scruffy Wrote:We've lost countless entries in the past few years with the introduction of the acu tt course licence and 6 race rule. To get more newcomers and fill the race grids, we need to promote what we already have.

You've said it yourself, one of the reasons why entries are down. To which I would add rising costs, less practice and (in recent years) the way the organisers have dealt with poor weather (not blaming them this year by the way as I think they did a good job with appalling weather).

What you're talking about is marketing the Manx, so let's consider a few marketing basics. Namely the 4 "P"s.

Product. Yes in many ways it is excellent, and of course the circuit is unique. But the organisation, the way riders are treated, the amount of riding you can do and the classes available should be considered so as many people as possible are eligible to enter, and FEEL WANTED.

Place. Probably about the one thing you can't change, just as well as that's its strongest selling point. Billown... NO.

Price. Riders pay their own entry fees and get no assistance other than a small discount off already-extortionate ferry costs. There is no prize money, no start money and even the Marshals, the heroes in orange, have to pay their way to stand in the mist for 2 weeks. And as you say the ACU slapped an extra burden on the riders in their ill-judged course licence, requiring competent and experienced "holiday racers" to enter extra short circuit races costing several hundred pounds, pay for a medical and contribute £25 to the ACU's coffers. The Island makes a lot of money from the races, it needs to wake up and realise that riders and marshals are increasingly unwilling to shoulder that burden on their own especially with riding time being cut back.

Promotion. When people say "go out and sell the races" this is often all they are thinking of. Stick a few ads in mags, get a write-up in the ACU free paper, wait for the entries to come rolling in. I don't think that follows any more, no more than Skoda could sell their old rattletraps today instead of the sleek new VW clones they make. Selling alone is not enough, the product and its attributes need to be what people want to buy, and I think at the moment the message we are getting from the falling entry numbers is that they aren't.

As such reviewing the class structure and the racing timetable is a worthwhile (and overdue) exercise, but just the first step on a long road to recovery. I hope those responsible have the bravery and forward thinking to provide what the riders want (as opposed to what the ACU or the local pressure groups want) or they are simply re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.