On Apr 29, 1:42*pm, Walt Connelly Walt.Connelly.
wrote:
'Martin Gregorie[_5_ Wrote:









;770579']On Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:58:08 +0000, Walt Connelly wrote:
-
Seriously though, we do need to do something to grow our sport.
Exposure
to the public is everything. *When a major championship gliding event
fails to attract a news camera from a local tv station, something is
wrong. *The recent Senior Championships didn't get the coverage that
the
local Bike Week event did. *There were stories every day on the local
media about the bike event but nada on soaring. *Sad.
-
It would be interesting to know what effort and finance the bike event
put into attracting sponsors, getting its footage onto TV and the type
of
exposure (sport or local news slots). Comparing that with the same
figures for the Seniors is likely to provide all the reasons for that
lack of coverage.

I think we already have a good candidate for a TV sport slot. Its called

the Glider Grand Prix and comes complete with all the America's Cup
display gizmos that are apparently needed to get a non-mainstream sport

onto TV. Most importantly, it showcases racing sailplanes doing what
they
are designed to do. Isn't that the sort of exposure we really need? IMO

its the type of exposure that's most likely to provide a steady flow of

new bods into two-seat cockpits.

--
martin@ * | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org * * * |

The reality is that Bike Week brings in many millions of dollars to the
local economy. *It draws about half a million bikers and wannabees to
the local area for an entire week. *We can't compete with those numbers
but It's hard to understand how there was NO local TV coverage of a
national event like this. *JMHO

Walt

--
Walt Connelly

You guys are smoking dope if you think gliding is ever going to be
like bike racing or NASCAR - or any popular sport. Anyone can walk
into a motorcycle or car dealership and buy a bike or car and drive
it. He may not race it, but he is still involved.

You can't (and never will be able to) do that with gliding.

THAT is why gliding will always be a niche sport.

What gliding has to do is grow up, realize it's a (relatively) rich
man's sport, and work on attracting and keeping people who are looking
for a different way to spend their disposable income.

Yeah, I know that's heresy to the 1-26 and 2-33 crowd, and I wish you
could prove me wrong. But I think the numbers support me.

Which is why our club is looking at selling our 2-33 and one of our
1-26s, getting an ASK-21 and another glass single seater, making a
nicer clubhouse that is actually hospitable instead of being a
workshop, and building a simulator using the cockpit of a wrecked 103
and Condor.

And with the price of gas going up - trying to snag power pilots, who
already have the flying bug but can't afford or justify renting (or
owning, for that matter) a Cezzna for those $200 hamburgers anymore.

And as the Country Clubs fill up, snagging empty-nesters who don't
want to be stuck in a line waiting for a t-time.

Kids? Yeah, right, there will always be a few, and they should be
encouraged (good equipment helps here, too), but don't expect the
average kit to wander onto the gliderport...No chicks, way too many
old grumpy guys, too many rules, BORING!!!

Me, I'm going racing...and the only person I care about will be
watching me on my SPOT - and handing me a cold beer when I land.

Kirk
66