Surfers

[Pro Racer]

the worst cenario would be ChampCar is not shown on FTA TV in Australia the V8's will be shown but no CC and as D.R.T said even if V8's wern't there the spectator's would still show up , i still would.

[mountainstar]

For starters we need to clarify this isn't champcar being at risk for losing it's race at surfers, it's the V8's.

I don't see this as a champcar problem. The race has been around before 'V8 Supercars' even existed. I know aussies that go to the race and not having the V8's on the program isn't going to stop them from going. I think all this is is Mr. C having a fit over the loss of townsville and yanking the chain with the QLD government and Channel 7 by causing trouble for the champcar race. He already ****ed off sponsors by yanking the Australian GP support races and I wouldn't think he'd be dumb enough to lose another high profile event.

Ultimately a solution will probably be reached.

[D.R.T.]

Yes I concur, this is a scare tactic. We will soon Vesa with sore feet with all the back tracking they are going to be doing.

[norman-normal]

Are we to believe that a three day festival of the Surffers proportions is not noticed by anyone but CC fans

[Robert Ryan]

Chris, the reason the Qld Gov support the event is because of the international exposure, not national exposure.

Well as far as 2006 goes that was very little if any. There was not much on US TV as well.

[Robert Ryan]

With ChampCar on the rise again the support categories will become less important.

Really? A roadracing/street racing only format is not going to excite to many US fans or US Sponsors. I just hope the "Three Amigo's" have exceptionally long pockets.

[pete55]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Really? A roadracing/street racing only format is not going to excite to many US fans or US Sponsors. I just hope the "Three Amigo's" have exceptionally long pockets.

Maybe you could explain yourself a bit better.

[Robert Ryan]

Maybe you could explain yourself a bit better.

Champcar will be running just street and roadcourses in the US and Canada in 2007. It has abandoned ovals, a risky venture in the US, where Oval racing is motorsport to many US fans. It will be running a spec Panoz chassis, which has been designed for roadracing/street courses only. Funding for the new Television package , is being funded by the new owners of Champcar and not outside sponsorship.

[pete55]

I don't see what the problem with that is though. TC is doing his own TV package this year too. As for running road/street courses, i think that they are differentiating themselves from the Indy League.

[bazil]

Originally Posted by pete55

As for running road/street courses, i think that they are differentiating themselves from the Indy League.

Personally Pete, I reckon this bit is a shame becuase it only widens the gap between Champ and IRL making the chances of getting back together even slimmer. For this form of racing to ever reach its previous lofty heights they must run as 1 class. I hope that eventually commonsence prevails and not only do we get to keep the Goldcost event which will be even better but we could see Team Aus racing in a real Indy500!

[Robert Ryan]

[Personally Pete, I reckon this bit is a shame becuase it only widens the gap between Champ and IRL making the chances of getting back together even slimmer

Their(Champcar) ratings in the US are lower than Grand Am at present. You are right, I am puzzled by this development

[Azza500]

Originally Posted by bazil

Personally Pete, I reckon this bit is a shame becuase it only widens the gap between Champ and IRL making the chances of getting back together even slimmer. For this form of racing to ever reach its previous lofty heights they must run as 1 class. I hope that eventually commonsence prevails and not only do we get to keep the Goldcost event which will be even better but we could see Team Aus racing in a real Indy500!

Champ cars and Irl joining forces again not a **** show the engines potencial and superiority of ford over the likes of chevy,honda and toyota in the old Cart series was one of the main resons for the split was it not




same reason we dont see any offerings from Gm in F1

[racer69]

Originally Posted by Azza500

Champ cars and Irl joining forces again not a **** show the engines potencial and superiority of ford over the likes of chevy,honda and toyota in the old Cart series was one of the main resons for the split was it not

The split had nothing to do with engines, it was to do with Tony George not getting a seat on the CART board (wanting more of a say in how the series was being run).

[Azza500]

so is that why the rules were changed in IRL to exclude fords engines

[racer69]

Ford engines were eligible to be used in the first IRL championship in 1996 (as the series ran to CART's 1995 rules).

In 1997 the IRL formed it's own technical regulations, which stipulated normally-aspirated engines. Only GM & Nissan-Infiniti built engines at the time (until Toyota, Honda & Cosworth started developing IRL-spec engines in around 2002).

Ford were never excluded from the IRL, it was Ford who decided not to be involved.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Champcar will be running just street and roadcourses in the US and Canada in 2007. It has abandoned ovals, a risky venture in the US, where Oval racing is motorsport to many US fans.

What about Mexico, Australia, Europe and China

Oval racing isnt what it used to be in the American landscape. Have you seen attendance at open wheel ovals over the last year. Think of Bahrain.

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

It will be running a spec Panoz chassis, which has been designed for roadracing/street courses only. Funding for the new Television package , is being funded by the new owners of Champcar and not outside sponsorship.

The Panoz chassis can be run on ovals, but it makes no sense on running just one oval a season.

Robert how do you know no outside sponsorship will be involved. The deal was only announced two weeks ago. Considering the extra houses connected to ABC/ESPN and the new events for 07, there is elevated sponsorship potential

[D.R.T.]

Nice try, however try

Speed and all the Americans that are connected to Race Director.

Aswell as all the countries world wide that cover the event.

[Robert Ryan]

Speed and all the Americans that are connected to Race Director.

Aswell as all the countries world wide that cover the event.

That is not TV coverage. How many have "Race Director" in the US? Not many. So I am right the coverage for 2006 was meagre.It the Champcar coverage was not on a free to air major network in the US, it was shown sporadically on Speed and as you say "Race Director" a Internet live streaming program.

[Robert Ryan]

Robert how do you know no outside sponsorship will be involved. The deal was only announced two weeks ago. Considering the extra houses connected to ABC/ESPN and the new events for 07, there is elevated sponsorship potential

Well there has been no major sponsorship announced for the series, so it is a case of all of the money coming from the "Three Amigo's" Unless they can get some decent ratings in the US, it will remain the same, even though they are back on a major free to air network and a major cable player.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

That is not TV coverage. How many have "Race Director" in the US? Not many. So I am right the coverage for 2006 was meagre.It the Champcar coverage was not on a free to air major network in the US, it was shown sporadically on Speed and as you say "Race Director" a Internet live streaming program.

Actually the numbers using Race Director are very respectable. Numbers have been printed around here, maybe mountainstar may have them handy (He usually has his finger on the pulse)

What do you mean sporadically, if you mean coverage of each event, before and after you would be correct.

So not sure how you come to the conclusion that 2006 coverage was meagre ? I think your letting the heart control the brain here.

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Well there has been no major sponsorship announced for the series,

As has been written, the deal was only announced 2 weeks ago, not sure what your expectations are ? However werent you the one who said A1 had no chance of running at Eastern Creek in 07

[Robert Ryan]

Actually the numbers using Race Director are very respectable

Really? It is Internet Streaming , only used by Champcar

What do you mean sporadically, if you mean coverage of each event, before and after you would be correct.

Inadequate coverage of each event

So not sure how you come to the conclusion that 2006 coverage was meagre ? I think your letting the heart control the brain here.

Ratings for Champcar were abysmal in the US

However werent you the one who said A1 had no chance of running at Eastern Creek in 07

A1GP's first choice was a streetrace around the Olympic site..which despaired you greatly.

Oval racing isnt what it used to be in the American landscape. Have you seen attendance at open wheel ovals over the last year. Think of Bahrain

Hmmm I really think you maybe wrong there:
http://www.ultratix.net/bristolpic1.jpg

[Robert Ryan]

You’re right, Dr. Bryan, there are. Hundreds of thousands of people, who regularly join forces to boost the combined IRL and Champ Car ratings to a whopping a 0.9, or less. Compare that to the millions of people that turn out (and turn on) every weekend to get their weekly NASCAR fix, and I'd say you're a bit more outnumbered than you think. But don't sweat it, General Custer. These Indians are unarmed.

I love IRL and Champ Car. In fact, I've yet to find a form of motor racing that I'm NOT interested in. From Formula One to Swamp Buggy racing, if it's on the tube, I'll watch it. And unlike Dr. Bud. E Bryan, I'm absolutely not interested in calling my fellow fans a group of mindless sheep.

From Autoextremist...there are others. If you have other statistics post them and the date they were recorded

[Robert Ryan]

Champ Car is at a disadvantage. Road and Street races are spread out in such a manner that makes it difficult to cover. Then the ratings are not sufficient for someone to invest in beter coverage. I dont ever remember Champ Car fans being happy with TV coverage. They complained about ABC/ESPN, Then SPEED, and on and on.

From Champcar section..Motorsport Forums.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Really? It is Internet Streaming , only used by Champcar

Really.

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Inadequate coverage of each event

Please elaborate

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Ratings for Champcar were abysmal in the US

No doubt, but when we combine Race Director and International covergae aswell, that more than satisfies the Qld Govs objectives.

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

A1GP's first choice was a streetrace around the Olympic site..which despaired you greatly.

Exactly. But you were adament that there would be no A1 at EC under any circumstances.

This clearly isnt the case.

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

Hmmm I really think you maybe wrong there:
http://www.ultratix.net/bristolpic1.jpg

Read closer, Robert. I said Open Wheel

[indycool]

D.R.T., as far as ratings for '06 goes in the U.S., Toronto was the highest at 0.9. Six of the races on SPEED, including the last five, were 0.1s.