Big time racing, no TV

[dalz]

Anyone care to take a stab at what was the last NASCAR, Indycar, and F1 races to NOT be televised live, tape delay, network variety sports show butcher jobs, or anything in between?

There is no known video of AJ Foyt's last Indycar win, the bizarre 1981 rain-shortend Pocono 500 where Silver crown cars filled a third of the field. That might not be a totally bad thing...

For NASCAR Cup, you might have to go back to 1980 or so. Aside from ESPN and other cable channels, some races were broadcast in syndication, so you had to watch for them being shown on a Saturday on your local channel. They usually were pretty good and were almost the entire uncut race.

F1? Who knows.

[KevMcNJ]

The NASCAR races at Pocono were only shown on Pay per view for a couple years back around 1987 or 88. It went over like a phart in church. I was there in person and one time they made the head of the PPV company the grand marshall and when he was given the mic to say start your engines he was drowned out by all the booing coming down from the stands.

I dont think they will try PPV again for a long long time

I think it would be neat to see video of the 1981 Indycar race just for the historical weirdness of it all

[Michael Ferner]

I think it would be neat to see video of the 1981 Indycar race just for the historical weirdness of it all

Seconded!

As for F1, Austria 1979 was the last (and only one in a very long time) not to be televised, due to a strike of all things!

[chaparral 2k]

For indycar the last race not to be televised is the 1982 Road America 200* But....it could be the 1985 Michigan 500?
The last Nascar cup race not to be televised was in 1984, it might be the fall bristol or nashville?
As for F1 I dont know... but I do know that the entire 1978 season was done by german TV
BTW the 1979 Austrian GP was done be German TV

So that said, the first "know" completely broadcast nascar cup season was in 1985
The first Completely Broadcast season for indycar was 1983 ( and that is a true fact ESPN, NBC, and Diamond P did the year)

[4 Corner Fan]

Was the last IRL race at Charlotte when the three spectators were killed televised? I was at the race but I seem to recall it was going to be shown tape delayed but was never shown.

[MS]

The 1986 Michigan 500 was tape delayed a week on NBC.

[Chris Paff]

Was the last IRL race at Charlotte when the three spectators were killed televised? I was at the race but I seem to recall it was going to be shown tape delayed but was never shown.

It was live on Speedvision, I have it on DVD

[Chris Paff]

The 1985 Michigan 500 was not broadcasted

[Littleman]

What I find upsetting is that there are a ton of races that could be taped and have a delayed showing, like during the winter months, maybe on SPEED, but they don't do it. I realize the "Turkey Night" Midget race might not be "Big Time" racing, still it would have been nice if it was televised even if it is now a pavement race. Sorry to go a little off topic!

[mlv]

Has anybody seen any clips from Road America 86 - "longest" CART race ever ? This race started on sept 21 but due heavy rains and flooding it was stopped on lap 3 and postponed 2 weeks.
This race was restarted on oct 4, almost in the same bad weather condititions and i`m not sure was it broadcasted or not.
Bobby Rahal would lead the race for 13 days and became the only driver in Indycar history to win a race (Pepsi Cola 250 at MIS, sept 26)
while leading another !!!

[chaparral 2k]

The 1985 Michigan 500 was not broadcasted

But there is news highlights

[chaparral 2k]

The races that I've always wondered if they were telecast is the:
1978 Pocono 500
1978 California 500
1979 Michigan 125 race 2
1979 Gould grand Prix
1979 Bobby Ball/ Miller High life 150
1981 Detroit news 150

[Jamski]

I would love to see the USAC shows from 79 on TV, but I'm sure none (except Indy) were broadcast. I loved the variety of the cars--even the antiques--and seeing different faces at the front was pretty neat. I did get to the Milwaukee shows, so I got to see Sheldon Kinser start on the front row next to Foyt, and I saw McCluskey's last win. Too bad THAT wasn't televised.

[chaparral 2k]

I would love to see the USAC shows from 79 on TV, but I'm sure none (except Indy) were broadcast. I loved the variety of the cars--even the antiques--and seeing different faces at the front was pretty neat. I did get to the Milwaukee shows, so I got to see Sheldon Kinser start on the front row next to Foyt, and I saw McCluskey's last win. Too bad THAT wasn't televised.

There is a news clip of the Rex Mays 150

[chaparral 2k]

The following Races known to be telecasted from 1978-1982

1978 Jimmy Bryan 150 (ABC)
1978 Datsun Twin 200 (ABC)
1978 Coors 200 (CBS)
1978 Gabriel 200 (ABC)
1978 Indy 500 (ABC)
1978 Rex Mays 150 (CBS)
1978 Norton Twin 200 (NBC)
1978 Texas 200 (CBS)
1978 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (CBS)
1978 Gould Grand Prix (ABC)
1978 Machinist Union 150 (CBS)
1978 Daily Express Indy Silverstone (ABC)
1978 Daily Mail Indy Trophy 120 (CBS)
1978 Miller High Lifer Bobby Ball 150 (CBS)

1979 Arizona Republic Jimmy Bryan 150 (NBC)
1979 Gould Twin Dixie 125's (ABC)
1979 Indy 500 (ABC)
1979 Norton Twin 125 Heat 1 (NBC)
1979 Ditzler 150 (NBC)
1979 California 500 (ABC)

1980 Indy 500 (ABC)
1980 True Value 500 (ABC)
1980 Red Roof Inns 150 (ESPN)
1980 Norton 200 (NBC)
1980 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (NBC)
1980 Copa Mexico 150 (Mexican TV)
1980 Miller High Life 150 (NBC)

1981 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (NBC)
1981 Indy 500 (ABC)
1981 Gould Rex Mays 150 (ESPN)
1981 Kraco Atlanta Twin 125's (ESPN & NBC)
1981 Norton Michigan 500 (NBC)
1981 LA Times California 500 (ESPN)
1981 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (NBC)
1981 Watkins Glen 200 (ESPN)
1981 Miller High Life 150 (NBC)

1982 Kraco Car Stereo 150 (NBC)
1982 Indy 500 (ABC)
1982 Gould Rex Mays 150 (ESPN)
1982 Budweiser Cleveland 500 (ESPN)
1982 Norton Michigan 500 (NBC)
1982 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (ESPN)
1982 Domino's Pizza 500 (NBC)
1982 AirCal 500 (ESPN)
1982 Detroit News 150 (ESPN)
1982 Miller High Life 150 (NBC)