BRUCE SEROFF

So, did TV coverage or lack thereof, affect the outcome of your sell?

Phantom1

Racing was a hobby for me, so I focused on multiple secondary sponsors instead of trying to hit a homerun on one company. I didn't have the time to commit to a big-time sponsor(and certainly not saying that we could have gotten one either). One motorsports guy in Charlotte told me that for a sponsor to take a chance on offshore, they would expect the team and boat to be at 8 to 10 functions per year in addition to race weekends. I also knew that I wasn't going to run a full race schedule with a pregnant wife at home my first year, so we took it on a race by race basis.

TV for the secondary sponsors is an ego thing. They can say they sponsored "that boat that was on TV yesterday", but the average Joe watching it couldn't see the damn logo clear enough to make him say "I'm going to stay at the Sun Glow hotel the next time I'm in Daytona."

One of the fun ones was in Daytona 2001. We worked a deal with the Speedpark entertainment park. For a $750 credit at the park, we put their logo on the boat, displayed the boat for 4 hours and sent them a few t-shirts and photos. We took a bunch of the race officials, the manager of our sponsor hotel and some race teams to race go-karts, mini dragsters, etc and had a blast. It didn't pay any bills, but it helped us leverage the hotel deal and take care of some friends.

Pete B

The balance of what was needed was always via donation from someone with big check writing abilities!! and it appears that the pen has run out of ink!

If fans want a race than, sponsors need to come to the table.

Phantom1

Thanks for being honest about that Pete.

bwora1

There seems to be a lot of experts on St. Clair out there. I can tell you that BWORA is negotiating with OSS on coming to our race. Money is always an issue. In the past, both sides have fulfilled their contracted obligations. We are working to have another great race.
Steve Brunner
President BWORA

Pete B

Its NO secret that a few fortunate have helped OSS to grow, but dont kid yourself that other organizations dont need a few people that are swift with a pen.

Everyone knows very well that a certain boat manufacturer writes a lot of checks,and it isnt just for advertising!!!

racesdad

i hope we return, i have always loved coming to st claire over the years, with some success. i pray we return with the opa guys

Phantom1

No doubt about it - but, I was commenting on the pen running out of ink.

TYPHOON

Phantom, would that make you happy? OSS is trying to make the sport as professional as possible. Our goals makes it a hard road to advance in a sport that has been beat to death for many reasons. I am proud to be apart of such dedicated people that are willing to put there pen where there mouth is. It seems you have a problem with people at OSS putting up seed money to advance boat racing in OSS. Yes it is the goal of OSS to have racers be able to race for no registration fees and win large purse checks. NO organization has been able to do that yet at this level. It takes hugh risks from people to try different ideas that all cost money that no sponsor is willing to experiment on. There for when you and all your marketing books have not come up with a solution and you post your rolling eye's and leading questions and negitive responses it is not appreciated on this forum. With all your knowledge Im sure it could be better used in the SBI forum!
MD

Phantom1

St Clair sure seems to be a racer favorite. I've heard nothing but good things about it.