What's the deal with sports car TV coverage?

[Gary_44]

- Speed Channel pulled the SCCA Runoffs from their line up last year.
- Versus took over World Challenge...but I've only seen a couple of races aired.
- Grand-Am Continental Challenge...very limited coverage also.
- NASA coverage, forgetaboutit.

Less and less coverage every year, down to almost none this year. Is this a sign of things to come for sports car racing?

Personally I'm sick of Nascar this, Nascar that...I'll watch the races but 5 shows a day talking about how great it is? I guess that's what pays their bills. On the same weekend at Daytona, ALMS had maybe a few hundred fans in the stands and Nascar packed them in. I just don't get it. And a freakin Monster Truck race will pack a stadium, but nobody wants to go see sports car racing in the US. If you watch the coverage in Europe of touring cars, there's 50 thousand people attending. Again, I just don't get it. Thought I'd rant a bit to other sports car fans, looks to me like we're a dying breed.

[2159ClassicRed]

What, you don't like NASCAR before the race, during the race, after the race, and between the races. Throw in a talent show, and a tech show on how all of this old technology works and how it has been that way for centuries. Yep, I've watched them too :P

Need to either search harder, or move to the action ;). Example is the ALMS race at LS. Wasn't even on live, pathetic. Even the legendary 24 hours of le mans, still have to jam in a Nascar session for good measures.

Enough ranting...................

[SmokeyBear]

Ever since NASCAR got hot and SpeedVision became The Speed Channel owned by FOX, it's been a dirth of sportscar racing coverage. Fortunately, I subscrbe to AutoWeek (which is now AW-every-other-week) to keep me up to date on what is being televised. Crap - I've even taken to watching IRL & NASCAR road courses just to get my fix.

[psychostang]

You guys rant pretty well well. I watched the NASCAR race at Infneon and I'll probably watch the one at Watkins Glen, I always pull for Boris Said.

Do you remember when SPEED covered FIA Rally, you could get dizzy just watching the on board camera shots.

[JFine]

I agree with you that REAL racing is not even covered. I watch NASCAR becasue that it all that is on for racing. NASCAR has become a show more than a race. I will even go as far as calling it a Spec car race and not a STOCK car race. Look at the cars and one 1-2 pieces come from the original car. If manufactures want to sell cars then tell NASCAR to bring the racecars back to STOCK cars. I like what happened back when you wanted to go STOCK car racing you went to the local dealership and bought a car stripped the interior added safety equipment and you went racing. I could go one but it would just be pointless as NASCAR cares about dollars and a show not connecting to the consumer/fan.
From all of that is the reason why I like ALMS the cars look like the one you can buy at the dealership. Yes, some of these cars are purpose built, but some of the cars retaing the original frame body and other parts. I think a couple good fewd in ALMS would spice things up a little to get the attention of NASCAR fans.
Anyway I will watch what I can and race what I can race while I can.

[rob.ok]

Get your fix here the day it happens.

http://gt3europe.com/

http://gt1world.com/

http://www.racefanstv.com/


-Rob

[JFine]

thanks rob!!!

[Gary_44]

Those are some cool dot com ways to watch, saved as my favorites for when I'm at work. I know SCCA runoffs are on http://www.speedcasttv.com/scca/ if I want to watch from my desk.

But I bought a 65" HDTV and Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound for home, sucks that I have to sit in front of the PC to watch the best racing on my little monitor. Oh, well, at least it something. Whining about it doesn't help.

Maybe something will happen to jumpstart the interest in road racing again. We a need a Steve McQueen or Paul Newman type to make a good movie about it for this generation, make it cool again.

[schrotacular]

Yeah, its a pity when F1 airs on FOX and the announcers talk slowly and put everything in terms of NASCAR :p