US Army out in PSB.... (1 Viewer)

[elvis]

No knock on Antron and Angelle - they are both great competitors. But it NEVER made sense to me that the US Army would sponsor two Suzukis. Where is the logic in that?

The ARMY is a business and needs a return on their advertising dollar. They need "customers". Should they sponsor a Suzuki which is a bike that appeals to a younger generation of riders or to a V-twin whose demographic is considerably older? (for the most part) Who do you think they have a better chance on getting to enlist? Not too hard to do the math on that one. The Buell has not and is still not doing it's job of pulling in younger riders yet. Now don't go jumping on me and think I am trashing out Matt Smith and the other Buell riders, I am talking about street riders. Most kids look at a V-twin motor and say "Oh, that's what my dad rides, I'll probably have one when I'm real old like him." It's called marketing.

 

[davey]

Good post John.

As far as the sponsorship, I have read that it comes out of the recruiting budget. If they didn't spend it in motorsports they would spend it somewhere else.

 

[megadeth]

The ARMY is a business and needs a return on their advertising dollar. They need "customers". Should they sponsor a Suzuki which is a bike that appeals to a younger generation of riders or to a V-twin whose demographic is considerably older? (for the most part) Who do you think they have a better chance on getting to enlist? Not too hard to do the math on that one. The Buell has not and is still not doing it's job of pulling in younger riders yet. Now don't go jumping on me and think I am trashing out Matt Smith and the other Buell riders, I am talking about street riders. Most kids look at a V-twin motor and say "Oh, that's what my dad rides, I'll probably have one when I'm real old like him." It's called marketing.

The only reason is price!
Youngsters can afford a Suzuki or Yamaha but Harleys are too expensive!
It would look better with the Army sponsoring an American motorcycle than an import don't you think?

 

[Eric Gross]

It's not as easy as you think!
Sponsors are hard to come by now-a-days it might be a while before we see Antron or Angelle back on the tour. If you remember a while back Angelle was having problems getting sponsors until Don and the Army stepped in!

It hasn't gotten any easier since.

O I know about it !!! We have the mph rercord holder bike for our class and many championships it is hard to get a sponsor . BUT at the same time it is more of a challange if you represent your sponsor poorly in which angelle does !Winning races is only part of the package .Her attitude towards fans and poor sportsmanship out weighs wins !!

 

[Jenn]

The ARMY is a business and needs a return on their advertising dollar. They need "customers". Should they sponsor a Suzuki which is a bike that appeals to a younger generation of riders or to a V-twin whose demographic is considerably older? (for the most part) Who do you think they have a better chance on getting to enlist? Not too hard to do the math on that one. The Buell has not and is still not doing it's job of pulling in younger riders yet. Now don't go jumping on me and think I am trashing out Matt Smith and the other Buell riders, I am talking about street riders. Most kids look at a V-twin motor and say "Oh, that's what my dad rides, I'll probably have one when I'm real old like him." It's called marketing.

That's what I was thinking when I started reading the post. A sportbike in itself tends to be looked on as more youthful and aggressive "take on the world" while a harley/cruiser type is more 'laid back and take the word in'.

My dad tried so hard to convince me to get a cruiser like him when i started looking for a bike. I wanted a sportbike and told him that the only women you see riding cruisers had big butts, so therefor if I got a cruiser, my butt would expand . Turns out, wearing leather pants and jackets are a GREAT incentive for dieting.

Once I got the Ninja, he actually rode it off the show room floor (he had scared me with the prospect of the coating on the tires) and rode it on other occasions. But when ever he got off it, he'd say "That bike is not for old guys"

 

[elvis]

The only reason is price!
Youngsters can afford a Suzuki or Yamaha but Harleys are too expensive!
It would look better with the Army sponsoring an American motorcycle than an import don't you think?

Bob- The ARMY is trying to recruit young kids to join up. By sponsoring a Suzuki they take the chance on appealing to them. Which is what they want. Which is how business works. If they sponsored a V-twin, they would not be appealing to their core target. Kinda like PETA sponsoring a professional bull rider. It's not what they are looking for. Doesn't matter what the product is; it is who is buying it is what matters.

 

[megadeth]

Bob- The ARMY is trying to recruit young kids to join up. By sponsoring a Suzuki they take the chance on appealing to them. Which is what they want. Which is how business works. If they sponsored a V-twin, they would not be appealing to their core target. Kinda like PETA sponsoring a professional bull rider. It's not what they are looking for. Doesn't matter what the product is; it is who is buying it is what matters.

It still has not helped recruiting since they have not met their goals on a regular basis since the war started!
Motorcycles are not the appealing factor as much as the people representing the sport.
How many people can afford a Top Fuel Dragster?
Tony Schumacher is their show case guy the bikes were just a cheaper way of getting more exposure that they apparently feel isn't working or worth it anymore.

 

[elvis]

Tony Schumacher is their show case guy the bikes were just a cheaper way of getting more exposure that they apparently feel isn't working or worth it anymore.

You got it! If your advertising isn't doing what you need it to do, then it's time to go a different route.

 

[willy]

O I know about it !!! We have the mph rercord holder bike for our class and many championships it is hard to get a sponsor . BUT at the same time it is more of a challange if you represent your sponsor poorly in which angelle does !Winning races is only part of the package .Her attitude towards fans and poor sportsmanship out weighs wins !!

I don't understand how a thread about Army leaving PSB turns into an opportunity to cheap shot Angelle.

She's won more than any female in history..role model..fan friendly..and wears her emotions on her sleeve.

I just don't get where the need to bash comes in..or what satisfaction is derived from it. I wonder if there isn't some deep rooted issue.

 

[luxexpress]

I don't understand how a thread about Army leaving PSB turns into an opportunity to cheap shot Angelle.

She's won more than any female in history..role model..fan friendly..and wears her emotions on her sleeve.

I just don't get where the need to bash comes in..or what satisfaction is derived from it. I wonder if there isn't some deep rooted issue.

I agree 100%. Force swears, Angelle cries, so what. Maybe if some had a competitive bone in their body they would understand. Give me a personality rather than some of NASCAR imitating robots anyday. I would say, as far as PSM goes, Angelle is far and away the most marketable rider out there and if she and DSR do not find a replacement soon it will be much more of a statement about that class than her.

 

[Jim]

I don't understand how a thread about Army leaving PSB turns into an opportunity to cheap shot Angelle.

She's won more than any female in history..role model..fan friendly..and wears her emotions on her sleeve.

I just don't get where the need to bash comes in..or what satisfaction is derived from it. I wonder if there isn't some deep rooted issue.

I was certainly surprised by that post too.

Angelle has always been pleasant and, apparently, fan friendly. In the last year or two she's also been better keeping her emotions in line (and it's NOT been the greatest two seasons). I'm not sure I'd want a TV camera in my face after rred-lighting.

There's nobody who is nicer and more approachable than Antron. (and most or the PSB folks).
Again, I hope DSR keeps them in-house. They are a real bargain for a sponsor.

 

[Vicious]

O I know about it !!! We have the mph rercord holder bike for our class and many championships it is hard to get a sponsor .

I think I see what your problem is, Eric! Check this out:

With Angelle I have always wondered how she could carry the US ARMY name and act like a spoiled lil kid and boohoo blah blah blah on national tv and in front of the spectators when it dont go her way . THERE IS NO CRYING IN THE ARMY good riddens .

The second quote says alot about you. I wouldn't want to sponsor you either.

 

[Rich]

I agree 100%. Force swears, Angelle cries, so what. Maybe if some had a competitive bone in their body they would understand. Give me a personality rather than some of NASCAR imitating robots anyday. I would say, as far as PSM goes, Angelle is far and away the most marketable rider out there and if she and DSR do not find a replacement soon it will be much more of a statement about that class than her.

I couldn't agree more. Well said.

 

[Nick Name]

The only reason is price!
Youngsters can afford a Suzuki or Yamaha but Harleys are too expensive!
It would look better with the Army sponsoring an American motorcycle than an import don't you think?

Bob;
You are kidding, right? You think it is price that makes the younger riders buy the far more superior Japanese bikes? These young people are into performance, something that is not available in an American motorcycle at any price.

It is only when you get older and want to slow down and profile, that the American bikes start to become attractive. Has nothing to do with money.

Jay

 

[megadeth]

Bob;
You are kidding, right? You think it is price that makes the younger riders buy the far more superior Japanese bikes? These young people are into performance, something that is not available in an American motorcycle at any price.

It is only when you get older and want to slow down and profile, that the American bikes start to become attractive. Has nothing to do with money.

Jay

The imports are far superior than to the V twin American bikes that's not what I was refering too!

I'll tell you what I will hop on a Harley you hop on one of those Jap bikes and we will go on a cross country ride and we will see who feels better at the end of the day!
Harley's hold up on value better also!

Guy's like Jesse James and Orange County Chopper seem to be making quite a living based on the V Twin plants they use.....don't they?

 

[afx421]

when the biggest sponsor who brought the most $$ to pro stock bike in the history of the class pulls out, isnt it a hint? hello nhra. 86 the bikes. its like watching paint dry. not even mentioning the red lights. lets see pro mod instead!

 

[d'kid]

when the biggest sponsor who brought the most $$ to pro stock bike in the history of the class pulls out, isnt it a hint? hello nhra. 86 the bikes. its like watching paint dry. not even mentioning the red lights. lets see pro mod instead!

Oh, I'm gonna catch it for this, as much as I like Mad Max, Larry Morgan, Jeggie, DC, Alan Johnson, KJ, and even GA... Drop the Parts Cleaner classes...

you want bikes? run the things on nitro...
and I understood the reason behind Pro Stock... Floppers were going a direction Detroit didn't want to go, and weren't selling cars for them anymore. We lost that again by the mid 70's... what we have now is FC with working doors and carbs on gas... it's not Pro (Super) Stock anymore... and it has no relation to what is 'Stock'...

But, I guess... it's RoI... and Bikes are not bringing recuits in...

 

[Johnny Mopar]

I'd love to see Angelle in a DSR owned, Allen & Roy Johnson prepared Mopar Pro Stocker....we need a girl in the class. Now THAT would be some unique marketing!

Jeff & Karl...I agree with you guys on your PSB comments. It's a yawner of a class. There's no one in the stands...

 

[Vicious]

The imports are far superior than to the V twin American bikes that's not what I was refering too!

I'll tell you what I will hop on a Harley you hop on one of those Jap bikes and we will go on a cross country ride and we will see who feels better at the end of the day!
Harley's hold up on value better also!

Guy's like Jesse James and Orange County Chopper seem to be making quite a living based on the V Twin plants they use.....don't they?

Bob, how many people exist who are considering joining the Army AND considering buying an $80k custom V-twin? My guess is zero.

How many people exist who might join the Army and also dig Japanese sport bikes? Tons.

re: Harleys holding their value better... I buy the local Cycle Trader occasionally. It is and has been absolutely overloaded with Harleys that people are trying to get their money back out of. There's a used Harley glut, and prices are down.

 

[Demon]

Shoe said on TV last night(actually early this morning while I was watching) that he would field at least ONE bike next year,but hoped he could get sponsor money for both.He said in June/July the Army said they were good for next year,but now tell him this late in the season they were dropping out of PSB.He also said he hated it happening because some good people would probably lose their jobs.