Crawl Mag/Media support

[BamaTJ]

Re: crawl mag?

Yeah Bender brought that up in the KOH video. 10 years of rockcrawling vs 50 years of desert racing. I agree with P though, there are too many negative stereotypes with the sport. Everybody at work thinks I am a dumb redneck that gets drunk and runs through mud holes. In the south that is the image most people get. Out West it appears to be viewed more as an xtreme sport, x-game kinda deal....

 

[muchado]

Re: crawl mag?

Yeah Bender brought that up in the KOH video. 10 years of rockcrawling vs 50 years of desert racing. I agree with P though, there are too many negative stereotypes with the sport. Everybody at work thinks I am a dumb redneck that gets drunk and runs through mud holes. In the south that is the image most people get. Out West it appears to be viewed more as an xtreme sport, x-game kinda deal....

you aren't a dumb redneck that gets drunk and runs through mud holes? ???

 

[muchado]

Re: crawl mag?

Yeah Bender brought that up in the KOH video. 10 years of rockcrawling vs 50 years of desert racing. I agree with P though, there are too many negative stereotypes with the sport. Everybody at work thinks I am a dumb redneck that gets drunk and runs through mud holes. In the south that is the image most people get. Out West it appears to be viewed more as an xtreme sport, x-game kinda deal....

There's not much money coming OUT of desert racing---there's alot more being thrown INTO it... Casino money is where it's at.

The big cash players make their money outside of the off-road industry and PLAY in the desert to have a good time... Regardless of the shops and employees it takes---****'s not profitable. Sponsors might pay some $$ but I could almost guarantee that there are not many desert teams profiting off of racing.

 

[BamaTJ]

Re: crawl mag?

you aren't a dumb redneck that gets drunk and runs through mud holes? ???

No I don't care for mud riding at all. But in the south that is what people of when you say rockcrawling. I have been asked a million times about my mud whomper when it is on the trailer. Unless you follow the sport you don't really understand the difference. Yeah Desert Racing is a loss leader for sure, but when you are rich you are just shooting for tax writeoffs anyway.

 

[muchado]

Re: crawl mag?

No I don't care for mud riding at all. But in the south that is what people of when you say rockcrawling. I have been asked a million times about my mud whomper when it is on the trailer. Unless you follow the sport you don't really understand the difference. Yeah Desert Racing is a loss leader for sure, but when you are rich you are just shooting for tax writeoffs anyway.

I wish I had that much money... "damn made too much money this year, better blow 10 million on a race team, prerunners and a class 1 car before uncle sam can take it!"

 

[Travis]

Re: crawl mag?

I dont see this sport ever bringing in " the money " To many sterotypes hold it back unfortunately and even though the industry itself is grown exponetially the door to door knowledge and appeal really hasnt unless your located somewere near a bigger park or trail system. :-\

I agree a hardcore magazine would be hard to get just anyone to pick up at the newsstand.

I had an eye opening experience this past weekend though. I did a promotional event for my driveline guy. He owns and operates Carolina Crawlin. It is located at Spartanburg Co fairgrounds and the fair was going on last week. He ask me to come down and give rides across the concrete course. Mike Cole, a werock competitor, gave rides for about 5 hours Sunday afternoon. I didn't know what to expect, but it was awesome. I didn't shut my jeep off for over 4 hours. I gave rides to a diverse group of people, everyone from a 2 yr old little girl to a 30 something black guy to 75ish woman. The reaction from these people was amazing. The black guy stands out because he was dressed like he had just left church, Kangol, big sunglasses. I ask him if he had ever ridden in anything like these. His response was no, but said he watched rockcrawling on tv everytime it was on. He'd even set tivo to record it so he could watch it again later! That is when I fully realized the potential of our hobby/sport. I can guarentee you that if he found out about an event and it was within 100 miles, he'd drive out to watch.

 

[BamaTJ]

Re: crawl mag?

I wish I had that much money... "damn made too much money this year, better blow 10 million on a race team, prerunners and a class 1 car before uncle sam can take it!"

Yep those guys are insane and have wads of cash. Can't blame them though, I would rather piss away money in the name of fun than pay uncle sam anyday!

Travis, you are spot on but the hard part is that it almost takes first hand experience for people to understand our sport/hobby. The upside to that is that our hobby is more accessible and people can actually do that, like you did last weekend. The downside is that it is harder to get to people in person than through media outlets like TV. Series that bring in TV spectators will always get the big $ because volume sells more product ;D

 

[Speeding]

Re: crawl mag?

Media is more important in this industry than most people believe. Nothing is going to grow unless more people know about it, and you're not going to get that from word of mouth. We need to mainstream the mags, movies, and TV shows more. I wish a major network would pick up BlueTorch's show. Think about how unknown custom bikes were before American Chopper? XRRA and KOH I think are two of the best shots we have at making this sport mainstream. Just need to make XRRA more spectator friendly and make the teams more identifiable. Big numbers on the side nascar style would help even.

 

[vanguard]

Re: crawl mag?

(Just thinking out loud)

I'm not sure how much I want the sport to grow. I can imagine world where trails are clogged and parks are shut down because the erosion, garbage, etc. becomes more intense.

Growth would bring good things too but it's not all good.

 

[muchado]

Re: crawl mag?

Media is more important in this industry than most people believe. Nothing is going to grow unless more people know about it, and you're not going to get that from word of mouth. We need to mainstream the mags, movies, and TV shows more. I wish a major network would pick up BlueTorch's show. Think about how unknown custom bikes were before American Chopper? XRRA and KOH I think are two of the best shots we have at making this sport mainstream. Just need to make XRRA more spectator friendly and make the teams more identifiable. Big numbers on the side nascar style would help even.

Chopper thing is/was a fad. It's a mainstream niche that's quickly fading. There's always been biker dudes, custom cars, etc... That stuff isn't going away. Media created an image of a rockstar fabricator that everybody wanted to be---Jesse James says "i dont give a fuk", is all tatt'd up, chopp's up vehicles and has other people do the dirty work to make his wild imaginations come to life... then he rails the hell outta em destroying half of them. Who wouldn't wanna have millions of dollars for playing with cool toys/tools and share a bed with Sandra Bullock???!!! That just is not reality. I think half the wanna-bee fabricators in the rockcrawling world came from this pipe-dream fabricator/rockstar lifestyle thing that they imagined they could be living. [namedrop on]Granted I've met Jesse and I don't think he wanted the image or rockstar thing that just happened. He seemed down to earth halfway camera shy---but sucked it up for the fans that wanted pics taken.... There's pics of him walkin around in Vegas holding AMDF2 in his hand ANYWAY...[/namedrop off]

As far as bringing the "sport" or competitive side of wheelin' to the mainstream, I believe the only way to do that is take it to the stadiums... Monster trucks, Supercross, are two examples of successful stadum motorsports.

...backyard mud bogs and motocross races never made anyone rich or made TV.. Yea trucks gone wild and crusty demons of dirt made subculture fame for some--but that's the biz I'm in, bringing people to places a front row seat at monster jam won't get you... Monster trucks and Supercross can attribute 100% success due to media and accesability.

 

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[BamaTJ]

Re: crawl mag?

For sure, Identity is the key! And I will glady shower you with beer Wyatt! Brand wars, and piss of Ford/Chevy, etc. arguements are actually good for the sport because it gets people involved. Plus those stickers are sweet!

 

[P]

Re: crawl mag?

I agree with identifiable rigs... One thing I miss most about the Turd, hell this morning I changed my puter wallpaper to a pick of the ol Turd laughing1

 

[muchado]

Re: crawl mag?

X2 Wyatt----logo and team name is awesome... I was hesitant when you announced the name but it grew on me like revenge crabs The logo also is key---hiring a professional dood to do something professional for you logo and not doing some lame-ass block lettering makes your team stand OUT from the crowd---definetly a good image.

 

[Speeding]

Re: crawl mag?

Biggest thing for me is I'd like to see XRRA get to the point where spectators are actully rooting for a driver, rather than just watching the action.

 

[muchado]

Re: crawl mag?

Media is key and altho I'll poke an "AW-XOM" joke, Crawl is our lifeblood.... They cover stuff NOBODY covers. They have by far the best covereage of a still VERY niche sport. Peterson's has stepped it up quite a bit as well

Yea **** feels late but when they are on time they still feel late because I wish Crawl was a monthly rag. They do what they can and damn they try hard. Yea argue management, etc. Nobody's perfect. Those guys have weathered teh storm long enough to gain my respect. Those guys have alot invested and I understand hard times, they are through those now. I wish I could post some things that would make you guys go about the hard times they were having this spring. I imagine many other business people would fold. I am anxious to see the next issue. Talked to Tim aboug advertising times, he gave me their schedule for deadlines... I think they have their ducks closer to in a row than 6 months ago for sure.


...as for my ducks, I dunno where those fuggers wandered off to.

 

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[muchado]

Re: crawl mag?

Yeah it barely beat out "BALLZ DEEP RACING"

And shirts. Fawk, have I gone through shirts this year, and I have yet to sell any online. I had almost 200 shirts at the start of the season, and I think we are down to 30 or so???
Give them away, sell them, family, friends. Trading shirts with other teams, etc.....

WOW thread derail from crawlmag to this. But we "competitors" all complain about not enough spectators. We can not blaim the promotors solely. We have to wear it. We need to be hitting up everyone and their dog to make events. Promote ourselves and promote the sport.

Rob what you said about arena's. You are on to something and I think Rusty and guys proved that at Rupp Arena last winter. Did you see the two arena events on the XRRA schedule for January? I would love to go, and am shooting for it. Buggy lacks a lot at this point but I have a dream! Can you imagine hitting a table top infront of 10,000 people? Or what about any of my rolls in front of 10,000 people. **** I'd have worse carple tunnel signing autographs after that, than when I was 13 and figured out the bathroom door locked.

I am on to something, have been... BUT... It's a lot easier said than done, in this economy I wouldn't go out on a limb to do it but I think if you had the resources it could/would be a huge success. I don't have millions----and don't have time for it... Maybe someday someone will take the idea serious... All just takes $$$!!!

For now all you guys can do is promote yourselfs. You guys are doing a great job so far, and don't undersell yourself---I like that! I don't see you whorin' huge stickers for minor discounts on parts. That is very respectable and will help you land bigger deals down the road if/when you reach that level.

 

[blacksheep10]

the no whore ideal is one of wyatt's big deals. Keep the care HIS.
I have a lot of thoughts on this an no time. Wyatt, what do bones, miles and I need to do to make that JAN **** happen?

 

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