HRPT 2012 Sponsorship programs

[chuckcasey]

If you're interested in sponsoring, or like me, interested in knowing the big bucks the sponsors shell out for our benefit check out the 2012 Sponsorship Program.

the Official 2012 Hot Rod Power Tour Sponsorship Program

Interesting stuff, lets make sure we thank both Hot Rod and the sponsors each chance we get.

[Rocketman]

WOW...It is about the money and return on investment. No free lunches here(for the sponsors)

[Big Dave]

Man that's serious money in todays economy. These sponsors really like us or expect a hugh return on their investment.

[66Fury3]

We all need to support our sponsors... They have really made The Power Tour what it is today.....

[cobra]

i try. i have had mixed results. i had good experiances with Edlebrock. i use NAPA and lowes. i had bad experiances with that Sta-bil (twice tried to sent in rebate and never got it), and Year One (will never use them again for anything. the experiance was that bad). i tried using the insurance company, but they couldn't help me. and which of the half a dozen mufflers companies do you support? i tried using painless once, but they didn't make a harness for the app i needed. but you are right, we should try to support the sponsors where we can.

[chuckcasey]

Return policies and customer support can make or break a company that's why Edelbrock and Painless stay number one. I can also endorse Kicker.

I was just at the Edelbrock factory Saturday. I now know the effort they put in to their products, the pride of their history and speaking of customer support, 9 of them take care of the entire world and don't let the wait ever get over 15 minutes. Both Christi and Vic Jr. were onsite.

Anyway, they shell out the big bucks to be apart of the Tour.

[cobra]

so true. customer service is missing from too many companies now a days.
non PT companies i like are Summitt and National Parts Depot.

[street72]

i had bad experiances with that Sta-bil (twice tried to sent in rebate and never got it),

Bruce, Not to stick up for any one company, but rebates are not handled by the company that they are from, they are done by another company that Sta-bil farms out the business to. They have nothing to do with the process, except pay the bill..Just FYI..

[bishir]

The Powertour started out as a really cool way to prove that these types of cars can be more than garage queens and has evolved over the years into pretty much a money making enterprise. I don't fault someone for trying to profit from their idea. I just shouldn't have to feel like its up to me to support sponsors for making the tour happen. Would it really not happen without them? In many ways the tour was better when it was smaller.

The parties involved in what is known as 'powertour' continue to cite the uptick of registrations as an indicator of it's success while the overall value of the experience is being diminished into a week long infomercial. Since their statistics no doubt tell them that a majority of participents only do a stop or two the long haulers are subjected to a the same infomerical over and over during the stage shows. The complaints about parking, interstate routes, and catering to multi time participants(ie long haul parking) has fell on largely deaf ears. I mean look at that route to Miami, OK this year... Why are they not listening? Because why would they listen to you when the enrollment numbers keep increasing?

I'll think this is bad strategy and they should learn from NASCAR. Once the DIEHARDs leave you're left with a very fickle fan base. One that you can no longer rely on for the production of such a large scale event.

Anyways, I didn't plan on expounding the reasons I don't feel obligated to support vendors. But one final note.. 4000 participants x the registration fee isn't chump change either...


To put it another way. I take a week off work, spend countless dollars in gas/food/hotels, drive a route that sometimes is underplanned, wait too long to get into a venue because of poor planning, only have time to clock in and listen to the last few minutes of the stage show/infomercial before I head to the hotel and hear everyone else complain about the same thing. Then we wake up the next morning to do it again. Really, the best part of powertour is hanging out with the fellow participants and the stuff that happens in between. That, my friends, doesn't need a company like Family Events to plan er screw up. Then when I'm told I should support the vendors if I want this to keep happening.. I dunno.. that kind of ticks me off. I'm much more inclined to support the sponsors of this site. Last I checked Brian doesn't charge anything for my unsolicited opinions. ;)

Do you know what would be really funny? Start our own tour, buy a sponsorship of HRPT and use that opportunity to promote our own tour. Wait, isn't that what Year One did last year? ;)

Then again, what do I know. I'm the idiot that drove a car I had never driven more than 20 miles without a drain plug in the rear last year. ;)

[67Cutlass]

The Powertour started out as a really cool way to prove that these types of cars can be more than garage queens and has evolved over the years into pretty much a money making enterprise....

I agree with a lot of what you said. Last year was my first PT and really had a great time. But...

There could be some changes made to improve things, but any suggestion falls on deaf ears at Family Events. They are in it for the money and I really wonder if they really care about our suggestions.

One thing that really upsets me is the TOTAL unwillingness to consider have a route anywhere but in the heartland of the USA. For years now the west coast has been completely ignored. I live in Georgia and would really like to see something out west. But Family Events and Hot Rod Magazine (one of the HR Mag editors told me that last year) are completely against it. Using the excuse the vendor would not tolerate it. Has either on of them ask the vendors, I really doubt it.

Hum, maybe if the vendors pulled out we could see some improvements? I mean free lunches are nice, but for me its about the drive and the people NOT the venues with all the infomercials...

[cobra]

i had bad experiances with that Sta-bil (twice tried to sent in rebate and never got it),

Bruce, Not to stick up for any one company, but rebates are not handled by the company that they are from, they are done by another company that Sta-bil farms out the business to. They have nothing to do with the process, except pay the bill..Just FYI..

yeh, but when i informed them after the first time, they didn't seem too interested in solving the problem. however, their product works and i use it.

[cobra]

i heard PT mainly goes where it does because that's where the majoity of the readers/participants are from. i don't know if this is true, as i have not seen any stats on this.

without the sponsors, and without it being a money making enterprise, PT would not exist. it takes alot of logistics to pull something this massive off. and that takes money. you don't work for free. why should they. sorry, i'm not trying to start a fight with anyone. and i certainly respect others opinion. this is just mine.

i'll try a sponsor because they are on PT (like Year One), but if they do not perform (like Year One) i won't use them anymore.

[Northeast Rod Run]

The Powertour started out as a really cool way to prove that these types of cars can be more than garage queens. In many ways the tour was better when it was smaller.

Really, the best part is hanging out with the fellow participants and the stuff that happens in between. That, my friends, doesn't need a company like Family Events to plan er screw up.

Do you know what would be really funny? Start our own tour,

Sounds exactly like the Northeast Rod Run to me!!

http://www.northeastrodrun.com

Except our trip is in the beginning of October (like HRPT used to be), so there are no worries about needing A/C to be comfortable, we cruise scenic backroads instead of major highways and there are no registration fees

[chuckcasey]

The Powertour started out as a really cool way to prove that these types of cars can be more than garage queens and has evolved over the years into pretty much a money making enterprise. I don't fault someone for trying to profit from their idea. I just shouldn't have to feel like its up to me to support sponsors for making the tour happen. Would it really not happen without them? In many ways the tour was better when it was smaller.

The parties involved in what is known as 'powertour' continue to cite the uptick of registrations as an indicator of it's success while the overall value of the experience is being diminished into a week long infomercial. Since their statistics no doubt tell them that a majority of participents only do a stop or two the long haulers are subjected to a the same infomerical over and over during the stage shows. The complaints about parking, interstate routes, and catering to multi time participants(ie long haul parking) has fell on largely deaf ears. I mean look at that route to Miami, OK this year... Why are they not listening? Because why would they listen to you when the enrollment numbers keep increasing?

I'll think this is bad strategy and they should learn from NASCAR. Once the DIEHARDs leave you're left with a very fickle fan base. One that you can no longer rely on for the production of such a large scale event.

Anyways, I didn't plan on expounding the reasons I don't feel obligated to support vendors. But one final note.. 4000 participants x the registration fee isn't chump change either...


To put it another way. I take a week off work, spend countless dollars in gas/food/hotels, drive a route that sometimes is underplanned, wait too long to get into a venue because of poor planning, only have time to clock in and listen to the last few minutes of the stage show/infomercial before I head to the hotel and hear everyone else complain about the same thing. Then we wake up the next morning to do it again ;)

If that's your view youre hanging with the wrong crowd. It's easy to complain when you're not managing. I had the bet time of my life last year. And I'm sure this year will be even better. Come hang with Rett and I. Nothing but good times.

That's my positive outlook.

[Impala_Guy]

12k for the bus? That sounds like a bargain. We should make it the FF bus.
I'll probably spend $800 on gas this year. Do we have 11 others who would pony up a grand for; Rock Star parking, a/c, a DD all week?