|
Wait, there's more
There are no household names in club racing
Now I struggle with the idea of (falsely) creating celebrities. However, there is always a case for a bit of crafty self-promotion. I recall watching a race from the Cadwell grandstand. Half a dozen mates of one driver were cheering him on. Bizzarely, although we didn't now the guy, we started watching him - we had a reason to follow him and the race.
Drivers and teams can 'hustle' in the Paddock. Most Clubbies I've met are quite approachable (provided they're no fist deep in the gearbox), but rather than wait for a spectator to ask a question, go to them. Historics, especially, have a story, so tell it. If they have children, ask if they want to sit in the car. You may not get any sponsorship money, but you can be confident that you've made some kid's day. And you can be sure that they will be watching out for you in the race (and therefore enjoying it more).
Commentators and drivers should work together. Do more interviews (especially in the quiet time), get local drivers into the box. And f course, if you have a character, a trainee Lanfranchi, get him on air!
Series organisers can do a lot at almost nil cost
- Bully drivers to write better briefing notes.
- Get them to put a car description on the bonnet when the car is parked up. £1 for the perspex holder, 30 minutes to write an A4 page.
- Get a volunteer for rep each meeting (there's always one person who can spare the time). They can collect and collate driver briefing notes and present them to the commentary team. They can write a race preview and championship status cover sheet, tailored to the actual race. If there's a computer in the admin office, they can write a practice report and revised race preview. They can volunteer to be on hand in the box for the race (if not on mic, they can point out things and add scribble notes for extra depth). They could write a race report to go on the series website, just to finish the job.
The Clubs do not get a cut of gate receipts, and so have no incentive to spend on publicising a meeting
This is correct of course, but there are a couple of counterpoints:
- Why not? Meeting organisers should consider proposing a split cost-split gate deal, especially for promotable days (VSCC-Ferrari, as an example). A very complex issue, but solvable. The business structure at the moment is divisive. At least be open to an idea that might be gives Clubs and circuits common interests.
- As a rule of thumb, every tenth spectator is a potential competitor, member or marshal. An indirect benefit, but a benefit nontheless. First, Clubs should be open to the idea of doing their bit to increase the gate. Second, once the spectators are there, work to recruit them. Turn potential into membership cheques.
- Also, more spectators means more programmes to sell. Printing has high start-up costs and tiny marginal costs. Once the printer and binder machines have started rolling, programmes cost 20p and sell at £2. You won't make a million, but any profit is good.
- Support needn't be totally financial. Steve Wilkinson compliained earlier of the problems with the problems of drumming up interest in the local press. Of course, you are only there once or twice a year. If the circuit built the relationship with the press, and built a structure for you to feed your contribution, it's much more likely to work.
- We should recognise that the circuits need to take bookings based on the contribution to profit. A track/corporate day and (spectator free) raceday offer broadly similar profits, but on lower costs (for both circuit and organiser). If demand and economics tilt a bit further (which is quite possible), weekend trackdays will be more viable for the circuits. We might see some Clubs unable to find or fund racing slots. Which would be a problem. If Clubs can encourage and assist circuits in bringing in spectators, the economics move back in favour of racing. That might be a nightmare scenario, but it is worth bearing in mind.
|