Delivering Motorsport to People

  • Thread starter JohnBM01
  • 41 comments
  • 981 views
JohnBM01

JohnBM01

21 years!
Premium
26,911
United States
Houston, Texas, USA
JMarine25
I decided to create this topic out of special interest. I often fear other nations not being able to check out some of the best racing in the world (in that person's mind). This is another chance for you all to sound off. I am concerned for some of the international audience here. I am concerned about people in Australia, for example, when it comes to motorsport. I hear that some people may have not been able to check out the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. Maybe they might not be able to see the ALMS races here, perhaps even JGTC action hundreds of miles north of Australia. I'm often concerned that even though we get most forms of international racing in our homes, that we have to wait until fall or winter just to see the better races. All due respect to American racing, but I kind of want to see the world. I can respect fall and winter, but I'd kind of want to see same-day racing action later on Sunday Afternoons or early Monday mornings (meaning, midnight-5 AM of course). If you ask me, I'd love to see the Supra/350Z battle in the JGTC, the Mercedes-Benz dominance in DTM, or something like that, with same-day coverage like MotoGP or World Superbike.

Yes, GTPlanet. This thread is not about racing. Instead, it is about GIVING racing to people. And for racing fans like myself, I kind of wish that all people into racing get a chance to see just about ANY SERIES THEY WANT TO SEE. Examples include NASCAR fans taking a look at ASCAR in Britain, import/sport compact fans seeing D1 Grand Prix in Japan, maybe even giving China and Japan a look at the ALMS series. As much as I love racing, I'd love having other people share my love of my favorite sport, motorsports. I don't like hearing of people being left out of checking out racing events. Since getting (then) Speedvision, I learned to appreciate the world of racing. And when I say the world, I don't mean just NASCAR, Formula One, WRC, and select sportscar races, but Australian V8s, the JGTC, DTM, British GT, BTCC, heard of Spanish GT, French GT, SASCAR (South African Stock Car Auto Racing)... I thank all the people who help mold race fans into racing enthusiasts. So, let's talk about giving the world motorsport.
 
In Australia we get coverage of V8's, F1, Champ Car, WRC, ARC, Procar and a few other local forms of motorsport but we miss out on alot of international events. I'd really love to get pay TV for the simple fact that I could view more motorsport -- though my mum would hate it because I'm already running out of room in my room from all the races I tape:lol:.

I think our TV networks do a good job of bringing the best series in the world to us but we never see any JGTC or ALMS or even the LeMans 24 hour race! We do, probably like many other nations, need better coverage of international events:grumpy:.
 
Since I don't have cable, all I get is the NASCAR races. The one last Sunday was pretty good with all the crashes. If anybody knows of any races on public TV(except ALMS) please do tell.
 
Is this true besides the U.S??? American Public TV broadcasters (ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and others) only show what is "Popular" and not what most if the times is Good Quality TV. And in my view this goes into motorsports on TV. There are some REALLY awesome series out there (all the ones you guys named) and they hardly get any coverage outside their country. We here in the U.S have speed.....but its on Cable and now its more like 70% NASCAR and like the rest F1, WRC, MOTOGP, SUPERBIKE and others all crunched into small time slots. But look at 2002 (I think) when ABC showed several F1 races.....they're 1st broadcast of U.S GP sucked!!! and i guess they noticed no one really watched them (I think because of bad Advertising) and they no longer show F1 races there. I wish money wasnt as important of a decision maker as to what they show on TV because I mean the JGTC, BTCC, DTM, Australian V8 SuperCars, D1 GP, and lots more are really good series. But I guess its not gonna happen anytime soon. Its sad because i live here in the U.S and I love AUSTRALIAN V8 SUPERCARS AND DTM, and I never get to see them. Speed last year showed Australian V8 and DTM during the Winter....but it would be better too show them same day or something....but like I said that costs lots of $$ and well I dont think they see enough interest in them. Even though I think that if they give good air time to some of those series and produce very good quality broadcasts, then maybe the audiance will grow for that series and eventually...and hopfully, to others. But hey I can still dream... :sly:
 
It seems that the Speed channel has better veiwing in the winter.Just for the fact that there is no NASCAR races on and they can give us all of the racing that we missed during the NASCAR season.Now here is another idea,what about taping a ALMS race and sending it down under?We could pick someone to get the tape and then make copies for all that would like one.I am willing to do the taping up here if the tapes are compatable with the players down under.Spread the joy.
 
As the name of the movie goes, many believe that "Money Talks (funny movie!)." Either you have it, or you don't. And I think SPEED Channel has money off of NASCAR and other oval racing. If you notice, the USAR Hooter's Pro Cup Series (or, low-level NASCAR), is televised each Thursday while I'm watching "WWE SmackDown!" rather than Saturday and Sunday. This may impress Kart Racer. I'd like to see what FIA Karting is like over in Europe. Having done indoor karting sometimes, I'd like to see how the pros (and other amateurs) do it. Maybe I'm on the premise that as good as racing is, I think that there is much more than meets the eye. Racing in America isn't just NASCAR, Champ Car, and some others. In fact, I think Speed Channel brought us the world, but as much as this has been accomplished, more can be done to broaden the fanbase. Wouldn't you drift lovers want to see drifting in Japan? Wouldn't you NASCAR lovers want to see Australian V8s? I'd love some tape-delay coverage of the JGTC, then have it replayed during the day on Sunday, or even before Speed News NASCAR Edition comes on. I think that delivering motorsport to people can help appreciate the world of racing. I know that pro-American car fans probably couldn't care less about something in Europe or Japan, but I think Speed Channel has just enough racing to mold a pro-American fan to appreciate many other types of racing. And to me, even Speedvision was into America, but at least it diversified coverage so that it doesn't become too American. And now look at the "new look" Speedvision, Speed Channel, is almost purely American. All you get is mostly NASCAR, oval racing, some sprint car action (including the Knoxville Nationals this Saturday), "dirt" track racing, and selective road racing. But it still provides endurance racing, including the newest endurance, the Bathurst 24 Hours. Or as I say, "Speed Channel's road racing coverage is actually better than Speedvision."
 
kart racer
It seems that the Speed channel has better veiwing in the winter.Just for the fact that there is no NASCAR races on and they can give us all of the racing that we missed during the NASCAR season.Now here is another idea,what about taping a ALMS race and sending it down under?We could pick someone to get the tape and then make copies for all that would like one.I am willing to do the taping up here if the tapes are compatable with the players down under.Spread the joy.
Click to expand...
You can send me those tapes:tup:
 
So, Australians... how come you all can't see or hear about some of the racing around the world? That Ten Network (or whatever the network is called) shows the Australian V8s (and I can't wait until later this year), and us Americans get a chance to see it later in the year. As a racing fan, I'm rather concerned about you Australian race fans.
 
I don't know -- my guess is that it isn't profitable to broadcast American or Japanese or German or any other international series. I wish they would but I can't do much about it:(
 
We get a bit of DTM on a program called motor sports asia(Whats going on there?). We also got a 3 hour update for the Le mans 24 hour, this is all on cable TV, I only have cable at my dads so I dont see much of these.
 
You know, in the car world, China is the fastest-growing segment in the automotive industry. And I guess you can say that the Australian racing is probably the fastest-growing (unless Brazilian Stock Car wants to make some serious impact). I don't know. Let me tell you something, Australia. No country should be left out in seeing the world of racing. If FOX Sports World televises Cricket, Soccer/Football, Rugby, or whatever from around the world, I'm sure it can also apply to motorsports. With all the racing down in Australia, it would be a shame to have you better-represented. You have Peter Brock, who is perhaps one of the best racers in Australia, if not THE best. Mark Webber is in Formula One, and I think he signed a deal to go elsewhere in Formula One. I want to say Jaguar, but I'm not sure. And an Australian V8's roar around the track sounds better than a V8 "stock" car here in the States. We know about Japan and the JGTC. And even sometimes I want to know what Formula Nippon is about. I kind of want to see for the first time, the Suzuka 8 Hour endurance race with the motorcycles. In fact, I think there needs to be a 24 Hour Race at Suzuka featuring sportscars, GT racers, JGTC, maybe even Super Taikyu cars. Japan is exposing itself with Australia to follow as they head to China next year. And sure, Australia going to New Zealand is an international deal, but I'd like to see V8 supercars race in America, believe it or not. If they can make their way inland, I'd like to see them race at Road America or Barber Motorsports Park.

No offense, Australia, but I don't see how you Australians can be left behind with racing coverage. I'm sure there are wonderful racing fans down in Aussie land. Something will have to be worked to ensure that you all will be represented in motorsports come Hell or high water. I'm sorry. Australia is a wonderful nation, and I won't stand to see it not be represented fully in racing, or even get racing coverage. It's a damn shame, and I'm pulling for all you Australians to have a gateway to the world of racing. Someone needs to step in and show some more racing action in Australia. Aussie V8s is good, but you all need ALMS, Le Mans, World Rally, DTM, JGTC, and stuff like that. If this post offended any of you, I'm deeply sorry. But I kind of want to see racing action being covered down there and basically, have a racing network to keep you in touch with the racing world and educate the youth about the world of racing. Whoa... lot of preaching there, but I'm very concerned.
 
No offence John but you're preaching to the converted:lol:

If V8's went to America I'd love to see them at Road America or Laguna Seca. Peter Borck isn't as good as he used to be but he's still fast. Mark Webber is currently my favourite driver and he's doing our nation proud in my opinion. He is signed for BMW Williams next year so that's a big step for an Australian driver.

I also think that Australian Drivers are under represented in the rest of the world -- we have alot of talent but it's a very expensive road to F1 and alot of our talented young drivers don't have the cash to get themselves there.
 
i know what your getting at John, i would like to see some of the other forms of racing like alms and jgtc, but the thing is , our domestic racing is GREAT. We have a great domestic motorsport culture and the quality of racing is of high grade.

the reason why its so good is because we have trouble being able to break into the international scene being so isolated. australia has great driving talent, we just dont have the resources to get our drivers over there. most aussie drivers go over to british f3 of fford but come back home due to lack of funding. some of these are Marcos Ambrose (reining v8 champion), russel ingall, will and anthony davison, craig lowndes, the list goes on.

but back to why it is great, we have so many good series. we have formula ford and formula 4000 (a.k.a formula holden), carrera cup, aussie racing cars, nations cup, gtp, v8brutes, lotus challenge series, formula vee, historics, commodore cup, formula 3, plus many more, including the konica v8 championship (feeder series to the v8supercars). we dont need any international motorsport because australian motorsport is so good. but i would like to see more. plus id like to see better champcar coverage considering that the series "crown jewel event" is the surfers paradise event.
 
Oh god, I hate the champcar coverage this season. They've tried to make it into too much of a SHOW if you know what I mean. "Here's our life style reporter Bronte Tagliani"....I mean why on earth do you need a LIFESTYLE REPORTER? Jeez, it's pathetic. But I like the racing:tup:
 
I'd really love to get pay TV for the simple fact that I could view more motorsport -- though my mum would hate it because I'm already running out of room in my room from all the races I tape.
Click to expand...
Don't do it without thorough research. I got FOX a few years ago mainly for motorsport programs and was bitterly disappointed with the amount of motorsport they show. They have a few different motorsport programs on the Fox Sports channels but NEVER tell people what will be televised during the program. You might sit through two hours of motorbikes and boats and not see any car racing at all. What they do show may well have been televised on the free to air SBS network a few weeks earlier. FOX also has the ESPN channel who shows NASCAR and drag racing but not much else. As for Channel Ten John, understandably, they don't show anything that doesn't get huge ratings. Australia only has five free to air networks in the ABC, SBS, ch7, ch9 and ch10 and between them the can't find time to show a program that would appeal to only a small percentage of the population.
we have formula ford and formula 4000 (a.k.a formula holden), carrera cup, aussie racing cars, nations cup, gtp, v8brutes, lotus challenge series, formula vee, historics, commodore cup, formula 3, plus many more, including the konica v8 championship (feeder series to the v8supercars).
Click to expand...
The problem is that all of those except Nations Cup, GTP and the historics are one or two make series or are a series that have cars that are built to a certain spec like FF or F4000. There is nowhere near enough diversity in Australian motorsport to keep the real motorsport enthusiasts entertained. We only get about a half hour highlights package of races like Le Mans or the Spa 24hr and I don't think Fox has even shown it yet.
 
channel ten is more or less the only channel in Australia with motor sports, 9 didnt do justice to the F1's... they used to delay them waaaaaaaaaay to long

if you have 24 hours a day and 7 days a week you cant fit too much international sports in... think back to NBA which used to be quite popular.

AFL is always going to kill racing in tv audiences
 
I want AFL and motorsports! Thats not too much to ask. Get rid of the crap sopies and there is plenty of room for both.
 
But Schrodes, as you are a road racing fan, you like sprint cars like here in America. How much exposure to American sprint cars you get? Speaking of which, congratulations to Danny "The Dude" Lasoski for winning the Knoxville Nationals earlier tonight.

I guess a majority of my concern is about Australia and its racing coverage. So I'd like to know about the delivery of motorsport coverage in countries besides America and Australia. For example, I guess there's a lot of coverage in Brazil. That Johnny guy (I think that's his screen name) was talking about Brazilian Stock Car, and I joked with him by saying the cars look like "BTM," or "Brazilian Tourenwagen Masters," since the cars kind of seem like DTM rides. He told me about the Brazilian big rig trucks that race. You can find that data in my GT4 thread entitiled "Keep on Truckin'!" So, anyone else willing to share?
 
The extent of our international motorsport coverage is pretty much F1, WRC and Champ Car, I can't think of any other international motorsports we see.
 
But Schrodes, as you are a road racing fan, you like sprint cars like here in America. How much exposure to American sprint cars you get?
Click to expand...
You shouldn't have mentioned that John, my blood is boiling now! When I first spoke to a Fox rep over the phone I specifically mentioned the WoO coverage as a big reason in our subscribing to Fox. I was assured that yes they did show the WoO Sprintcars. When our program guide arrived and Fox was up and running, I searched the guide looking for the sprintcars. There was no program that televised the WoO. There was however, a few different motorsports programs but as I mentioned previously, they didn't advertise what they would be showing on those programs. Hence I had to sit through boats and bikes in the hope that something, anything interesting would come on. After about a month I rang Fox and was advised that they hadn't had the rights to the WoO for about 12 months but they were negotiating for the rights. I was livid! I requested that they cancel our subscription but they said there was an early cancellation fee for canceling inside the 24 month period. Despite my best attempts, they persisted with the fee so we kept Fox. Two years later, still no WoO but they do show the Australian Sprintar races. Now the kids are far to attached to Fox for us to get rid of it. I have to rely on speedway magazines or motorsport magazines for the sprintcar results and news.
Damn you FOXTEL.
 
lol, make your kids go outside! I hate how they have all those cancellation fee's and stuff. I'd hunt down the president of foxtel and give him a short tie!
 
Easy, Blake... I'm sure GTPlanet doesn't want to catch a case with FOX with these comments. And by the way, Schrodes... sorry for ticking you off.
 
um, id rather have NRL than AFL!!!!

blake, you cant complain about bronte tagliani, i saw her at the indy a few years ago. HOLY **** SHE IS HOT!!!!!!!! but i think that they do have to make it into more of a show to try and get better ratings in the states.

the thing is, we do get good motosport coverage, u just gotta know where to watch. SBS's Speedweek shows the european Carerra cup as well as Le mans highlights, we get updates from all forms of motorsport on RPM, trackside is just beaut, even my local community channel BRIZ31 has motorsport. we will never get full on international motorsport coverage because we do live on the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.
 

Similar threads

Famine
The FIA Wants to Know What You Think About Racing Esports
Replies
26
Views
3K
Veinz
Veinz
PGodia10
Non-mainstream motorsport series to watch live
Replies
15
Views
2K
toastet
toastet
Def-Infinity
  • Poll
Is F1 still the pinnacle of motorsport? Was it ever?
2
Replies
54
Views
8K
Samus
S
W
Category Lineage
Replies
3
Views
1K
WiisardNic
W
luigidelta
The Diaries of Enea Vailatti
Replies
24
Views
2K
luigidelta
luigidelta

Latest Posts

Back