FD Long Beach Discussion

Generz · Post by **Generz** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:18 am

Frosty_SPL wrote:v8 FR cars that were FF are illegal unless you are a top contender and have rich sponsors.

Post by **andysapp** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:28 am

I think it is safe to say that Scion is missing out on a HUGE demographic by not offering FR in the FOERST place. They're dumping mad cash into these cars to compete in FD to sell... FF cars? That doesn't even make any sense. Let me tell you how much watching drifting makes me want to buy a car that I can't drift in. Ok, so an AWD version is available in Japan. Why not sell that here? At least make it an option or SOMETHING.

That's like "Hey... CHECK IT OUT!!! We have the cure for AIDS!!! Only... you can't get it in America. SOWWYYYY!"

kOOpA · Post by **kOOpA** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 11:44 am

i've thought the same since day 1 of gushi's tC.

makes absolutely no sense. just imagine how many fanboys would buy the rwd scion, not to mention those who would buy one and actually drive it.

Generz · Post by **Generz** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:07 pm

andysapp wrote: That's like "Hey... CHECK IT OUT!!! We have the cure for AIDS!!! Only... you can't get it in America. SOWWYYYY!"

Yes...that was like RU-486...uhh..I don't know how many babies daddies I am now.

Anyways...

My comment on FD is that they don't really care about the little guys anymore...
pretty much..if you aren't some huge sponsored team (you know which ones).. they will kinda let you fall to the wayside.

The Pro-AM's recruit new talent yes.. but how many of those that get licensed are going to be able to compete in the whole series? Not many...

You can't run just any brand tire other than those that are sponsored...yikes..another hurdle for the small guy... (might already have a tire sponsor..but if it ain't in FD...you gotta buy new tires)

I can see the reasons for many of these regulations and behaviors... however.. if you're going to be a huge thing and PROFESSIONAL-only..

...please don't act like you care about the grassroots-movement so that you can further drain our already rapidly thinning wallets by giving false hope of glory.

The grassroots movement is doing just fine... Thank you.

Pittsy · Post by **Pittsy** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:14 pm

andysapp wrote:I think it is safe to say that Scion is missing out on a HUGE demographic by not offering FR in the FOERST place. They're dumping mad cash into these cars to compete in FD to sell... FF cars? That doesn't even make any sense.

You'd be surprised how much their sales charts would dissagree. Apparently it's a strategy that's worked very well for them thus far. (Go figure.)

kOOpA · Post by **kOOpA** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:18 pm

quazar311 wrote:The grassroots movement is doing just fine... Thank you.

excellent points all over the place

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:18 pm

from my observations, Scion isn't selling the TC to drifting fans, mostly college aged girlies that want a cute car with a big sunroof.

Generz · Post by **Generz** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:23 pm

The TC's demographic isn't really being helped all that much by drifting.

What it might be doing is supporting the brand image of the Scion name (as a whole) by having it relate to the younger masses.

I think that the TC's true market is what Greg stated... young women.. I mean.. comparable competition to the car is the Civic Coupe.

Remember in the 90's and the early 00's... civic coupes are predominantly owned by young women.

TC - Too Cute

It's not as much about competition as it is all about marketing.
The reason Ford, GM, Chrysler, Scion, and Hyundai are in the drifting game with factory teams is solely due to marketing. If drifting got the cars marketing return... I highly doubt they would continue to put money into these programs.

Pittsy · Post by **Pittsy** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:37 pm

None of this is new to motorsports though. I'm honestly surprised by how many people feel like drifting, as a sport, is not subject to the same financial "rules" that the rest of motorsports is. Look at PROFFESSIONAL Moto-X, Rally, Stock Car, Kart, ect...

Professional motorsports needs money. Big manufacturers will provide that money, but only if they see big returns, which means they need to reach a larger audience. This means that, in order to attract "factory teams", the given motorsport must use a "common demoninator" format in order to apeal to the largest possible target demo.

There is nothing wrong with this. "The Fans" want to see the Big Show. It's what they come out for. Does this exclude the "little guy"? Yeah, to an extent. But, in the bigger picture, it's needed.

The vast majority of Motorsports fans don't come from the grassroots level, they come from their couches, knowing little about the mechanicks of the sport, and are there for the show. And Drifting as no different.

Grassroots motorsports needs professional motorsports for it's image and attraction just as much as Professional Morotrsports needs the grassroots movement for it's frsh tallent bank.

The Grassroots level needs this though, to help attract new interest & a "lesser level" of sponsor support.

From a Sponsorship perspective, the Jonathan Martins, Andy Sapps, & Tony Shutzes of the world would not have recieved a dime to help them reach their goals, as big or small as they may be, were it not for the larger fan base that the Big Time Factory Sponsors pull in.

And from a participation perspective, the grassroots level uses the Huge Factory Team, High Dollar Proffessional Level to attract new interest to their sport. Do you think there would be any Formula _____ Series without F1 or Indy? Would there be a thriving SCCA Spec or Pro Solo Series without Nascar or WRC? How well would SEDA do without FormulaD or D1GP?

Just my take on the issue at hand. I apologize if my thoughts seem scattered or incorrectly stated. I'm at work & I've had to try to type this in between phone calls and clients.

Dr. Marlow · Post by **Dr. Marlow** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:51 pm

Wes is a sellout

Generz · Post by **Generz** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:00 pm

My whole thing is...

"Don't empty the little guys' wallets by giving them false hope of success in competition."

Cankles · Post by **Cankles** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:40 pm

really i just have a strong hatred for the big program cars. they look fugly as fuck. im sorry after seeing ross pettys car at lb, and matt powers and jtp its just none sence that the big programs cant make a car that more rtuly reflects the culture and style that drifting is about. oh fuck rhys millen.

Lightning · Post by **Lightning** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:59 pm

Cankles wrote:really i just have a strong hatred for the big program cars. they look fugly as fuck. im sorry after seeing ross pettys car at lb, and matt powers and jtp its just none sence that the big programs cant make a car that more rtuly reflects the culture and style that drifting is about. oh fuck rhys millen.

yes, that counts the new Challenger, 'cause god that thing is ugly...

Lightning · Post by **Lightning** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:27 pm

I was driving through St. Louis today (going west) and I saw that one red/white 350Z (with that sunflare pattern) on a trailer going the other way....I thought most of the teams were based out of Cali, it seems a bit early to be going on the east coast run. Or am I mistaken?

P.Haire · Post by **P.Haire** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:03 pm

there is a team from haggard ass westchester PA. it was probably them.

as far as big teams vs privateers. i just wish the big guys had their hearts in drifting. the little guy that drives forever to compete does it beacuse they want to. another thing that bothers me is that some of the big guys aren't very good for the sport. then there are people like taka and hiro who run drift days, people like JR who are rock and roll fun drifting so he sometimes does guest judging and demos and such.

when has rhys or tanner or sam ever "given back". that's my only problem.