There are some great ideas exchange here in this thread. The "spec class" is a really good idea to help people race in this 1/8th scale class without having to drop alot of cash. In addition, when you level the playing field like this driver's ability is plays more of a role and makes this class fast, exciting and very competitive. Would this keep this hobby growing???? Think yes!
Mike may remember in northern california about 20 years ago or less we raced in a mall in Sacramento. We had people three rows deep watching these 1/8th cars. Like the other gentleman said, we answered all questions, showed them our cars, and had the announcer explain what the people were watching. We had new menbers coming into our club because of this expossure.
It would be great to have races at large traffic shopping malls for clubs that have a mobile track. Sure it is not the smoothest surface but once again the expossure makes this hobby grow. You start a 1/8th car up and put it on the track and these cars draw people like ants to honey. It makes the racing fun for everyone. And by the way in regards to surface, I saw on TV the cars race in the streets of San Jose...Wow, they had a rough ride!!!. so we to would just need to adapt.... having people watching the races makes it fun for us and brings in new racers....
There is no cheap hobby other than watching goldfish grow, however the spec class is great idea, and I am sure there are more answers out there... this combined with expossure will keep our hobby healthy..