Marketing Sports Sedans

[jd yort]

Funny story about the Fiat some members of a Japanese team (I think one of the RX7s) came up to have a look at it and when the bonnet was pulled off to reveal the 20B rotary engine they got very excited!!!!!

Lol, imagine how excited they would be if they actually got to hear that do a lap of Eastern Creek. My favourite sounding S'Sedan.

Off Topic a bit, but what is the fastest floorpanned Sports Sedan in Aus?

[2002 turbo]

Off Topic a bit, but what is the fastest floorpanned Sports Sedan in Aus?

No idea on that one, its a pretty grey area do you include ex touring cars, how much of the original floor pan needs to remain, etc, etc. Rama Higgins Toyota powered BMW is one of the quickest floorpan cars I have seen and it still had a fair bit of the original BMW sheetmetal in it.

[jd yort]

What are the exact rules for Superlap in regards to Space Frames? I would assume that the car would have to be fully floorpanned to be eligible.

In terms of marketing Sports Sedans, what are peoples thoughts on the top events to have a static display considering the target market for either sponsors and/or spectators.
- Superlap
- Musclecar masters
- Homebush
- All Ford Day (think this may be at Eastern Creek this year)
- All British Day
- NRMA Motorfest
- Shannons Classic Car Show
- Supernats
- Summernats in ACT

[MrBoost]

ill bring this up at the sports sedan meeting on tuesday night (forum people should come and become members!) but what now? we have had this display and anyone who is interested will be saying i wonder when they are on or when ill see them next. If they didnt pick up a poster and actually stik it on the wall they wont have much idea. the next state round is a month away. do we all need to get on these other forums and talk about it on there? or have someone post an ad on each forum as a topic at least?

walt, i like your idea the first thing that is going to come out of the national board is 'so what happens when someone builds one of these cars with slicks and makes all our current cars redundant' which is fair enough. So how do we make this class so that it doesnt happen? if we allow aero kits and wide bodies etc how do we write in the rules that no one else can have it? is it a tack on to the current 4wd class rule? but then what about the non 4wd cars? or do we just make a floorpan rule book? with a 4wd weight limit in it. if someone has the cash they can buy a full wind tunnel tested body for a gtr or the likes and wack it together and then we have problems! it will become a jap gt car. any ideas?

jd i rekon for sure superlap, muscle car masters and supernats are the best shot. everything else is old fart cars or v8 supercar lovers.

The whole thing is right we want people to come watch our category which actually isnt hard. have you ever heard someone say watching sports sedans is boring? i havent. do you rekon if they ran at the v8's everyone would love them? yep i bet they would. so why does no-one come? its so simple i dont go to a pub to watch the footy if the pub doesnt serve beer have food or music! sure the footy is on but what do i do the rest of the time? my mates come to watch me race every now and then. they watch my race then sit bored for 4 hours till im on again. what do big events have that we dont? entertainment while the big event ISNT on. v8's have concerts and trade stands and promo girls and xxxx bars! superlap had drifting and trade stands and car shows and plenty of lovely promo girls (eh 2002) what did you call them? satay sticks? We dont, we have formula vee. I rekon walt is on the right track tho. jap cars will bring jap fans which will bring jap trade stands which will hopefully bring satay sticks! and then race fans! get the car magazine,forum bullshit wank factor cars involded and you get crowds!

[2002 turbo]

What are the exact rules for Superlap in regards to Space Frames? I would assume that the car would have to be fully floorpanned to be eligible.

The Superlap rules are a bit vague to be honest. No space frames are allowed and the cars must be a floor pan type car, the Ex V8 Supercars just slide in. Really if you look at any modern floor pan type race cars these days (GT3, touring cars, etc) they all anchor pretty much every suspension and driveline component into the roll cage structure anyway which makes them pretty much act like a space frame..... Its not like Group C or early Group A was where the cage's main purpose was for safety only.

In terms of marketing Sports Sedans, what are peoples thoughts on the top events to have a static display considering the target market for either sponsors and/or spectators.
- Superlap

As we saw last weekend a new area to be explored that could bring in new people. Also a good source to gain new competitors with existing Jap import type race cars. We'll wait & see what happens with this style of event but I can imagine that some competitors will eventually get bored with racing the clock and want to go into some proper door to door racing.
You'd only really get crowd interest from this scene if one of their top cars was racing and going well in Sport Sedans. Some existing Superlap cars have the single lap pace to be up the field but not the reliability at this stage.

- Musclecar masters

It would surely be worthwhile for the class to be on display at this event as it draws a massive crowd of real race fans.
Sport Sedans appeal at this event would be 2 dimensional. You'd have the older set of spectators who would remember the golden days of Sport Sedan racing when the pro's like Jane, Brock, Moffat, Edmonson, McCormack, Grice, Richards, Thomson etc were racing the "big bangers" around Australia. They'd more then likely be asking where the category disappeared to after those golden years!
You then also have the younger crowd who would more then likely appreciate the history of the class (we'll they're
attending a historic type based event so they must have an interest in old racing) and be encouraged to see the newer type cars that are racing today with bodyshells they can recognise.
Ideally you'd have a display of older and newer cars, think Edmonsons old Alfa parked next to Hossack's Audi showcasing the past and present of Sport Sedans. Highlight the rich history of the class, the engineering, the speed and the fact we're quicker then the V8 Taxis and i think plenty of people would be interested.

- Homebush

High turn over of spectators at this event that is for sure but most attending only have eyes for the big name drivers and Ford vs Holden boring taxi racing.....I wouldn't discount it but I am not sure how effective it would be.

- All Ford Day (think this may be at Eastern Creek this year)

For Ford based Sport Sedans not a bad idea, might get a bit of interest from some Ford enthusiasts.

- All British Day

Not sure on this one.... when ever I think of these days I always picture a tonne of old Jaguars leaking oil on the ground and old guys standing around smoking pipes!

- NRMA Motorfest

While I haven't been I think its more a show about cars of all ages, not sure if there is much motorsport content to it

- Shannons Classic Car Show

Not sure, it is a big event from what I have been told though.

- Supernats

I'd say it is more show car/ drag racing focused mainly for people with street cars. Not sure if many of them would be interested in circuit racing, burnouts, drags and glitzy paint seem to be more important at events like this.

- Summernats in ACT

Same theme as Supernats but with heaps of drunk dickheads!!!! Doubt you'd get much interest because the whole street machine scene is more show car and drag racing based with hot rods, T buckets and drag cars with number plates thrown in too. Going off their magazine they don't really appear to be the slightest bit interest in circuit racing from what I can see.

[Walt Kowalski]

walt, i like your idea the first thing that is going to come out of the national board is 'so what happens when someone builds one of these cars with slicks and makes all our current cars redundant' which is fair enough. So how do we make this class so that it doesnt happen? if we allow aero kits and wide bodies etc how do we write in the rules that no one else can have it? is it a tack on to the current 4wd class rule? but then what about the non 4wd cars? or do we just make a floorpan rule book? with a 4wd weight limit in it. if someone has the cash they can buy a full wind tunnel tested body for a gtr or the likes and wack it together and then we have problems! it will become a jap gt car. any ideas?

I cannot envisage a Japo floorpan car that could ever compete with a full blown Sports Sedan especially with the weights applied in the HMSS or future Japo rules. Dedicated Time Attack cars that do the fast times are so stripped out that cages, fuel tanks etc etc are minimised to run just 3 laps. No coolers etc. The rest of us build them for reliability to keep costs down.

I am new to this so am not familiar with the full SS rules and have no intention of doing so. I was keen to run but when I finally got access the HMSS rules and the fibreglass bits were outlawed it made my low budget car ineligible unless I rebuilt it and at my budget level that’s not going to happen with my car or the plethora of Japo cars already built.

Sure anyone could build a car to the rules but that is not where the growth in cars (and SS generally) will come from.

I would still love to run in HMSS or Japo SS and know plenty of people with Japo cars that started life as registered cars, got modified and tracked and gradually improved to an extent that they were no longer viable as daily drivers.

This is the story over and over. It’s where the growth could come from. Both in cars and spectators if handled correctly.

It’s the real strength of SUPERLAP and I for one would like to see those same Japo cars racing not time trialling

[Toymax]

Definitely an opportunity lost for a display / promotion from NSW Sports Sedans.

Mr Boost and 2002 Turbo have pretty much covered it, but just to confirm for you jd yort, it was not an opportunity lost at all, but one the NSW ASSA grabbed with both hands, with a good deal of success. The results are detailed in the following extract from the latest NSW ASSA newsletter. In summary we walked away from the event with more interested competitors, heaps of spectators who want to come along and watch Sports Sedans and even a possible series sponsor. So I would say it was definitely NOT an opportunity lost. Here's the extract from the newsletter:

"NSW Sports Sedans Static Display, World Time Attack Eastern Creek

In an effort to promote Sports Sedans as a category, to attract more competitors and reconnect with motor sport spectators so that we see more people interested in coming to watch, ASSA NSW put on a static display during the World Time Attack event at Eastern Creek on 21-22 May. Overall the display was a great success, with numerous enquiries about the cars, the category and the championship from genuinely interested potential competitors and a huge number of spectators walking through the display, obtaining information packs, checking out the cars and chatting with the drivers and crews.

We had five cars on display, with the backdrop provided by Anthony MacReady’s car transporter. Thanks must go to the members who volunteered their cars for the display:

Joe Said, Fiat 124
Simon Copping, Holden Commodore
Andrew McKellar, Toyota Soarer
Anthony MacReady, Nissan 300ZX
Chris Jackson, Holden/Opel Calibra

The display went together well and presented Sports Sedans professionally and invitingly to competitors and spectators alike. The display also included music videos of Sports Sedans, which proved popular with spectators and some of our drivers too…

About 100 Sports Sedan Information Packages were handed out, with about the same number of posters given away as well. Thanks to Terry Denovan for all his efforts in preparing and producing the information packs, which were turned out looking professional and generated a lot of interest amongst spectators who wanted detailed information about the category, cars and drivers."

And here's a bit more from the Vice President's Report in the same newsletter:

"Super-Lap Saturday: What an awesome event!

For the un-initiated, there were weeks of planning and preparation leading up to the event. Many people were involved who contributed their time, services and vehicles. As mentioned in the report later in this newsletter, this was not just a Car Show. The Sports Sedan showcase required the support of transport vehicles, cars, crew, drivers, owners, builders, family, partners, sponsors, supporters and spectators. Thank you to all involved!

It was an impressive sight. Five beautifully presented cars, arranged in front of the AGM trailer and awning. Overhead, a huge ASSA banner attracting spectators to our display.

The centerpiece was Jo Said’s beautifully presented Fiat 124 (Ferrari red I think), bonnet off and revealing just a glimpse of space frame and engine to attract just about every spectator in the vicinity. On the left side we had some very serious muscle with Chris Jackson’s Calibra, which later shed some skin to expose its thoroughbred bloodline. On the right side, Anthony Macready’s 300ZX was just too sizzling hot for several spectators I witnessed (Nissan fans I guess) who lingered endlessly, drooling and sighing in anticipation of a lap of their dreams.

To the rear of the display flanking each side we had Andrew McKellar’s (almost complete) Toyota Soarer (in rich metallic blue) which was the dream-build of many spectators who were trying to realise their own dreams. Tastefully balancing the right flank, Simon Copping’s awesome Commodore (with pristine engine bay on display) completed the palette of Sports Sedans (dare I say real supercars) on show.

In the background, running continuously on a large LCD screen, was an assortment of specially prepared videos and photos from previous rounds of the State Championships. It still sent a tingle up my spine watching the final round at Oran Park while a crowd of spectators was building around us.

Bringing the whole show and sport into the reach of the spectators was the team of glamorous Gals and Guys all wearing the ASSA uniform, providing a coordinated and professional touch to the presentation which included fabulous colour posters and driver portfolios as spectator hand-outs.

I’d like to reiterate my appreciation to all the people who made this event possible. It made me very proud to participate at such a professional showcase, representing our club and our category."

If you want to read more and see photos as well, you can subscribe to the newsletter at gizzmo15@optusnet.com.au or the newsletters are reproduced on the ASSA NSW website or the NSW MRAP website.

You can also go here World Time Attack Article - Speedhunters.com to see that the ASSA display had also copped a mention by international journalists.

Nah, I'm pretty sure we didn't miss the opportunity. And believe me, there's more promotion of Sports Sedans to come.

[Toyzda]

Well done NSW ASSA for doing a great job on promoting our fabulous category! I look forward to seeing more.

The only dissapointing thing is I am involved in motor racing, always on this and other forums and I knew nothing of it. Maybe I didn't pay attention because I dont like superlap and missed it advertised, but still I only found out about it after the fact.

Although it sounds like it was quite successful, true success wouldn't have you defending how successful it was on the very Forum that should have been raving about it.

I am in no way stepping on any toes, just commenting. I support SS whole heartedly and all efforts to promote it in anyway.

M

[Nadz44]

It was a great little setup. I spoke with Joe Said for a while and he is a very nice bloke and was very approchable and answered any questions i had about the awesome Fiat... Well done Toymax for the great effort... And by the way it may be too late but there is one last speedway meet at parramatta on 13th june that is a week away from this sunday. Should be a big meeting and plenty of people going to watch so might be a good place to set up a few cars and hand out a few left over posters. Ill get in touch and see how much it is to have a display. And best of all its a day race meeting..

[loser]

Great effort and well done to all the NSW guys for having such an awesome display. I know how hard it was to get 2 cars to Avalon, so for you guys to get 5 cars, a transporter and heaps of helpers was a mighty effort.
To anyone in any of the state SS clubs reading this, please if someone calls you and asks for help in promoting your club, do your best to help out. It's a huge effort but very rewarding. I really enjoyed the opportunity to inform people about our class. Most were pleasantly surprised..