[Online] Research into how you follow motorsport

[cptkablamo]

Hi all

I'm doing a bit of research at the moment for a small project (non-commercial, for academic purposes) and I am looking at how people like to follow motorsport events.

I am particularly looking to know if you like to follow live blogs/tweets/discussions while watching TV or at the event itself; or follow the blogs/tweets/discussions if you can't be at the event or watch it on TV.

Is there anything you'd like to see changed about how you can keep updated on motorsport events?

Any information you can provide on this (or anything related to this) would be gratefully received.

Thanks
Sam

[BertMk2]

If I'm at an event I do make use of things like live timing to try and keep track of what's going on (especially GT type races and anything out on the GP loop at Brands where the commentary doesn't reach - even with a radio!). If I'm not at an event I generally don't watch or follow it live, if it's something I'm interested in I'll watch it at a convenient time on the iplayer (or equivalent) and catch up on the news at the same time on the net. Then when it's all done and dusted I'll come on to tenths and disagree with people about it

[Peat]

That's pretty broad cpt. I think you would get alot more data if you split it down and wrote a questionnaire etc. You're asking quite alot of the respondent to write a considered paragraph about several interwoven subjects.

[chunder]

Not really, its quite simple

I follow most big bike racing series online and try and watch the events live on media or players.

I dont travel abroad to attend meetings.

I will try hard to follow my fave series like European Rallycross live, but that proves tricky. And i use sites like crash to keep up with news, then go to specialised sites for more depth.

Watching wise I use Eurosport player and Iplayer and keep up with others on C4 and C5 catchup.

[cptkablamo]

Thanks all! this is pretty much exactly what I'm after. I might progress to a questionaire later, and if I do this information will help frame it. I really appreciate everyone's input here

[JamesV8Fan]

Personally, I use Live Timing because of my poor Internet conection. Of course, Twitter helps me a lot, because other fans also comment on some categories I may like , so I can get direct opinions about what happens on track

[cptkablamo]

Originally Posted by JamesV8Fan

Personally, I use Live Timing because of my poor Internet conection. Of course, Twitter helps me a lot, because other fans also comment on some categories I may like , so I can get direct opinions about what happens on track

Awesome thanks

[Aysedasi]

These days Sam, the only events I tend to get to are Le Mans and the Silverstone WEC round. So the only thing I do (like most other English-speakers) is to follow the commentary on Radio Le Mans. In 2010 (I think) our little group at Le Mans did have the advantage of live timing via the little mobile device thingy (the name of which I've now forgotten!). That was quite a boon, and would be really useful during qualifying.

When I'm at home trying to stay awake during DF1 qually and races I don't bother with anything else while I'm watching but migrate back here to see what people make of it normally shortly after the qually or race has finished.

Of course, should the unthinkable happen and I found myself at home for Le Mans (the very thought makes me feel quite faint.... ), then I would be glued to anything and everything I could find in terms of live feeds, timing - the lot!

[chunder]

That amazes me Ayes, you really should get to some other races, there is so much that is good!

But then again, on here at least Le Mans seems to be the be all and end all, makes me laugh it really does!!

[rwindle]

From an American perspective, and for this enthusiast specifically:

1. Websites, (FIA WEC, ALMS, Grand Am) and YouTube (V8 Supercars, BTCC).
2. I don't use Twitter, FaceBook, etc., I'm not concerned with live Timing & Scoring.

I'm probably not part of the demographic you're looking to research.

[NaBUru38]

Three year ago, I just sat in front of the televisor and watched.

Now that I have a laptop computer, while I watch races on TV I often open the Ten Tenths chat and the Twitter tags (#IndyCar, #F1, etc). During commercial breaks or boring parts, I check Twitter. I chat frequently during the race.

Now, I get very few championships on TV. Sometimes I use broadcasts on the web, either official (ALMS) or alternative (IndyCar, TC2000). In that case, I open tabs for the broadcast, Ten Tenths chat, Twitter and scoring.

My cell phone doesn't have internet subscription, and there's no point in using it in races here in Uruguay.

It's cool to find nice comments or jokes on Twitter, but I find too many ugly comments. It would be better if I had the chance to filter users. That's why Ten Tenths chat is much better: everyone says reasonable stuff.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by chunder

That amazes me Ayes, you really should get to some other races, there is so much that is good!

But then again, on here at least Le Mans seems to be the be all and end all, makes me laugh it really does!!

I won't open that up again mate, save to say that if you went, you'd understand why nothing else really matters all that much.

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

That's why Ten Tenths chat is much better: everyone says reasonable stuff.

The stuff I occasionally see elsewhere amazes me. I'm sure some other places must make you sign a 'I must do everything I can to annoy every other member' clause. Which is why people coming here from elsewhere often behave like prats initially until they realise that we don't like (or need) it here....

[Born Racer]

Hi Sam.

Well, I'm referring to Formula 1, the longest race I generally watch and therefore the one where I'm most likely to sit down and want to get involved with data and discussion rather than just enjoying the racing.

I use the Ten-Tenths forum during the race and add opinions and 'atmosphere observations' (e.g. 'Wow! Who would have expected that?'), the latter of which do not add information but are part of sharing the experience along the lines of a chat room. I don't use chat rooms much. I prefer the quality of discussion you tend to get on a forum because if people's comments are at least going to be recorded, some people tend to just stick to their less antagonistic ones and more balanced and less deliberately provocative ones.

I haven't got into Twitter so don't look at that.

I also occasionally put comments on Facebook during a race.

I always use live timing to try to inform myself about the race as much as I can and make mental (and sometimes actual) notes so that I can say something hopefully slightly informed about that race. I also like the driver tracker on the BBC.

I would like an app which shows me all the laptimes for each driver thus far (is there one out there I'm unaware of?).

As for when at the circuit, I used Fanvision in Austin and will use that again, or at least bring a pair of binoculars to follow info on a screen.

[kurski]

I've been watching motor sports on TV since 1995.

I have a computer, I use Twitter, Facebook, Finland F1 Forum and this forum motorsports writing. I am also Ten-Tenths chat.

Finnish television was seen this year in the following (live) series -> F1, GP2, GP3, Porsche SuperCup, WTCC, Le Mans 24h, ELMS, MotoGP, Superbike, WRC. Summary broadcasts WEC, Spanish GT, Superstars Series and few Finland motorsport series. I follow via Steam Super TC 2000, Brasil Stock Car, Super GT, ALMS etc.

[adam46]

If I am at the track as a spectator or watching the TV that is all I am doing; There is no Twitter interference or anything like that. Apart from Le Mans, when that is on the TV I am on Twitter letting Carlton Kirby (Eurosport commentator) know what he's getting wrong and not spotting. On the occasions I am attending a race as a journalist, I do take advantage of Live Timing and any footage avaliable within the Media Centre. Also, I will probably use my new Laptop in the future when I am in the Media Centre.

Hope this helps!

[cptkablamo]

Again thanks everyone for your responses. It's been interesting to do the initial research on this topic!

It does seem that there is a fairly decent movement to pairing the experience with what we can find online.

[Missing Link]

To be honest, I think we have went backwards sometimes.

The big stuff is always well advertised but i've missed out on a few lower key events that were more local and well worth a visit.

In fairness it was out there, but you had to go looking for it. 9 times out of 10 it was pics & blogs from people that attended afterwards that brought it to my attention.

Not sure why, but before all the internet stuff i seemed to know more about what was going on.

Is this just information overload kicking in ??

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Missing Link

Not sure why, but before all the internet stuff i seemed to know more about what was going on.

I just used to read Autosport every week and I seemed to get by just fine. And 25-odd years ago I was going to race meetings pretty well every weekend during the season.

[Missing Link]

Ditto..... It seemed to be all in there..

[Aysedasi]

Mind you - it was worth reading cover to cover in those days - as soon as you bought it.

[Steptoe]

Like Ayse I used to be at a circuit somewhere most weekends and read Motoring News (is that still going?) & sometimes Autosport. I then got hands on involved and followed less formulas and just read and still read Motorsport each month.
Things change though, I used to watch all the F1 on the box but now I just catch the odd one and check twitter to see what happened.
I listen to MWM podcast each week.
Sportscars circuit or not I listen to RLM. If at home when a sportscar event is on (WEC etc) I do watch live timing on the net.
Will always try to get to Le Mans in person wherever possible, its an addiction. That's radio only, no checking the net better things to look at.

[chunder]

Lol is Motoring News still going!! Barely to be honest, I think if Heselmarket hadnt bought it it would have gone under, for me they should do what Motorsport did and get out from that dump and go on their own, the market can deal with it now, cut the overheads and price, drop the staff, have better contributors and go on your own.

Dont read any magazines anymore, used to read a few, mainly bike stuff, bt they are very overpriced for not a lot of value anymore.

Having worked in the media briefly, you are not really as free as you would like to be, most papers now are news waiters not chasers, a lot of the tripe you see in them is just press release trash, and I can read that on crash for nothing, and its just as badly rehashed.

When every journo these days has got a degree, will work for peanuts and the only way you really distinguish them is how far they ar prepared to got for their peanuts, its no shock people dont buy these products anymore, you can get jusy as good quality online now, quicker, easier and you are not paying for all the overheads.

Simple, evolution