151 replies to this topic

[Peter Perfect]

Spawned off in relation to http://forums.autosp...rnie-interview/

 

Bernie seems happy with the idea of a 'mature' F1 audience who can afford the products advertised, so doesn't see any need to make an effort to engage a younger audience. But my impression was that most current F1 fans started watching while quite young and that F1 attracts few new fans who are over 25.

 

My own story is one I've seen repeated here quite a few times. I started watching with my Dad when I was 8, getting hooked on Mansell/Piquet/Senna/Prost, and haven't been able to give it up since.

[Tuxy]

Bernie is an idiot.

[Bloggsworth]

In 1956 I was a 12 year old millionaire, just the sort of person Bernie is looking for

[Ilc]

1974. Age 13. BE is a fool who has lost the plot. Time has come....he really needs to go.

[pdac]

Bernie is an idiot.

 

Bernie is a very rich idiot

[Sheepmachine]

I started watching in Canada 1999. Haven't stopped since.

[Nemo1965]

I don't know exactly, but I can tell you my oldest memory of F1.

 

My parents were divorced when I was very young, and every other weekend I would go to my father in Zandvoort. He had bought us a model Lotus 72, with a plastic Ronnie Peterson in the cockpit. (Or: at least the colour of his helmet and so). The door to the balcony was open and over the town came the sounds of F1 cars driving around the Zandvoort track. I can remember vividly listening intently and at the same glancing at the black Lotus model on the floor. If I had to describe what I thought and felt, I think I have to guess, but it was like I tried to melt the sounds I heard with the toy I had in my hands. My oldest brother must have had a discussion of sorts with my father, because I can remember my father saying as clear as if I am in the room with him now: 'Nah. You know who is really good? Emmerson Fittipaldi.'

Edited by Nemo1965, 16 November 2014 - 20:38.

[bogi]

Back in 1996 (14 years old), just after the war ended and we got electricity back.

[DrivenF1]

I started watching in 1993 when I was 4. I've been hooked ever since. I was a sad 6 year-old apparently and liked to memorise F1 stats

[np93]

The 1996 British Grand Prix at 3 years old was the first race I went to. Think I spent most of the race asleep after the 4.00 am start we needed back in the day.Apparently we all went the year before, but I can't remember that far back. I guess I've been watching on TV every Sunday for my whole life, and I've always been a fan, but this year has been a trying one..... We'll see if they can all take a good look at what the sport has become and actually act together for once. Well, couldn't type that with a straight face.........

[northanmonkee2]

started to take notice in the  early 80 s in between chasing women and football and living with hangovers,

followed  mansell , then senna then hill, brief flirtation with button till lewis in 07 

now approaching 50  i watch women when the wifes not looking  occasionly watch football and drink very little (she who must be obayed frowns alot if i drink)

but liven up on gp weekends 

[F1Gui]

first full race i watched was 1992 monaco gp at 13 years old. started watching full time from 1994 season onwards. my only sadness is that i have never been to a gp. i had opportunities but always passed up as i thought it was too expensive at the time.

[NoSanityClause]

My grandfather watched F1 and we gathered at my grandparents' house every Sunday, I used to sit on the floor and watch the races on the big, black and white TV he had.

 

My first memory of a specific race isKyalami, 1974 (I was just 4 by then). Reutemann won...grandpa was ecstatic! 

[redreni]

I think the results prove the OP's point, but only in relation to the small subset of F1 viewers who are interested enough to participate in this rather detailed discussion of the sport. You can market stuff to the casual viewer just as much as to the avid fan.

[Callisto]

1985/86

[Anja]

I was following the results with at best average interest since I was 7 or 8 (late 90s, Hakkinen winning years), but that was only through reading car magazines and such - I've had no way to actually watch the races on TV and that didn't help me get more interested. Then Kubica got into in F1 and thanks to that one of Polish TV companies started to transmit F1 in their open channel. Started watching rather out of curiosity, but a couple of races was enough to get me hooked.

[Peter Perfect]

I think the results prove the OP's point, but only in relation to the small subset of F1 viewers who are interested enough to participate in this rather detailed discussion of the sport. You can market stuff to the casual viewer just as much as to the avid fan.

 

True, but unfortunately I don't have access to casual viewer demographics 

[jimmonson]

  My early memories of single seat racing go back to the 1950s , when I was a young boy . The exploits of Fangio , Moss and Hawthorn stick in my mind and caught my imagination . 

Edited by jimmonson, 15 November 2014 - 21:56.

[HeadFirst]

When I started watching F1, dinosaurs were still a menace on the backroads of Canada and the Leafs were always in Cup contention. Sad about those dinosaurs isn't it.

[ElDictatore]

First full race I watched was Australia 98'. Made me a McLaren fan. I was only 5 years old though, so I didn't really get it all that much. I was really hooked somewhen in 02'. 03' was the first season I watched every race at 10 years old.

[MortenF1]

Spawned off in relation to http://forums.autosp...rnie-interview/

 

Bernie seems happy with the idea of a 'mature' F1 audience who can afford the products advertised, so doesn't see any need to make an effort to engage a younger audience. But my impression was that most current F1 fans started watching while quite young and that F1 attracts few new fans who are over 25.

 

My own story is one I've seen repeated here quite a few times. I started watching with my Dad when I was 8, getting hooked on Mansell/Piquet/Senna/Prost, and haven't been able to give it up since.

Very much the same with me. Started watching right from when I was an infant really (well, watched is perhaps the wrong term but I was atleast put infront of the TV as my father has competed against Prost, Fullerton and the likes in karting, so obviously he was watching) but got an active interest around nine years old. I became close to fanatically interested in '96 and from then on till 2007 I was on a roll where I think I only missed two or three races live on TV. 

I think Ecclestone is being curiously stupid with his statement that F1 doesn't really need a young audience, or to attract new, young viewers.

I remember so well how I bought Schweppes and Finlandia just because they sponsored McLaren. Ecclestone pretends the only sponsors are high end, and exemplifies banks and Rolex.

I saved up money and bought Tag Heuer's F1 edition in '04 or '05 (I wear it daily still) and I have Hugo Boss suits, and it's all because of F1.

Ecclestone has lessened the affinity of "his" sport with his latest remarks. What an idiot. 

Edited by race addicted, 15 November 2014 - 22:25.

[midgrid]

The first F1 race I watched was the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix, when I was seven.  I'm now 26.

[Beamer]

Started watching in 88, 22 yo. 46 now. Still watching. Finally able to buy the rolex and sportscars.

[Exb]

Slightly different from most people here as I was at uni when I first started watching (however still not what Bernie wants in a fan as I was a poor student ).

 

Seems most people started watching when they were young with their parents - do those people that now have kids watch with them or do kids of today just want to play computer games (I'm thinking of my nephews who won't be dragged away from their computers but then my sister and her husband don't follow F1, maybe if they did the kids would want to watch?) 

[Risil]

First one I have a memory of was Jos Verstappen's fire at the 1994 German GP. I'd have been four then. Started watching in earnest, oddly enough, with the German GP one year later in 1995. Dad had been to the British Grand Prix a fortnight before on the corporate hospitality, and had come back with many goodies including autographs from Max Papis and Taki Inoue. The earliest memory he's recollected to me was Jochen Rindt frightening Jack Brabham off the road at the hairpin at Monaco in 1968. So there's another one who started young.

 

I had a strong reverence for Michael Schumacher from then on, and then he retired from the Hungarian GP in the closing stages. At the Belgian Grand Prix Damon Hill fought a good battle with the shouldn't-really-be-there Ligier of Martin Brundle; the Italian and Portuguese Grands Prix were interrupted by startline accidents and Schumacher won what was clearly a very special victory at the Nurburgring. Unfamiliar drivers dressed in black or in red and white interrupted the usual Benetton and Williams drivers on the podium. These were all early memories -- when I went back and looked at them again 15 years or so later you can imagine my surprise to discover those were the first six races I'd ever seen.

Edited by Risil, 15 November 2014 - 22:48.

[Imateria]

I properly started watching when I was 12 in '98, though I'd seen a few races of the previous couple of seasons. I'm 29 now.

[mgs315]

1994 aged 6 is my earliest full memory of the sport as regards the season as a whole. I did watch some stuff with my father before then though.

So it seems nearly everyone was a kid when they got into the sport eh?

[Incast]

I took a very 'new media' (at the time) route in. In around 1995 at the age of 8/9 I discovered a computer game known as Formula One Grand Prix by Geoff Crammond. I became addicted to this and realised how much I enjoyed motorsport. No one else in my immediate family had any interest in Formula 1 whatsoever.

 

When I stumbled upon the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix on BBC2, I remember being excited that I was watching what I'd been playing and I've watched ever since.

 

The bottom line for me is that you should always embrace new technologies to promote the sport. Had there been no computer game I may never have got interested. You can apply the same to Facebook and Twitter today.

 

I started watching in 1993 when I was 4. I've been hooked ever since. I was a sad 6 year-old apparently and liked to memorise F1 stats

 

Glad I wasn't the only one! Once I got into it, I just went through book after book on the history.

[Risil]

So it seems nearly everyone was a kid when they got into the sport eh?

 

Buncha saddos trying to reclaim our salad days, huh?

Edited by Risil, 15 November 2014 - 22:57.

[Eff One 2002]

1985 season. I was 8. I remember watching Andrea de Crasheris flip that Ligier over multiple times at the Austrian GP. Been following F1 ever since. It's just a shame that now, it's such a sad shadow of its former self.

[Risil]

1985 season. I was 8. I remember watching Andrea de Crasheris flip that Ligier over multiple times at the Austrian GP. Been following F1 ever since. It's just a shame that now, it's such a sad shadow of its former self.

 

They don't flip cars like they used to.

[Borko]

First race I ever watched was 1997 European Grand Prix. Started to watch every race after 1998 Belgian GP when I was 8 years old. Managed to wake up for the Australian GP for the first time in 2001.

[pathogen]

you guys are to young... My first contact was in 1966 reading the press with my old brother. One year latter Bandini's dead was a big impact in my life. My first attendance at GP was in 1968... those enorm double wings and the V8 roarrrrrr were fantastic. I bought my first magazine subscription (the french Sport Auto) in 1973.

[ollebompa]

10, it was 2002.

[Ellios]

1984 - I was fourteen, Mansell kept retiring out of races but he was quick. He was my favourite at the time.

[SpaceHorseParty]

First race I saw was the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, when I was 3 years old. I started watching regularly sometime between 2000 and 2001.

[PassWind]

Spawned off in relation to http://forums.autosp...rnie-interview/

 

Bernie seems happy with the idea of a 'mature' F1 audience who can afford the products advertised, so doesn't see any need to make an effort to engage a younger audience. But my impression was that most current F1 fans started watching while quite young and that F1 attracts few new fans who are over 25.

 

My own story is one I've seen repeated here quite a few times. I started watching with my Dad when I was 8, getting hooked on Mansell/Piquet/Senna/Prost, and haven't been able to give it up since.

 

I didn't give a **** who was sponsoring the cars, I loved the livery of the JP Lotus as a kid, but had no idea of who John Player was until I was an adult. I smoked from the age of the 13 however never smoked any of the brands in formula one. My choice to smoke was unrelated to advertising, I was far more influenced by peers and the close surroundings of other smokers.  Formula One has had no influence on my alcohol consumption, choice of watch, choice of insurance of choice of fuel, choice of computer. 

 

I don't think advertising in Formula One is aimed at the joe bloke at all, its more about the business connections created by brand awareness, brand strength. 

[Nigol]

Ever since I opened my eyes really, oldest memory is 1994 (you guess which weekend) so 4-years old.. Life was simple back then, I remember being happy because Schumi will now drive a red car. 

Edited by Nigol, 15 November 2014 - 23:28.

[Amphicar]

They don't flip cars like they used to.

Not since Mark Webber retired from F1 at any rate!

[jonpollak]

Sunday.

[Tombstone]

Well, watching. Hmm... It wasn't really on television here in England until the latter half of '76.

 

Following my parents' decision to supply me with a Scalextric set in late '73 I followed, as best one could in those days, Formula 1 through 1974 and beyond. As an impressionable 8 year old I read newspaper reports throughout the season, including the last race showdown between a McLaren and Ferrari. Always been a McLaren man since then, quite a bonus to discover, some years later, that my home town, a small suburb of London, was where McLaren first set up shop as a racing team. Bruce resided a few roads from where I first lived from age 0 to 24 (albeit separated by a few years), McLaren having moved away, in late '64, from Wellington Crescent, New Malden, some 9 months after arriving - and almost 2 years before I popped into existence.

 

To be honest anything since '92 seems really fresh in the memory. The 80s only take a little extra effort to recall, and the 70s, although perhaps greyed by the mists of time, still resonate with me most agreeably.

Edited by Tombstone, 16 November 2014 - 00:06.

[tmekt]

Must've been 2003 or 2002 at the earliest probably. I can remember Brazil 2003 vaguely, and Spa 2004 a bit better so I was definitely watching then. Grew up cheering for Kimi.

Before the change of millenium, I was probably more annoyed than excited about F1 as it always stole my dad for the two long hours every other Sunday which meant that he couldn't play with my under 10-year-old self. Pissed me off, I can remember that.

Edited by tmekt, 15 November 2014 - 23:54.

[TomNokoe]

Monaco 07 highlights.

Had no idea who Lewis Hamilton was until that night. Chasing this newfangled Spanish dude, no sign of Schumacher either, lord knows where he went.

Had just turned 12. No friends or family watched it, ever, and they still bloody don't.

[Masteroftheuniverse]

1995 Canadian GP, i was 4 years old and now, even at the grand old age of 23, i remember my family cheering because Jean Alesi had finally won a race. Not stopped watching it since then. 

 

EDIT:

 

Right, now a facetious answer to appease Bernie.

 

I started watching in 1950, i was on my yacht in the Monaco harbour wearing my Rolex and sipping the finest champagne money could buy

Edited by Masteroftheuniverse, 16 November 2014 - 00:16.

[finignig]

Absolute BS.

 

I started watching F1 aged 12. now am 29 and for the love of God cant get any of my friends that are both rich and into cars to watch F1! the guys I know that follow F1 all did from their younger days!!

Edited by finignig, 16 November 2014 - 00:08.

[Amphicar]

My interest in F1 began several years before I saw an actual race in full. Back then we had to make do with just snippets on TV. If you were lucky you might get to see the start and the finish and a random few laps in the middle, interspersed between coverage of horses standing still or walking round a paddock. My first F1 race in person was the non-championship Gold Cup at Oulton Park in 1966. My first Grand Prix was the 1967 German Grand Prix. Jack Brabham & Denny Hulme finished first and second in both races (though not in the same order).

[Eff One 2002]

They don't flip cars like they used to.

Yarp. Thems were the days etc etc...

[WDC1992]

1974. Age 13. BE is a fool who has lost the plot. Time has come....he really needs to go.

Agreed.

[JHSingo]

I don't know the specific age that I started following F1, but it was definitely very young. I remember many afternoons spent in the living room with my dad. Of course, some times I was often paying more attention to racing my toy cars on the carpet than what was on TV, but I can vividly remember getting up (at what felt like 3am) to watch Schumacher win his first title with Ferrari in 2000. I was only 7, but I was hooked very early on.

 

As I posted in the other thread, I'm 21 now and still a fan. I often ask myself why. It's not anything to do with the racing being boring or whatever, but simply from reading idiotic comments like this, and just a general frustration of how idiotically my favourite sport is being run by people who don't seem to give a damn. For all my complaints though, I still love F1 as much as I ever did, and I'll still continue to be a fan.

[whitewaterMkII]

1976, Long Beach Grand Prix

I had always been a racefan, Indy in particular. After seeing my first F1 race, it became a lot more than just a few lines at the bottom of the sports section.