Originally Posted by
Mister JayKO
It's hard to pass comment without knowing the ins an outs of NZ in detail, all I know is that like everywhere else it will soon be totally gambling driven and certainly in this part of the world, that's not always been the main driver. For me the industry is really caught between two parallel universes - total professionalism and maintaining the backbone of the industry the hobbyist or part timers - who quite frankly keep the game going. Most clubs are run by hard working volunteers and honestly there is not enough money in the game for it to be run professionally. Of the administrators that I have worked and known, most work for an effective hourly wage that is well below the minimum wage, they do it because they love it, but in the end the sport takes much more from them than it ever gives back.
So while I encourage progress it has to be balanced against the cost to the industry. Personally I think the industry has headed down the wrong track. Prize money and general interest in the game is at an all time low. Big new tracks haven't engaged new participants - in my case it's driven me away, there is no atmosphere - save the small half mile tracks. Personally if every club goes there own way like America - you'll get the same results. For years we have heard about how great American racing is ra ra, now thru sky wall to wall racing we get it live whenever we want and guess what...it's not!
Look what we have done to the Inter, it should just be shelved rather than run in a cardboard cut out format of what it once was and now we have clubs / states effectively running against each other with the Miracle Mile being shifted to what is traditionally an inter timeslot. Again look to America, the owner of the Meadowlands bans the worlds best driver because he won't race exclusively at his track,bravo Brian Sears.
Continue to follow America and the game will not survive. Bookmark it!