Marketing UK Motorsport - Help required
Discussion
Piglet,
Congratulations for being a marshal. If we ever meet, there's a beer in it for you (if there's a bar open!). You've probably already met my brother (he breaks down so often, he's on first name terms with marshals around the country). I should have mentioned that marshals (as well as other officials) are also on the radar, as part of a "ladder of involvement" for non-competitors. We're all pretty boned without you.
Hopefully, the place you describe is where Stephen and I can position ourselves, bringing the parties together:
- Some activities for specific circuits
- Some tailormade for specific clubs and events
- Some bringing all the clubs together
- Some bringing circuits and organisers together
I actually believe that there is quite a bit of money to be made (ideally for re-investment). Back in the fifties, crowds of 20,000 or more were commonplace for even the most basic club events. The heydays of the BTCC could pull similar crowds, so the potential is still there.
All we need to do is tap into that potential, and convince the interested parties that we can do it.
Congratulations for being a marshal. If we ever meet, there's a beer in it for you (if there's a bar open!). You've probably already met my brother (he breaks down so often, he's on first name terms with marshals around the country). I should have mentioned that marshals (as well as other officials) are also on the radar, as part of a "ladder of involvement" for non-competitors. We're all pretty boned without you.
Hopefully, the place you describe is where Stephen and I can position ourselves, bringing the parties together:
- Some activities for specific circuits
- Some tailormade for specific clubs and events
- Some bringing all the clubs together
- Some bringing circuits and organisers together
I actually believe that there is quite a bit of money to be made (ideally for re-investment). Back in the fifties, crowds of 20,000 or more were commonplace for even the most basic club events. The heydays of the BTCC could pull similar crowds, so the potential is still there.
All we need to do is tap into that potential, and convince the interested parties that we can do it.
Well tomorrow at Oulton is a 'Family Fun Day', and its not a big meeting (highlight being the Maranello Ferrari Challenge). Be interesting to see how many turn up thought. Took my mate to watch the testing today, and he enjoyed it. And he's not noteably into cars or racing. So with proper marketing, people who don't have an interest will turn up and enjoy themselves, and will want to come again. Anyone else going to Oulton tomorrow by the way?
I've just come to this thread, so i may have missed a little of what has been said.
Speccys want to see something exciting for their money.
Close racing throughout - 1 make series tend to be best. No need to be a dyed in the wool anorak, I hate tennis and footy, but a good bit of play still gets appreciated.
The environment has to be civilised.
Don't rip the punters off.
Let the punters ID with the racers. Racers should be available to talk to them, make them feel welcome, after all, they have paid money to watch them.
Let the punters pay for a ride round at lunchtime.
If they have never been round a track, they can't understand, they just try and relate to the road. In my experience, once you take an interested punter round, it blows their mind, and they appreciate what goes on 100% more.
Let them get involved.
Why not let them pay extra to spectate(with suitable dislaimers, blah de blah)from a marshals post?
Sorry to ramble on,these are just a few random ideas whilst I wait for my tea!
Speccys want to see something exciting for their money.
Close racing throughout - 1 make series tend to be best. No need to be a dyed in the wool anorak, I hate tennis and footy, but a good bit of play still gets appreciated.
The environment has to be civilised.
Don't rip the punters off.
Let the punters ID with the racers. Racers should be available to talk to them, make them feel welcome, after all, they have paid money to watch them.
Let the punters pay for a ride round at lunchtime.
If they have never been round a track, they can't understand, they just try and relate to the road. In my experience, once you take an interested punter round, it blows their mind, and they appreciate what goes on 100% more.
Let them get involved.
Why not let them pay extra to spectate(with suitable dislaimers, blah de blah)from a marshals post?
Sorry to ramble on,these are just a few random ideas whilst I wait for my tea!
steviebee said:
Would be interested on your views with regards to betting on Motor Racing. Currently, it is very difficult to place a bet on anything other than the high profile events.
In the good old days of the BTTC there used to be Ladbrookes on site at Donington, offering odds on the races, double headers, etc, and even now we usually have a sportsman bet on most races we watch
Just to let you know that we (HiRich and Me) have had a highly constructive meeting and established the bare bones of a way forward and outline plan. Once we have some more meat, we'll post something here to keep you updated.
Don't let that stop you coming through with any new comments or thoughts.
Don't let that stop you coming through with any new comments or thoughts.
Let the punters pay for a ride round at lunchtime.
Now that's a damn good idea, Andy. There's reasons why not (not least, the marshals need to get lunch sometime), but how many Radical, Se7en or historic tourers would volunteer a few laps (especially if they got a slight rebate on their entry fee and some extra track time)?
Some of the marshals can get a freebie as thanks, great opportunity to impress sponsors, and an opportunity for paying or raffle-winning spectators (who of course then have someone to cheer in the following race).
Last year I could have been a passenger/ballast in a VSCC race for Morgan 3-wheelers at Cadwell. Utterly insane, but I still kick myself for not volunteering.
Now that's a damn good idea, Andy. There's reasons why not (not least, the marshals need to get lunch sometime), but how many Radical, Se7en or historic tourers would volunteer a few laps (especially if they got a slight rebate on their entry fee and some extra track time)?
Some of the marshals can get a freebie as thanks, great opportunity to impress sponsors, and an opportunity for paying or raffle-winning spectators (who of course then have someone to cheer in the following race).
Last year I could have been a passenger/ballast in a VSCC race for Morgan 3-wheelers at Cadwell. Utterly insane, but I still kick myself for not volunteering.
What's worth bearing in mind as that organisers of large championships such as F1, BTCC, F3 and so on charge the hosting circuits for the privilege of holding a particular meeting.
For Silverstone to host the British GP cost them $10 million, for circuits to host BTCC costs them £80,000 and so on. So there are some big numbers invloved in costs to the circuits even before they've held that round.
Perhaps the reason for little investment in infastructure is because these circuits are struggling to meet the financial demands to host rounds of popular championship and its also having a knock on effect to what the club competitor or spectator has to pay at other meetings.
Whats more, its down to the circuits to promote the said championships rounds at their venues, so more expense that has a knock on effect to the people that are needed most, spectators and club competitors.
It would nice if the championship organisers got together with the circuits and rather than charge them a huge fee to host their races, jointly promote the championship calender and took a share of the ticket sales. If they got more people through the gates, then surely all stand to benefit even further finacially taking the burden off of the circuits and help them to release some cash for much needed investment to the infastructure.
It's also worth mentioning that the goverment intend to release quite a few million for investment in UK motorsport, so this could well change things for the better.
BBR73
For Silverstone to host the British GP cost them $10 million, for circuits to host BTCC costs them £80,000 and so on. So there are some big numbers invloved in costs to the circuits even before they've held that round.
Perhaps the reason for little investment in infastructure is because these circuits are struggling to meet the financial demands to host rounds of popular championship and its also having a knock on effect to what the club competitor or spectator has to pay at other meetings.
Whats more, its down to the circuits to promote the said championships rounds at their venues, so more expense that has a knock on effect to the people that are needed most, spectators and club competitors.
It would nice if the championship organisers got together with the circuits and rather than charge them a huge fee to host their races, jointly promote the championship calender and took a share of the ticket sales. If they got more people through the gates, then surely all stand to benefit even further finacially taking the burden off of the circuits and help them to release some cash for much needed investment to the infastructure.
It's also worth mentioning that the goverment intend to release quite a few million for investment in UK motorsport, so this could well change things for the better.
BBR73
HiRich just following up on your circuit rides point:
I negotiated a lunchtime circuit ride slot with the BRSCC as part of a Superclub sponsorship package (In a Radical SR3.). The MSA subsequently imposed a blanket ban on all such circuit rides, and organising clubs are prohibited from doing them.
The implication for me is unhappy sponsors, and dissapointed guests; when clearly they could have been enjoying a fairly unique experience.
As ever, good ideas are easy to generate, delivery is clearly more difficult.
Alec
I negotiated a lunchtime circuit ride slot with the BRSCC as part of a Superclub sponsorship package (In a Radical SR3.). The MSA subsequently imposed a blanket ban on all such circuit rides, and organising clubs are prohibited from doing them.
The implication for me is unhappy sponsors, and dissapointed guests; when clearly they could have been enjoying a fairly unique experience.
As ever, good ideas are easy to generate, delivery is clearly more difficult.
Alec
Alec,
Of course, it would be a different story if you had a McLaren 2-seater and your name was Ron...
I'll still keep it on the list. Perhaps we can get a bit more clout than some poor spod who just wanted to keep his sponsors happy.
BBR73,
I agree totally. Both circuit owners and organisers can bring things to the party (often at nil or negligible cost). Share the risks (costs and benefits) to get more people through the gates, and everyone can benefit. Use the funds for some really crafty marketing (more than a full page colour in Autosport) inside and outside the gate, and you can create a virtuous spiral:
- More spectators
- Bring in more cash
- To pay for better facilities and services at the track
- Which encourages spectators to come again and spend more.
Of course, it would be a different story if you had a McLaren 2-seater and your name was Ron...
I'll still keep it on the list. Perhaps we can get a bit more clout than some poor spod who just wanted to keep his sponsors happy.
BBR73,
I agree totally. Both circuit owners and organisers can bring things to the party (often at nil or negligible cost). Share the risks (costs and benefits) to get more people through the gates, and everyone can benefit. Use the funds for some really crafty marketing (more than a full page colour in Autosport) inside and outside the gate, and you can create a virtuous spiral:
- More spectators
- Bring in more cash
- To pay for better facilities and services at the track
- Which encourages spectators to come again and spend more.
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