Getting punters through the gates

[R59]

The mad thing is that they advertise the meetings in MN and Autosport, but why? The fixtures are there, if it's a big event, there will be a preview in the editorial section no doubt. It's preaching to the converted, a waste of breath.

TV advertising is prohibitive in terms of cost at peak times for current events, but radio is worthwhile. It's the tabloid press that needs cracking. The majority of them are only interested in football, even during the summer (closed) season, they hardly take a sniff at motorsport of any kind. F1 used to get cover with the whinging brummie was moaning his way to the top, a little less when Demon Damon did his bit, now it's fallen off to nothing again as the current crop of top drivers all seem to have had a charisma bypass operation. Hopefully Jenson will turn the tide again away from the automatons, stir some media interest, and hopefully, if our promoters are on the ball, they'll ride the wave.????

£10 per car - great idea, it's a start.

£4 silverstone burger - bad idea as they ain't very good burgers at the best of times!

Oh, and clean working toilets might also help (for Silverstone read unlocked)

Rob.

[Werewolf]

Watchd loads of races.also watched loads of fed up/bored wives and kids.The on-track action cannot just be the only thing on offer if its meant to be family day out.whats Dr JP been up to recently to improve the off track show other than new buildings/toilets etc.Can never recall local meets ever mentioned on tv.why? especially as those at the top know the plight of motorsport at grass routes level

[PaulSands]

Definitely a need for something for kids and family to do as well as watch the racing...value for money wise I don't think £10-12 can be knocked, how much is it for a footy match nowadays and how much to get the family to the cinema? when the weathers good there aren't many better days out than picnicking at the track...but kids can get bored quickly
Of course once you start adding all the extra entertainment the expense goes up too.
I have a four year old daughter who has been coming racing with me for the last couple of years and by far her favourite circuits are Mallory Park as it has swings and a very good breakfast (sausage fiend) and Donington Park BUT only when the bouncy councils and quads and everything are there. The friendliness of the racers is always a big help...I realise that racers don't really want kids crawling all over their cars but a big factor in my daughter enjoying herslef was drivers letting her sit in their cars (Jenny Baker-Carr's Tecno F3 being a highlight for her)
There must be plenty of knackerd old FF's and FVees lying around that could be secured to the ground in play areas so the kids could crawl all over them and pretend they were driving...I know there are insurance issues to worry about but I dont think it would take huge amounts of investment to broaden the appeal of going racing to one sector of the public

[Chris Y]

Bouncy councils?

Freudian slip surely?

[Werewolf]

Can never remember anyone ever advertising how to start motor racing at any race meetings ive been to.if you can get people interested at a meeting it may encourage more racers who will bring family friends etc.is this something the club could address or would it be up to the MSA.A more people friendly paddock would be nice as i have seen lots of people milling about the paddock afraid to talk to drivers /teams in case the get told to go away.I know a lot of drivers wouldnt like the distraction but if it makes people feel better and is good for the sport and makes them return i am quite prepared to spare someone the time of day.

[SNH]

Been to 2 oval events this year at Hednesford, first time I've been for 25 years. Big crowd, families, fast turnaround of races, something happening in between, colour, noise, smashes, speed. All for £10 adults, £5 kids. £27 for 2 adults & 3 kids. Coffee 80p, Burgers £2. AND no entry fees for the racers, in fact some prize money. Local adverts on local radio.
Down side - toilets - no sinks, smeely and toilet paper ran out in the loos!
Took 2 daughters, (10 & 13), and one of their friends, they haven't stopeed talking about it. They don't want to go back to a circuit until I race again, as it all takes too ages to get the races going.
Entertainment sells.

[graeme]

I think there's a lot circuit racing could learn from short ovals - I went to the "World Championships" at Conventry a few years ago - no idea what was going on but, boy, was it entertaining!

[blue nose]

When Radio Stoke are at Oulton the venue is well promoted there is a fun fair little quad bikes goldfish to win(still have mine from 4 years ago)there is a lot for wives,kids and there friends to do and the circuit must turn a profit.

[Tuscan 6]

We had 44,000 people at Rockingham for the F3/GT/Tuscan/SEAT weekend last year. Rockingham did their family day out thing - racing with a SugaBabes concert. As the racing finished the 'music' began. Something for everyone.

It also helped that SEAT heavily promoted it with a free ticket offer.

But the end result was packed grandstands and an amazing atmosphere.

Mind you, I did wonder why it cost me £400 to get in (entry fee for Tuscans last year - now up to a very reasonable £470 )

[mountainstar]

That rockingham race was a success in terms of crowd numbers and we need to see more like it.

[Les]

I know the easiest way to make the crowd even smaller - rescind all the GT/F3 VIP passes. Now some of the mechanics and families will have to pay to get in. Nice one JP - that will really encourage people to come to Snetterton next week

[MikeHoyer]

Does anyone think that part of the problem is TV coverage? If you've got Motors or Sky, you can watch a lot of racing, and to some people being able to see all of the action is better than looking at one corner and missing half of it...

Personally I love going to races, love the atmosphere etc.

Also, I'm sure some people don't really mind what they watch, they probably have no idea who is racing, what the championship situation is, so they'll just watch anything on TV.

Having facilities for the kids like a playground etc., is all well and good, but at the same time they could just go to the beach, or a theme park, or whatever and do it properly...

[ss_collins]

Rockinham clearly do it right

[G Halls]

Originally posted by ss_collins
Rockinham clearly do it right

Why do the other promoters not catch on to the rockingham thing?
The Willhire 24hr race at snetterton is the last race i can remeber going to that attracted a good crowd and had lots for all ages to see and do,
But even that stopped

[topwelshman]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MikeHoyer
[B]Does anyone think that part of the problem is TV coverage? If you've got Motors or Sky, you can watch a lot of racing, and to some people being able to see all of the action is better than looking at one corner and missing half of it...

Actually, I believe the reverse is true. If it wasn't for TV some wouldn't get into it in the 1st place. The problem as I see it is the lack of decent marketing whether it be by the clubs, the circuits or the drivers, and the rising costs just to turn up.

The cost of TV coverage is horrendous. If it was cheaper it would get more use and would produce greater levels of interest by the public and as a result it would be easier to come by sponsorship, which, would help to put out more cars on the grids. Everything would be more professional and more slick and result in a better spectacle all round. One big positive circle.

[mcurtis26]

True, Rockingham is getting punters in, but how many people are actually paying to go through the gates, especially with the number of free tickets given away last year. I'm all for giving tickets if it will get new people into the sport if they will return, but not if they only go for a free day out and won't return when they have to pay. I was Oulton for the BTCC at the end of May, and most of the people I saw there had Seat hospitality passes, a doubt that there was many paying punters. I was stood at the outside of Lodge for the first touring car race, and there was no more than 30 or so people there, yet for the British Superbikes a few weeks previous, the crowd was 20 deep at Lodge and at least 6 deep all the way down to the corner.

[MikeHoyer]

Better than having to peer over a load of heads though...

[ss_collins]

True, Rockingham is getting punters in, but how many people are actually paying to go through the gates, especially with the number of free tickets given away last year.

I think quite a lot are paying to get in, what amazed me was the sheer numbers of Teenage girls going along and actually watching the racing and enjoying it.

The bloke sat next to me could only be described as a south london bling bad boy and he was loving it - had never been to a race before but would certainly be back - and with his mates.

I wonder if MSV should do the same thing with Brands

[Tuscan 6]

Originally posted by Les
I know the easiest way to make the crowd even smaller - rescind all the GT/F3 VIP passes. Now some of the mechanics and families will have to pay to get in. Nice one JP - that will really encourage people to come to Snetterton next week

Well at least at the moment the F3 guys get 20 passes per driver. Which to be honest does sound on the excessive side. And IMHO, the F3 races don't get a huge spectator following anyway - uinless someone can tell me otherwise.

In the TVRs last year we got 8 personnel and two vehicle passes per driver. This year first we lost the permanent passes. Then we were reduced to 6 paper tickets. Now MSV has reduced that further to 4. And no vehicle passes. At all. Not even for the team transporter/awning.

I'm not sure how we are supposed to get to our alloted space in the paddock. Unfortunately our 'Star Trek' transporter thing isn't working, otherwise we'd just materialise in the middle of the paddock and bypass the variety of job's worth's on the gate.

On Sunday morning I arrived at the circuit at 8.30am - our race was at 10.00am, so not a huge amountof time to mess about. I had a huge kit bag in the car and 40 litres of race fuel. I was refused entry to the paddock with the car. Point blank. No discussion, no reasoning. Just a flat refusal. I was told that I should come back when I had got a paddock pass - even though I told him we weren't issued with any. Which of course meant that I couldn't go in. We had a huge argument and I eventually lost my temper.

In the end I parked behind him, waited until he was distracted and drove in anyway. What f**king marvellous preparation for a race.

I rang SRO today about it and they seemed surprised we don't get vehicle passes. They also blamed MSV for the lack of personnel passes. Its just marvellous telling my sponsors that I can't get them in - makes them feel really special. Not. We'll see what comes of it...

I really feel I get value for money from my £470 entry fee

[JohnMiller]

I heard no freebies for The Rock this year, from a good source.

[Les]

Tuscan6 - that is a digusting way to treat a competitor

[R59]

Remember to the circuits, post John Webb, competitors are scum, spectators are worse.

How many passes for F3? Blimey, that accounts for all of the people in the grandstand at a typical F3 meeting.

And of course, big corporate people are very very nice.

That's why it's the state that it is.

Rob.
ready, Stick, stirring, the, at. (re-arrange into phrase or saying)

[KennyG]

Originally posted by ss_collins
Rockinham clearly do it right

If they are doing it so right, why are they suffering financially due to low crowd turn out?

I spend a fair amount of my time talking to senior people in motorsport - circuits, clubs, teams, manufacturers, etc. They are all concerned about the low numbers coming through the gates and Rockingham is very worried, trust me.

Maybe people prefer to sit on their obese rear ends swilling beer and munching burgers while watching Big Brother instead of going to watch the racing. Tastes cahnge, not always for the better.

[ss_collins]

Kenny you would be suprised who I speak to and I know what you are talking about and I'm pretty confident that Rockingham will be fine - thier crowds exceed pretty much everything else bar the GP, Rally GB etc...

Though they really do need a big event

[Les]

personally I blame F1 - race fans who don't have pots of dosh and don't go to meetings watch F1 on the box.
F1 is boring therefore to their mind all racing is boring.
Get F1 buzzing like touring cars and clios and they might just go and watch it. Secondly get touring cars and clios etc shown straight after F1 on the box and you might get a few converts