Jim
Nitro Member
Nitromater
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Courtney Force Body Photos
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Horsepower & Heels
Nitro Member
I wrote about this on my blog, and received an excellent written comment from a coach for females in motorsports. Check it out: Sex sells... or does it? Courtney Force controversy
After the Hoopla when Shelly Anderson had the Good Morning America crew at Topeka in the 90's, even doing a Burnout on the Air! Or CBS Sunday Morning doing a piece on Melanie Troxel a few years ago, to Ashley Force winning a Yahoo Hottest female poll a few years back.....maybe I'm not paying attention to TV ratings or what, but I certainly haven't noticed a substantial difference thus far. This sport unfortunately continues to be a Lead balloon in the Marketing/ Sponsorship dept!
Joe, in answer to your questions about the marketing value of things like the ESPN The Mag photos, along with the other things you mentioned, there is no simple answer. It’s impossible to QUANTIFY the results of anything you mentioned, although in my opinion that Yahoo Hottest poll was worth less than othing. It’s virtually meaningless. You might as well post photos of any three girls and ask people to select the one they think is the “best.”
For example, how many people voted in that poll? It might have been 37!
In days of yore I operated on the principal that there was no such thing as bad ink, there was only “no” ink. I no longer believe that because there are sites on the Internet that pose as news sites that are nothing more than gossip. But, if an unkind story or an embarrassing photo appears on one of those sites, some people will pay attention to it.
In the case of Ms. Force’s appearance in ESPN The Magazine, I can’t envision a single, long-term negative thing for drag racing. Her appearance is far more likely to drive spectators to the track rather than away from it. For those who deem that appearance trashy, they weren’t likely to come to the races regardless. I would be amazed, for example, if a single Nitromater poster were to state that he or she would no longer attend the races because of Courtney’s photos. And ya know what? Even if someone did say that I’d personally find it very difficult to believe. How serious could a fan be if the exposure of only some of Ms. Force’s body was enough to keep them from the track? Did people stay away after Mr. Force appeared in the Body Issue?
Every time a racer appears on a morning TV show, or does a radio interview, or sits for a newspaper story it has the potential to lure that viewer, listener or reader out to the track. If there were some way we could actually measure the results of those interviews we’d be America’s marketing geniuses, but there isn’t. We can only hope that every bit of exposure the racers and the public relations experts arrange has a positive result for drag racing.
Without media exposure no activity – including the NFL – can survive. Even with the games being televised and the stadiums full it’s the ancillary activities which drive the endeavor. Just think how many talk shows, anthology series or daily NFL-specific sports programs there are, and how many sports networks are battling to bring you that news. That’s what drives the NFL’s popularity.
If drag racing had the same kind of media support system we’d be a lot further ahead than we are, but the media isn’t infallible. IndyCar racing is the perfect example of where hype and history have overcome reality. Many of the NHRA race telecasts exceed the viewership of the IndyCar races, just as in some instances our live gate exceeds theirs, but guess what? The media PERCEPTION is that IndyCar is bigger than drag racing, so they get the newspaper stories and race reports on the sports shows, and we get nothing.
A more simplistic way of demonstrating the difference between drag racing and other forms of racing would be to ask you this question: If it was Danica Patrick appearing in The Mag, how much more national media attention would it have drawn in comparison to Courtney’s appearance?
Yeah, I don’t like the answer any more than you do.
See you on The Mountain, Big Guy!
Jon Asher
Senior Editor
CopetitionPlus.com
For example, how many people voted in that poll? It might have been 37!
In days of yore I operated on the principal that there was no such thing as bad ink, there was only “no” ink. I no longer believe that because there are sites on the Internet that pose as news sites that are nothing more than gossip. But, if an unkind story or an embarrassing photo appears on one of those sites, some people will pay attention to it.
In the case of Ms. Force’s appearance in ESPN The Magazine, I can’t envision a single, long-term negative thing for drag racing. Her appearance is far more likely to drive spectators to the track rather than away from it. For those who deem that appearance trashy, they weren’t likely to come to the races regardless. I would be amazed, for example, if a single Nitromater poster were to state that he or she would no longer attend the races because of Courtney’s photos. And ya know what? Even if someone did say that I’d personally find it very difficult to believe. How serious could a fan be if the exposure of only some of Ms. Force’s body was enough to keep them from the track? Did people stay away after Mr. Force appeared in the Body Issue?
Every time a racer appears on a morning TV show, or does a radio interview, or sits for a newspaper story it has the potential to lure that viewer, listener or reader out to the track. If there were some way we could actually measure the results of those interviews we’d be America’s marketing geniuses, but there isn’t. We can only hope that every bit of exposure the racers and the public relations experts arrange has a positive result for drag racing.
Without media exposure no activity – including the NFL – can survive. Even with the games being televised and the stadiums full it’s the ancillary activities which drive the endeavor. Just think how many talk shows, anthology series or daily NFL-specific sports programs there are, and how many sports networks are battling to bring you that news. That’s what drives the NFL’s popularity.
If drag racing had the same kind of media support system we’d be a lot further ahead than we are, but the media isn’t infallible. IndyCar racing is the perfect example of where hype and history have overcome reality. Many of the NHRA race telecasts exceed the viewership of the IndyCar races, just as in some instances our live gate exceeds theirs, but guess what? The media PERCEPTION is that IndyCar is bigger than drag racing, so they get the newspaper stories and race reports on the sports shows, and we get nothing.
A more simplistic way of demonstrating the difference between drag racing and other forms of racing would be to ask you this question: If it was Danica Patrick appearing in The Mag, how much more national media attention would it have drawn in comparison to Courtney’s appearance?
Yeah, I don’t like the answer any more than you do.
See you on The Mountain, Big Guy!
Jon Asher
Senior Editor
CopetitionPlus.com
rckymtn3
Nitro Member
Wait... so its okay for JOHN to be in the issue, but not a female?
Well, if that doesn't just reinforce the double standard right back to where we started.
Erica...in defense of the guys, what you see is a product of the radical feminist movement of the 70's. We were told not to view women as sex objects. We were told to view women as equals. We were told to respect the abilities of women, not their bodies. These are all, very sound ideals. Quite different from the previous generation. We train well. Please pardon us for scratching our heads when we are now told we are dinosaurs for having these thoughts. I'm okay with everything a girl does, or a guy does. It's their life. I believe in "to each their own". I do, however, reserve the right to ignore all further attempts at training by women, because it just confuses me.
+1 Vote....I adore the more mature ladies.
It's my favorite. It has everything a good photo should have. The one with the engine in it is okay, and says "drag racing" to us, but to most, they see an engine and they'll think NASCAR. The 'chute on the other hand...folks will see "drag racing" and say huh? Those that have no idea will look into it further, trying to figure out if it's an extreme skydiving thing, or what. If I was still of the age to have posters up, that 'chute photo would be PERFECT.
Jim
Nitro Member
When JOHN appeared in the body issue, only the folks at ESPN were worried - about a drop-off in circulation.
No such worries with Court.
mw6789
Nitro Member
Well that just proves Ashers comment about all of us being old farts. Of which I am also one. And I think you have a marvelous idea!!!
Silly Savage
Nitro Member
good post Kevin, some have a double stand
Yep...women claim they don't want to be sexual objects and be oogled by men and thought of as just a piece of a$$. Now, they will strip down and get sexed up to gain more attention. Some want their cake and eat it to. Sexual advertising will not get me to purchase a product or service.....ever.
Horsepower & Heels
Nitro Member
The double standard is that a man can appear in an identical photoshoot and not be condemned as a poor role model, questioned for his moral integrity or told that he has reflected on the sport poorly. What part of that is equal if you condemn the female for the exact same photo op?
Paul
Nitro Member
Erica, that's some good writing. Since Jon Asher is older than dirt (no offense Jon, so am I) its nice to see that there's somebody in line to keep the flame burning.
You!
Nitro Member
My suggestion would be for all interested to pick up a copy of The Body Issue and view all of the men and women included. Not sure if they are printing issues with different cover shots, but the one I just saw at the AT&T service center (!) had Gary Player on it.
The only shot I saw of Force was the parachute picture. One female motocross racer was actually going off a jump in her picture!
I think if you 'read' the issue in it's entirety you'll see a tasteful flow of various athletes in a variety of poses. A couple of very attractive women but none of them will motivate me to seek out their respective sports to see them in action. Doubtful other readers that know nothing about drag racing will now flock to the races because of her image in the magazine.
Much ado about nothing...
The only shot I saw of Force was the parachute picture. One female motocross racer was actually going off a jump in her picture!
I think if you 'read' the issue in it's entirety you'll see a tasteful flow of various athletes in a variety of poses. A couple of very attractive women but none of them will motivate me to seek out their respective sports to see them in action. Doubtful other readers that know nothing about drag racing will now flock to the races because of her image in the magazine.
Much ado about nothing...
rckymtn3
Nitro Member
Yes, I completely understood your meaning.
Silly Savage
Nitro Member
Or you get this kind of backlash:
Tennis Star Agnieszka Radwanska Poses For ESPN Body Issue, Gets Shunned By Her Church | ThePostGame
Tennis Star Agnieszka Radwanska Poses For ESPN Body Issue, Gets Shunned By Her Church | ThePostGame
HEMI6point1
Nitro Member
The same group that "looked the other way" to their priests violating kids is upset over some tasteful shots?
No wonder young people (including me) are turning atheist!
Bunch of hypocrites....
Aren't you Jewish Sam? The Catholic Church paid Severely over the Pedifile scandal, several have benn banned from the Priesthood!
HEMI6point1
Nitro Member
It's the hypocrisy about the whole thing that drives me up the wall.
And I'm Jewish by name only at this point....
Trust me E, if any Male NHRA driver posed like Courtney did, I doubt anyone would bother to look! LOL!
