ShipWrecked

it's the people who hire the PR firms that cause the problems...why not get the same people who promote NASCAR to promote Offshore? WHY? Because the people running offshore are not at that level, they can't think like that....they are too imature and into themselves, THEY WON'T REACH OUT AND DO THE RIGHT THING! And this has been going on for 25 years or more!

mr_velocity

Consider that Viagra is a product of a corporate sponsor, Pfizer. Who was their spokes person, Bob Dole. Never saw the TV ads? Why not Ron Jermey or some other porn star? Because integrity is important to their "corporate" image. Although Viagra can be considered a recreational drug, Pfizer would never lower their corporate image to market it in a sleazy manner.

It doesn't matter what the fans do at a race, it does matter what image the teams project. Look at the big corporate sponsored teams and look at the image they project. Tommy Bahama is a first class act. We raced for a corporate sponsor and made sure that we projected a first class clean cut image. Sometimes we needed a little reminding, but we were always aware of who was paying the bills and what they expected from us.

Supercat you can run any engine, still that group doesn't grow. Until the sport becomes real and people can make money at it, it will just be a hobby for those that can afford to have fun running in circles, to the left.

Face it, there have been many many attempts by many different sanctioning bodies to grow the sport. None worked. None have taken the sport to the level of professionalism that corporate America demands in order to be involved. APBA almost did it, in the first few year it was amazing to see how many boats were at the races. Then it just puttered out. Blame the economy and you have my point, less people have the money to play. You need to make this a business for the teams and keep the money flowing from the sponsors.

mr_velocity

And you just described 3/4s of all the race teams.
But will PR firms really help? What will they promote? Many teams come to the races, leave the boat covered until race day. They don't even spend the days in the pits or if they do they sit on the trailer drinking a beer. Why aren't they there going over their equipment, talking to fans, or just making a presence? How many teams had "hero cards" made up to hand out to fans? Jelly Belly did, awsome marketing team and Rick was always there to talk with the kids. That is a perfect model of how it can be done right and they attracted the fan. Well at least people looking for the free handouts. We did the card, picture of the boat on the front, bios and info about the boat on the back. Also had info about the sponsor. I couldn't count how many were handed out but it was in the thousands. The kids loved to have them signed. I'm not a fan of any of the sanctioning bodies, but there is more wrong with the sport than just them.

Ron P

Amen Mr Velocity,

In all other professional motorsports the driver is always a hired gun, never a team owner. Look at how JT presents himself.

I have said for a long time that racing is backwards. Were else do the performers pay to perform, especially for a paying audience? In Key West I understand there was a substantial fee to get in to the pits. Like $30 on race day. Did any of this trickle back to the racers? Same deal in New Orleans. Are we all suckers or are the racer getting thier moneies worth?

This sport has always been about rich (for lack of a better word) guys and gals racing thier toys against other rich guys and gals. They paid the sanctioning body for supplying them with a Coast Guard approvel, secure and safe place to race thier toys.

There is nothing wrong with this, its a ton of fun, in fact its the ultimate rush. It's just that at what point do the racers get treated like partners in the deal??? Shouldn't some money, like 35% (pick a number) of the money that the sanction body receives - over and above the cost of running the race, go back to the racers?

How about getting $1 per mile you drive to a race? Would that help ease the financial pain? How about reduced entry fees? SOMETHING!!!!!!

The new Vortec deal sound amazing. Is APBA kicking in some money help keep the cost as low as possible or is Innovation passing back a commission to APBA?

I dunno, am I nuts or is something wrong with this picture? I don't think I'm missing much, I've been involved on the organizational end of many many races. I know what the expenses are and where the money goes. At NJ Offfshore, we all do it as volunteers..... all 70 of us..... we do it for the love of the sport.

Maybe if this was the way I made a living I'd look at things very differently and if I had stockholders to report to I'd be looking for anyway to increase profits and lower costs. Paying tow money would never be considered....as long as the boats came on thier own nickel.

I'll stop now. The medication is wearing off.

Intolerant1

What I find interesting is the Outdoor Life Channels complete covereage of the blowboaters Louis Viton Cup. Very little sponsorship on the boats themselves and I wouldnt think that big of an audience. They are calling it the battle of the billionaires. I also have to admit to watching

gmhdfan

You sure you are not thinking about the sports that involve using a ball?
I wouldn't sterotype NASCAR fans like this any more than I would sterotype a person riding on a Harley as a lowlife. I think if you really looked hard at both you will see that they both have priced the dirtbags out of participating in either. It's the fan base that makes it work, everyone has a car in thier garage, how many people have boats in their driveways? (go fast ones no less) The thing Nascar has going for it is EVERYONE in the FAMILY has a car on the track they can relate too. Either a driver or a sponsor, Ford/Chevy, beer/soda, Tony the Tiger/M&M/cartoon network, Kmart/target, tide/coffee, oil/gas. Something for anyone to relate to or cheer for. Not to mention the fans are very loyal to the sponsors. Add to this you can let your kids look up to most of these drivers as somewhat of a role model. When was the last time you heard of any of these guys getting in trouble with the law or tied up with drugs? (Tim Richmond but that goes back a long way and they outcast him from racing) Just think what would happen if they drug tested the NBA!! Someone said something about "clean cut and American tradition" WOW can you beleive they still say a prayer before the race on Primetime TV (bear with me CATMAN), ask people to REMOVE thier HATS and sing the National Anthem, then have a jet fly over. Makes you pround to be an American. I just don't think that thier is a big enough fan base for offshore racing to every get big. I'm just glad that there are enough rich guys that still keep showing up to race a hobby sport. It's still the only motorsport I can get my wife to go to because of the Quailty of people we meet and the many friends we have made. Not to mention the events are held in resort type settings. I don't have the answers but I wish someone could make it work under one sanctioning body. It will never be NASCAR but it could be a whole lot better than it is now. Anyone remember when the sport had some big sponsers on the side of thier boats? I wish nothing but the best for the future of the sport. I'll get off my soapbox now

mr_velocity

A lot of people say "Well everyone has a car in their driveway so people can relate to the sport." My original post was about the amazing growth of Rodeo. How many people have a horse or bull in their yard? The closest most can relate to these animals is by eating a steak for dinner or licking the seal of an envelope.

gmhdfan

When you say "GROWTH" do you mean taking tiket sales from 1500 people to 3000 people? Because Nascar #'s are in the 100k's. We have one of the oldest Rodeos down the street from my house and it doesn't draw that kind of numbers. (they even give the kids off from school so they can attend) I didn't see the report so I don't know where they were coming from. But I do know that the animal rights peoples numbers are growing that picket the rodeo every year? It is a big thing, I know the riders on tour can make some good money. But 2nd to Nascar?

TYPHOON

Mr Volocity what you are missing is there are NO sponsors that are paying for ANY of the boat teams total expense.I beleve it has been tried to death by being clean cut by many teams and failed.Most fans go to the races to have fun and party.Without creating an image you will never be seen.
As for me not being good for the sport thats your opinion and I will respect it.You might wonder why we get so much TV coverage being such a poor role model for the sport.Let me tell you.We try to create an image of having fun,trash talking,winning and playing up to the camera with a story.Last year we handed out 8000 posters and sighned more for fans than I can count.We open up THE DOG POUND to anyone and offer free food and refresment to anyone.We have a open cooler policy if you want whats in just reach in.We have tee shirts made for differant races and a crew that is second to none.We always congradulate every team and have NEVER protested anyone.If we dont have the biggest fan group then you havant been to a race lately.If we arent good for the sport then you haven't meet us.Come on by and say hello ,I am sorry if I have offended you and the sport.
Randy

Fast Shafts

I have to agree with Randy. It was entertaining to watch Randy and BJ go at it all year-not just on the race course, but on fourms like this. All offshore "rivalries" should take a lesson from these two. Both went about "trash talking" all year with a 'fun' attitude. It was great to follow these teams all season and to know that it was done without hostility.
Keep it up!
Bob G.