Mark,
You have very eloquently voiced the majority opinion of the status quo in
SCCA Solo II. Once again, we disagree on a topic <grin>. Just remember,
if we don't think it can be done, it can't be done.
Zero interest on TV? Come on, Mark. Tractor pulls and monster truck
racing is more interesting than Solo II? They're still around and well
watched. I've heard about all kinds of interest in World Rally and SCCA
Pro Rally. I got my first chance to see them a couple weeks ago at our
daughter's place (I don't have Speedvision). There wasn't anything there
that couldn't be exceeded with a good production for Solo II, IMO. Yeah,
they jump and throw gravel and rocks around and the occasional crash.
Probably the most interesting aspect was the spectators standing on the
roadside as cars rocket by at 100+ mph (makes me wonder how SCCA
insurance allows that for rally but keeps us 75 feet away from our
courses).
You are correct to point out that the grand majority of autocrossers
aren't "serious" competitors. But, do you seriously believe that drag
racer or circle track demographics reflect a higher number of "serious"
competitors? However, what they have is a fan base interested in
following their sports. Why? Because the public sees them on TV and the
word is out where and when their events take place. As a side note, we
have an astounding number of people driving by, stopping to watch our
events in Atlanta. And they enjoy what they see.
Now, your point about autocrossing being concentrated in the population
centers around the country is also very correct. Now, why is that? Don't
you think a televised Solo II series would get more interest in some of
the smaller communities to start running some grassroots level events?
I'll bet there are a ton of sports car nuts in Montgomery who have zero
knowledge about Solo II and who would love to get involved if it were
made known to them. I think your argument there supports my concept.
Having said all this, I really don't expect to convince the autocross
audience on these lists. They are already having fun and are fearful that
the sport would be ruined by the exposure. Kind of a "if it ain't broke,
don't fix it" mentality.
But you know me, I look at stuff differently and regularly get flamed for
the effort. I just wish I were independently wealthy so I could go out
and show y'all how this could work. I believe you'd be surprised.
Ben: still stirrin'
On Sat, 22 Dec 2001 04:40:42 EST TeamZ06@aol.com writes:
> Ben,
>
> Before you create a world autox revolution, you may want to
> reconsider a few
> points.
>
> First, I would counter that autox is not a grassroots sport because
> nobody
> has the leadership skills or effort to take it there, but rather it
> is a
> grassroots motorsport because that's exactly what it is; a
> grassroots
> motorsport. It has zero visual appeal
> ; zero. It is something you must do to appreciate, and not everyone
> who
> tries it has an appreciation for it. Of those who appreciate it,
> only a
> relatively small group of individuals have the talent and the
> resources to
> excel at it's highest level. Autox has limited appeal.
>
> Second, it's not something anybody, anywhere can do. Not everybody
> lives in
> Atlanta. As an example, if you want to autox in Alabama your
> choices are
> Ozark, Birmingham, or Huntsville. If you don't live in one of those
> three
> cities, which comprise an extremely small area for the entire state,
> you're
> talking significant road trip. For most people driving 100+ miles
> one-way to
> do anything is a major deal, let alone driving a 24 hr round trip
> within the
> weekend to run the big events like some of us looneys. Autox has
> limited
> access.
>
> Third, taking those two points and combining them, the bottom line
> is that
> the potential marketing audience is fairly small relative to the
> overall
> population as a whole. While the figures for the number of autox
> enthusiasts
> seems large, the majority are only lightly involved or have little
> real
> involvement, so the real figure for the number of serious
> autocrossers who
> care enough to have any real impact is very, very small. Out of
> that big
> number of people who may dabble in autox, only 1,000 attend the
> National
> Championships; percentage-wise an itty-bitty number. Autox has
> limited
> marketing.
>
> Finally, given all that, the ability to make or generate any *real*
> money
> from autox is minimal. OK, a few parts vendors and tuning shops eek
> out a
> meager if not decent existence, but beyond that what's in it for big
> business
> or corporations? It has no visual appeal, it's not something that a
> large
> population of society can relate to or care for, and if there is a
> payback
> for all the money invested it will be small at best. Yeah, you see
> these
> crazy things on TV and think if they can put that on there, then why
> not
> autox too. Well, I've seen alot of that crazy stuff come and go
> because
> sooner or later somebody looks at the numbers and asks "WTH am I
> getting for
> my money?" and pulls the plug. They don't call it the boob tube for
> nothing.
> Autox has limited financial potential.
>
> Autox really doesn't have much to offer to anyone except the limited
> number
> of people who enjoy participating in it; hence, it is by it's very
> nature a
> grassroots motorsport. You can spend all day trying to hammer a
> square peg
> in a round hole and eventually you'll get it there, but in the
> process you'll
> destroy what it really was to begin with and most likely end up
> jammed into a
> hole you can't get out of; i.e. with a lot of hard effort, cause
> more damage
> than good. You can never change the nature of a thing, you can only
> destroy
> it. The best we can hope for is to organize our efforts and develop
>
> standards of consistency, and IMO the SCCA has done a pretty decent
> job of
> that.
>
> Mark
/// unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or try
/// http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
/// Partial archives at http://www.team.net/cgi-bin/wilma/autox
|