.

Sessions during the three-day Workshop include, "No More Regular Shows," discussing how one track refocused itself on its weekly racing; "You Can't Do It Alone," discussing how promoters can change their traditional view of staffing and digital communication skills, "Building Local Buzz," a primer for promoters who want to create greater excitement about their races; and the remarks of 32nd Auto Racing Promoter of the Year Lynn Phillips, who will talk with promoters about what he and Alfred Gurley have learned by emphasizing weekly racing at Talladega Short Track for 30 years. The "Short Track Short Course" will discuss: entrant relations, dirt track prep, rules and rulebooks, race night money, crate engines, food and beverage, media relations, digital e-mail, viral marketing, text message promotions, websites, guerilla marketing tricks, media hooks, old-fashioned promotion, group ticket sales and the always popular new promoters' forum.

“We placed the emphasize on weekly racing because we saw too many tracks faced with a recessionary economy paying too little attention to their weekly show,” said Racing Promotion Monthly editor and Workshops Chairman Stewart Doty said. Short tracks did very well in past recessions, but many promoters are too young to understand this, and to understand how a strong weekly show made this happen.”

A record eleven supporting sponsors will back the Workshop. Joining firms that have supported the Workshops since 2004 are new sponsors AMI Graphics, a producer of stadium graphics and the Midwest-based WISSOTA Promoters Association. Returning sponsors include INEX, the sanctioning group for Legends, Bandolero and Thunder Roadster racing; The Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno; Musco Sports lighting, the leading supplier of stadium and track lighting; Raceceiver racing communications and management software; Moffett Productions, producer of TV and radio; The World Racing Group; Lucas Oil; Simes Graphic Designs, designer of advertising for race tracks and sanctioning groups; and GM Performance Parts, source of GM crate engines.

The meetings are the 96th and 97th produced by Racing Promotion Monthly since 1974. More than 1400 track operators, their employees, and industry leaders attended last year’s Workshops. Racing Promotion Monthly, the idea newsletter for auto racing promoters (www.racingpromotionmonthly.net), and the Workshops are produced with the year-round support of K&K Insurance Group, Inc., Hoosier Racing Tire. More information is available from RPM at 715-536-1067, or on the World Wide Web at www.rpmpromotersworkshops.com.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Large Western Workshop Crowd

Six-hundred, twenty-nine people, from 164 tracks, associations, and series, 53 exhibiting companies 30 states, four Canadian provinces, and New Zealand, gathered at the Eldorado Hotel Casino, December 4-6, 2008. The three-day, 36-session Workshop opened with keynote remarks from Roger Slack. In his remarks entitled, “It’s The Show Stupid,” Slack discussed how Lowe’s Tuesday-night Shootout Legends Car shows grew to 225 cars averaging 2500 fans and gave a critical review of race events he’s seen in 2008. Racing Promotion Monthly editor Stewart Doty urged promoters to make the most of recessionary times by refocusing their operations on hometown fans. Speakers, panelists, and presenters, gave promoters a detailed “how-to” plan for restructuring their business to place the emphasis on weekly racing ending over-dependence on traveling fans.

Marquee sessions included: "No More Regular Shows," discussing how one track refocused itself on its weekly racing; "You Can't Do It Alone," discussing how promoters can change their traditional view of staffing and digital communication skills, "Building Local Buzz," a primer for promoters who want to create greater excitement about their races; and the remarks of 32nd Auto Racing Promoter of the Year Lynn Phillips, who talked with promoters about what he and Alfred Gurley have learned emphasizing weekly racing at Talladega Short Track for 30 years.

The "Short Track Short Course" discussed: entrant relations, dirt track prep, rules and rulebooks, race night money, crate engines, food and beverage, media relations, digital e-mail, viral marketing, text message promotions, websites, guerilla marketing tricks, media hooks, old-fashioned promotion, group ticket sales and the always popular new promoters' forum.

Two RPM Promoters Workshops Achievement Awards were presented during the Workshop. The recipients were: Harriett Chancellor of the Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA), for her dedication to racing promotion; and All-American Speedway, as an outstanding continuing operation.

“As we planned these Workshops, we placed the emphasize on weekly racing because we saw too many tracks faced with high gas prices and a slowing economy paying too little attention to their weekly show,” said Racing Promotion Monthly editor and Workshops Chairman Stewart Doty said. Then came the fall credit meltdown and the prospect of a prolonged recession, and our message became more timely. Short tracks did very well in past recessions, but many promoters are too young to understand this, and to know how a strong weekly show made this happen. This week we gave them the tools to persevere and make 2009 a great season”

The Speedweek Workshop, produced by Racing Promotion Monthly, takes place February 9-11, 2009 at the Orlando Marriott Lake Mary. 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. and Hoosier Racing Tire. The Workshops are 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, AMI-Graphics, Raceceiver, Simes Graphic Designs and the WISSOTA Promoters Association. Information on the Speedweek Workshop is available on the Web from www.rpmpromotersworkshops.com. Information on Racing Promotion Monthly is available on the Web from www.racingpromotionmonthly.net or from the Racing Promotion Monthly editorial offices, P.O. Box 195, Edgar, WI 54426, by calling 715-536-1067, or by FAX from 715-536-3616.