SWTour

iTrader: (9)

...anyone ever watch "MONSTER TRUCK" racing on TV?

Does it make you want to go BUY a Monster Truck? Not hardly...but companies advertise on those shows...

also, while on the subject of MONSTER TRUCKS - anyone ever notice there is one called "T-MAXX"?

...and on the name on the side of it it not only says "T-MAXX" but it says TRAXXAS "T-MAXX"

I bet at the races...in their merchandise area - they have "T-MAXX" R/C Trucks for sale.

SWTour

iTrader: (9)

hmmm, Maybe ROAR should -

Dawn...whadda ya think?

(I talked NORRCA into sponsoring the Snowbirds ONCE - figured w/ 800 people there for a WEEK - it couldn't hurt to spend the sponsorship $$$ and be able to hang a BANNER at the track....)

Leodis

iTrader: (16)

Here' another option:

d) The vast majority of sponsored racers served as propaganda mouthpieces for the battery matchers and motor tuners who sponsor them and did everything possible to hold back LiPo and BL so those companies could continue selling disposable batteries and disposable motors to racers.

party_wagon

iTrader: (29)

I guess you guys got screwed w/ your local fast guys. Locally the fast guys will do everything they possibly can to make sure people are running fast so that they can have some good comp. I think these new li//bl classes will make things run much smoother for newbs though. You could see the frustration in a racers face when their $600 r/c car failed to finish a race because their $60 battery dumped on them.

Racing4Evo

iTrader: (2)

I agree completely. What kid is going to shell out 600 bucks on a car that he has to build himself?

tc3team

A stock motor is a stock motor to me, I dont spend hours tuning them either- Obviously I want to do well wherever I race but I dont go OTT, trinity xxx hard brushes kept clean and a skim once a meeting is all I do, as for cells most of mine are loose unmatched packs, make of that what you want to

I guess it all depends on where you race and the sponsored guy turnout ratio to unsponsored

Sure, ive considered a cell and motor deal, but a) the price wasnt right and b) who wants to have uber high voltage cells and a fresh motor for every run or two when you only club race?

I wouldnt like being like that, it kills the racing.

billjacobs

iTrader: (65)

Leodis, 100% right. At my local track, the guys who run brushless and lipo haven't bought a battery or motor in months (except for some who picked up a 17.5, and those switching to bl and lipo), but that doesn't help the r/c market in general.

I think the biggest thing holding back r/c companies is the ridiculous costs of things in r/c (better with bl and lipo, but $35 for a set of tires?), the rabid competitive atmosphere, and the relative lack of new racers.

I also think that tracks should get a lot of the blame for the little to no marketing that they do.

BUT, this thread is really focusing on racing, because last time I looked, traxxas is doing fine with 60% of the entire r/c market.

chicagokenji

Just wondering where you got this statistic?

Leodis

iTrader: (16)

This post is proof that BL + LiPo is spoiling us rotten. Now that we're not spending nearly as much money on motors and batteries, we've turned our attention on how much cash we spend on tires. Personally, I don't mind buying lots of tires from the track because I know that cash helps keep the doors open.

That's what I like the most about racing. That said, I think you can be competitive and have fun at the same time. Of course, there's always "that guy" who never seems to have fun and actively tries to ruin the fun for everyone else.

This is related to my resentment towards some of the sponsored guys, Let's face it, many RC racers act like they have a slight case of autism. I have no idea why companies waste their money sponsoring guys who have hardly any "people skills". I travel a lot for my job and can't tell you how many times I've gone to a track for the first time and felt like I was interrupting a private poker game. And we wonder why it's so difficult attracting new blood to the hobby?

But there's always an exception to the rule. For example, a local sponsored guy does such a great job of promoting Company X that the track owner actually advises noobs to buy stuff from Company X because this sponsored guy goes out of his way to answer all of the noobs questions and makes sure that the noobs have fun with their new gear. That's how it should be.

Francis M.

iTrader: (2)

Are you guys talking about R/C market share or making racing popular?

This is racing so it is natural for companies to sign up Drivers who not only promote the product but test and help with refinements just like any form of racing......

I guess some companies can do a better job of screening drivers but most of the ones i've met are nice and actually help develop brand loyalty. In the defense of some drivers getting bashed on the forums. There are a lot of examples of guys acting like they are owed something by the sponsored drivers just because they bought a product that the sponsored drivers represent.

This is one of a few forms of racing where the top drivers are available and willing to help for the most part even when you don't own a product that they represent.....

Bob-Stormer

iTrader: (8)

Actually, it's Barry Baker in 100,000 magazine advertisements across the USA versus some club race guy behind the counter. You assume that every person behind the counter has the ability or the knowledge to effectively change the consumers mind without ruining a "DONE DEAL" sale in the first place.

let's say I'm Joe average consumer. I'm interested in the hobby. I see big advertisements in the magazines with Barry Baker in them holding some car that won an event, it wasn't Barry that won, but he was holding the car.

...Man, I love hackin' on Barry... ...lol...

To further analyze this, it's likely going to be some smaller company that would try something like that, what you would have is a company called Joe's cars offering the deal, as it's not likely to come from Associated, XRAY, Losi, HPI, Schumacher, Corally, Hot Bodies. So what real service have you done this customer? How many cars not on the list of 7 are doing any massive domination of events here in North America?

Also, the first time said consumer races somewhere else with his "Balooga-master X-45", and all the locals ask him what the hell is that? While Chuckling they would say, who sold you that piece of crap? That's when they ask why you didn't pick up the Barry Baker special? you reply with the shop owner recommended the "Balooga-master" instead of the Barry Baker car. And that's the last you've seen on of that guy in your shop.

So I as the consumer, ignoring all the great mail order ads, simply whip into some local shop looking for that car. Why exactly is it that you would want to talk me into something I didn't want or ask for?

What you want to do has nothing to do with the consumer, and everything to do with saving the guy behind the counter a buck. Or you'd simply sell them exactly what they asked for.

Just my .02, Doesn't make it right either, just an opinion.
-Bob

Mostly, I just wanted to hack on Barry, it's kind of a hobby in and of itself.
<...he's so gonna knee me in the groin the next time I see him...>

JevUK

Top team racers don't bring any new blood to the hobby. All they do is sway existing racers from one brand to another. But many of them do good work for the companies they represent.

Up until recently Tamiya did not race at top level yet their kits were resposible for most of new blood to the hobby. The reason is that their kits were aim at beginners, good price. good quality, easy to built, and most clubs around the world had spec races for them. Oh and they make the effort to make the cars look real which is important to newcommers.

We did have a local rc company set up an off road track but local residents complained and got it shut down. They were looking for a new venue but hard to find somewhere around here.

Wild Cherry

Still say just 100 retail hobby clerk`s sponsored by a smart manufacture would sell more product for that manufacture compared to what a Barry Baker could do for them.....

mkdut

iTrader: (19)

Are you high? (oh wait, wrong person to ask) 100 minimum wage sales clerks are going to out sell the global advertising campaign of a major touring car manufacturer?


This could be a great way for Nikko to break into the competative RC arena. Headline: Barry Baker wins the Snowbirds with a Nikko Aston Martin DBS 007

Wicked-Wayz

iTrader: (19)

I have to totally agree with you on this. The novak race is a great race to attend, novak will even help you with no novak products.

More than 75% of the people in the city I live in race their rc cars. Given that even though the local shop doesn't have much of a program they still race.

Who knows for sure if they could make a return on their investment if they don't try.

Even though what they do is not actually podcasting which is audio only. Their objective is in perfect sense of what any rc enthusiast is really looking for. They cover the basics as in such is really only what is needed. Adding race coverage would be just an added bonus to already what they do. ROAR doing this would be awesome and maybe drive some added spirit into what ROAR use to be.

Where you race must really suck, because the local track here has three sponsored guys. Two of them are full factory guys and one I don't know too much about. Paul Lemieux, Billy Easton and Justin Johnson(Beavis). I have seen all three of these guys stop doing something on their own stuff to help a "Local" or new guy out. Paul is tops when it comes to this. I have seen him sit down with someone who bought a new car kit and help them build it. He might not be bringing new people in I dunno but he isn't making anyone feel little in anyway.

Yes, you tube is a huge hit and someone or company using it can make for a good return I am sure.

I guess their viewing area when on pbs did not include wisconsin at all. I never remember seeing that show on tv here at all.

1. I have done camera work for a weekly television show and used a great quality camera that was under 1k. It was also a pro edition camera that the local cable company recommended to my boss/coworker. That camera that I used was over $500.00 but was less than 1k.

2. The ampdraw team has done a great job of recording the IIC and Reedy race. Ray Woods also does a great job in his videos, do I own one no. I can't see spending close to $40.00 on one quality video when I can pay less than that to have two of them. I'm sorry I won't pay $40.00 for a dvd I like of my favorite movie.

3. Nascar is no longer a sport it is a job in my opinion, name someone who is doing it just for the sport of it. Take a look at a paycheck and their bonuses, yea they work hard everyday but they get paid to do it. We as in this hobby are like the in the closet gay people. Were afraid to come out and expose ourselves. If we all put ourselves out there to any media possible and say hey check this out. This hobby might become as popular as what golf is. To be honest with you I would rather watch a 30min 1/8 buggy main than to watch "famous" guys play one hole of golf. *Note* please take no offense to my gay reference, it is not meant to bash anyones sexual preference.

4. Live RC is great but also can have problems because it is live. If your connection ever has any problems or they have any problems you can miss alot. Doing anything live over the internet can have problems. Producing a static show that you can stream or download is alot better option.

I have yet to see any sponsored guys bring new people into this hobby. With that said I haven't been around them all the time so they might try. Paul Lemieux will not try to sway you away from say tamiya 100%. I have heard him make suggestions and drop some hints of course. He of course will suggest using stuff that he uses but will not ignore you if you don't. The main thing to me is regardless of the brands you run he will help you with anything. Here tamiya has been at the top level for years. Might not have been winning all the time but they are up there. In the US most of all beginners choose to buy a rtr. Mainly because they can have fun right out of the box with no real work into it. Tamiya is up there along with the others in what brand the beginners are buying. Real looking cars a good part, but as well is ease of repair, setup, some look at quality, etc.

I guess for me this would be a hard statement to respond too. The owner of the track I go to is sponsored, the manager I think is sponsored in someway, I have three major sponsored guys, a handful of the weekly regulars that go to the big races because of their sponsors. With that many people sponsored it is hard not to sell certain products. Of course if you ask for help from someone sponsored from say company a and your asking about the product from company b. They will be totally honest with you and not just have you buy product a. You might end up buying a's product because of yourself but not because of them.

Peace Aaron(W-W)