what this I heard Portland 07 may be back on ?

[lotus49]

Heard some good news that a new sponsor has or is picking up where GI Joe left off .. To become the major sponsor in order to save the race for Champ Car .. anyone have any news to confirm this ?

thanks
Lotus Lee :koolaid:

I love to go to the Portland race have not missed one in 15 years .. !:smokin:

[Tony]

"heard"? Where did you hear it?

I hope you're right.

[opinionated OW]

afaik it was never off

[Disclaimer]

Where did G.I. Joe's leave off?

[Michaelhatesfans]

...a new sponsor has or is picking up where GI Joe left off ..
:confused:

[PT#1]

I'm so confused! What's going on exactly?

[Michaelhatesfans]

http://img187.echo.cx/img187/8335/354crackpipe0dg.jpg

[dd740]

Heard some good news that a new sponsor has or is picking up where GI Joe left off .. To become the major sponsor in order to save the race for Champ Car .. anyone have any news to confirm this ?

thanks
Lotus Lee :koolaid:

I love to go to the Portland race have not missed one in 15 years .. !:smokin:


Where did u hear this "good news?" easier to confirm if you share what you heard and where u heard it!!

[Husky42]

Who said that Champ Car was not even going to be at portland?

[Peter76]

Well it's back on the schedule, so I guess that's solved.

Any word on who the primary sponsor will be?

[Leo]

Any word on who the primary sponsor will be?

Well, I wouldn't imagine that Norm Daniels will elevate GI Joe's to lead sponsor status when he gets damn near as much signage and exposure at the track without the financial commitment...so unless someone else local ponies up, I would imagine it will be the same next year as it was this time around...Joe's as presenting sponsor, and no lead sponsor for the Portland race.

Of course, that could change. Maybe Phil Knight could finally have a revelation and realize that his purpose in life is not to have NIKE design the ugliest football unis on earth for the Oregon Ducks and throw millions down the tubes with a Tiger Woods designer clothing line campaign that dies big time when the golf tourney unveiling fizzles as the rain pours on the course.

But don't expect miracles. PK would rather take a dump on Portland sports as he steps over Stumptown to kiss up to the out-of-town star attractions instead. Witness his fawning over Michael Jordan during the Bulls-Blazers NBA Finals run back in 1992...

[Tony]

I believe next year is the last year on our little contract we have with Champ Car so that could be the last we see of them unless we -
A) Get a decent primary sponsor
B) Get some freakin' people to come to the races
C) Get some help from the City of Portland
D) Get some involvement from local businesses

We just lost the ALMS and I don't know what I'll do if we lose Champ Car.

[opinionated OW]

no way can we drop portland. its a permanent circuit, its close to the city and it rules. now only if they would try to do the 3 day speed festival thing at that track too (seems they forgot, somewhat like milwaukee)

[Disclaimer]

Moving the date up a week to give it closer ties with the Rose Festival may help, but it needs to be taken advantage of. Seabass was the Grand Marshall at this years Rose Festival Parade (which is huge in this area).

I would love it if we see more in it next year. Say get the pace car team to pace the parade, and maybe even prepare a DP01 to run at parade speeds to be in it.

[CCORWings]

Hopefully they'll come to PIR for a spring test again. CC should bring the two seater DP01 out and put mayor and the local media in it. That might be what it takes to get Potter to support the race, get rid of the goofy noise restriction on Sunday morning, etc.

[Leo]

I believe next year is the last year on our little contract we have with Champ Car so that could be the last we see of them unless we -
A) Get a decent primary sponsor

Don't think we can have any chance for a national sponsor like we had with Budweiser unless and until the TV numbers support their financial commitment.

Too bad US Bancorp is no longer HQed in Portland...they're still a presenting sponsor of the Cleveland GP. I guess that dope Bob Ames didn't have the foresight to get the bank involved; Cleveland got their sponsorship the same year First Bank bought US Bancorp back in 1997.

We know NIKE isn't interested...but what about Columbia Sportswear? Think Mother Gert Boyle would bother to get involved if GI Joe's is there?

The commercial promotion using Mother Gert and Joe's would be classic...

B) Get some freakin' people to come to the races

That won't happen until a) more Americans are on the grid; or b) the merger happens. And we don't want the latter, do we?

So let's get more Americans on the track to appease these short-sighted so-called "race fans"...shall we?

C) Get some help from the City of Portland

Fat chance of that. Potter would rather see a renewal of the Vanport floods to get rid of the track...remember, his opponent in the mayoral race was Jim Francesconi. And like it or not, he was our best hope for support from the city. Potter won't likely forget Francesconi's ties to Champ Car and its contract renewal with the City of Portland while JF was a city commissioner in charge of the Parks Department while campaigning against Potter.

D) Get some involvement from local businesses

Again...slim chance of seeing any big movement there, IMHO. The race has gotten long in the tooth with the business community, and there's a bit of the "wait and see" attitude with GI Joe's coming back after their one-race abstention two years ago.

Also see the section about getting more Americans in Champ Car or a merger to bring the Indy winner to Portland like in the good old days they remember. That's about the only solution I can come up with.

We just lost the ALMS and I don't know what I'll do if we lose Champ Car.

Maybe the loss of ALMS will serve as a wake-up call of sorts to the Parks Department, but somehow...I don't think those idiots will care until it's too late.

[attenuator]

Seabass was the Grand Marshall at this years Rose Festival Parade (which is huge in this area).

I would love it if we see more in it next year.

Legge for Grand Marshall in 2007!

[Tony]

Leo, your answers are pretty much what went thru my mind as I typed it. Unfortunately, you're probably right.

[Miatanut]

Maybe the loss of ALMS will serve as a wake-up call of sorts to the Parks Department, but somehow...I don't think those idiots will care until it's too late.

Maybe the loss of ALMS will serve as a wake-up call to Global, whose job it is to get people to the races, which they don't seem to be very ambitious about. It's not the Parks Department's job to promote the race.

Or better yet, get a promoter who will actually promote the race. What a thought!

Yes, I know from you informing me that they had a booth at the Seattle Roadster Show, and a driver autograph signing in Issaquah or some such place four months before the race. Would be nice to see it get as much promotion as the Pacific Northwest Historics do around here, and that's really just a mostly volunteer-run operation to go watch a bunch of geezers play with their nice toys.

[Leo]

Maybe the loss of ALMS will serve as a wake-up call to Global, whose job it is to get people to the races, which they don't seem to be very ambitious about. It's not the Parks Department's job to promote the race.

Well then, tell me why Champ Car doesn't find a marketing group to replace Global Events? They're the ones pumping upwards of $4 million into this dead pony next year because they can't find a lead sponsor...you'd think that would be enough motivation to find a better marketing organization to get its money's worth, right?

Maybe Peter Jacobson Productions could do for Champ Car what it couldn't for the hIRL in Portland. Or better yet, why don't YOU come up with a suggestion as to who could replace GEG as the marketing promoter in Portland?

And, BTW...I KNOW that it's not the Portland Parks Department job to promote this race. It, however, should endeavor to help in any way possible its REVENUE-PRODUCING operations, should it not?

At the very least, they should try to stay out of the way of the operational flow of the weekend. The city forcing Champ Car to hold Sunday morning race warm-up on Saturday evening...what the hell is that about?

Or better yet, get a promoter who will actually promote the race. What a thought!

Yes, I know from you informing me that they had a booth at the Seattle Roadster Show, and a driver autograph signing in Issaquah or some such place four months before the race. Would be nice to see it get as much promotion as the Pacific Northwest Historics do around here, and that's really just a mostly volunteer-run operation to go watch a bunch of geezers play with their nice toys.

Well, if you had watched SPEED or read the Global Events Group e-mails, you might have known about the Seattle Roadster Show or even been at the Bison Creek in Burien to meet Justin Wilson and the RuSPORT organization. Pretty interesting people, and a great opportunity to go one-on-one with JW and the team. They stuck around after dinner and Justin's talk and made plenty of time for fans to mingle and ask questions, even though there was a pretty good turnout at the restaurant.

How'd I know about it? I only got about four broadcast e-mails from GEG's Jeremy Hall leading up to it. (the promotional SRS television and radio commercials also mentioned JW's appearance at the Qwest Field Events Center) Met up with Jeremy and talked at length with him as well while he was in Seattle. I also seemed to be able to catch the commercials on SPEED promoting the Portland Champ Car race that you didn't seem to be fortunate enough to see.

Wonder how JW and RuSPORT came up with the idea to come to Seattle? Maybe they just felt it was more important to spend their own money to fly several members of the organization out here instead of on race operations. :rolleyes:

Somehow, though...I get the notion that this wasn't nearly enough for you. Well, I guess then that those funds Champ Car gave GEG to utilize to promote the Portland race here in Seattle went to waste.

Maybe KK should write a bigger check next time so they can impress you with prime-time TV advertising on the local channels for weeks leading up to race weekend. Better yet...have Ackerley paste billboards all over Seattle for a race held 175 miles and three hours away. I'm sure they'll get their money's worth on these two marketing opportunities then...right?

[Miatanut]

I would be impressed with Seattle promotion on the scale of the Pacific Northwest Historics, which is mostly volunteer-run effort, but they get the posters up where people will see them.

Or like the Ferrari Challenge in Portland, which sent me postcards to home and work.

Haven't gotten any postcards or emails from Global. A few years ago they sent me a flyer to reserve my seat early, but they haven't done that for years.

The Cleveland promoter, who I think is also the Houston promoter, gets it. I nominate them.

[Leo]

I would be impressed with Seattle promotion on the scale of the Pacific Northwest Historics, which is mostly volunteer-run effort, but they get the posters up where people will see them.

Frankly, I'm far more impressed with getting an opportunity to have a pizza and beer while chatting with one of the top drivers in the Champ Car World Series and members of the RuSPORT organization. And this was no "get the sig, ask a question, then move on" deal. Justin hung around after his presentation for 90 minutes and took all questions from anyone who came up and wanted to talk.

And BTW...where is that Historics event weekend held? That's right...down at Pacific Raceways, formerly known as SEATTLE International Raceway.

Bit of a marketing effort difference between promoting a day event in the Kent/Auburn area and a three-day weekend commitment down in Portland. How many drop-in fans from Seattle would you think might partake in a day at either track?

Or like the Ferrari Challenge in Portland, which sent me postcards to home and work.

Was this mailed to you in Seattle? And to be frank about it, I believe e-mail is a far more efficient and cost-savings approach if it were available to the FC promoters at the time.

Haven't gotten any postcards or emails from Global. A few years ago they sent me a flyer to reserve my seat early, but they haven't done that for years.

I've gotten at least half a dozen e-mails from GEG since the Champ Car race at PIR this year...either ALMS-related or tied to some charity function. And a few years ago, Budweiser was the event's lead sponsor. You might figure the brewers ponied up more promotional money for Global Events Group to work with than either Freightliner, GI Joe's or Champ Car itself, no?

The Cleveland promoter, who I think is also the Houston promoter, gets it. I nominate them.

Fine, fine...have Champ Car hire them. Assuming they get as much financial support to market the race as CC provided to Global, you definitely could make a direct comparison of effort and results.

[Peter76]

Was this mailed to you in Seattle? And to be frank about it, I believe e-mail is a far more efficient and cost-savings approach if it were available to the FC promoters at the time.

I received the same in the mail as well. No idea how I got on their mailing list but there it was.

Somehow a postcard just seemed more sincere than e-mail. :)

[Miatanut]

I received the same in the mail as well. No idea how I got on their mailing list but there it was.

Somehow a postcard just seemed more sincere than e-mail. :)

It was the result of a promoter who communicates with the various gearhead mags and catalogues you get (or in any case, I'm certain that's how they got my name).

In other words, from a promoter who actually promotes! :bounce:

[Leo]

I received the same in the mail as well. No idea how I got on their mailing list but there it was.

Somehow a postcard just seemed more sincere than e-mail. :)

Different strokes, I suppose. I appreciate the repetitious reminders I get from Jeremy Hall and the Global Events Group's e-mails instead.

I tend to run through my personal mail at home and at work rather quickly...putting it on the back burner and oftentimes forgetting it entirely. Mags about my hobbies and pastimes and reminder postcards are often left unread altogether. But I go through my e-mail each and every day, and that which doesn't get immediately deleted as spam or junk mail stays in there until I actually take the time and read it.

This year, GEG has offered me constant friendly reminders about the Seattle Roadster Show, (I went) the fan session with Justin Wilson and RuSPORT at the Bison Creek, (I was there) the Portland TurboTour stop, (I drove down on a business day from Seattle) the Champ Car test sessions, (also midweek...was there on both Wednesday and Thursday) the Champ Car weekend (always there) and the ALMS weekend (couldn't make it this year...out of town on biz). I can hardly complain of a lack of communication from Jeremy Hall and GEG.

Besides, I think in terms of cost vs. benefit. How much does it cost to send out postcards and literature versus sending electronic mail? As a former retail stockbroker who sent out mailers and put ads in the newspaper on an ongoing basis, I can tell you there is a vast difference.

I'd rather GEG save the dough and send me the e-mail. Just MHO.


It was the result of a promoter who communicates with the various gearhead mags and catalogues you get (or in any case, I'm certain that's how they got my name).

In other words, from a promoter who actually promotes!

Sheesh...AGAIN with the complaint that Global is negligent.

Look...I'm sorry that you weren't on Global's mailing list and therefore seemingly weren't informed about Champ Car involvement at the Roadster Show or the visit by JW here in Seattle back in the spring. I also feel it's unfortunate you weren't told or were unable to attend the TurboTour, the test sessions, the Champ Car race or ALMS weekend down in Portland if indeed that was the case. But wouldya please do one thing for me...please???


QUIT WHINING ABOUT IT, FER CHRISSAKE!!!

Thank you.

Now...if you know for a fact that GEG had plenty of financial resources from sponsors and other sources and merely failed miserably in their marketing efforts by wasting valuable time and misspending the dough...please let us know what evidence you have. As it stands RIGHT NOW, the Champ Car race in Portland doesn't appear to be overflowing with sponsorship money or help from either the city itself or its business community like it was in the CART days of yesteryear. If you feel GEG is amiss in their promotional efforts there as well...PLEASE PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE.

Otherwise, I am getting frustrated with the facts I've posted here and your obvious dismissal of them virtually in their entirety. You and I both live 175 miles away from Portland...and I have NO IDEA AT ALL what you expect any event marketing group to provide you in regard to information or how much money, time and resources you want them to expend to get the great pool of unaware fans in the Puget Sound region down to the Rose City for a race weekend.

IMHO...all you're doing here is whining for whining's sake. Now, since I may not have deleted the aforementioned e-mails from GEG regarding events at PIR this year...care to have me forward them to you so you can see for yourself?

PM me your e-mail addy...and I'll waste my time doing just that if it will get you to give up your whine.

[Miatanut]

You seem to have missed my point completely, so I will make it real simple so you can grasp it:

Global does a great job preaching to the choir. They do a lousy job looking for new members for the choir.

The Ferrari challenge, really nothing more than an event to burnish the Ferrari image in the Northwest, did a better job getting the word out to gearheads in the Northwest than Global does for a top-level professional event.

Time for me to send another email to Champ Car asking them why they continue to work with this outfit which fails year after year, and which Steve Johnson has even been quoted in the Oregonian as saying they are disappointed with. I would certainly rather see somebody else have a try at it before it gets axed from the schedule, which it just barely stayed on this year.

And as you seem confused despite my previous posts to contrary, yes I was at Portland this year for the Champ Car race, and the now-defunct (due to lack of promotion, I believe) ALMS race. I did not attend testing. As testing is free, even if I did, it would not do anything to contribute to the paid attendance which would make professional racing appear viable in the Northwest anyway.

:burnout:

[Leo]

You seem to have missed my point completely, so I will make it real simple so you can grasp it:

Global does a great job preaching to the choir. They do a lousy job looking for new members for the choir.

Yeah? Well...who didn't see the ads on Seattle television for the Seattle Roadster Show that (fairly) prominently mentioned the appearance of Justin Wilson? Who missed the TV ads in Seattle for both the Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland AND the American LeMans Series events at PIR this year?

Not me. And THOSE TV spots certainly were not targeted towards the "choir". Yet you keep bitching about the lack of promotion here in Seattle.

Maybe you should keep your TV monitor tuned to racing channels more often, huh?

The Ferrari challenge, really nothing more than an event to burnish the Ferrari image in the Northwest, did a better job getting the word out to gearheads in the Northwest than Global does for a top-level professional event.

OK...so do you think Ferrari might be the financial muscle behind this particular promotion? And, again...what don't you understand about the fact that both the CCWS and ALMS races were promoted on television here in Seattle, even though you didn't know it?

You must think electronic media advertising is cheap enough to keep a steady diet of TV spots going until you finally catch one...right?

Time for me to send another email to Champ Car asking them why they continue to work with this outfit which fails year after year, and which Steve Johnson has even been quoted in the Oregonian as saying they are disappointed with. I would certainly rather see somebody else have a try at it before it gets axed from the schedule, which it just barely stayed on this year.

And while you're writing to Champ Car to complain, why don't you offer up that alternative marketing outfit that did Cleveland and Houston that so impressed you? Maybe get an idea of just why they don't listen to reason from you.

Or maybe you should ask why CART and Champ Car races in Portland have drawn such poor Nielsen ratings that the major sponsors take a flyer on the event. Ever begin to think THAT might be the reason you don't get your reminders in the mail to re-up for the coming race the following season?

In case you haven't heard...Budweiser ain't the lead sponsor anymore. Portland DOESN'T HAVE a lead sponsor anymore. Can you equate "no lead sponsor" with "less money for promotion"...or is this outside your scope of thinking?

And before you go there...don't bring up the fact that Bud isn't at Cleveland anymore either and that the organizers get by with USBank as a presenting sponsor. Wanna bet USB still put more of a financial commitment behind the event when they have held ownership of the naming rights for 10 consecutive events?

Ask Norm Daniels how much of a true commitment GI Joe's has to the Portland event these days...

And as you seem confused despite my previous posts to contrary, yes I was at Portland this year for the Champ Car race, and the now-defunct (due to lack of promotion, I believe) ALMS race. I did not attend testing. As testing is free, even if I did, it would not do anything to contribute to the paid attendance which would make professional racing appear viable in the Northwest anyway.

:burnout:

You're missing the point. (big surprise) The fact that I mentioned that GEG informed me of testing is that they want to inform THE FANS that the opportunity existed to go to the track and watch the sessions. (Yes, they were free...so what does have to do with anything?) As a fan, that is exactly what I chose to do. And, no...they didn't have to tell me of the fact; I knew about the testing dates last year, and already made a commitment.

And the fact that remote crews for three of Portland four broadcast stations were out at PIR for the test sessions and had prominent features on the evening news...this wasn't making professional racing "appear viable in the Northwest anyway"??

As far as ALMS in Portland goes, I have no idea why they aren't coming to PIR next year. Safe to say, however...you have your finger ready to point in the direction of Global Events Group.

Funny how it seems you can't seem to equate the days of the "Budweiser/GI Joe's Portland 200" CART Sunday crowds of 65,000+ and today's "No Lead Sponsor Champ Car Grand Prix of Portland Barely Being Presented by GI Joe's" low turnout of less than 20,000 back in 2004.

But that's Global's fault too, I suppose. After all, sponsorship money isn't as important as all that, is it?


:rolleyes: