..Sean DeWitt’s (and Martin Thomas’s)concept of a pre-season show that would set the tone for the year to come is an excellent idea, but who’s going to pay the production costs for that? (And we haven’t even addressed the subject of getting the airtime, paid for or not.) To do that kind of show properly would mean crews attending all of the test sessions, and that’s a hefty price tag. Transportation, hotels, rental cars, meals and salaries would add up to a very significant number.
BUT, at the same time, such a program could probably be put together with a skeleton crew, but that’s for someone else to figure out. But I have seen exceptionally well-produced videos involving drag racing put together with a crew of no more than three or four people...Jon Asher
Jon, first and formost, I have always appreciated what you have done and written about drag racing, and I am honored that you choose to debate a point that I have posted.
With that said, I have luckly enough had the opportunity to be involved in both drag racing and television from a production standpoint. One thing that I have always seen in both fields is that when someone really wants something done, it gets done. Parts are created, time schedules are kept, money is found. That last one is key- whenever the right people are interested in getting it done, and money is the factor, the money is found. Up until this year, I had been an NHRA member regularly since the early 70's.
Taking into account the increased cost of printing and postage for ND, I'm pretty much receiving the same hatpin, patch, rulebook and decal that I was at the start of my membership, for alot more money. That money has done alot of great things over the years, from building some tracks back up to paying for more television programming time. Adding one more program HAS a specific price- what that is, I do not know exactly. But I know someone in NHRA or at ESPN does know.
Producing a 2 hour, pre-taped broadcast based at the tracks that are doing pre-season testing (Vegas, Phoenix and the P/S warmup), where most of the teams are ANYWAY, as well as NHRA Media gathering footage from those that have been " “demanding” more exposure for their clients and their sponsors" of their own press event, and maybe even visiting some of the manufacturers of the cars and parts or even the teams in Indy and the LA area for additional footage, spending a week editing that together and then broadcasting it before the Winters can, and in my opinion, SHOULD, be budgeted into the annual cost of running NHRA Marketing.
If increased attendance and membership is the goal (and ultimately the outcome), logically that should also mean an increase in available funds used for promotion. For all of us hardcore fans and team members (most who have membership), it means at least one broadcast can be dedicated not to the casual fan, but to those of us that will have to contend with the other 23 episodes more attuned with what seemed to have happened on last week's broadcast (focus on one or two particular teams because it is THE news, and decidely more marketable than discussing the "uninteresting" other activities, such as other teams and sponsors).
Something I've always liked about this sport is that EVERYONE doesn't ALWAYS get it- it is for those with a mechanical interest, an engineering interest, a design interest, a decidely prominent interest in
competition (although I have to wonder about the new points system- my main reason for not renewing my membership), as well as a richly diverse expanse of people that are pretty damn intelligent as a whole regarding this sport (this site proves that)...It isn't for everyone. Trying to sell this to Brittany and Courtney's mall buddies is one hell of a stretch, even if they are popular and sucessful competitors. Not that NHRA should not try- but maybe they shouldn't forget exactly what makes up a true, long-term fan of this sport.
Asking for one broadcast a year that is absolutely focused on that group that tracks the results, goes to the races, BUYS THE ADVERTISERS PRODUCTS (pretty religiously, from the survey results) isn't really asking too much. Cost is a factor in most business decisions, but to not put the money into what most advertisers and sponsors would see as a "sure thing" as far as reaching the target audience, is just plain ignorant and disrepectful to the sport.
