TAFC USA

[robc3303]

Its quite a European achievement in this class in the USA. Watching the coverage on ESPN from Las Vegas, much pundit commentary was had on the impact and importance of the European entries and competitiveness. So with Leanders/Lindberg qualifying 1 and 2 in Pomona I am looking forward to more coverage in the media of the Euro invasion (and importance of Euro clutch). It takes a lot for the yanks to acknowledge "outsiders" taking them on at their own game but this is building into more than a lucky chance success; they are taking serious notice. If only NHRA tried to expand its reach beyond national boundaries and investigated more seriously the potential of encouraging global participation pro-actively?? Who knows, but back to reality well done to Ulf and Jonnie and good luck for eliminations.

[robc3303]

1 800 Ulf Leanders, Viksjofors SW, '10 Monte Carlo 5.504 265.59 265.59
2 802 Jonnie Lindberg, Upplands Vausby SW, '10 Monte 5.531 263.05 263.05

[transcontinental]

robc3303 said:

Its quite a European achievement in this class in the USA. Watching the coverage on ESPN from Las Vegas, much pundit commentary was had on the impact and importance of the European entries and competitiveness. So with Leanders/Lindberg qualifying 1 and 2 in Pomona I am looking forward to more coverage in the media of the Euro invasion (and importance of Euro clutch). It takes a lot for the yanks to acknowledge "outsiders" taking them on at their own game but this is building into more than a lucky chance success; they are taking serious notice. If only NHRA tried to expand its reach beyond national boundaries and investigated more seriously the potential of encouraging global participation pro-actively?? Who knows, but back to reality well done to Ulf and Jonnie and good luck for eliminations.

.. agree to that! But having seen the ESPN coverage of Leanders /Lindberg et al at Vegas don't you think it would be also be a great step forward for their commentators if they didn't refer to our continental brethren patronisingly, as in, "might need an interpreter" (like, no Europeans apart from Brits speak English, when in fact our heroes speak more fluent English than most of them yanks!) and also talking about the likes of Leanders as "rookies" and "in first final rounds", just very ignorant and US-centric on that. Also reference to some place called "HockenHAM" (for Stutz) - crass.. I remember many years ago a US video referring to Santa Pod as being in "New Bedfordshire" because of course in Olde England everything must be like U.S...

Edited by transcontinental on Sunday 16th November 00:17

Edited by transcontinental on Sunday 16th November 00:18

Edited by transcontinental on Sunday 16th November 00:19

[robc3303]

You are right of course. I think it illustrates a lack of research but in a way that is partly my point.. as the Europeans have more success, then the ESPN coverage will have to up their game and start treating them as serious contenders and not novelty acts. Think they generally mean well and are respectful but out of their comfort zone when the "old world" gets in on the act.

Edited by robc3303 on Sunday 16th November 09:40

[MrBaker]

The track announcer at Vegas was very complimentary about the Europeans.

[transcontinental]

robc3303 said:

You are right of course. I think it illustrates a lack of research but in a way that is partly my point.. as the Europeans have more success, then the ESPN coverage will have to up their game and start treating them as serious contenders and not novelty acts. Think they generally mean well and are respectful but out of their comfort zone when the "old world" gets in on the act.

Edited by robc3303 on Sunday 16th November 09:40

Yes, well put, it's a comfort zone thing, as what's happening is something still relatively unfamiliar for the USA! I'm sure the ESPN folk mean well. If I was a bit taken aback by some of their comments, it may be partly the result of being 'spoilt' by the extremely professional and informed, intelligent reporting we have over here from Eurodragster and the SPR announcers, who set a very high standard of research and knowledge. Glad to hear the Vegas announcer was complimentary too. Also great to read that Jonnie and Elvira are still in the show - go guys!! - but shame about Ulf. Next time!