Quote:
Originally Posted by Nigel TV3
I would gladly play the 2K Cup if I had the space and it could be funded... although I do have a problem with handicap starts and multiple categories on one grid... these races are a challenge to cover for TV and potentially confusing for the viewer...
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Thanks Nigel. When we first had our handicap race covered, it wasn't done every well, though the race finish 50 yards behind the winner, was so hectic that the timekeepers effectively had to admit defeat (pre transponders). Meanwhile the cameras tracked the winner for the next 300 metres and missed all the real action.
After a bit of re-education, things were much better. It is all about understanding the philosophy of the racing and for us, it is NOT just about first across the line. Some handicap races are set up in such a way that the guy who starts last will still finish first, but obviously still has to overtake everyone else.
Our philosophy is that every car should cross the finish line at the same time - a total impossiblity, but it often means fantastic battles towards the end of the race, throughout the whole field. That means that the producer or editor has to see the real action and not spend 90% of the time following the first guy away, who may well have started with a 70 second advantage and may only lose it in the last few yards.
Live spectators understand the handicaps OK and a good (trackside) commentator can make it far more interesting than a processional scratch race. The reason for handicaps is simple enough. It is not chequebook racing and encourages a variety of cars, some of them very interesting, some bog standard, some modified.
Time spent covering the cars in the field demands a lot of the commentators as unlike the boring one make racing, every car might be different. Is that Ford Escort a 1300cc Targa car or a hot 2 litre?
Is that MGB an 1800cc, 1950cc or 3,500cc? Is that the real Bryce Platt, Mark Parsons, Ray Williams or Angus Fogg out there?
There is plenty of opportunity to make handicap racing interesting rather than confusing - and at least you know there is a lot of overtaking - and the cars aren't identical.
As I said earlier, maybe a race meeting with a massive entry could generate enough profit to pay for an hour's TV coverage, but somone needs to stand up and plan it. It isn't going to be me as I am in winding down mode! I've already had over 40 years of organising and promoting.