Instead of changing the topic of giving Karting exposure via a street race. What about put it on free to air TV? Currently One HD (Channel 10s 24/7 sport station) run programs on equestrian, fishing, 4x4 adventures etc etc. Tell me how kart racing would not be more appealing than those programs. It obviously would not get prime time slots early. Fox Sports currently run the Pro Tour and SoK rounds am I correct? But I remember the times being 2am/3am during the week. You are hardly going to get your ideal audience at those timeslots.
Another idea that has been beaten to death. Having a demonstration event at a V8 Supercar or Shannons National event. It doesnt have to be around the race track. But I am sure you could find some space in the pit area to make a mini track to show off the sport. This is taking karting to the ideal target market.
As stated in another thread. A street race. Look past all the negatives and look at the positives. Taking karting to the community, getting local business involved (could attract sponsors to local clubs!) and you would easily make the local paper and news.
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How much do you think it would cost to do a presentable job, given the major channels wouldn't do the actual coverage, more like a production company would have to do the work and then sell it to the major stations, if these other sports can do it so can we but its costs money, and what event would you promote?? CIK would be the first choice.
BTW you have to consider the negatives of a street race as if you can't solve them then nothing will happen, I am all for a street race IF yo can overcome the concerns.
TV coverage would have to be ongoing not just a single event, or as Steve says the average viewer wont pick it up the first time but overtime it will by sheer repetition build a base, but again its costs ????? much
It would be great to get so go to your club and ask the question and start the ball rolling, because it wont come from the top.
I believe that is the aim of the CIK series. But as said it takes alot of money and you need a show worth watching.
Have a look at the changes they've made to the CIK series. They've called it 'Stars of Karting', because who outside of karting knows what C, I and K stand for? Same with the classes, Kay Zed Two doesn't make alot of sence to the average punter so the called it Pro Gearbox (my opinion, but I think they should change the word 'Pro' to 'International')
The CIK series is the obvious one to promote as there are only 3 classes so not alot of room for everyone to get confused with that they are watching.
I vaguely remember Lee Hanatschek saying the first goal is to get a 30 second highlights clip on Sports Tonight (Chanel 10/One HD)
It's not something that will happen overnight, and there are the right people doing what they can to make it happen.
if they can put the world indoor skydiving championships on fox sports (yes, I watched it for 2 mins & had to walk off shaking my head, then putting karting is feasible.
Another option would be speedweek on SBS
There is no money left for advertising after paying BAM meadia. If that money was put into a camera crew to cover the major event and broard cast it on speed week or 1HD, there would be far more benifits seen. (IMO) Then we have U tube and other web based media that can be utilised once the footage has been taken.
David - at the moment I think you'll find BAM are utilizing sites like Vimeo and youtube to promote Stars of Karting.
Kartbook tv is also broadcasted via youtube!.
Exposure is slowly and slowly getting bigger!
David Arnold said:
There is no money left for advertising after paying BAM meadia. If that money was put into a camera crew to cover the major event and broard cast it on speed week or 1HD, there would be far more benifits seen. (IMO) Then we have U tube and other web based media that can be utilised once the footage has been taken.
Yes $185K @ year seems a bit much for a few emails and looking for something on Youtube?
The AKA need to engage the services of a Marketing Manager, not pay a company for 'Electronic Media'
Getting the footage it the hard part. If that has been done, the rest is easy. This is where some money should be spent, (IMO) to get great quality footage.
CIK has National Status, so its like the Easter Nationals when there are no other kart races.steve jarrett said:why does every karter have to stop so 100 guys can race ? may be more i cant work it out going on what info ive found
Before I wrote the following, I had prepared a massive essay looking thing about all the nitty gritties about this issue. However I found myself waffling a bit when the issues were and are quite simple. Someone needs to stand up and take the initiative and turn this sport around and headed in the right direction. Karting is head and shoulders above all other forms of motorsport in terms of excitement, racing quality, overtaking drama etc. From a marketing standpoint it would be eeeeeeeeeeeasy. In my head I know exactly how I'd do it and I know it would succeed!
We all know the old saying, 'If you want something done properly then do it yourself!' I'm about to take that piece of advice and do just that! I'm 18 years old and I can see the huge potential in the sport. In fact I'm sure a lot of people can, but it's a matter of someone with an entrepreneurial mind to stand up and actually start tapping into this potential. It's all very well seeing it, but acting upon it is a totally different ballgame.
I have a whole load of ideas in my head and I'm super keen to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. Anyone who wants to do likewise, give me a call on 0425 154 204. I'm sick of seeing this issue brought up time and time again when the solution is so obvious, to me anyway! Maybe soon you'll be calling me the Bernie Ecclestone of karting ;)
Best idea I have heard so far... CIK people speak to this man.... !!! we need Euro drivers here to really capivate the audience.. bring out the aussie spriti us versus them ,,,,,...... wrong what somepeople say about you Mal LOL ... I can already see the vision in my head ... Kozlinski, Thonon, Gatt vs Sera, Wall & Greenbury ..... now I would travel to watch that anyday .......................Mal Crosher said:
Totally, one would think having a media organisation like BAM the production side would be included . Production and promotion go hand in hand and should have been on the check list before BAM were even given a contract .
I see few problems as it sits and crosses into CoC also ( ie, no point in strict CoC if it isn't going to the masses and less than 5000 non karting people in attendance at each round . Otherwise it is just a gag on the competitors.)
To work effectively you need the whole CiK series (4-5 rounds) wrapped up within 2 or so months and ready to go edited etc for viewing. You need to find a slot when there is no other competition already soaking up the dedicated motorsport hours TV stations are financially committed to . I know it doesn't sit well with the general karting community but we need to move CiK towards the end and start of the new year when we have no other competition other than yaht races, cricket etc . No other kart racing should take place in this period and it would leave the rest of the year calendar free for clubs and other series like pro tour etc to run it's course un affected . Other bonus of this is having overseas karters and factory support as it is in Northern hemisphere off season to test newer machinery for their up coming season as well as local still being able to compete fairly on either new or last years equipement.
We need a Supernats style street race first .This easier to package than a whole CiK series over a year across every state .David Arnold said:
There is no money left for advertising after paying BAM meadia. If that money was put into a camera crew to cover the major event and broard cast it on speed week or 1HD, there would be far more benifits seen. (IMO) Then we have U tube and other web based media that can be utilised once the footage has been taken.
Kozlinksi, Thonon and Gatt mean nothing to Joe Citizen... certainly no more than Sera, Wall and Greenbury do. While it's cool for the people who do know who they are, it still doesn't help our cause in appealing to the wider public. Not unless we spend a lot of money telling them who they are... which having said that might not be such a bad thing... The Australia v. Them thing is a brilliant idea! Almost like the V8's thing on the Gold Coast! If we can stem our ideas of that, maybe even a mega street race (Las Vegas anyone) before the season in Europe kicks off then we might be on to something!
I wonder how much it'd cost to hire and surface the MCG for a race...
Why would the Europeans want to come to Australia when we don't have any tracks that meet CIK spec's and we use different tyres?