(Continued from page 3)
mat I'm in favor of was based on simple elimination, and both the fans
-and media - could understand it.
When the fans can't understand who's
racing, they' stop attending races;
when the media can't understand,
they stop giving publicity and coverage, the exposure supercross needs.
Sometime if you happen to run into
announcer Larry Maiers, ask him
what it's like to try to explain the
current race format to media persons
on press day. I believe he'll tell you
it's difficult, if not impossible.
Third, production bike racing
would put equipment on.an equal
level, and race talent plus equipment
I preparation would determine the
winners. That's the type of situation
that's required before outside sponsors will fund race teams. It's realistic
that Skoal, Miller, Winston, or many
other corporations would budget $1
million to sponsor a race team on the
supercross circuit, but it has to be
I possible for them to win be.£ore they'd
do it. Right now, a privateer team
can't run with the factory e((orts, and
there's not a a chance of a win. Production racing would let corporations contract top riders, hire qualified mechanics, and race machinery
that is capable of winning. That's
what they did in NASCAR in 1969;
the car manufacturers got out, and
race engines and chassis were made
available to anyone who could a((ord
them. The rest is history: NASCAR
now televises 25 of their 30 races this
season on network TV, due in most
part to the backing the sport receives
from all of its corporate sponsors. In
1984, there has been a different winner
at almost every NASCAR race, and
anyone can win on a given day.
Wouldn't that be an asset supercross
could utilize?
The corporate sponsor route to
success is just too important to ignore.
Professional rodeo, NHRA drag racing, off-shore powerboat racing, and
many other sports have grown tenfold due to sponsorship. Everyone
involved with supercross needs to
realize that if they want the spOrt to
grow, they'll have to start thinking
about bringing in new sponsors, and
that will only come through maturity and projecting towards the future .
....
v
..0
o
....
u
o
••••1111[.11•
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28TH
~
NOON
CARLSBAD RACEWAY
.~
r::::;:;;;~
•
Mueller is Vice President of Gommunications for ProSport ConsuLtants, [nc., which WrangLer hired to
direct P.R. for the WrangLer Supercross Series... Editor.
Top-ranked
Cycle News' sporty new baseball cap
goes straight to the top - everybody's top!
Bright red and white, this cap fits all sizes.
Please turn to the order blank
on the Dealer Directory page
-
-
