December issue announces that SPEED channel has signed a 5 year contract to continue to sponsor and showcase SCCA World Challenge GT and Touring, bringing it to 2008. They will show races in time delay, but closer to 1 week following. SPEED will also add a new racenews show called "Sports Car Revolution" with I suppose SCCA race highlights and inside info. Also in the news is IMSA ALMS and WC working closer together for more coinciding racedates. Great job for SCCA Pro Racing and American Motorsports (sans NASCAR).

Another thing is the D1 drifting event during the Irwindale WC/ALMS event. seems like the picture is clear what SCCA Pro wants out of D1, more ppl to come to the stands and hopefully introduce road racing to more ppl. Gee, who's the bastard who decided that, bring more spectators to the track for greater sponsor exposure... what a frickin bad idea. Although it does seem to have taken a cue from NASA's Hyperfest events to find out what brings in a young crowd.

Speaking of which, since SCCA has perhaps exclusive rights with SPEED, wheres NASA "Pro Racing" have left to go for TV exposure? PBS? TV exposure seems to be within the vision NASA leaders have for groups like USTCC and HC, how do you guys think they can be successful so that stuff like HC can continue for a longer while? Do you think NASA can continue without TV exposure in the future?

 

W00HOO, good news.

About exclusive rights, I'm not sure what you mean. How could they have exclusive rights if nascar and many other series are shown? NASA should be no different right?

 

i think exclusive is a bad word. lets just say a lot of leverage due to a close partnership. and anyway i meant exclusive for SCCA, not SPEED. obviously, since I could do without the NASCAR, but not doing away with F1!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Do you think NASA can continue without TV exposure in the future? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Is NASA dependent on future TV exposure? I get the impression that NASA is created as a lower cost, entry-level, highly accessible racing organizer (not an insult, I am a NASA member) that has their niche in the type of racing events they provide. No fuss, no frills, no bling, low cost... In other words, it's made for guys like me! (Isn't their business model working?)

From what I have been told, a Speed WC series budget is over $100,000 -150,00 per car, per year(probably much more)... and a TV slot is about 30K per event(atleast it is about that much for 30 min of Import Drag series)... is NASA wanting to go there?

Either way- I'll be watching Speed as long as its not Nascar every other minute... ...oh wait, it already is nascar every other minute...