Its because Canadians are a bunch of followers. Ever notice that anything other than Hockey doesn't get any coverage? Look at cup coverage.. back page somewhere. NCTS LOL good luck to see that anywhere in print...
I hate watching a bunch of thugs on figure skates chase a puck, yet there is so much coverage, I can't help know each time one of those idiots changes his underware. How could the possible make time for another sport, that heaven forbid someone might actually like, other than hockey. Thats Canadian "sports" coverage for you, and thats my rant 😉
1/2 of you are going to be thinking, what's wrong with this guy. Just an example of how we have all been brainwashed into "likeing" a chosen sport..
Whole world of sport out there, auto racing included.
sometimes it's a two way street. The local race tracks don't advertise in the local papers and the local papers don't bother covering racing. I'm sure the internet has hurt newspaper sales/coverage but Internet racing sites are preaching to the choir (the already converted). There is still a need to get the attention of potential new spectators to the sport and the print media is likely the best way to do it in major markets. Chances of accidentally surfing onto an internet racing site and deciding to attend a race are slim and nil. Radio works in small markets like Peterboro or Owen Sound but not in the over saturated radio market in the GTA.
Sad that in the Hamilton Burlington Niagara area, you never would have know Ohsweken had a 358 mod race last night or that Flammy even exists. But it's a scratch my back, I'll scratch yours world. Ads should go in the sports or entertainment section, perhaps as an alternative to the endless crappy movies out there. The Toronto Star has Norris MacDonald's motorsport column in the Wheels section but this part of the paper is often discarded as it's basically all new and used car ads-something you wouldn't look at unless you were in the market for a car...........JMO
yes ads in newspapers coule definately help the sport. Maybe putting in track ticket coupons in the papers could increase fan bases for all tracks. Like $5 off admission coupons in the papers. I am sure people would check it out once if they were given a deal the first time they showed up. If they liked what they saw I am sure they would attend more and tell there friends. But the word has to get out there somehow and this might be a start because the only way I see getting new fans is by word of mouth because people who are not into racing would not surf racing sites to see when events are being held and where. Just an idea to track promoters about giving coupons in the newspapers. Maybe the promoters can build an alliance with certain newspapers and the track can have the paper as a sponsor for free advertising space. A scratch my back and i will scratch yours sort of approach. That way everybody wins. Would be a great business decision on any newspapers behalf and tracks alike. IMHO.
Its not a 2-way street. When was the last time you saw an ad for the Toronto Maple Leaf's in any paper? Even think something as crappy as your local OHL team takes out full page ads? Heck no, they don't have to the place one, they are full all the time, and they get enough coverage to make you sick.
Again, we all should get our heads out of our behinds and take a look at many differnt sports, including auto racing. We are completely sold on a sport that play 100+ meaningless games a year. But hey, I'm preaching to the choir here about a lost cause.
what I would've really liked to have seen is NASCAR to better market the NCTS series, and get an interest in auto racing in this country. That would trickle down to the local level, and we would get some coverage.
The problem with the very little coverage in the wheels sections and others, is its so little and so brief its not worth reading. One column that is trying to cover everything from NHRA to Nascar in 500 words, is next to useless.
What the tracks need to do is to put together coverage of their own, and post it on their sites. As it stands now, at best they write a poor summary of the race, posted days after the race, if at all. Sorry but thats not interesting. As an perfect example of what they need to get excitement, there is Spensor's drivers list. Well writen, and about up and comeing drivers. It makes you want to go out to a certain track to see a certian driver just to see what he's talking about. Also, giving the fans a bit of a preview of an upcoming race. For example Spensor again, posted a certain driver to watch in Legends. Tell me that didn't make you want to watch that race, and again see what he is talking about... Power rank your drivers, weekly before each race. Give your fans something to look for...
^^Glad to see that someone else in Canada feels the same way about hockey as I do!^^