Where’s the Millenials?

This is the Statt Mann Baby. Time to Scatt a little bit.

An interesting week in motor racing. NASCAR owners adopted a program creating a franchise-like direction in the sport. The idea allows owners to build equity for themselves if they decide to stop at some point in the future.

But I found an interesting question raised in a Linked In forum: is motorsport sleepwalking to doom?

I found myself agreeing with the premise. Not enough millenials are following their parents lead and buying into motorsport. And I’m thinking one problem is motor sport itself.

Ben Bowlby, the man who designed the original Delta Wing prototype, once told me that young kids like his teenage son don’t like spec racing and low brow technology.

He said they fell in love with his Delta Wing hen they saw it. Millenials love technology. They grew up with it. But when racing creates participant trophy spec racers, it bores them as racing fans.

Maybe motor sports leadership should listen to the fans they want to attract. Even if that means that fewer races, fewer TV shows and fewer cars. Maybe new fans aren’t interested in lowest common denominator rules for their motor racing pleasure.

Peace.