Comments on: Wing Side Up 3/16/09

By: Bobby G.

Bobby G. — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:34:45 +0000

@ True-I don’t think that’s a bad idea. But like you said time to do it all is something that we are short on. That and the fact that the last couple Family nights we’ve had at SUPRS were, let’s just say, lackluster.

By: True

True — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 21:22:02 +0000

BG,
I thought it would be nice to send out “kudos” to one of our dear friends who is currently working on getting the college-age student involved. Doc Hathaway. Last year at Berlin, I saw at least 6 new students, if not more, wandering around the pits and checking the cars out. A few of them even got their hands dirty. Nothing like seeing Physics in action IRL (In Real Life – for you non-IM’ers).

Maybe there are others who are in that kind of atmosphere who are doing the same thing. If so, thanks!

I know with http://www.SUPRS.net, everyone is super busy; but maybe let the young one’s get ahold of our race cars more than once a season. I was visiting my high school friend recently and brought my racing computer with me. My friend’s son (11yrs old) took to the car like a natural and had a blast, and he was only racing against the computer. He was asking his dad if he had ever seen them IRL. Along with a bunch of other questions. The excitement in his voice is what caught my attention. Do we have time for a under 18 club on http://www.SUPRS.net, probably not at this stage. But it’s something to make you think.

By: CK

CK — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:55:23 +0000

Had a thought last night BG….with the mall displays…..what a perfect place to set up a traveling SUPRS racing computer or 3. If that doesn’t get their attention….nothing will. Gives the kids a chance to actually “race” one of the cars they are sitting next to. Just a late night thought…lol.

By: Administrator

Administrator — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:44:24 +0000

Curt,
You have a great point on the mall shows and maybe that’s where we need to rethink some of our scheduling. It seems to me that the shows were made to be more current fan driven with the hopes that a couple new fans will be made. I think that it’s good to have stuff going on in the off season but I believe it would be easier to get the cars out to the shows once they are done. Maybe a little closer to race time is a better time or maybe instead of putting them all inside, why not put a couple outside as teasers as to what is coming up when they walk in the door. Again, static displays don’t cut it, you need people manning the displays with enthusiasm. Pretty girls are even better. Thanks for commenting and thanks for the kind words my mentor!

By: CK

CK — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:11:37 +0000

I love reading your soapbox, even after I listen to it live on Monday eves. So….today it’s slow at work and I’m bored. Here’s a thought and maybe I’m just shooting from the hip on this one BG….like I said I’m bored today.

If we want to reach the younger generation today we need to think outside the box and be more proactive then ever before. Where do these kids hang out? Other than their bedrooms playing on the computer or sitting somewhere with their heads plugged into the iPod…where do they spend their time? I certainly don’t know myself BG….hell my oldest is barely 4 years younger than you are. I do know that the times I convince myself to go to a local mall that the place is crawling with kids…or so it seems to me anyway. I know this isn’t anything new……but I’ve always thought that having mall shows in your area and displaying 8-10 cars all shiny and having schedules to hand out and knowledgable people answering all the goofy questions….it can’t hurt. TV monitors set up with quality video running all day long. Discount ticket packages to give away. like I said….I realize this thought isn’t anything new….but I don’t see it happening out here very much, if at all. And I know of a guy that has an in in a handful of malls that has offered his help with the right contacts to get er done….and nobody takes him up on it. Why??? You are correct in that no matter when the first event is scheduled…early…late…whatever….many of the cars sit in shops until the last minute. Getting these teams to participate in things like this is not easy. I understand why….but if they want to help themselves then they need to understand that just talking about the supermodified isn’t going to attract new fans. These folks need to touch and feel and the video helps in a small way with the sound. Not sure how to recreate the smell….lol. I think that reaching the younger folk is the thing to do…but you have to go where they are…they aren’t going to just show up. Like I said….think outside the box and be proactive.

Ok….guess I better go back to work…there’s my .02 for the hour anyway….lol. Keep up the good work young man.