I'm Sorry Rob But I Disagree

by 4ever3 on Dec 13, 2008 11:30 AM EST Comment 1 comment

I have a subscription to Hot Rod Magazine. I know it's not NASCAR by any means, but I'm a car guy not just a NASCAR guy.

I like Hot Rod, it is one of the few magazines that I literally read from cover to cover. Editor Rob Kinnan and his crew do a great job with it each month.

A long time ago I gave up my subscription to Hot Rod because it wasn't what it should have been, could have been, or once was. To me it felt like it lost its focus then, but now its back and is better than it has been in many years - that is why I finally started to subscribe to it again after nearly 20 yrs.

Well a issue or two ago (October) editor Rob Kinnan wrote a column that I disagree with. Please note I disagree with the man's opinion not the man himself - I don't even know him but he seems like a nice guy in his writing.

Anyway, in his column Rob writes about NASCAR and why he thinks the 'Big 3' North American automakers should pull out of NASCAR and put their dollars elsewhere stating that the "Win on Sunday, and sell on Monday" is an old saying that does not apply to NASCAR anymore because the cars we see on the track are not production cars.

"There is not one single part on Carl Edwards' car that I can

find on a new Ford in a showroom" and that "the most die-hard fan is no longer under the illusion that Sprint Cup cars are even remotely related to anything in production".

I agree with Rob on all counts, "Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" no longer applies, and that the current production models at the dealerships are different than the ones we see on the track, but what I don't agree with is his notion that the big three should pull out of NASCAR altogether because they don't run production cars anymore.

Think about it, who really runs production cars anymore? NHRA? Not in their top 3 categories. The last time I looked at a Pro-stock it was only stock in name. And the Funny Cars? The only thing Mustang on John Force's car are the headlight decals. Top Fuel dragster? Not touching that one.

So what's left? Indy cars? Nope. F1? Ha there's a joke. Hmmm ... the Rolex Series? Certainly not the DP class. Maybe once you get down to some of the lower classes like the Koni Series - those really do look like production cars but are they really? Not on the inside, although I'm sure you can build one using a lot of factory parts, but I don't think you'd keep up with the Roush cars.

Rob suggests the Big 3 should invest in a real production car series like maybe a new Trans Am series. Good idea, but I saw those Trans Am cars up close and personal a few years ago just before the series folded and again the only thing production about them was the sheet metal.

The solution? Stay in NASCAR.

Why? Because it isn't about winning on Sunday to sell on Monday anymore it is now about brand loyalty and recognition. Why do you think NASCAR has the Manufacturer Championship? To give bragging rights the auto makers.

Toyota was lacking in the loyalty department as well as brand recognition, that is why they entered NASCAR.

Even if people can't afford new cars, if they are loyal to a certain manufacturer they will at least buy a used car. I know, no direct cash into the Big 3's pockets, but they can still make indirect cash in parts and service of those used cars.

How strong is brand loyalty? I know several die-hard Tony Stewart fans who gave up cheering for him when JGR switched to Toyotas from GMs. The car manufacturer loyalty was stronger than driver loyalty. Now that Tony is back in the GM fold I bet those once die-hard Tony fans are again die-hard Tony fans.

Those who are loyal will stay loyal. I'm a GM guy, always have been and will always be, even if they go under. I always thought Mark Martin was a good driver, but I honestly couldn't cheer for him - he drove a FORD! - but now that he is going to drive for Hendrick I just might start cheering for him.

But let me tell you if GM would ever to pull out of NASCAR completely I just don't know if I'd remain loyal to GM brands anymore - oh man, I really don't want to be a Carl Edwards fan, but I really don't like Dodge - they used to make their ignition keys upside down you know.

I know I'm not a census, or even a good sample of the population for that matter - one person does not make a census or sample - but if there are other people out there that feel the same way that I do, no matter their auto-maker preference, then the Big 3 needs to stay involved in NASCAR for fear of alienating and losing millions of brand loyal buyers of their vehicles.

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Hey Alena, take your small business aves elswhere. If you want to promote your stuff here then talk to me first - I'm actually pretty reasonable, just ask the letsgettickets.com guy - but if you pull crap like what you just did I'll pull you off my site faster than Sean Avery getting the boot by the Dallas Stars.

by 4ever3 on Dec 15, 2008 12:06 AM EST reply actions