[Spi-nex]

Originally Posted by Spi-nex Not on private property. Only illegal in public areas (parks, highways, etc).

I take that back. It is apparently illegal in any form, anywhere, but then the FCC would have to actually visit a track in order to prove a jammer was being used. If you want to start getting technical then all tracks are already illegal because the radios used for communication are above the wattage allowed for short wave communication and thus require a license according to the FCC.

[Jim Gardner]

Couldn't go to a buddy's race last weekend due to work- his sister streamed his heat race via Periscope and in the short broadcast about 10 people (that I presume follow him on Twitter and stumbled upon the feed) asked a ton of newbie questions about racing, asked where the track was, when he was racing again so they could go and support him, etc... If a live feed garners any new interest in racing isn't that a positive for all involved?

[Chris Nunn]

I broadcasted the feature from the track I was announcing at this past saturday and had at least 80 people watching it, from places where they wouldnt be able to come to the track from. I dont advertise it, and I just pop it up randomly. Some weeks I wont, some weeks I will.

[illinisprintfan]

Another issue with cell phone blockers is that many of them also block the frequencies that law and fire units transmit on. I have seen 800 Mhz handheld radios inadvertently made useless by a cell phone blocker. You most definitely do not want to block the police or ambulance crew at the track from communicating.

[Racer12]

Same track that does not allow pass outs at all! 👎🏻

Bob

[Spi-nex]

Originally Posted by Jim Gardner Couldn't go to a buddy's race last weekend due to work- his sister streamed his heat race via Periscope and in the short broadcast about 10 people (that I presume follow him on Twitter and stumbled upon the feed) asked a ton of newbie questions about racing, asked where the track was, when he was racing again so they could go and support him, etc... If a live feed garners any new interest in racing isn't that a positive for all involved?

Just like social media, live broadcasting is a tool that can yield great things if used properly.

Wouldn't it be great if you did a live broadcast in the pit area before hot laps showing off the stars that are there? Or showcase something new a sponsor is trying to get into the market?

The fans are telling tracks how they want to interact, but too many places just want to push their image and then piss & moan about it when it fails.

There is a huge difference between a professional stream doing iPPV sales and an amateur broadcast through periscope or Facebook Live. Then, like someone else said, there is no replacement for actually BEING there. That free exposure in an online medium has the potential to increase your front gate sales for years to come. If you try to stop it, what is your strategy? Print an ad in the local newspaper that no one below the age of 30 buys anymore?

All tracks need to get with the program in the digital age if they want to keep attracting new customers.

[DAD]

In the past I have spent a lot of money advertising and in TV Broadcasting in particular. One of my reps for a TV station told me once that my race car was targeted advertising and he was selling Broadcast Advertising. This meant that they threw the add up into the airways and no telling where it would go and who would see it. The race car was limited to the grand stands and the people that saw us on the road going to the races.

This broadcasting brought customers from as far away as 75 miles for a good deal. No body ever told me that they saw my add on my race cars and decided to have me install their exhaust systems for them. But I sure had a lot of fun putting that race car advertising out there, and my accountant ran it right through the books and it was and is perfectly legal.

This rep was pretty hip, he also told me that putting my name out there was a good thing being it either for a good things or a bad things. They had something that they called T.O.M.A. (Top of mind awareness) once the name was out there and people found themselves with a need for your goods and services they thought of you first. I guess it has been over 10 years since I aired my last TV commercial but I still have people coming in and saying "No Muff Too Tuff".

Now for the track owner I would consider live streaming the best and most inexpensive form of advertising out there. Given the choice of dirt in my hair and the smell of Methanol in the air I would rather go to the track every time over sitting at home looking at my computer screen. However sometimes the computer is all that is available, and I have spent lots of money buying somebody's live stream.

The way I would have to look at it is "IF" you have a good product let the people go on and do it Also encourage them to give you a plug ever once in a while. Maybe when they are broadcasting they just might pick up a real live paying customer for your track.

Better yet You have electricity and broadband that would be pretty pretty easily available to you up in that scorers booth. Find a kid with the desire and knowledge to set up your own live stream on your web site and do your own broadcasting complete with caned commercials with info about the track, your race cars and your schedule.

I bet you regular customers are not going to sit around their living rooms and watch that flat screen if it is anyway possible for them to make the show and all of those other people that just tuned in might book a flight from China or somewhere else just to see what all the excitement is about.

Honest Dad himself

[chrismattlin]

Originally Posted by Racer12 Same track that does not allow pass outs at all! 👎🏻 Bob

This is the most important post in this thread, to me. The live streaming thing... I could care less, although it's laughable the position they've taken. No pass outs? Now that's a deal breaker for me. Thanks for the heads up @Racer12!