Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

[cjforumadmin]

http://www.bangshift.com/blog/Columnist-Wonders-Why-Pony-Cars-Don-t-Get-Raced-Seems-Unaware-That-They-Do.html

[ponchoman]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

I think the columnist is absolutely right. Back in the day, racing was a venue and test ground for products that inevitably found their way quickly to showroom floors. Today it's the other way around. In 1966, you could see a direct correlation between the cars in the Daytona 500 and what was in the showroom. Look at Indy. Everybody building their own engines, suspensions, modifications.

Now look at today. There is zero resemblance between what's on the track and what's in the showroom. Indy? Every car is powered by the exact same spec Honda motor. Yup, that's right. Honda motor. The engines cannot even be started by their teams without a Honda engineer on site.

The new cars are cool, and some of them might get raced. But it's just not the same. You don't see Chevy pulling out all the stops to win a Trans Am series, or Ford trying to win NHRA nationals. I think the article was spot on.

[Super Sport]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

He's right and he's wrong.

It's not the 60's anymore. You don't have nearly the coverage and exposure anymore for motorsports that you did in that era. When I was a kid, my family actually watched the Indy 500, Daytona, and the other big races in their respective disciplines of motorsport. They had ratings and the manufacturers rightly cashed in on those ratings with the "Win on sunday, sell on monday" concept. I don't think that phenomenon applies anymore.

He's right in that it does not mean that the manufacturers should stop supporting factory programs altogether, or that it's a lost cause. We've seen the Cobra Jet mustangs that are making their way to drag strips. I got to see one make a pass in person last month at Pomona. The writer referred to the Challenger drag pak program. The first new gen Camaro I have seen in organized racing was in January, at the 24 hours of Daytona. Stevenson Motorsports had two GT cars in the race that not only finished, but both finished in the top ten overall.

In the pony car category, I think this is really a Mustang-Camaro battle again. From price point to performance, I don't see the Challenger...challenging either one of them. They are fat, relatively clumsy, and comparatively expensive. But from Ford and Chevy's perspective, I don't see any way that pitting the Camaro and Mustang against each other on the track, and in the hearts and minds again is not good for business all the way around.

[studemax]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

You don't have nearly the coverage and exposure anymore for motorsports that you did in that era.

Oh, frickin' please!!!!
Back in the day you had maybe 10 car mags to choose from and 3 TV channels.
Today you can't count the number of magazines covering motorsports, it's on a multitude of channels, and then there's the frickin' internet!!!
We are OVERRUN by motorsports coverage to point of numbness.
Get real!!!

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

I'd argue that grassroots motorsports (ie. the autocross, the grudge night drags, etc) will sell more Pony Cars that any level of professional racing will.

If a guy is thinking of buying one of the three available cars and sees a Camaro drop kicking Mustangs off the drag strip all night, I bet he's more moved than if he watches a NASCAR race with the same type of battle.

Just my opinion.

I'll agree with Stude that there is far more motorsports coverage available now than there ever was back in the day.
There are many NASCAR racers that draw 100+ press people.

Brian

[ponchoman]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

I don't know if grass roots or pro would sell more. I'm also into cycling. And I used to be into racing motorcycles. On the moto-x side, I think pro teams had tons of influence and more so that grass roots. Same thing for Baja - Honda XR650R anybody? Road cycling? How many Trek carbon fiber postal frames were sold because of the US Postal team.

I guess with cars, grass roots might sell more, but pro support would still sell a bunch. Just like back in the 60s.

What I took from the article, though, is that it just isn't the same at all. NASCAR is about as far from the showroom as you can get. Go-Karts have as much in common with a Cup car as a showroom model. It's not that racing doesn't sell these days. It's that racing is completely devoid of any relationship to the product being sold. For that reason, much stronger factory racing teams duking it out would be a great thing. Not because grass roots is more effective. But because our current racing environment is completely ineffective.

[King Matt]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

A slightly-modified Mustang with the same body, powertrain architecture and chassis geometry as the turn-key model has been faring well in a circuit called the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, where it takes on entries from auto makers like Porsche and BMW.

While I don't disagree with the gist of the article, the writer conveniently fails to note that this series is owned by NASCAR.

[SpiderGearsMan]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

road racing is not the hottest thing on the block
most of your automakers bucks is in nascar

[38P]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

I'd argue that grassroots motorsports (ie. the autocross, the grudge night drags, etc) will sell more Pony Cars that any level of professional racing will.

If a guy is thinking of buying one of the three available cars and sees a Camaro drop kicking Mustangs off the drag strip all night, I bet he's more moved than if he watches a NASCAR race with the same type of battle.

Of course NASCAR has virtually no connection with anything the OEMs sell. It is merely brand advertising now. Five minutes of a NASCAR race probably creates more "brand ad impressions" than all of the autocrosses of a whole year put together.

As we debated several other threads, well-publicized production-based race cars will still "sell on Monday." Of course the problems with "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" in drag racing are that: (a) the pro classes soak up most of the publicity and casual fan interest; (b) the pro classes have virtually no connnection with anything the OEMs sell; (c) the sportsman classes are only followed by a fraction of "hard core" drag racing fans; (d) there are too few OEM production late model cars in competition.

While the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge is an obscure start back toward serious production car racing, it still lacks the frequency, visibility, and media profile to affect sales outside a discrete and insular community of sports car fanatics.

[SpiderGearsMan]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

you forget street night and bracket racing , tons of new cars running , and lots of you tube proof out there


road racing is a good way to get your car dented by some carl edwards wannabe

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

you forget street night and bracket racing , tons of new cars running , and lots of you tube proof out there

Spidey, (on this point) you complete me. :D

[Matt Cramer]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

Interesting that the article directed a lot of blame at the COT and quoted AutoExtremist.

As we debated several other threads, well-publicized production-based race cars will still "sell on Monday." Of course the problems with "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" in drag racing are that: (a) the pro classes soak up most of the publicity and casual fan interest; (b) the pro classes have virtually no connnection with anything the OEMs sell; (c) the sportsman classes are only followed by a fraction of "hard core" drag racing fans; (d) there are too few OEM production late model cars in competition.

The Cobra Jet Mustangs and Drag Pack Challengers seem to be an interesting exception, as they've attracted several big names (Don Garlits and John Force, for example). It'll be interesting to see if media coverage follows the names. Where I work, we've been hoping it will...

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

Matt, that's cool as hell!

[SpiderGearsMan]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

not to mention all of the pre 2002 f bodys running in stock eliminator

[38P]

Re: Columnist Wonders Why Pony Cars Don't Get Raced, Seems Unaware That They Do

I love the DIY Auto Tune Challenger! (okay, well the wheels . . . not so much . . . but the rest is bitchin)

you forget street night and bracket racing , tons of new cars running , and lots of you tube proof out there

road racing is a good way to get your car dented by some carl edwards wannabe

And about 98% of new car shoppers are oblivious to what happens in obscurity on "street night" or in bracket racing (ever notice how empty the stands are?). For the most part, unless a 'net video goes viral, unless it happens on REAL TELEVISION (not YouTube) the vast majority won't know about it.

That being said, I wish it was still like the 1960s when many local dealers (and sometimes the OEMs) sponsored brand new stockers and superstocks at local strips across the country and the racing was in front of a packed house. But it's not.

If I were running an OEM racing/racing parts operation, I'd focus on (in order of importance) (a) making grassroots cars and parts affordable and widely available; (b) contesting sportsman and grassroots events that get plenty of ink and maybe TV (e.g. CC's engine swap drags, HRM Drag Week, One Lap of America; Nitto Tire King of the Street; Ultima Ultimate Street Car Challenge; Bonneville); (c) domination of NHRA Stock, Super Stock, Pro Stock; (d) Domination of IHRA Pro Stock and targeted involvment in doorslammer clases; (e) Targeted factory involvement in certain NASA and SCCA classes; (f) "ownage" of Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge; (g) Domination of off road truck and stadium racing (h) stronger results in GT classes of GRAND AM and ALMS; (i) Targeted involvment in sprint car & dirt oval racing; (j) NASCAR; (k) return to Indianapolis 500 and Formula One.

And I'd employ a legion of bloggers to "talk up" the brands exploits in social media as well as run infomericals about the racing program and technology on Speed and other cable channels. I'd also pass out more free project cars and engines to the media and important aftermarket companies in exchange for accelerated development and free publicity. Contingency money would subplant direct sponsorships in some forms of competition. Dealers and dealer counsels would be encouraged to identify grassroots competition areas where a little sponsorship, contingency money, or factory "help" would go a long way to promote the brand.

I'd sponsor "best [my brand] of show" and "best [my brand] powered" awards for most major ISCA, Goodguys, NSRA and other shows. The winners would get TV exposure on the net and the infomercials.

Note that this strategy places more emphasis on production car forms of competition (i.e. racing what you sell) and multiplies the numbers of "ambassadors" for the brand.

not to mention all of the pre 2002 f bodys running in stock eliminator

Which does nothing to sell NEW CARS!