I don't own a plane and won't be flying up to Richmond, but I think the efforts being demonstrated between the Richmond Airport, Raceway, and Visitors and Convention Bureau illustrate how hard the folks in that Richmond area have worked for so many years to be "Fan Friendly" and reach out to fans and competitiors, rather than sticking it to them like so many racing venues.
Many other tracks "preach" "Fan Friendly," but the late Richmond promoter, Paul Sawyer taught the Richmond area hospitality operators how to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk."
My hat is off to anybody up Richmond way who has found another way for teams and fans to save a dollar or two while attending the events there. Kudos.
Economy
RIC to give NASCAR fans break on plane fuel
Posted: Wednesday, March 27, 2013 12:00 am
BY PETER BACQU Richmond Times-Dispatch
Richmond International Airport is putting its money where its welcome for NASCAR is.
Teams and fans flying corporate and private aircraft into the airport for NASCAR race week April 22-28 will save 6 cents on every gallon of aviation fuel they buy for their planes for about a 1 percent savings.
Just a friendly gesture to NASCAR is how Troy Bell, the airports director of marketing and air service development, described the Capital Region Airport Commissions action Tuesday.
The popular auto races are big business for the Richmond region, said Jon E. Mathiasen, the airports president and CEO.
It means a lot to us, he said. It brings us traffic on RICs airlines and in private and corporate planes, making waiving the airports fuel flowage fee a good marketing strategy.
We have a great partnership with the airport, said Aimee Turner, director of communications for Richmond International Raceway. They see the benefits of everyone who comes into town for our events race teams, drivers, fans in general and goes through the airport.
Aircraft based at Richmond International also will be able to take advantage of the waived fee normally charged on aviation fuel sales, Bell said.
Dozens of private and corporate planes fly into RIC for the NASCAR races, making them far and away the busiest times for general aviation at the airport.
Theyre parking aircraft on every available corner of asphalt or concrete out here, Bell said. The (aircraft parking) ramp space fills up nicely.
General aviation jets and turboprop airplanes can take aboard hundreds of gallons of fuel when they top off their tanks. Jet fuel sells for $5.51 to $5.98 a gallon at Richmond.
A lot of the public is unaware that the drivers have their own private planes, as do the sponsors of the race and the race teams, said Jack Berry, president and CEO of the Richmond Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The airports race-friendly attitude just reinforces why drivers like Richmond more than other race destinations, Berry said.
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM
