Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126524
mately, a newly·fonned group of "ski people" pur· chased Scott's assets from the trustee in bankruptcy. Since that time there has been a complete new or· ganization over at Scott. They even answer the phone "The New Scott USA." The group is very conversant with the ski industry and there's every indication it'll go like gangbusters. Preston's problem. though, was what to do with his product line now that he had it back. His alternatives included selling it to someone else, fanning it out on a royalty basis, or building back full production and distriblition facilities. Preston decided on the last alternative. He secured some loans, made promises and hocked just about every piece of property he owned to get PPP back in production. "I just couldn't walk away from it. Maybe there was an easier way with just as much money in it for me, but I just couldn't tum my back on Preston Petty Products. Man, that's me ... that is mine, and you just can't walk away from something like that. ''Motorcycle people aren't stupz"d. They know what works and what doesn't. " "And of all the different industries that I've been associated with, the motorcycle people are the best. There's just no bullshit. "In some other industries, deception and lying are the order of the day. It's easy to do. A salesman can go out and make some grandiose claim about a spiffy new widgett that's going to solve everybody's problems and change the world. He'll lead you to believe that it will do everything but make the bed in the morning. It isn't until you buy and test the goodies that you find out it's not what he claimed it would be. "But with the motorcycle world it's different. The rules of mother nature apply. No matter how much some guy may be tempted to lie about something, if the thing doesn't work it just flat doesn't work. There's no way you can lie your way around it because it's so obvious. You can't throw a piece of garbage out on the market and expect it to last. It may fly for a little while because of some elaborate advertising program, but eventually the buyers who know better will watch you tailspin right into the ground. Motorcycle people aren't stupid. They know what works and what doesn't. You can't lie or be deceptive and still stay in business. "In the motorcycle world a company can't survive without direct contact and service designed to satisfy that customer. As far as I'm concerned the only in· dispensible person in the whole production chain is the last one who pulls those dollars out of his pocket at the counter - the retail customer. "If you don't have direct contact, the customer doesn't get treated right. Over the past couple of years, I've had customers contact me who were having trouble getting some of my products. If a guy didn't find it in the shop, he'd call us. "Since we weren't manufacturing, the best we could do was tum the retail guy onto the distributor. Then the distributor has to figure out which shop in his area has whatever the cuswmer is looking for. The poor guy had about 10 bucks wrapped up in phone calls. All he got was a lot of different people telling him to try elsewhere. "Well I don't know about you. but whenever I've been jerked around like that, I usually say the hell with it and buy somebody else's stuff. If your local dealer, who's buying from me, doesn't have what you need - call me 'cause I'm the guy making the stuff. The customer has the option and ability to get any· thing he needs directly from me as the source. Any· body can call me - it won't cost them a dime - and place their order using dad's credit card. It gets shipped the next day. Or as soon as they mail me the money. I'll ship it. "We'll be honoring dealer orders and working with distributors in the near future •.but it isn't going to get out of hand this time. Even when the company gets big again I won't give up direct contact with the guy who buys my products. From now on he can get whatever he needs and have it quickly, regardless of where he is. "My products represent a personal responsibility on my part to the end user - t/:le guy who goes' out and rides his bike with my stuff bolted to it. Anyone else in that chain between me and him is supposed to be striving towards the same objective - get that rider what he wants and needs. With my new structure we'll always provide direct support. " Besides the obvious marketing plans designed to eliminate problems. there are also other goodies in the works. Petty is smart enough to realize that all his products are at least five years old; they're getting outdated. Even though the entire Petty line is current· ly available. some items will be phased out. P"pular sellers like the motocross front fender, headlightl number plate, grips and rear fenders will be updated. 00 0') ''Even when the company gets bz"g agaz"n, I won't gz"ve up dz"rect contact wz"th the guy who buys my products. From now on, he can get whatever he needs and have z"t quz"ckly, regardless of where he £S. " New products are already beginning to appear. Petty is introducing the Holeshot number plate, just one of a dozen backlogged ideas. The majority of the new components are designed for dirt, but a few surprises for street riders will surface as the company rebuilds. Preston is visibly enthused about getting the com· pany back up and running. He's excited about the new product line, happy to be designing and run· ning his operation again after a six year lag. He's lost weight. looks better than he has in years, and enjoys the opportunity to sit and discuss business. Spending time with Preston, one detects a spark - the enthusi· astic youngster inside surfacing again. He's recap· tured the drive and excitement that initially created the company. Preston Lee Petty is back in business. • EVERY CYCLIST NEEDS THE MAINTENANCE MAN THAT COMES IN ACAN. Cycle ])rive Chains Control Handles & call1es If maintaining your bike in top condition is top priority, try new Tri-Flow The advanced penetrating lubricant with Teflon'!' Tri-Flow lubricant has so many motorcycle applications, it really is the Maintenance Man in a Can. Because Tri-Flow has Teflon*one of the slipperiest substances in the world -it makes things slide better as it reduces friction and rejects dirt. Use Tri-Flow literally all over your cycle; fork assembly, chain, links, pins, throttle and brake cables. In fact, you'll run out of Tri-Flow before you run out of uses! Because after you're finished, bring new Tri-Flow™ lubricant into your house. Use it on anything that slides, glides or pivots. TM • 'Registered trademark 01 E. I. DuPont De Nemours and Co., Inc. o 1981 Costa Mesa Lubricants. Inc. 1li·FJow is a trademark of Costa Mesa Lubricants. Inc. FOrI\: AS5emplies Why is Tri-Flow so unique? It's more than a penetrating lubricant, it's a complete maintenance system. With rust inhibitors, solvents, water displacers, and Teflon'!' Right now, many stores have a special rebate to help you get acquainted with new Tri-Flow. For a free booklet, write to Costa Mesa Lubricants, Inc., P. O. Box 129, Olive Branch, Mississippi 38654. Maintaining your cycle is a lot easier with Tri-Flow The Maintenance Man in a Can. T.M I- 'M 'ilIE M.ImI.1CE M.I.I. CAN. 31