Quote Originally Posted by Doc Austin View Post
Perhaps. In the US, cars have become uncool. The econazis have convinced everyone that cars are polluting the planet and burning resources. Besides, today's kids (tomorrow's fans) would rather keep their noses buried in their cell phones than get laid, so I don't have much hope for racing to survive in this country, at least not at anywhere near the levels we have seen.
Sadly, I can't disagree with you here. I want to, but the data suggests that younger Americans, in general, are not as car crazy as they were in my generation and before. In the south, kids seem to still be gearheads. But one study I read showed that kids 16-24 are not seeking driver's licenses in the same percentages as they were in the years and decades prior.

But still, there will always be niches that racing series can exploit. Just as the major OEMs are producing more high performance cars than ever, F1 (and NASCAR) can "preach to the choir" and continue to do very well, IMO. I just picked up my latest hot car last week. And I've been surprised by how many kids (young enough to be my sons or daughters) make an effort to approach me and compliment it. The big one was a redneck looking kid in a diesel pickup (with a smoke stack coming out of the bed!) who pulled up beside me at a light and shouted "that's cool as hell, man!"... before charging off in a cloud of soot. So they're there. But I don't think Mr. Ecclestone can relate to that generation even as well as someone my age can (and I admit that I don't "get them" either). So I don't think he'll be able to draw them in. He still seems to be stuck in the 80's. Not a bad place to be stuck (I play the soundtrack to Miami Vice in my car all the time), but that mindset offers no help in bringing this generation (the ones at the margin) through the gates of the racetrack.