Producer David Turner gives motorsport fans what they want, writes Eric Thompson
Motorsport coverage is in a resurgent mood with more and more publications, television shows and radio networks discovering its huge popularity.
To those in the know and who have had an interest in the sport for many years, it comes as no surprise the powers to be have realised there's a massive audience who follow racing. They may not be as vocal as Mr Angry from Parnell, but they'll turn up in droves (140,000 at the Hamilton 400 alone) and tune in to get their fix of motor racing.
It's the publication and television production people, like the Herald and TVNZ, who first saw how popular motorsport was years ago and helped drive its current popularity.
One who pushed motorsport to the fore nearly 10 years ago at TVNZ is producer/director David Turner. He and general manager of sport Murray Needham have been instrumental in the network's continuing support of motor racing.
Although it's ultimately the network's decision to have a weekly show and present specials, it's Turner who is pushing the case all the time. It's people like these, who in their untiring efforts to bring regular up-to-date events to the screen, have built a loyal fan base for TVNZ's motorsport coverage.
"I first became interested in motor racing as a child in Wellington when I raced karts," said Turner.
"I kept doing that until I joined TVNZ in Wellington on an apprenticeship."
Sleeping in the back seat of a car on the way to a kart meeting after a night shift wasn't really going to cut it.
"That, on top of realising I wasn't going to be a Scott Dixon, made me realise TV was the way to go. I then transferred to Auckland as an editor in the sports department in late 1996. I soon found myself with a desk in the sports department."
Turner had never lost his passion for motorsport, and a year or so later he started to push the idea of a regular motor racing programme to his bosses. In 1998, a motorsport show was born.
"The final decision was a collective one as to whether it was a viable product to take on. At that stage the Australian Touring Car Championship was growing and gaining a wider audience.
"The British Tour Car Championship was a big thing also, and Paul Radisich had won the world touring car championship and there was a lot of general interest going on. It started out as a two-hour show on a Saturday, and soon after we got involved with the Australian V8 Supercar championship and started showing live shows from Australia," said Turner.
Audience and content growth went through the roof that year and the show was getting more and more varied content, including Formula One live through the night.
The show's 300th episode coincided with a trip to Bathurst, and looking to further improve the output, Turner and TVNZ looked to America and the growing stature of the young Kiwi driver Dixon who was making his up through Indy Lights, CART, Champcar and finally IRL.
For the past six years, Turner and a TVNZ crew have been going to the Indianapolis 500 to follow Dixon.
Last year it all came good when Dixon won his first Indy 500 and second IRL championship and Turner and his team were the only Kiwi broadcasters on the ground when it happened.
"Each year we've upped the ante in covering motorsport, in particular to use the show to showcase New Zealand talent, and we're lucky in motorsport there is so much," Turner said.
"The problem is covering it all. If you have a look at the current crop of drivers we have them all over the world and it's almost like, 'Where do we start?"'
Long may the problem continue and long may TVNZ continue to fill our Sunday afternoons with Kiwis plying their trade at the highest levels of motor racing.
Just some of the awards Turner and TVNZ have won over the years.
* 2001 Qantas Media Awards: winner best sports coverage, executive producer V8 Supercars NZ.
* 2002 Academy Film and Television Arts: winner, director America's Cup campaign 2001-02.
* 2004 Qantas Media Award: winner, executive producer V8 Supercars best live sports production.
* 2004 NZ TV Guide: winner, producer best sports show on television.
* 2005 Qantas Television Awards: winner, executive producer V8 Supercars NZ production best sports.
* 2007 Qantas Television Awards: winner, director live coverage 32nd America's Cup Valencia.
* 2007 NZ TV Guide Winner: Peoples Choice Awards, producer best sports show on television.
