Tobacco Sponsorship is Ruining Racing not the laws to govern it.

[sgjb]

I have watched each and every thread lately complain about the government and the new tobacco advertising laws. People for and against it. Everybody has a right to their opinion.

I actually have another take on this whole thing. I feel tobacco advertising is what is and will ruin racing in Cart and other series throughout the world. I feel if there was never tobacco advertising we would be better today.

It is my contention that these advertisers have helped increase costs in every form of motorsport as they clearly have the biggest amount of profits to throw around. Their gravitation to motorsports has lead certain teams to be the have nots. They pumped enormous amounts of money into racing.

All this did though was raise the bar to such a high standard that I don't feel motorsports can sustain this. In tough economic times there just isn't enough other companies that can afford the 30 million per season like Player's pumps into racing. Yes, there will always be a few other teams with some exceptional sponsors that support them greatly, just not enough though. Having such a discrepency from top to bottom is a negative. I am amazed though at the stupidity of some sponsors still sponsoring some of the bottom teams. Why would anybody spend a nickel on Dale Coyne's team.

If they never ever entered racing we probably would have more sponsors entering the series because they know they would get TV time because the bigger budget teams maybe aren't that much bigger anymore. Yes you will say if they didn't enter we maybe wouldn't have the technology that the money buys etc. But I guess if they never came to racing we maybe wouldn't really know what we are missing. At least we may have a more even series that owners flock too. Closer racing that all teams can afford. A secure series with not so many problems.

CART is trying to get there and I hope they do.

[macdaddy]

Hello, sgjb! Haven't heard from ya much lately. That was a very thoughtful post.

My only counter would be that engine manufacturers, tire giants, and to a lesser extent the oil industry, has also pumped a heckuva lotta money into motorsport over the years. And not only in R&D, but also in sponsorship. (Much of which is behind-the-scenes).

[sgjb]

Thats very true Macdaddy. Good point!

[norman-normal]

I long for the days before race cars became billboards and one could appricate the purposeful lines. How many could identify the race cars (not just CART) by the shape alone?

[Jordi]

Me, norman, but I have a real good eye for cars...

[Jay]

Good post sgjb, you make some very good points that should be considered.

And as I've said a million times before, tobacco sponsorship is gone, deal with it.

[carsten66]

I think we will find worldwide a large number of big companies who are spending huge amounts for advertising (100-200 mill and more). Their budgets are big enough to spend 10 mill. for sponsoring a champ car too. It's more a question whether the management is interested in motoracing (CART) - or not... What's about Puma, Nike, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Microsoft, Infinion, Deutsche Post/Danzas/DHL, UPS, Sony, Hitachi, Panasonic, Technics, Siemens, IBM, Bosch, Compaq, Bud, Fosters, Molson, Shell, Texaco/Havoline, BP, Gilette, Mars, McDonalds, Nestlé, Swatch, RedBull, Wal Mart, Target... take a look at the newspapers and magazins...

[evo]

Originally posted by norman-normal
I long for the days before race cars became billboards and one could appricate the purposeful lines. How many could identify the race cars (not just CART) by the shape alone?

I love the look of F1 cars from the 60s with just the country's racing colours and no sponsor logos painted on them. However, I think modern cars would just look odd without the sponsor logos.