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Old 24 Sep 2019, 16:17 (Ref:3929913)   #25
grantp
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grantp should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridgrantp should be qualifying in the top 3 on the gridgrantp should be qualifying in the top 3 on the grid
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Originally Posted by VIVA GT View Post
Back to the race meeting attendance subject I think that in addition to the 'other distractions' already mentioned I think there is also the fact that in general, we are all just so much busier nowadays too. Most couples now both work full time in order to sustain the lifestyle we've been encouraged by advertisers that is 'normal' which means that all of the other incidental stuff (including on occasions, relaxation) has to be packed into the only two days that we have off each week, so this too leaves less spare time for the casual race fan to pop along to a meeting if he or she fancies it.
And of course if one did fancy watching some racing back in the day the TV was a rather random provider of certain events that the BBC (usually the BBC) decided to cover because their Outside Broadcast units were available that weekend. Probably no horse racing for example. And quality was not great compared to what we see today.

So one pretty much had to go to the meeting to see any action and it was a good excuse for a day out or, for those with cars and bikes, a reason to take a drive rather than simply "going for a drive".

These days one can find worldwide coverage of various types of motor sport, often with a lot of interesting data display added, without the aggravation of using the roads, the price of fuel, the price of entry and the risk of whatever deprivations the weather might throw at you.

As a parallel one might consider the decline of the public house. It seems there is a much reduced need to places to 'socialise' these days.

Mind you having visited such an establishment on Saturday - partly to celebrate the successful return of a daughter and her family on a Thomas Cook flight on Saturday afternoon - and re-discovered the price of drinks these days it is interesting to compare the relative value of a small round of drinks to the cost of a day at a race meeting (entry only - no drinks or food to be bought on site) and attempt to assess which offers the best value and entertainment.
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