It’s that time of the year again. The days are getting shorter, the nights are drawing in and the temperature is dropping. If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you’ll know that we like to keep our fingers crossed for sport enthusiasts as the weather turns cooler. After weeks of glorious sunshine, we’re anxiously waiting for the next big weather event – the start of the British summer. Though football fans across the country are waiting for the return of their national teams, racing fans are awaiting the arrival of the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The excitement is tangible as we approach the first race of this year. Excitement not just for the F1 Grand Prix, but for football, too. After a summer of disappointments, the world is looking forward to seeing some significant improvements. The European football season was a disappointing one, with the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid failing to live up to their pre-season expectations. That’s given way to the 2019-20 football season, which is just around the corner. Excitement builds as we get closer to the start of the new season, and the upcoming summer European championships provide a platform for the next generation of footballers.
The Rise In Popularity
The popularity of motorsport in general and motorbike racing in particular continues to grow. According to a survey conducted by the Federation of Motorcycle Operator’s Associations, over 500,000 people in the UK have a love for motorbikes. That puts it at 23% of the population, which is a significant chunk. Though it’s not the biggest chunk, it’s growing fast. The survey also found that 42% of respondents want to race once or twice a month, while 38% want to race once or twice a week. What’s more, only 12% of people want to race every day, which is quite a contrast to the 20th century, when racing was something special reserved for special events.
Why Are People Still Going To The Races?
Though the modern-day grand prix has evolved and grown in popularity, it’s still the case that going to the races is a great way to while away a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The iconic Wimbledon Championships tennis grand slam attracts a significant number of spectators each year, and the same can be said of the other sports and racing events that have sprung up in the UK over the past century. Going to the races is something that British culture has deeply ingrained in us. It’s partly to do with the rich heritage of motorbike racing in this country, but it goes beyond that. The English love their cricket, rugby and football, and all three sports have something exciting going on now. That makes for perfect weekly viewing, and something to look forward to on game days.
What If It Snows?
One element that the UK is particularly proud of is our ability to adapt and overcome the weather. Though we’ve had our share of harsh winters – and we’re not just talking about the weather – we’ve always managed to pull off spectacular events, even in the harshest of conditions.
If you remember, this country adapted pretty quickly to the new millennium. We’d never experienced such extremes of temperature, and many of us grew up wondering if the world would ever be the same again. However, we adapted and the world kept turning. Though we’re yet to see any significant snow in northern Europe, the cold weather has returned to the UK. That means only one thing: it’s time to dust off those ski boots and get those ski passes in order. As the old adage goes, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, but you can make a decent dinner out of a snowflake. The world may be going digital, but there’s still something magical about going somewhere cold and windy on a summer’s day.
The start of the new season is just around the corner. Though the excitement is tangible, we have to wait until the 13th August to see if the UK really is coming into its own this year. Meanwhile, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for the British summer. If you want to hear more on the subject, check out this fantastic podcast from The Athletic by clicking here or on the image below.