Slump in spectator support worries GMR&SC President -urges greater collaboration with media

Aug 11, 2016 Sports

By Rawle Welch
President of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) Raj Boodhoo worried by the recent slump in spectator support convened a meeting with the media on Tuesday evening, at the entity’s Head Office to address the situation.
Boodhoo, who returned this year for his second term, told operatives from several media outlets of his concern, informing that a recent survey has shown that gate receipts have plummeted, especially when the local Meets are staged and patrons are more supportive of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) which is usually held in November.
According to the President, he recognised that the media is an important stakeholder and therefore the meeting really is to seek its input in addressing the current scenario with the aim of finding solutions that could instigate a reversal of fortunes for the sport.
He said that even though the perception of many is that motor racing is a sport for the middle and upper class the new executive has worked feverishly to eradicate that sensitivity and has encouraged more inclusiveness from the society at large.
Another observation that was articulated by the media was that the relationship between the two parties seemed a bit distanced so the necessary support was not forthcoming with operatives stating that they usually feel excluded by the entity.
Boodhoo in his response promised a better collaboration by the club as it seeks to engage the media on a more consistent basis, while also assuring that there will be a strengthening of relations between the two.
It was also announced that the club will be utilising more innovative methods to win back patrons and even gain new ones to the sport and among the measures to be taken is taking the sport to different communities with Linden being earmarked as the first stop, while a resuscitation of the Meet and Greet exercise will resume just ahead of the final leg of the CRMC scheduled for Guyana.
Boodhoo is hoping that this exercise could be staged at the recently constructed Jubliee Park formerly Durban Park.
The GMR&SC Head also spoke of a plan to prioritise local Meets, informing that emphasis will be placed on those events in 2017 with concerted efforts to be made to get the best competitors on the starting grid at all times.
He added that his vision is to sweep all the national awards and one way to do this is to return the sport to the lofty status it held not so long ago.
“My aim is to make the sport the best to watch in Guyana and I need the media’s help to do along with that of the competitors,” Boodhoo stated.
Boodhoo, however, pointed out that it is not all gloom since other areas of the sport has been enjoying a renaissance of sorts with drag racing highlighted as one such area.
He closed by expressing optimism that with the co-operation of the media and all other related components working in tandem, the resurgence could be a quick one.
Up next for motor racing is the third leg of the CMRC scheduled for Barbados in early September, while an international Drag Meet is slated for October 2 and the final leg of the CMRC in November.

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