Why isn't motorsport more popular?
Discussion
As above really. The only motorsport that gets proper coverage in mainstream media is F1. Like many I used to watch F1 avidly as a kid, lost interest during the Schumacher era, and have get more interested in the last few years. This year I have watched all the BTCC races and really got into that as well.
I've been looking around for more motorsport to follow but there isn't much that is well covered by the media. I wonder why? The success of F1 in recednt years just goes to show that there is appetite for exciting motorsport.
P.S. I relaise I've overlooked Motor GP and WRC in this post, but watching cars racing each other around a track is what really appeals to me.
I've been looking around for more motorsport to follow but there isn't much that is well covered by the media. I wonder why? The success of F1 in recednt years just goes to show that there is appetite for exciting motorsport.
P.S. I relaise I've overlooked Motor GP and WRC in this post, but watching cars racing each other around a track is what really appeals to me.
Short answer is probably TV. Apparently there used to be serious numbers of spectators at club racing back in the 70/80's and obviously larger crowds still at bigger events. Race meetings used to be promoted far more heavily in the media.
However i think another less savoury element has arisen with the increasing safety levels. I suspect that TV coverage dried up and fewer real spectators went along as there were less fatalities and serious injuries, and so the proles who went expecting a gladatorial bloodbath, turned their attentions to blokes kicking a ball around a field. Unfortunately some people have some strange ideas of 'entertainment'.
However i think another less savoury element has arisen with the increasing safety levels. I suspect that TV coverage dried up and fewer real spectators went along as there were less fatalities and serious injuries, and so the proles who went expecting a gladatorial bloodbath, turned their attentions to blokes kicking a ball around a field. Unfortunately some people have some strange ideas of 'entertainment'.
Ever tried to play?
Cost of experiencing a football game: £10 for a football + cost of phone calls to mates.
Cost of experiencing a motor race: Think of a serious number. Double it. Add 2 "0"s on the end.
And it's not like motorsport is not popular. It's just not as popular as football or rugby.
Cost of experiencing a football game: £10 for a football + cost of phone calls to mates.
Cost of experiencing a motor race: Think of a serious number. Double it. Add 2 "0"s on the end.
And it's not like motorsport is not popular. It's just not as popular as football or rugby.
Munter said:
Ever tried to play?
Cost of experiencing a football game: £10 for a football + cost of phone calls to mates.
Cost of experiencing a motor race: Think of a serious number. Double it. Add 2 "0"s on the end.
And it's not like motorsport is not popular. It's just not as popular as football or rugby.
Didnt the rally used to the be most spectated event in the UK? Till it went off to Wales. Cost of experiencing a football game: £10 for a football + cost of phone calls to mates.
Cost of experiencing a motor race: Think of a serious number. Double it. Add 2 "0"s on the end.
And it's not like motorsport is not popular. It's just not as popular as football or rugby.
Used to enjoy motorsport but as it has become more and more sanitised and safe its become increasing boring. Seeing drivers battle it out for a win was exciting, banging wheels and making attempts for a overtake before spinning out.
Now its just plain humdrum, may as well go watch cars on the M25.
Motorcycle racing - now thats racing and still exciting even though the safety factors are now embedded it has took nothing away from the racing - that is the difference between two and four wheeled racing IMO.
Now its just plain humdrum, may as well go watch cars on the M25.
Motorcycle racing - now thats racing and still exciting even though the safety factors are now embedded it has took nothing away from the racing - that is the difference between two and four wheeled racing IMO.
Why isn't motorsport more popular?
Sunday trading.
Before Sunday trading circuits used to be PACKED OUT.
Also, the death of BBC's Grandstand. They used to show BTCC, Rallycross, World Rally - the lot - alongside Rugby, Football etc. Stuff is too hard to find on tele now.
Hoy crap. I'm old.
Sunday trading.
Before Sunday trading circuits used to be PACKED OUT.
Also, the death of BBC's Grandstand. They used to show BTCC, Rallycross, World Rally - the lot - alongside Rugby, Football etc. Stuff is too hard to find on tele now.
Hoy crap. I'm old.
MrKipling43 said:
Why isn't motorsport more popular?
Sunday trading.
Before Sunday trading circuits used to be PACKED OUT.
Also, the death of BBC's Grandstand. They used to show BTCC, Rallycross, World Rally - the lot - alongside Rugby, Football etc. Stuff is too hard to find on tele now.
Hoy crap. I'm old.
And Top Gear Motorsport - which was great.Sunday trading.
Before Sunday trading circuits used to be PACKED OUT.
Also, the death of BBC's Grandstand. They used to show BTCC, Rallycross, World Rally - the lot - alongside Rugby, Football etc. Stuff is too hard to find on tele now.
Hoy crap. I'm old.
When I were a kid . . .
A lot is due to the FIA's reluctance to support forms of motor sport other than F1.
In school - boy is this going back a few weeks - there were three groups of motor sport fans: sports cars, then if anything the superior sport, open wheelers and rally. The first two seemed to get equal billing. The Lombard RAC one year got Britain's biggest figure for people turning up to one event. I remember being caught in a traffic jam in some out of the way place in Wales at 0430.
Sports car racing dropped from the race with F1 when TV came along. F1 was much easier to present. When that bloke who bought women for sex was in charge of the FIA he abandoned everything but F1.
Further it costs a considerable amount to put on an event and there needs to be a return. Charge a lot for the entrance and fans stay away. Charge too little and you don't cover your costs.
What each formula needs is TV coverage. The TVR Tuscan Challenge was excellent racing, generated big crowds and looked great on TV. All one make series eventually run out of steam and when the TC ended (let's not get all nasty and accuse any person for killing it) the BBC didn't seem that keen to chase up a replacement.
The 24-Hour LM generates lots of interest but is difficult to make into interesting TV. It is the motor racing jewel in Eurosport's crown.
All that is needed is for a terrestrial TV company to take up, say, sports car racing, generate newspaper coverage and then wait for it to become popular. That's a big investment though. The BBC won't want to challenge their F1 coverage, ITV is struggling for income, which leaves Ch 5.
Further, there are so many sports available to watch nowadays. I used to be a keen cyclist and the only way I could follow Le Tour and other such events was via manazines. There used to be a brief bit on radio on the Tour of Britain and the Wincanton Classic but little else.
Another thing: dare I say it but those not already interested in F1 will find the sport a little bit boring. Once you get into it it becomes exciting but for the casual viewer, the one which they should be attracting, it is all rather bland. Then there's DRS, tyres, KERS, crossing lines and why bother.
I enjoy GT racing, especially at a high level. I used to go to watch in it the 80s. Then all of a sudden interest fell away and there was little or no promotion. At one LMS 6-hour at Silverstone it was difficult to find on the internet page. They didn't even open the stands. That was, I was told, due to politics and that probably is the main reason motor sports other than F1 have suffered.
A lot is due to the FIA's reluctance to support forms of motor sport other than F1.
In school - boy is this going back a few weeks - there were three groups of motor sport fans: sports cars, then if anything the superior sport, open wheelers and rally. The first two seemed to get equal billing. The Lombard RAC one year got Britain's biggest figure for people turning up to one event. I remember being caught in a traffic jam in some out of the way place in Wales at 0430.
Sports car racing dropped from the race with F1 when TV came along. F1 was much easier to present. When that bloke who bought women for sex was in charge of the FIA he abandoned everything but F1.
Further it costs a considerable amount to put on an event and there needs to be a return. Charge a lot for the entrance and fans stay away. Charge too little and you don't cover your costs.
What each formula needs is TV coverage. The TVR Tuscan Challenge was excellent racing, generated big crowds and looked great on TV. All one make series eventually run out of steam and when the TC ended (let's not get all nasty and accuse any person for killing it) the BBC didn't seem that keen to chase up a replacement.
The 24-Hour LM generates lots of interest but is difficult to make into interesting TV. It is the motor racing jewel in Eurosport's crown.
All that is needed is for a terrestrial TV company to take up, say, sports car racing, generate newspaper coverage and then wait for it to become popular. That's a big investment though. The BBC won't want to challenge their F1 coverage, ITV is struggling for income, which leaves Ch 5.
Further, there are so many sports available to watch nowadays. I used to be a keen cyclist and the only way I could follow Le Tour and other such events was via manazines. There used to be a brief bit on radio on the Tour of Britain and the Wincanton Classic but little else.
Another thing: dare I say it but those not already interested in F1 will find the sport a little bit boring. Once you get into it it becomes exciting but for the casual viewer, the one which they should be attracting, it is all rather bland. Then there's DRS, tyres, KERS, crossing lines and why bother.
I enjoy GT racing, especially at a high level. I used to go to watch in it the 80s. Then all of a sudden interest fell away and there was little or no promotion. At one LMS 6-hour at Silverstone it was difficult to find on the internet page. They didn't even open the stands. That was, I was told, due to politics and that probably is the main reason motor sports other than F1 have suffered.
Up to a few years ago Castle Combe was seen as the way forward for club racing. They used to get regular 5 figure attendances for bank holiday clubbies- great mix of local and national championships, close racing due to the nature of the track, packed programme with short gaps between races- since then they appear to have lost the plot- there is a lot of criticism on their forum. For the first time since the 1960's I haven't bothered to go to at least one meeting at the circuit this season. None of the meetings inspired me. Many of the fans were regulars- once they go away they are unlikely to return with the current price of fuel entry etc.
LordGrover said:
Part of the problem, I'm sure, is the technology and equipment required to give quality tv coverage. It's not like a 100yd soccerball pitch. Three miles of circuit takes more cameras, mics, people, etc.
Probably.
From memory, ITV4 have less than a dozen cameras to cover the BTCC at Croft...other circuits will be similar.Probably.
For a 2D Premier League game, Sky have around 20.
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