Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Welcome to Web Wednesday/ USAC Opener at Manzanita on Versus/ USAC TV Q&A

Welcome to Web Wednesday

We are starting a new feature today on Open Wheeler. Were calling it Web Wednesday. Every week we will highlight a great website for racing information. This week we are featuring USACRacing.com. Last year USAC unveiled a revamped website.

In addition to news and schedules, the new website features photos, live timing and scoring at select events and video. We will have more on USACRacing.com later in this blog.

USAC Opener at Manzanita on Versus

USAC will return to television in April as the Copper on Dirt airs on Versus. The network that brought four USAC sanctioned races to the airwaves will broadcast the opener at Manzanita on April 14 at a time to be announced. In 2008, Versus aired one Silver Crown and two USAC/CRA races. The network also broadcast the Turkey Night Grand Prix.

USAC TV Q &A

While it is exciting to have USAC back on TV, there was some grumbling among fans on message boards on several issues. I am going to attempt to give solutions to the points raised.

It is good to see USAC back on TV but why not more races and it is Versus?

I like most Open Wheel fans would like to see as many races as possible on TV but the reality is the golden days of Thursday Thunder on ESPN are over. Versus is not a widely watched channel but it is better than the Outdoors network. Open Wheel fans need to be extremely thankful to Lucus Oil, the production quality of the program is top notch and they put a lot of money into it.

What can we do to get more races on TV?

Park your butt in front of the TV when the race airs on Versus and write to the folks at the Lucus Oil and Versus to let then know how much you appreciate their coverage.

Grassroots Open Wheel Banished to the Internet?

Until grassroots Open Wheel racing draws remarkable numbers on TV, our favorite sport will be relegated to the internet. Maybe that is a good place for it to be.

Years ago folks theorized about putting USAC and WoO racing video live on the net.

The problem was that the high speed internet connections were not at every track to make that happen. In stepped the World of Outlaws Sprints with their new media trailer in 2006.

Besides a workspace, it had high speed internet via satellite. That bandwidth was good enough to send video.

Last season USAC began video feeds and while it is not as clean as watching a network race at home on TV, we are talking a one camera and one announcer real (plus webcast support)

without a 80 person TV crew and multiple pit reporters.

I have shot some racing and it takes a talent to find the action and be there before the wreck.
USAC is lucky to have the services of Dean Mills who loves the sport with all of his heart and has a knack for finding the highlight before it happens.

For that matter it is good to have Rob Klepper as the voice of USAC. A voice that knows everything about the drivers makes the race PA as well as the broadcast more enjoyable.

No it is not the glory days of ESPN and TNN for grass roots Open Wheel but you still get to see the race live and for free so stop complaining and start to use a word that my be new to your vocabulary when it comes to USAC… Thanks!

Coming Later this Week
TV Thursday and an Open Wheel revival.

Ideas, thoughts, questions? Drop me a line at bjohnson_292@comcast.net.

Images appearing in this blog courtesy of USACRacing.com and Open Wheeler.
  • About OPEN WHEELER
  • In this blog, I will feature what is going on with Open Wheeler's. Race results and news that normaly you would have to search for, you should now be able to find it here. I will also comment from time to time on my two other loves, Hockey and Memphis Tiger Football. Thanks for stopping by. You stay classy racing world.
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