A Plan that WILL work

[raceright]

I have a question for Dean: If I back off, thereby prolonging my race, does that increase the value I extract from racing? : )

Very Very Excellent--my pointsssssssssssss its about Quality. And we all have a different opinion about Quality

Pat

[ricochet112]

32: this is NOT a Plan 2000 nor a SEA-TAC proposal! The members are still going to own the company and run the show.

Were'nt you against those plans?

If so why?

Do those plans have anything to do with you relationship with Mr Barrett?

[csh12M]

Ed, Dan, Don anyone.....

Anyone answer this question. What do I tell this family?

Do we really expect them to pony up $13K after one Racer School?
Do we really think that Facebook is the answer?

Both are important steps, but this is a "real" world example of selling our product. Someone give me the sales pitch of why they should race SO, and what they should buy?

BTW this family originally was going to get involved in SLT.

Racer School is important, marketing is important....but we also have a product problem!

Only if in doing so you allow the 12M to slide by than by all means please maximize your ROI!

Seriously though, real world example. MHRA Racer School just picked up a new family. Father, son and daughter all intend to racer. The boy and girl are 14 and 16 years old. They bought a good used A rig for $3,500, unfortunately, when they tried it in AXSH, they got smoked. Ok, no problem buy and add a Merc to the equation, another $3,500. BTW they dont interchange on boats very well due to transom height and setback. No problem buy another boat, $1,200 used. Dad wants to race and gets into a 20SSH and likes it, cool, $3,500 for his used rig. Trailer for three boats three engins, $700. Now we get to the safety equipment, brother/sister can share gear, $1,000, and another $1,000 for Dad. Add APBA membership for one year and we are at a whooping $13,000. What does this $13k buy you 15 minutes a piece to race each day. Yes, I know, family fun and togetherness and values ect. I get it, that does have a lot of "intangible value" but Cmon...really? How do I sell this.

Everyone needs to be part of a Racer School, and when the student looks at you and says I am in what do I race...you explain it. I am learning that hooking them is the easy part. Selling them on the cost and value for what they are getting, now that's a challenge. Maybe I am being a bit dramatic, but when this family asked me what to do/buy because they could not afford both kids rigs this year I had to ask them, which one does not mind finishing last. The Merc in A or the OMC in AXS.

No amount of APBA presence or Racer School elbow grease is going to fix that problem.

Thanks,
Dean Sutherland
12M

[raceright]

The members are still going to own the company and run the show.
__________________
14-H

Toughest thing to overcome

[mark tate]

Dean

Give me a call.
MT

[brian]

Dean, sell them the real world. Buy a 3k rig and some kevlar and a trailer. Tell them both kids can drive for that money. Until they become better drivers they will not win anyway so buy the best equipment for one class you can afford. This will save them the most money in the long run. The second class is a bonus. Stop selling 2 classes with one price... sell one price gets the whole family involved. Tell them you first have to beat today's last place then today's 5th place and that is how you move up. You can not buy skill behind the wheel. If this is not true... I have good starts for sale at the low price of 3 for $100.

Sell the moms that their kids will come home every summer to boat race forever!

Sell the Dads they get to work on motors!

Sell the kids they get to crash stuff! Always Be Closing.

[HRTV]

Dan are you saying because we didn't do it before we shouldn't do it now?????

No just saying how sad and embarrassing that it took this long for the organization to finally wake up. Of course better late then never but what an up hill battle it will be at this point and time.

[14-H]

The members are still going to own the company and run the show.
__________________
14-H

Toughest thing to overcome

Pat: you are WRIGHT! lol. Ed.

[Big Don]

You should sell them the same package you would under either plan. If you have a class in your area that is weak why would you steer them that direction? I understand trying to grow a class but if it does not have equipment available why go that direction. The new engines are out there no matter what direction we take on class structure. We would never steer a new person towards 25H, 25R or DSR in our area because we don’t race those classes over here.

Agree more boat time helps that. (well, I thought it would but I’m starting to second guess myself) As someone pointed out to me this last week in Detroit…they asked me if two more heats was really going to help sell the sport to the customer. (Based on it being 1 driver, 1 rig) Their response was it’s so much bigger than that. I asked, how so. They said it’s only 2 heats (8 minutes of race time) per weekend, they said milling time does not count and if they go 5 weekends it’s only 40 minutes for the summer. Their feelings were that 2 more heats isn’t going to “close” the sell. It’s the overall experience/package. They said you need to find the customers pain (why they are hesitant) and sell them without lying on why that pain is not accurate. Strong local race program was their number one priority. Then I hear from others that if you have too many local races the people will pick and choose and you won’t increase the numbers at the races. I’m really starting to think that I (maybe all of us) don’t know crap on what we need to do. We all agree that we need to do something but we all think that something is different.

[B Walker]

We need a full time paid Public Relations and Promotions person tasked with website management and promotion, promoting Drivers Schools for all Divisions, promoting all aspects of the APBA experience through both old and new media.

This will drive membership growth.

Membership growth solves all other problems.

BW

[MGallagher]

Coincidently, I just recieved an email from a kid and his buddy(both probably 25ish) that I spoke with at the Philidelphia motorsports show. Here it is:
"Matt,
I believe I have the correct email here. My name is Dan, and my friend Keith and I spoke with you at the show in Philly last weekend; the 23rd. I have no idea how many people you spoke with, but we were very interested and spoke about coming to the race this spring in Millville. You had mentioned possibly a demo ride as well. So, I'm getting in touch with you about info on the event in Millville, and as well, any other info on the web you could pass along about getting into the sport. I assume there's a common web forum somewhere out there? Just for a little background info on myself as far as racing is concerned: I've been around boats in one fashion or another since as far back as I can remember... For the last 6 or so years, I've raced motorcycles in WERA and MOTO-ST events, not as much in the last two years due to work. Currently; Keith, myself, and 1 other are building a race car for the "24 Hours of Lemons" event this spring in WV. If you're not familiar, you owe it to yourself to check out www.24hoursoflemons.com Anywho, I'd be grateful for any info you can pass along, I'm excited about the event in NJ this spring. On another note, I was checking out the lake from the air above the airport today, it's all iced in! Thanks in advance, Dan Schmick"

So, my first question would be:
1)What website do I send him to?
2)What class do I sell him?
3)How much is a good ball park money figure for him to race?

[thepiranhabros]

If I were you...

Coincidently, I just recieved an email from a kid and his buddy(both probably 25ish) that I spoke with at the Philidelphia motorsports show. Here it is:
"Matt,
I believe I have the correct email here. My name is Dan, and my friend Keith and I spoke with you at the show in Philly last weekend; the 23rd. I have no idea how many people you spoke with, but we were very interested and spoke about coming to the race this spring in Millville. You had mentioned possibly a demo ride as well. So, I'm getting in touch with you about info on the event in Millville, and as well, any other info on the web you could pass along about getting into the sport. I assume there's a common web forum somewhere out there? Just for a little background info on myself as far as racing is concerned: I've been around boats in one fashion or another since as far back as I can remember... For the last 6 or so years, I've raced motorcycles in WERA and MOTO-ST events, not as much in the last two years due to work. Currently; Keith, myself, and 1 other are building a race car for the "24 Hours of Lemons" event this spring in WV. If you're not familiar, you owe it to yourself to check out www.24hoursoflemons.com Anywho, I'd be grateful for any info you can pass along, I'm excited about the event in NJ this spring. On another note, I was checking out the lake from the air above the airport today, it's all iced in! Thanks in advance, Dan Schmick"

So, my first question would be:
1)What website do I send him to?
2)What class do I sell him?
3)How much is a good ball park money figure for him to race?

If this guy came to me:

1) I would send him to http://www.stockoutboard.net/ (if he were in R7, I would also send him to bsoa.net).
2) I would sell him on a CSH or CSR.
3) I would tell him $5,000 to go racing. ($2,200 for a NEW Y-302; $250 for a good USED propeller; $1,000 for a good USED boat; $700 for a good USED trailer; $400 for good USED Kevlar; $100 for a NEW helmet; $160 APBA racing membership; $30? local club membership).

Step three is obviously the most difficult, and where networking at the local club level is absolutely crucial. This new guy is going to need help, and TONS of it, from first finding and buying good equipment, showing him how it is set up, testing, and eventually his first race day. I recommend becoming this guy's mentor if you are able, or finding somebody in your club who can hold his hand for the first year.

And before any of the naysayers out there come out of the woodwork and and try to shoot this down; the answer is yes, this absolutely can be done. I have personally been both this new guy (coming back to the sport in 2008 from a 24-year hiatus) as well as a racer's mentor (in 2009 and 2010).

It can be done, but it isn't easy. Anything worthwhile doing never is easy. It all depends on the guy who's already entrenched in the sport, and how much effort he wants to put forth to get a new guy hooked and racing.

[pav225]

Good points

Mackey,
Nicely stated.

and...Welcome back to racing!

- Mike

[32dubya]

While you guys are "litigating"

NBRA is working with Lucas Oil to put on an event boat racing has not seen in many years. You are continuing to "fix" the same issues you fixed last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, ... Where in the country is boat racing working ?, where in the world is boat racing working ?.
There is your model. The grass may not always be greener but sometimes you need to look over the fence.

[csh12M]

If this guy came to me:

1) I would send him to http://www.stockoutboard.net/ (if he were in R7, I would also send him to bsoa.net).
2) I would sell him on a CSH or CSR.
3) I would tell him $5,000 to go racing. ($2,200 for a NEW Y-302; $250 for a good USED propeller; $1,000 for a good USED boat; $700 for a good USED trailer; $400 for good USED Kevlar; $100 for a NEW helmet; $160 APBA racing membership; $30? local club membership).

Step three is obviously the most difficult, and where networking at the local club level is absolutely crucial. This new guy is going to need help, and TONS of it, from first finding and buying good equipment, showing him how it is set up, testing, and eventually his first race day. I recommend becoming this guy's mentor if you are able, or finding somebody in your club who can hold his hand for the first year.

And before any of the naysayers out there come out of the woodwork and and try to shoot this down; the answer is yes, this absolutely can be done. I have personally been both this new guy (coming back to the sport in 2008 from a 24-year hiatus) as well as a racer's mentor (in 2009 and 2010).

It can be done, but it isn't easy. Anything worthwhile doing never is easy. It all depends on the guy who's already entrenched in the sport, and how much effort he wants to put forth to get a new guy hooked and racing.

I completely agree with Mackey, except what if the guy weighs 145lbs?

part of the presentation I did to the Commission covered this exact problem. I believe that putting people in the right class should be a simple 4 question process.

1. Do you want to race, yes or no
2. Do you prefer a Hydro or a Runabout? to determine type of ride
3. What is your budget? to determine new or used
4. How much do you weight? to determine class

These four questions need to produce one answer. If they did then we all build racing growth consistently throughout the country. The problem now is that most people are only comfortable recommending Yamato 302 to the new guy. I agree with that recommendation, it is the safest investment going now. All the other classes in the middle are regional, BSH, BSR 25SSH. The reason I want to get to A, B, C, D is that I believe it will help us to make the BSH and BSR classes real again. Right now they internally compete against 20SSH and 25SSh and 25SSR.

Great job on the show and the "new name"! I hope you can reel them in. It is very exciting to see REAL growth.

BTW the example I gave earlier in the thread with the family. Yes, I understand it would be the same rig under either plan. Yes, I know to sell them on losing and running in the back for a year. The point I was hoping everyone else would see is.....if the same motor was used in AXSH and ASH and was competitive then we save the new "new name" family $4,000K by not needing to buy the second rig. I hope Sidewinder is listening and thinking about trying to offer the A Sidewinder with a restrictor to the J Category Commission. The last REAL "new name" growth I can remember in SO occurred when the A motor was introduced and was also raced in J with a restrictor.