Holy Bike of Tomorrow

[drgibson]

From NASCAR News

As Bike Week kicks off Friday in Daytona Beach Florida comes word that NASCAR may announce during the events, which run through March 9, that they are purchasing a motorcycle racing division from the American Motorcyclist Association.

The AMA, which was founded in 1924, announced last September that they were getting out of the racing series promotions business and would seek series promoters for each of its professional and amateur racing series.

The series’ the AMA is looking to shed include the Super bike, Flat Track, Supermoto, Pro ATV Motocross, Motocross, Supercross and the Hillclimb Championship.

The series that NASCAR is interested in is the Flat Track Series. The Flat Track series is basically dirt track oval racing and is the oldest series in the AMA dating back to 1954.

[palanon]

It should be a good thing. The AMA can't promote worth a crap. Heck, they've been falling apart for years and years. Hopefully, the new blood and reorganizing will turn things around.

The big problem will be the promoters will demand control over the rule books. They really will be AMA races in name only.The promoters will be more interested in close racing, not necessarily the best machines with the most talent riding them.

[amvince]

It sure can't hurt.

[JmalB]

Same style of racing. Just as uninteresting to me.

[87gsxrnut]

I like beer n racing. That'll work!

- Nut

[drgibson]

Not at the same time I hope.

[omegajim]

it all sounds well and good until Nascar decides it needs to create "bike of tomorrow" with all kinds of dopey features the drivers don't like.

[JmalB]

Originally Posted by drgibson

Not at the same time I hope.

Gotta be entertained some how

Originally Posted by omegajim

it all sounds well and good until Nascar decides it needs to create "bike of tomorrow" with all kinds of dopey features the drivers don't like.

If the drivers aren't happy, the organizers are

[Tab B.]

I don't care how much money they make, Nascar is a disease.

The more appropriate model to follow might be more like Supercross. Those bikes are definately NOT high performance "CARTOONS" of the real production bikes, and they don't seem to have a problem filling the seats.

[drgibson]

Originally Posted by Tab B.

I don't care how much money they make, Nascar is a disease.

The more appropriate model to follow might be more like Supercross. Those bikes are definately NOT high performance "CARTOONS" of the real production bikes, and they don't seem to have a problem filling the seats.

Actually there are some issues with the fan base, it seems to be waining. Shame too. I went a couple years ago and the pits were a circus, but it only cost me $10 for the show, now that's cheap entertainment.

[Tab B.]

I guess what I don't want to see is to have the machinery messed with just to pack in the people and make the racing somewhat artificial. There have to be creative ways to educate the audience and market the product successfully so it doesn't turn into a made for TV "spec" class that has absolutely nothing to do with something that we enthusiasts want wrap our hands around. Look at Harley. All kidding aside, their marketing is done around a product that changes little from year to year, so you know it can be done.

[drgibson]

Well there are other bidders trying to get the series as well, including Mike Kidd and Gene Romero.

[palanon]

Hmmm. Makes me wonder if their interested because of the Harley riders in the U.S.. Make it into a XR 750 spec race. Then cross market the series with NASCAR. Plenty of Harley folk in the fan base.

Harley would love it. Autograph signings at the dealerships. Marketing opportunities like " Win your own Harley Flat Tracker, just like the pro's "

How about the whole new clothing and accessories market.

Could make a bundle, even if it ended up being naptastic.

[omegajim]

I don't care how much money they make, Nascar is a disease.

it's tv; it's a necessary evil.

Look at football; they have "TV timeouts." Didn't used to be that way.

so marketing is evil; but what alternative is there? back in the day only "cable" had racing. The rest of us got to watch golf or gymnastics.

I guess what I don't want to see is to have the machinery messed with just to pack in the people and make the racing somewhat artificial.

as bad as that may be, it is still waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than watching golf or gymnastics on tv. I mean, golf, not even women's golf!

[drgibson]

There is nothing I like better then napping through a golf game.

[omegajim]

but when others have racing on?

Because the "big 3" have determined out of their own "divine will" that golf (one network) or gymnastics from whenever - taped (another network) or god knows what tripe (3rd network) is more likely to be watched?

who are these morons? the 3rd network (tripe) is more likely to have viewers just because it's live.

but I know it is not that simple. The cable channels were willing to pay the money that the "France consortium" demanded.

Nascar could have really planned long term, sold cheap to the network back in the day (think early Dale Earnhart) and gathered a big nationwide following.

but the dynamics were different back then, because the network knew better, and the networks had to have guaranteed advertising revenue before they got off their duffs.

oops, not on the rant(s) thread.