NHRA & ESPN must HATE sportsmen.

[Paul Merolla]

Originally Posted by david ring

How many of you watched the live coverage of the Seattle event on ESPN3.COM yesterday? I know I didn't because I was at Lebanon Valley watching the All-Star Racing Association's Stock/Super Stock combo race.

I spent about 7 hours with the laptop yesterday, Dave. It was pretty cool to see everything in its "raw" form, plus I got to see Larry and Kevin's heads-up and all the rest of the sportsman rounds that were run. Much of the webcast, and all of the S/SS etc., had NO talking. My only complaints: #1) 7 hours. It was impossible to try and gauge when the next round of S/SS would be running, due to lots of downtime (and not knowing the run schedule), so I just stuck with it through the whole thing.
#2) No finish line camera or win lights for the classes that aren't televised. I had to check DRC to find out the winners of each round. (Except the finals - since that gets shown on their "Sportsman" show, they had Dave R. and Lewis B. announcing for those.)
I personally hope they do more of the Nats this way - I'd definitely have to figure out a way to record the webcast!

[PONTIAC'S REVENGE]

Originally Posted by Casey Miles

There's another way of looking at the pro's and sportsman racing, ESPN may know that the sportsman racing would be alot more fun for TV audiance, but NHRA wants to keep just the pro catigories on the air. You're not going to get from a sportsman racer that his "Snap-on,Castrol, ARP,Jerico,Mcleod,Valvoline,Target,Walmart,Ford,Ch evy" broke out because he miss judged the finish line on an interview. That's it!

Casey Miles
248H

I understand this point and this the problem, average people dont get it. But my mom wont watch Barrett Jackson either. I think laced with some heads up runs and wheelstanding drama, this wouldnt be a problem. Most of the people watching are enthusiasts. Point well taken though, some learning curve needs to happen but so what! you'd be surprised how many "withit" people are into it!

I think NHRA should try it, heck you can't feel a fuel car over the air either but people that have been there know. Heck they dont even televise the HEMI-SHOOTOUT. that's heads up and how cool is that I ask you!!!!

Stacy

[BobOrme]

Originally Posted by Mike Carr

NHRA also used to have a live, all-day Sunday show on Pay Per View for a while, but I think I know why they don't now--NHRA would want too big of a cut from the cable/satellite providers for the providers to make any money.

That was done at three national events in 1997. It was a shot at seeing how much interest such programs would draw. They didn't draw enough PPV viewers to continue doing PPV the next season.

I think the main reason they didn't draw enough viewers was because hardly anyone knew about it. Apparently it was under-promoted by ESPN and the NHRA to the point that some cable systems refused to provide the programs to their customers. I knew about the PPV because I was working in drag racing. My home town population was roughly 300,000 at the time. I assumed that PPV programs that were made available by major TV outlets would automatically be picked up and be available on all cable systems with the channel capacity to carry it. I was wrong. As the first PPV approached, I didn't see it available on my local cable system's schedule. I called them and asked about it, and I was told I was the only person in my city who asked for the program! They would not make it available for me to buy, so I missed the first one. A couple weeks before the second PPV was to be broadcast, it was the same deal - not on my cable system's schedule. I went down to their central office and talked to several people trying to get them to carry it. The answer was no....not enough interest. The next day I bought a DirecTV dish and receiver. The day after that, I installed it, and took my cable box down to their central office. I told them to cancel my service, and I told them why.

Given the number of hoops I had to jump through just to pay my $14.99/ event to see the second and third events, it's no wonder there weren't enough viewers to continue that type of programming.

The availability of such programming also likely scared the hell out of national event track owners. The Sunday front gate receipts (and parking and concessions) are make or break a season for some of them, and to see that cash flow diminish because live Sunday full event elimination coverage was available in the comfort of any fan's living room for $14.99 may also have been part of the reason the PPV ended after a three race trial.

[Alan Roehrich]

I had Direct back then, and got all 3 PPV shows. Enjoyed them, too. I'd do it again, too, if I weren't at the races.

[sst1988]

Originally Posted by danny waters sr

Does anyone remember back in the early 90's when ESPN covered IHRA drag racing and Bret Kepner did the sportsman interviews . They showed the last 2 or 3 rounds of eliminations with us . I was lucky enough to win hot rod class in 91 at New York International Raceway and was interviewed by Bret after i won . This was aired on ESPN. I still have a copy of that whole show/. Them was the good ole days . All the other sportsman had the same coverage that race and that whole year .Maybe Bret could get someone's interest in this again.

Yes i remember could not wait to watch the next show......

[Hokes Racing]

I went and paid 1500 for my Direct tv just to watch those wish they still had them

[sst1988]

I don't even watch the "pros" anymore.......

[Gary Smith]

Originally Posted by joe176

We need Rich Christensen to make it happen....he did it with Pinks and Passtime. Why not have it on the Speed channel ?

I seem to remember saying the exact same thing a few months back, but was hammered by a handful of naysayers, which perpetuates (or persuades) the masses into thinking it's not the answer. I've discussed this at length with Rich. Guess what? It's up to us to support it, not him or anyone else. Also, fans support passion, not egos. Once everyone understands and accepts this, we then must collectively agree to work together. That's where Rich could be of help.

[RPinoski1]

You guys are missing it. The whole TV deal is set up for the PRO Racers Org and NHRA. The TV time is for the big sponsors that bring the cash to the table. Official toilet paper supplier to the NHRA, now you are on TV. I dont think Pro Bike is even a part of PRO either.
Ask the pro stockers that have the "in-car cameras" how much they pay for those cameras to be in their cars. Notice the NAPA /Capps interviews during the minimal pro stock tv coverage. No big sponsors so you only get half screen view during elims!

Wonder what happened to PS Truck? Think about the TV time the baddest class was taking from Kenny Bernstien and BUD on Saturdays qualifing shows.
Thats why the sportsman get so little time. No ticket no laundry.

The PAY PER VIEWS were to soon for their time, you had to have dish or direct to get them which was a small subscriber base. Again they take away from PRO and their sponsors getting the value for their advertising money....

On another note, anyone notice that the majority of sportsman photos in Dragster are of cars that have the drivers names on them rather than a sponsors name? If there is a sponsors name the angle is so that they are hard to read. The high profile dragster sponsors seem to have more exposure as well. K&N Valvoline Lucas etc...

Just my ramblings....I believe its about the money period.........How else does the "Board" make so much money? Its not membership or race entries.

[Geerhead55]

I agree,,,the way Larry Pfister shoots his videos is very well done,,,especially for a one man crew. Go to www.horsepowerheaven.com and check it out for yourself. I have several of his videos including: 4Days In May,,Monsters of Launch, the various Hemi-Shootout videos and the West Coast Hemis' team video.
Michael,,,I have both Vol.1 and Vol. 2 of the US Classnationals,,,I'll always remember how impressed I was by the guy that stood there all day long, in that heat, and filmed every run! At the end of the day, on Friday, I walked over to him and shook his hand and told him he was one of the toughest guys I'd ever seen to do what he did, and ordered those videos on the spot. Vol.1 is basically event coverage, and Vol.2 is final rounds of all classes. The only problem is, that it was so long ago, I got them in VHS instead of DVD, which I didn't have yet. Take care,,,,,,,,Danny Durham