In this blog, Victor Bray shares his thoughts on the impact of COVID on Australian drag racing and other race car formats.
Well, there is no need to explain the damage Covid has done to the world. But all Drag Racing, street cruising, burnout and hot Rod competitors and fans know what it has done to our beloved sports.
Australian Drag Racing and COVID
The Drag Racing has always been the motor sport that prided itself on most interaction with the fans. Being able to walk up and talk to drivers and crew was great until Covid, then it became a disadvantage.
Summernats, Car and Hot Rod shows are very interactive areas where just about everyone knows everyone, with most people hanging out shoulder to shoulder, shooting the breeze and bench racing. This format has meant continuing events the same as pre Covid impossible.
We have a little more freedom as time rolls on but what would we give to return to pre-2019! Who knows maybe someday?
The Impact of COVID on Other Race Car Format
The race formats with less fan interaction – thanks to social distancing requirements – have seem to fare better during the pandemic.
V8 Supercars have some fan access, but it is limited and have been able to continue race through E races and thinking outside the circle to minimise damage to the competition.
F1 has virtually no access to fan so very easy to keep the competition alive with little or no damage.
Speedway, being similar to Drag racing as a stadium sport, has presented limited shows but access to the pit areas and drivers had to be limited, as did the crowd numbers.
Where to from here?
It has taken a long time to get used to, what were once full crowds at most events to facilities with empty seats due to Covid regulations, even though the racing was still underway pretty much as usual.
I guess all we can hope for is to get back to the old normal at some time. Motor racing is an outdoor sport which is an advantage against transmission, but the closeness seemed to be the problem. Ball sports like NRL and AFL seemed to suffer the most.
But it is slowly getting better, so let’s hope it’s not far away to see full stadiums and motorsport facilities!
