Ford shuns Stock and Super Stock support

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by Jesse Kershaw

that said there is definitely a feeling of "abandonment" among Ford racers and enthusiasts I hear it from drag racers, road racers, drifters, and parts distributors. There's a reason I still get calls nearly 3 years after I've gone.

They are only going to be selling one car in the near future so it makes sense for them to divert dollars toward the truck market.

[Jesse Kershaw]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

They are only going to be selling one car in the near future so it makes sense for them to divert dollars toward the truck market.

They have enough resources to do both. Racing and performance parts is a win-win industry where people can be thrilled you have something to sell them and you can make great money doing it. The money Ford is leaving on the table right now has me salivating at the opportunities. The fruit hangs so low it's going to touch the ground and start rotting. I have to remind myself that I left because I was a battle to be allowed to pick the harvest.

[impstocker]

I know in the 90's my friend Pat Hennebery worked as a crew member on IMSA Dyson Racing Team. With a Riley/Scott car that ran a 5.0 Ford with electronic FI..
They won 24 Hours of Sebring..

[4284spd]

I met Mike D at the 50th Cobra Jet reunion and you could tell he knew nothing about Cobra Jet's or there history! He might be a nice guy, but having a Mopar guy following Jesse was a joke! It didn't mean a damn thing to him at that point!

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by Jesse Kershaw

They have enough resources to do both. Racing and performance parts is a win-win industry where people can be thrilled you have something to sell them and you can make great money doing it.

I have been on both sides of sponsorship and it is really not a win-win for all. The least important part of a racing sponsorship is the car on the track. What is most important is what the driver and team can do for them away from the track.

In the case of Ford, will dealers be excited to meet the driver during annual meetings and dealer conferences? Will the team be able to take a show car to dealerships and have the driver make public appearances at the dealerships and elsewhere whenever a national event comes to town? Will dealers and customers be able to follow the driver and team on TV?

I used to work for a company that has sponsored a NASCAR team for more than 20 years. At the time I worked for them, they had a driver who rarely won races but they were very happy with the driver because he was great with their customers. When they took him to a trade show to meet buyers from national store chains, the driver really knew how to interact with the buyers and make them feel special. He was also great with fans at the track.

Sponsors are more interested in what the deal gets them off the track than on.

Originally Posted by Jesse Kershaw

The money Ford is leaving on the table right now has me salivating at the opportunities.

Ford is not leaving any money on the table. It has the data that shows them where to put its money to bring the highest return.

[Ralph A Powell]

Ford is not leaving any money on the table. It has the data that shows them where to put its money to bring the highest return.

I Ford truly knew this they would not has wasted all the money they waisted on the LeMans program.

A Bob Lutz quote I heard him say in a meeting is.

Who wins in Sports Car Racing in the US is the answer to a question nobody asks!

[Jesse Kershaw]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

Ford is not leaving any money on the table. It has the data that shows them where to put its money to bring the highest return.

Jim

I'm not going to debate the benefits of professional sponsorship and ROI, and that wasn't really the point of my comment, but I will say your statement about Ford not leaving money on the table is wrong.

Their performance parts division, that ran the CJ and all sportsman racing initiatives when I was there, is leaving tens if not hundreds of millions on the table. I have data and evidence in support of this statement. If they are an engine, every cylinder has a misfire code.

I don't believe for one second they don't have the resources to have happy customers, make money and build the brand. I've seen it, I've done it. And I know the amount of resources they have. Sportsman Racers feeling abandoned is not a resource issue.

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by Jesse Kershaw

I don't believe for one second they don't have the resources to have happy customers, make money and build the brand. I've seen it, I've done it. And I know the amount of resources they have. Sportsman Racers feeling abandoned is not a resource issue.

Please explain how sponsoring sportsman racers will help Ford sell trucks and SUVs.

How would it help build the Ford brand?

[bykr]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

Please explain how sponsoring sportsman racers will help Ford sell trucks and SUVs.

How would it help build the Ford brand?

Really? It builds brand loyalty, dealer support,etc.

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by bykr

Really? It builds brand loyalty, dealer support,etc.

Among a very small group of people who are probably not among Ford's target market.

Why would dealers care? They want Ford to spend money that brings feet onto the showroom floor.