Have Startrax fallen out of love with F2?

Stoke made a comeback (Courtesy of You ain't Seen Me Right Pics)

Now we all saw how good the recent shale Startrax meetings have been for racing, however it appears that promoter Steve Rees isn't happy. This statement appeared on the Startrax website apparently without notice.....

"...However Startrax boss Steve Rees sounded a cautionary note `39 F2's attended last month's open practice session and all left `raving' about the track and new Armco fence. In 2011 we have two experimental dates for the BriSCA class although we have not made any decisions as regards 2012. These two events are very much a learning curve commercially. BriSCA F2 continues to provide superb and high quality action and increasing cars numbers, however our biggest concern is unfortunately crowd attendance - At Coventry for example on the 30th April there was an acceptable spectator attendance, however given over 90 cars entered and a WCQR we were slightly disappointed particularly as a large element of the crowd had come for Bangers. Unfortunately, commercially survival seems dependant on what formula is one with them, BriSCA F1 or Bangers for example which is a real shame for such a great race division. Somehow the formula needs to attract more followers in ' middle England' and encourage perhaps more friends and family. At the last Coventry on the 30th April as an example, with 90 cars present, there were 19 paying passengers via the pit gate whilst 36 1600cc Bangers in contrast produced 89 after driver/mechanic admission.' Rees added `the quality of F2 action provides more than enough for it to theoretically be THE attraction and we are really looking forward to Saturday's show however the longer term will be determined by audience support. Bangers are the core attraction and F2's commercially will as a fact of life have to compete with developing formulae such as Open Rods, Modstox and StoxKarts etc who all contribute significantly to operational costs and bring along a level of their own support. We would hope the sport of BriSCA F2 will enthusiastically get behind Saturdays programme and turn out in numbers thereby securing the future of the race division in 2012.
That said, I am not pessimistic and am just flagging up a concern in so much as we all need to pull together and ensure the formula is supported the best we can all achieve in what are difficult and challenging times. You can ask no more from the drivers who are providing class entertainment, but perhaps sometimes they too might want to look at the terraces when for example BriSCA F1 are not sharing the programme. - It is as simplistic as `numbers'' (from startrax.info)

Now Mr Rees, you potentially are stirring up a hornet's nest. The kind of turnouts that F2's are regularly turning out for you in droves, and without the restrictions on bookings, regular 70/80 car turnouts that those tractor boys only dream about once a year. Such support from the drivers and great racing always guaranteed. You are blessed with a huge driver base.

Unfortunately for you Steve, is that your tracks are in traditonal F1 country. It's like a Rugby Union club opening up in your Rugby League country. Yes F1 draws a crowd, historically it always will be a premier formula, so you run a F2 meeting on its own, then yes you'll get the cars, but its die hards. It is the narrow mindedness of the jealous F1 fans who have seen there sport become regional, whereas the F2 formula is now truly national, even international.

Its the other way round in the F2 heartlands the South West and Scotland, the crowds are there, just the driver base isn't as big, which is again historical. The sport is moving away from its traditional base. I can remember a World Final a few years back where the hype wasn't forthcoming.... "... lets here it for no 79, from Scotland Gordon Mooodie (wooop, holla) beside him is the Master 1 6 7 Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllll Battten (woop, holla) and who's here supporting 3 2 4 James Thackra (silence)". Nowadays there's more even still its the jocks and pixies who remain the noisiest, but the middle ground is finding its voice ever so slightly. If anything its the other way round... loads of spectators, dwindling car numbers...

So a simple solution if F2 is not "THE" attraction then put them on with the F1's or a multi million banger thing, then we are quite happy to play second fiddle to them. More careful fixture planning would help, were you really expecting a big crowd when one of the big F1 weekends is on at the same time. Promotional work, and the excellent work of Paul Brown and his 4FS empire have proved that thinking outside the box and encouraging more people to try it, in Skegness and places like that. You've had gimmicks like the bloke of Corrie and the former bike bloke of Top Gear (the pre Stig era). It's easy to sell, but not a blinkered F1 fan who needs their eyes opening. When I promoted this site on


So the driving force to get a bigger crowd in tractor country is down to the promoters based there. Hype it up, and if your worried about crowds, try and stay away from bigger draws. Price it reasonably, or have some kind of loyalty card, turn up at 3 F1 meetings get in half price to this F2 and banger meeting.


So what exactly is your agenda?  You say they don't draw a crowd - you are one of the biggest promoters for gimmicks and hype, why can't you sell this formula? It is TOO easy to blame the drivers for a lack of crowd, and when you consider that your last two meetings have won plaudits for being brillant meetings with turn outs most tracks would die for.

If you intend to give it the same class as Open Rods and Stock Karts, well good luck, but I don't see 80 car turnouts for them,

perhaps because they "contribute significantly to operational costs". So they pay to race then?. 

Is it your intention to lobby Brisca F2 for pay to race? You might meet some hurdles getting that one through

On the other foot the F1 get more comp admissions AND start money! If you want more foot fall, have a discount for family members. It would stop the back of van hiders aswell. Make the meetings more appealing, perhaps give reduced

Dropping F2 from your tracks would kill Shale racing stone dead, taking it back to the bad days of the 90's were only a handful of tracks were available, especially when the shale scene is in such rude health. If this threat is carried out, then the drivers will only look in one direction for blame, and it won't be the fans...

I urge caution and thought, Mr Rees, you may have the "golden" goose, but there is absolutely no need to slaughter the "silver" one just because its not laying at the moment.

Something to muse on...