SMRC on TV

[Charlie]

As the season draws to a close I've just heard what could be the best news for Scottish Motor-sport in years.

Following this years successful dipping of a toe in the waters of TV with the Mini's, the SMRC are contemplating having each SMRC meeting televised next season.

I've been told that the format may be something like a 30 minute program featuring the 'Best of SMRC Racing' from each event.

Each class will be filmed and the best racing/action will be shown.
(This should see the XR2's featured quite a lot ;D I think)

This will not be without cost however, I've heard it may be around £200 to £400 for the season and I believe the SMRC will shortly be in touch with all the racing members about this idea to get a feel for the viability and interest in the project.

Personally I think it is a great idea, we have criticised the SMRC in the past but I think this could do more for our sport than anything they have done in the last few years.
(It would be great if they give each class a promise of at least one 5-10min promotional feature spot to be shown over the season)

For a few hundred quid spread over a year, each and every class of Scottish Motor-sport is much more marketable and attractive to sponsors. If we support it I feel that there is a much greater chance of attracting major sponsors for each championship and racer.
We may even return to the days of 'Prize Money', per meeting or season.

It may even attract new blood and some of the ex racing members back to the sport.
(Imagine XR2 qualification races again )

Lets see what you think? XR2 - TV stars? Fat 69 famous? , move over Hoff


You heard it here first and as such I may have some details wrong but the general idea is true

[TheRealDC]

Charlie

Does this mean you could be in the running for Baywatch too?

I doubt I'll ever be able to rid myself of that image



Cheers .. DC

[Charlie]

Before anyone else says it

[glow=yellow,2,300]Yes, I'm the beached whale[/glow] ;D

[minisaltire]

TV is way forward!! I love watching myself on the telly. The family are a bit sick of it as its on constantly!! ;D

This year the drivers of the Minis paid a total of £500 series entry which included the TV money. I don't know what the split was.

I think that to get sponsorship it is vital to say that you can been seen on TV.

Check out: www.amgtv.co.uk/Downloads.htm to see some Mini action from Donnington and Silverstone.

Charlie, the thought of Dave Coville thinking about you in baywatch is also an image I didn't need!!

[andrew]

I spoke to the production company at Croft and the hinted that this was coming but it seems in the last week or so that it has become almost definite.
I'm all for it, £400 isnt too bad to see yourself on telly, the XR2s should certainly get a good share of the air time with how close it is and theres plenty of action.
Great if they would telivise full length races for all classes buts its never goin to happen.

I'm wondering about the commentery though. Will they get the normal commentators from Knockhill to do it ? With their knowledge of the the drivers and series I think they would be much better than anyone else.
I dont remember who does the commentry for the minis but I dont remember recognising the voice as a usual knockhill commentator.

[Mike Hogg]

The commentary has always been the problem with the Mini program - when it started they had someone who sounded like they had never even heard of motorsport, let alone the series they were commentating on. The current guy is okay, but a proper motorsports commentator would be good - I'm sure Rob wouldn't say no!

[titch]

The tv coverage sounds great! but i thought mini's were red carded for next year, due to low numbers. and the legends were yellow carded. Does anyone have more info.

[thesweetieman]

Titch,
Heard the Mini's got that decision overturned.
ps check your private mail on this site.
the sweetieman

[Catriona]

I really hope that happens! Wonder what channel it'd be shown on if it did? Scottish sounds most obvious but knowing them it'd be on at about 4am when no-one would ever see it... someone like Motors tv might give it better coverage.

And I very much hope they find a commentator who knows something about it; I remember watching a Minis programme a while back and finding the very faint circuit commentary in the background told me a lot more about the race than the tv commentator did

[titch]

Mr Basset, i'm still learnin how to use this site! Its totally different to a car! lol i say mini's are pants, maybe supercharged one's, unless a certain driver came back??? they never had the car on it's wheels? minis look better upside down!!! lol

[dragonfly33]

Charlie I hope you are right. this is best news Ive had this season. racing on telly me!boyhood dreams do come true. now if only i can pedal it faster.They say the camera adds ten pounds, can we carry less ballast then.

[awsponsor]

Hi Folks... Andrew Winchester's daddy here....... Couldn't resist joining !!

Being on the box would be great ... It would certainly help with individual sponsorship and I could start refilling my pension fund pot

Actually the thing that really infuriates me is that our local TV - BBC Scotland and whatever the other one is called now - don't even mention Knockhill unless it's BTCC or Superbikes. I find that very disappointing... SMRC should have a go at them to get the coverage up.

Charlie - who are you thinking of getting as your makeup assistant.... ?

[Hgracer]

This could make my sponsorship hunt for next season more achievable.

To be honest I was thinking about selling the car due to lack of funds for next season but with all this shake up and TV talk i have new found ambition.

[Racemania]

awsponsor said:

Actually the thing that really infuriates me is that our local TV - BBC Scotland and whatever the other one is called now - don't even mention Knockhill unless it's BTCC or Superbikes. I find that very disappointing... SMRC should have a go at them to get the coverage up.

Thats the problem its not SMRC who publicise things but Knockhill. Hoping to have a word with Ray Smith about that this race weekend if he's about.

Trouble is BBC or Scottish TV need input from one source. Knockhill can get them to mention the race meeting in Sports news , SMRC can give the results to them after the event but it really needs to be co ordinated and only come from one person.

Ali

[marshalette]

Hi folks,

I was going to reply to the post about reformatting the race days and point out that, good as the new schedule might be, there's no point if it's not going to be promoted properly to get punters through the gates...and then I read this thread, the topic of which may solve some of those problems. Great to hear that our little track might get more tv time (long overdue!!) - does that mean I have to wash my overalls???

Ahh, the old debate about where to plug in the hair straighteners just keeps going...!!