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Time for an NHRA Press Release
- Thread starter smokemasterJ
- Start date
Despite how many of you long for live TV, it's not going to happen. If you think this thing through you'll realize that going live could very well be a disaster for drag racing because so many factors can delay or even postpone a race. In a tight broadcast window an oildown could produce a show-killing 10 minute delay. A relatively small shower of short duration could soak the racing surface enough to require a 90-minute track-drying effort. A severe crash could end a show completely. All of these factors combine to make a live broadcast of a drag race a problematical affair, and we need to recognize that.
Yes, live TV is important, but when you have an activity that doesn't exactly thrive on delays, how can the TV people take the risk?
It's also pointless to keep moaning about broadcasts not beginning on time. ESPN is going to do what's best for them, not for drag racing. If the Little League World Series runs over, they're going to stick with it because that programming has better ratings than an NHRA race, I'm sad to say.
There's no question that a "You-Can-Count-On-This-Start-Time-Every-Week" deal would be better, but until our ratings surpass those of other sports, thereby making us more "important," we're going to continue to get shoved aside for Mud Bog Nude Wrestling.
This weekend at Indy is going to be a real test of drag racing's drawing power. NHRA has pulled out all the stops on this one, from free military admittance on Friday to children under 12 free all weekend to the discount tickets coming via Lucas. In recent years NHRA has become increasingly aware of the at-least one third empty grandstands on Monday. If that happens this year despite all of the promotional effort, there are going to be some serious discussions inside 2035 Financial Way, and if the displeasure is deep enough, heads could roll (unlikely).
And don't forget that all of this promotional effort may have been instituted because NHRA no longer has the draw of the Pro Bike Battle and the Funny Car Showdown, and both of those special races did bring in fans.
Jon Asher
Yes, live TV is important, but when you have an activity that doesn't exactly thrive on delays, how can the TV people take the risk?
It's also pointless to keep moaning about broadcasts not beginning on time. ESPN is going to do what's best for them, not for drag racing. If the Little League World Series runs over, they're going to stick with it because that programming has better ratings than an NHRA race, I'm sad to say.
There's no question that a "You-Can-Count-On-This-Start-Time-Every-Week" deal would be better, but until our ratings surpass those of other sports, thereby making us more "important," we're going to continue to get shoved aside for Mud Bog Nude Wrestling.
This weekend at Indy is going to be a real test of drag racing's drawing power. NHRA has pulled out all the stops on this one, from free military admittance on Friday to children under 12 free all weekend to the discount tickets coming via Lucas. In recent years NHRA has become increasingly aware of the at-least one third empty grandstands on Monday. If that happens this year despite all of the promotional effort, there are going to be some serious discussions inside 2035 Financial Way, and if the displeasure is deep enough, heads could roll (unlikely).
And don't forget that all of this promotional effort may have been instituted because NHRA no longer has the draw of the Pro Bike Battle and the Funny Car Showdown, and both of those special races did bring in fans.
Jon Asher
Again I love everything you wrote, but what's most painful is what I quoted from you. I suggested awhile ago that NHRA should pony it up and sponsor it, they could afford it. I don't want one person saying they can't.
mick
Nitro Member
Jon, careful what you wish for - mud bog nude wrestling would....
- be telecast live (like the girl with dress caught on hood ornament in
movie 'used cars')
- have higher ratings than nhr.... american idol
- will have premier tv time slot; all other taped shows to follow will have to
wait till the last (_ _ _) hits the floor... no ties... no overtime... no time limit
patrick - nhra does not need to pony up to sponsor special races.
they were special events sponsors could hang their name on for an entire
year; for a myriad of reasons those races are presently on hold.
- be telecast live (like the girl with dress caught on hood ornament in
movie 'used cars')
- have higher ratings than nhr.... american idol
- will have premier tv time slot; all other taped shows to follow will have to
wait till the last (_ _ _) hits the floor... no ties... no overtime... no time limit
patrick - nhra does not need to pony up to sponsor special races.
they were special events sponsors could hang their name on for an entire
year; for a myriad of reasons those races are presently on hold.
clwill
Nitro Member
Jon, you're right, of course (and as usual).
Live TV of drag racing is a ridiculous concept. All you have to do is remember the first (last?) time you took a newbie to a drag race and how quickly the excitement of the first few fuel passes fades once they "roll the tractors".
Imagine if they had run last year's Vegas II live. It took untold hours to run each round of qualifying, with numerous 30+ minute oil-downs. You are right, Jon, people need to get over the whole idea of live drag racing. Not gonna happen.
I still contend that NHRA should consider a move to a more appropriate venue, where it COULD be in the top tier. Where it would have a consistent time. Where people could reliably go to find it.
The hope that NHRA will gain fans by accident because the stick-and-ball viewer will somehow get lulled into watching it after their game is over is silly. They invented the remote control over 40 years ago, people just change the channel. I've been in a sports bar with 40 TVs and the second drag racing comes on they change the channel.
Drag racing needs to try to be among the top tier of motorsports. Not trying to compete with stick-and-ball. Right now the world of motorsport looks like: NASCAR, and then other stuff (Indy Car, F1, Monster Trucks, Drag Racing, Off-Road, Drag Boats, Tractor Pulling, Motocross, etc.). It needs to be NASCAR and NHRA and everything else. That's a goal to shoot for, and that's an attainable goal.
Live TV of drag racing is a ridiculous concept. All you have to do is remember the first (last?) time you took a newbie to a drag race and how quickly the excitement of the first few fuel passes fades once they "roll the tractors".
Imagine if they had run last year's Vegas II live. It took untold hours to run each round of qualifying, with numerous 30+ minute oil-downs. You are right, Jon, people need to get over the whole idea of live drag racing. Not gonna happen.
I still contend that NHRA should consider a move to a more appropriate venue, where it COULD be in the top tier. Where it would have a consistent time. Where people could reliably go to find it.
The hope that NHRA will gain fans by accident because the stick-and-ball viewer will somehow get lulled into watching it after their game is over is silly. They invented the remote control over 40 years ago, people just change the channel. I've been in a sports bar with 40 TVs and the second drag racing comes on they change the channel.
Drag racing needs to try to be among the top tier of motorsports. Not trying to compete with stick-and-ball. Right now the world of motorsport looks like: NASCAR, and then other stuff (Indy Car, F1, Monster Trucks, Drag Racing, Off-Road, Drag Boats, Tractor Pulling, Motocross, etc.). It needs to be NASCAR and NHRA and everything else. That's a goal to shoot for, and that's an attainable goal.
Exactly what Mike? NHRA wants the payday when those races were for the teams and have proven in the past to help teams and there pocketbook. Their are Schumacher and AJR make up 5 well financed teams. You got Bernstein, Lucas, Langdon. Those are your 8 well financed teams. Kalitta, Grubnic, Buff, Mcmillen, Vandergriff that's 5 teams where money is not perfect and I bet they could make the countdown. FC is not so much the case, but PSB is.
Why can't the NHRA keep the races going for the fans and the teams, It's needed and wanted. So, Why can't they? If i'm wrong then why to the fan on the outside does it look like NHRA only will hold the races for a sponsor paycheck instead of just fronting the bill and giving back to the teams that spend fortunes.
Why can't the NHRA keep the races going for the fans and the teams, It's needed and wanted. So, Why can't they? If i'm wrong then why to the fan on the outside does it look like NHRA only will hold the races for a sponsor paycheck instead of just fronting the bill and giving back to the teams that spend fortunes.
I have been watching alot of older drag racing footage from the 70's and 80's and the broadcasts are great way more technical minded then today, catering way more to the drag race fan then those who don't know alot about drag racing.
So what happened between the old broadcasts and todays broadcasts?
Also does anyone know where to get copies of old broadcasts I would love to have a copy of every aired nhra race upto 1990. Not that the ones after 1990 arent good but I just figure the first 20-30 something years is alot of watching before watching all the ones from the last 20 years.
So what happened between the old broadcasts and todays broadcasts?
Also does anyone know where to get copies of old broadcasts I would love to have a copy of every aired nhra race upto 1990. Not that the ones after 1990 arent good but I just figure the first 20-30 something years is alot of watching before watching all the ones from the last 20 years.
