Autoweek: State of sports-car racing in the U.S: There's work to do Read more: http

Confirming what we heard over the ALMS/WEC weekend, Autoweek just released an article on the state of sportscar racing in the U.S:

State of sports-car racing in the U.S.: There's work to do - Autoweek

 

I wonder what they will say when F-1 crowds begin to dwindle? Money isn't happening for people and the economy isn't making people spend cash, so I guess they will blame it on the weather.

 

In that regard it seems sales aren't going well either.

 

I like this line:

No fake, and it also just lost its title sponsor Izod.

Bad days indeed...

 

Despite what are media says.....I think we might just have a tenee wenee economic problem going on. And the fact that now people will be paying another added expense courtesy of our friends in Washington DC, we may have just seen the last of people going to needless events like F1, WEC, NASCAR, USCR or the failing enitity called...crapwagons!


Makes for interesting times in the world of motorized sports. But they will still by tickets for that all inclusive drunk fest called the NFL !!! Brats anyone?

 

this x1,000,000.

as much as I love ALMS, outside the factory GT teams it's entirely rich guys going racing with big budgets and small crowds. GA is a bit better, mostly due to the NASCAR influence, and mostly in DP only (GT cars remain largely self-funded gentlemen racers).

If sports cars are going to be a legitimate business and not just glorified club racing, there has to be a measurable ROI for non-automotive sponsors to get involved. I think one series with a (more) clear mission, a proper TV and online package, and a streamlined schedule will be big moves towards that. I do think that if its going to be a success NASCAR needs to lend some help on the national media/PR/promotion side of things.

 

I agree, although I believe it's rare to quantify real ROI with racing sponsorships. Surely they exist, but they are rare. As a Marketing guy, I made an attempt to do some racing sponsorship with a few of my companies, and the ROI just wasn't there.

In this economy, forget about it. Unless you are a consumer good or an auto supplier, most companies will stay away.

 

how did you define that ROI?

with custom websites, coupon codes, QR codes, social media, on-site activation, etc I would think the technology would exist to measure a lot of different definitions of ROI-not just sales, but the "advertising" impact of the sponsorship.

 

Look around next time you drive. Most people want SUVs, trucks, minivans and "crossovers." They clog the left lane doing at most the speed limit and I constantly feel the life force drained from me when I can neither see nor get around all the slugs and tanks. While there is a contingent that loves their sports cars, I personally think it has shrunken dramatically.

In addition, few people seem to have any interest in actually driving. All the advertisements and features in cars are to entertain and distract, coupled with increased safety features designed to minimize the harm from what I think people view as "inevitable" crashes.

I just don't think a significant segment of the public is very interested in cars and driving for the sake of it.

 

I always enjoy being stuck behind the slower-than-the-limit left-lane squatter who I find, upon passing her on the right, is texting.

::angrycursingemoticons::

 

on the flip side, more of every type of sports car is being sold now vs. just about any time in history...from Miatas and Mustangs to Ferrari and Aston.

so while the majority is increasingly less interested, the enthusiast market is still growing in raw numbers, if not percentage.

 

question asked as would be expected from a babson man!

btw...may have a 30 minute call set up with you and operations director at MWR...stay tuned chas.

we are fighting to get you up to lake norman!

 

excellent, thank you sir!

 

Shocking to learn...

That Autoweek is still in business.

Seriously, the main problem that plagues most of racing in the U.S. is the fact
that people whom have no knowledge of or experience in racing that are pressed into
high level positions particularly in the marketing and media end of things.

This is epidemic in sports car as well as open wheeled racing nationwide. So, is it
a surprise to learn someone formerly from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is in charge at
COTA?

Those around the press rooms at races around the country learn one thing. The series and
tracks are a revolving door of college graduates with fresh degrees put into positions they
have no idea about.

Recalling the time at the Sebring Winter Test when one such young lady from ALMS was
thrown to the media to answer some pointed questions which she clearly didn't have answers
to. A colleague standing next to me uttered under his breath, "Congratulations on your high
school diploma sweetheart, welcome to racing" as the poor thing tap danced around the questions.

I sort of stopped standing on my head about this issue a long time ago as the tracks and
series seem far more interested in putting some of these marketing people in these positions
fresh out of college so they don't have to pay them anything.

The FIA is right, there should have been 100K spectators at COTA for the combined ALMS/WEC event.

BHW

 

not sure if serious......

 

I don't think the FIA ever said there should be 100K people there. COTA projected a whopping 116K though in their application for a $1.5M state subsidy for the race. The really crazy part is that's the number that gets them paid, not the actual attendance figure.

The FIA was more upset about the way the race has been handled and promoted...leading to the very poor turnout on Sunday (the 5500 in the article is also quite generous imho), and 15-minute waits to clear one beached car from the circuit, among MANY other things. Remember, the big coming-to-God meeting took place on Tuesday or Wednesday before the race.

Also, I can't & won't vouch for many in the news media, but the author of that article, Steven Cole Smith, has forgotten more about racing than most of us here will ever know. Disagree with his opinion all you want, but the man knows his topic.

 

I am not sure that is true, especially in percentage terms. The Supra and NSX are dead for many years. Viper and Corvette production numbers are not significantly higher now than in years past. I don't know if Miata numbers are up or not, but I doubt it. I think 911 numbers may be up, but as a percentage the Cayenne and Panamera eclipse the 911. I'd be interested to see the percentage of sports cars now vs 20 years ago. My anecdotal sense from just driving around is that it is lower. And no question the SUV is way up (arguably did not really exist 20 yrs ago). IMO anyone who prefers an SUV really does not enjoy driving from a dynamics perspective. They want utility, space, off road or towing. I really think a growing percentage of people look upon driving as NOT entertaining. So why would they want to go watch others drive?

 

no doubt as a percentage of the total vehicle market, it's lower.

I guess from there it depends on your definition of "sports car" vs enthusiast car. I wouldn't consider an M3 or GTR or Shelby Gt500 a "sports car", but they are definitely enthusiast cars. It seems to me that the total enthusiast car market is bigger than it's ever been. maybe that's just my perception, and you do raise a good point about Supras, Celicas, 240z,etc...those were high volume. it just seems like we're spoiled for choice like never before, and it seems like the market has more volume than ever before. would like to see some hard data but not sure how to go about it.

 

Has anyone ever considered the fact that they may just be too many racing series to support? Considering the economic conditions, disposable income is getting rather rare for racing fans and their families. Only so much money to go around currently.

 

The article talked about executives of racing series have no background in them. For the Indy 500 and the track, they hired Mark Miles to take thrm into the future. He has no racing background. He made a name for himself leading the US tennis association for a few years. He has attended a few 500, s, but would not know a Dallara from a Coyote. Sad, and the state of Indiana just gave them over 100 million tax $ for the next 20 years, to use for track upgrades. Another case of one of the countries richest families, the Hulman/George's being showered with money. Sad, and hes in charge.

 

If COTA had actually promoted this race weekend in a competent way & still had a low turnout, then I think we might be able to fall back on this.

They didn't.

ETA: Attendance was REALLY poor. I'd say 2-3k for the Sunday race is about right. I saw a bigger crowd at a brand new dirt oval 60 miles from Austin back in July.

 

BTW, some pretty scathing (and spot-on) comments below the article.

 

Speaking of small dirt ovals....how is Devils Bowl doing these days? Or is the real estate worth more than the racing?

 

Oh to be a fly on the wall in the COTA BOD room...

 

they won't care until they run out of money.