So as I was reading all the conversations I thought of an idea which I'm sure has been done before but with nine classes at a race and up to four classes in one race on the course this might help the fans understand.
In motocross we had different colored backgrounds to show what class each bike was in and also to help the racers indentify the bikes in their class. Even in the pro ranks they use colors as well, may only be black and white but you know just by looking. The classes overseas use different color bows to help identify the class and that was imported by the OSS at the start of the season and from fan feedback seemed to help. The problem I see with bows is that it can be hard to see because sometimes the areas were to small. It was a GREAT idea and may still work.
My idea is to put color backgrounds behind each of the classes from 6 to extreme. These could include cat light, cat outboard, vee light, 750 and 850. In Key West I was asked about the 750 and 850 classes and how they were different because these fans could not tell by just looking at the boats who were racing on the course at the same time. They asked if there was away they could mark the so everyone could know the difference. In each program, which each race has, there can be a listing of what the colors are as what classes they represent. You would be surprised how many people read these programs and ask questions from them. Even sometimes get the teams to sign them. While this will help the fans understand the classes it was also help the numbers stand out. As most people know OPA has dropped the P for a few years now and gone with just the class number before the boats number. With the color of the class behind the number we might be able to do away with that third number that so many people ask about. Again this is just an idea from someone who knows most of these boats by heart but knows it still hard for people to understand. Bracket class racing I think is here to stay and we need to do all that we can to help fans better understand. Again I am sure this has been done before but just an idea.
In motocross we had different colored backgrounds to show what class each bike was in and also to help the racers indentify the bikes in their class. Even in the pro ranks they use colors as well, may only be black and white but you know just by looking. The classes overseas use different color bows to help identify the class and that was imported by the OSS at the start of the season and from fan feedback seemed to help. The problem I see with bows is that it can be hard to see because sometimes the areas were to small. It was a GREAT idea and may still work.
My idea is to put color backgrounds behind each of the classes from 6 to extreme. These could include cat light, cat outboard, vee light, 750 and 850. In Key West I was asked about the 750 and 850 classes and how they were different because these fans could not tell by just looking at the boats who were racing on the course at the same time. They asked if there was away they could mark the so everyone could know the difference. In each program, which each race has, there can be a listing of what the colors are as what classes they represent. You would be surprised how many people read these programs and ask questions from them. Even sometimes get the teams to sign them. While this will help the fans understand the classes it was also help the numbers stand out. As most people know OPA has dropped the P for a few years now and gone with just the class number before the boats number. With the color of the class behind the number we might be able to do away with that third number that so many people ask about. Again this is just an idea from someone who knows most of these boats by heart but knows it still hard for people to understand. Bracket class racing I think is here to stay and we need to do all that we can to help fans better understand. Again I am sure this has been done before but just an idea.
