Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Three or four years ago Houston Raceway Park signed a multiple year contract with Royal Purple Synthetic Oil for the naming rights for the Baytown track. At that time there was talk from the track about future improvements to the facility. About 5 years ago we had a similar rain that flooded the north pit area, racers had to leave many rigs due to muddy conditions. Racers returned a week later to complete the race. With the ever increasing expansion of pro parking most sportsmen racers below Comp find themselves in the north pit area. The conditions in this area have not improved in the 5 year period. It looks like with Royal Purple's name on this track there would be an interest on their part to work with the track to provide a facility that can accommodate all accepted entrants. Many of the entrants that were effected by the muddy conditions use Royal Purple products. Maybe it's time for racers to let Royal Purple hear from their customers.

Racers can go to WWW.ROYALPURPLE.COM then hit contact and you can send an email to Royal Purple letting them know in numbers how we feel. Maybe with Royal Purple's help some pressure can be put on the operators of the Baytown track. Racers have two options, they can quit using Royal Purple products and make the decision on when they return to the Baytown track.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Ken know where in this response do I see any improvements being made in the future.

Here the response I got from Royal Purple

Mr. Carpenter,



Thank you for your email and appreciate your feedback pertaining to the recent NHRA O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway. We understand there will be individuals who did not like the decision to cancel the sportsman series but this decision was made by NHRA, not Royal Purple or the owners of the track. Due to the event being televised live by ESPN, NHRA determined it was in their best interests to cancel all eliminations for the sportsman racers.



Thank you again for taking the time to reach out to us and our hope is that you will continue to be a Royal Purple fan not only because our products outperform other lubricants in the market, but that you want the best racing oils to help you outperform the competition.



Sincerely,



Randy





Randy Fisher

Marketing Director
__________________
Ed Carpenter
66 Chevy II 4244 GT/I
Sponsor: Heights AutoHaus Houston,Texas

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

FYI I use Redline

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Ed, let's see what you wrote in your email to them. Did you let them know that it was the tracks fault that NHRA had to cancel the sportsmen? Seems like they have no idea that the track has problems with the sportsmen pits and that was the cause of no sportsmen racing. I understand NHRA's reasoning. They would have had to let all the pros, alcohol, and pro mods move out and then move all of the sportsmen in to be able to race. They would have had to run the race on Monday and then a bunch of sportsmen still would be pissed that they couldn't stay and had to forfeit. At least they gave us our entry and all crew member tickets back. That cost them big time, and it was the best decision. With that said, I'm starting my email to Royal Purple now and I suggest we all do the same. It's the tracks fault.... Period.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

I think you guys are wasting your time going after Royal Purple. All they did was buy naming rights to the track. They don't have anything to do with track operations. That would be like blaming Minute Maid every time the Astros lose. NHRA made the cancellation decision. Your beef would be would them. I have no dog in this hunt, just my .02.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Wow! If our marketing manager had that response, he would be a former mkt manager. He should be working for Obama or MS-NBC! Most often when you have "naming rights" on a facility, you are hoping to enhance your corporate image. You're "face" to the customer is the facility and its amenities.

Generally named entities are not on dilapidated venues.

Royal Purple surely realizes that its paying customers are almost all sportsmen racers, don't they?

You name it, you own the experience your customers get.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Sounds like another answer you would get from "A SUIT".

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

This post makes zero sense. We aren't blaming royal purple for us losing a round like blaming minute maid for the Astros. Now if minute maid parks seats were full of turds and the stadium was crumbleling to the ground and that's why they canceled the game, then you could make that analogy. I would bet Minute maid wouldn't want thier name in that park anymore. That is what we are trying to get done, make the track improve or lose its royal purple money. This is not NHRAs fault. The venue Is the reason for the cancelation. But what do I know, I was just racing there and seen it first hand, a few times now

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

You're right, the "Astros losing" analogy is a bit of a disconnect. Blaming Minute Maid for a stadium deficiency would be more appropriate. In any event, the point I was trying to make was that a company that buys naming rights has little to do with venue operations. I hope you are successful in bringing pressure on the track owners.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Hagon you are totaly right.royal purple should care with their name on the place.I will write the marketing dr.too.maybe 200 emails from racers will get him thinking straight.Dwight Allen.we had one in s/g and one in s/c.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Hagen this is my email to Royal Purple

My name is Ed Carpenter. I am a NHRA Super Stock racer. My car number is 4244 a 66 Chevy II. I am writing you about the decable that happened at Royal Purple Raceway this past weekend at the national event in Baytown. As I'm sure you are aware over 400 sportsman racers were sent home without running eliminations. We were told "this race never happened". I was one of the 400 plus. This is unacceptable and I blame the track. This is the 3rd time I've been there that the pits have flooded and affected races. I can;t believe a title sponsor of a track such as yourself would allow this to happen again and again. I am not the only with this line of thought. On a popular racing forum the question was asked It’s still a mud pit and looks very bad on them and Royal Purple. I wonder if Royal Purple would be interested in hearing how they are a title sponsor of a track that doesn't give a crap about people who buy their product. Isn't that how special interest groups get it done? I w ould like your opinion on this. I for one will not participate in any event at Royal Purple Raceway again until improvements have been made to the pit area at the track.

Ed Carpenter

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

NHRA, Royal Purple and the track are in association to provide all racers and spectators this race.
Recently NHRA has not done much for sportsman racing.
Royal Purple's ''canned'' response from the Marketing rep (suit) does nothing for Ed and other Sportsman using their product.
The track fails in providing adequate facilities.
As consumers we have the right to choose if we want to support them.
I know what I would do.
MB

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

What you need to realize is that buying naming rights to a venue does not give you a huge amount of control over operations. So Royal Purple cannot tell the track what to do and how to do it, and they certainly can't do either with NHRA, especially since the sportsman racing is sponsored by Lucal Oil (for which we should all thank the Lucas family). For the most part, Royal Purple bought naming rights, which gives them advertising space and time. Had no one bought naming rights, the track might not operate at all. If that is what you want, by all means, blame Royal Purple, and trash them pubilicly. Then maybe no one will buy naming rights, and more facilities could close.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Royal Purple may not have much say in in the operation of the track but they have all the say as to where and what they do with their sponsorship money and that is as much leverage as you can get these days. If I was the CEO of a company I don't believe I would want my name associated with a track or anyone else not operating up to par. Most everyone involved knows it not Royal Purple's fault and I don't think most people blame NHRA either but in these economic times I can't imagine either one of them not demanding changes to help change public perception. I have no dog in the fight but feel for those who wasted time and money.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Doesn't the Angel's own an asphalt company??? Its probably been 5-6 years since I raced there, but anytime it rained...plan on getting stuck.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

The Ennis track when built had "caliche"? dirt spread out for pit paving. It was a dust bomb dry, and a mud bowl wet. Someone stepped up and paved EVERYTHING. Much better, although I don't understand the pea gravel??

So it can be done, it's the "want to" that's missing.

RIP

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

My email to Royal Purple:

I was entered at last weeks race at Royal Purple Raceway, after spending 5 days at the track, incurring many expenses other than entry fees I did not get to race. What a wasted week! The problem is the tracks problem, they know the problem, but don't care about the racers enough to solve the problem. This problem has happened in the past and will happen again. Royal Purple has their name on this track, has spent money to get their name out front, you surely have some amount of influence on the track owners. This problem does reflect on your company and future actions taken by Royal Purple can make a difference. The racer has a choice too, they can stop using your products and let other racers know about this problem. I hope Royal Purple steps up and tries to make this the last time this problem happens.

Reply from Royal Purple:

Thank you for your email and reaching out to us regarding the recent events at Royal Purple Raceway in Baytown, Tx. We understand the decision to cancel the sportsman events upset a number of racers who travelled with their teams, families, and friends. We have been in contact with the owners of the track to see what can be done to improve their facility and prevent similar situations in the future.

We know there are a lot of racers and fans who communicate through forums, websites, and emails, but we appreciate you taking the time to personally reach out to us.

Sincerely, Randy Fisher (Marketing Director Royal Purple)

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

It appears that someone is finally getting the message.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

How about for starters put at least 30 of us in the bull pin at the end of the stands. maybe make it a requirement for two cars in one spot. Let the spectator motor homes have the fence, and give us the back. That would immediatelly take 30 out of the mud. It ain't much, but it's a start. And consolidate the t-shirt trucks and move everyone forward, Show some good faith Royal Purple Raceway.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Jeff, I tried to go through that area with my golf cart on Friday and was stopped by a nice laddy that told me I was not allowed in there without a special pass. She said those people paid $800.00 each for the weekend to park their motorhomes in there. You don't have to wonder why racers were not pitted there as usual! $310 only gets you a spot in the pasture!

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Sat, 31 Mar 2007, 08:32 PM

Rain Wipes Out Saturday Racing
By Larry Sullivan







BAYTOWN, Texas -


7:20 p.m. - After 45 minutes, the third attempt to dry the track for an abbreviated Saturday schedule was interrupted by rain that was hard enough to wet down the track once again.

After three strikes, race officials finally abandoned track drying activities and called it a day.

Qualifying is complete for this event. Eliminations will start at 9 a.m. Sunday, with a round of Top Alcohol eliminations and a round of Pro Modified qualifying.

Professional eliminations will begin at 11 a.m., as scheduled, and race officials hope to complete the event tomorrow, but will return Monday if necessary.

Today's tickets will be honored at face value tomorrow.

Due to soggy conditions in the unpaved pit areas, Sportsman racers in Stock and Super Comp will not take to the track until after the semifinals for the Professional and Top Alcohol competitors, Super Stock and Super Street will follow the Professional and Top Alcohol final rounds. The additional time will give workers time to stabilize the roads in those pit areas so all the race cars in each of those categories can make it to the staging lanes.



This happened in 2007 to me, got pulled out at sunday midnite, the racers came back the the following week to more or the same, the race was finally finshed weeks later somewere else. In six years you think they could be doing some improvments every year to bring it up to a more sportsman racer friendly place. Tom

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Exactly what I was thinking, but I think you can get 40 rigs in that area next to the stands. Why do the remote control cars have to be in pit space? How about mixed in with all the food places behind the stands? Throw a couple t-shirt factories in there too, plenty of wasted space in that area... Do the pros really need all of their motorhomes taking up valuable pit space? With all of them and the golf cart rental truck moved to the back instead of right up front next to the fuel station, you could get another 15 rigs in there easy. Now all they have to do is black top 1 single road out there in the pasture and we are in business. They don't have to black top all the pit spaces, just the road getting there. The only part that was really bad was the last road; you could still use the pit spots down the others. Fact is they don't care about us. Who wants to bet instead of this fix, they just eliminate some of the classes there next year?

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

My email and Reply from them.... Doesn't look like a copy paste job, so somebody over there is looking at each email that comes in... Hope they help solve this issue...

Name: Hagen Gary

Hi, I am a sportsmen racer competing in the NHRA Stock and Super Stock classes. They are performance based classes so I am very aware of your products and I do use them. I am writing this email to inform you that the track in Baytown, that your company is a title sponsor of, is giving a very negative impression of your products to your most important customers, the sportsmen racer. The owners of the track own a paving company yet have made zero improvements to the muddy low lying area that they put us in. We were under the impression that when Royal Purple came aboard a few years ago that this issue would be addressed. Apparently they just took your money and bought some purple paint. As you know, the race for the sportsmen was canceled and this isn't the first time it has happened. I completely understand NHRAs position and applaud them for refunding our entry and crew member tickets. It's the tracks fault, end if story. NHRA could not run us considering 60% of us were in the sloppy mud roads and pits. How can you let this be your title track when they crap on the people who use your products year after year? Please don't let them fool you any longer, they have done nothing for the racers competing in comp, super stock, stock, super gas, super comp, super street, top sportsmen and top dragster. Look at the numbers, we make up a great majority of the racers out there. A bunch of alcohol cars were in the mud and had to have their trailers towed out by a tractor also. It's a shame really, and very negative for your product

Mr. Hagen,

Thank you for your email and being an advocate for Royal Purple. We appreciate your feedback and have reached out to the owners of track to see how we can improve their facility to prevent a similar situation in the years ahead. Our goal is to make Houston one of the best stops on NHRA’s schedule not only for the racers but for the teams, families, and friends who travel with them.

Thanks again for your comments and we wish you the best for the remainder of the season.


Sincerely,

Randy

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

I would think Randy has gotten enough emails by now that he's heard enough. I would bet he's made a few calls to the Angel's by now.

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

I am a Comp racer and I also e-mail Royal Purple and got a response from Randy. I have also had a discussion with him and he express his concern for the racers that were effected. Their company plans on having meetings with track ownership to develop a plan to make this better for the future. I believe most would agree that the last thing that a company would want happen to them would be to lose business over investing dollars into sport to help it grow or at least maintain. As we seem to be losing tracks each year for several reasons but mainly economic reasons. I was not at the track this time because of health reasons but I do want be able to go back to RPR with the confidence that my investment will not be at risk. I have been there several time and had my equipment pulled out in the past. I don't know what will come out of the meetings but I do know that RP is trying to help in this for the future. Time will tell if they have enough influence to make change happen but I also don't believe anyone should penalize them for not being able to do so. I would hope that most racer support companies that support our sport and should be supported for their contributions made to the sport over the years and not for putting all their sales towards their bottom line as most corporations do in the business world today. I might add I am not a Royal Purple Products user at this time but I believe I will make an effort to give them a chance to earn my business in the future to give them some support. I would also hope that others would not make their decision on what happened in Houston be placed on Royal Purple's shoulders as in the end they were really only trying to help the sport we love.

Jody Holland
Comp 4682
L/AA

Re: Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?
 

Has anyone tryed contacting the track itself to here there side of the story? They have a facebook acount has anybody got on that? Tom