Silver State 4wd&UTV Jamboree in Northern Nevada
- Thread starter Jeff Knoll
- Start date
I have a discussion going in a private forum with the U4 racers and thought it might be appropriate here regarding growing the sport of UTV racing.
I copied the thread i posted word for word so that the UTV racers can see exactly what I am asking. This may not apply to some but I think its relevant. Consider the hammers, and the concern that UTVs are a side show. I assume the UTV race has been supplemented almost ever year as its loses money. The UTV race will have to be supplemented at HellsGate if we go with a low entry fee, and a $5000 purse. Have you guys actually had any discussion about how the long term future looks for this type of racing?
While UTV's offer an affordable alternative to a full size race program, the costs to promote the race don't change.
What would you guys like to see regarding entry fee, and purse? You should consider that if the promoter does not turn a profit he may not continue to offer that type of racing. Rather than make claims that the racing will go away if there is not a good car count, or sponsors, lets see what we can do to discuss a solution.
Thread in blue is from U4 discussion below.
Thanks for your time, I hope you will come visit us in Reno.
Are you willing to invest in making an event profitable enough to pay down to 15th place? OR Maybe even deeper?
Perception is reality, I have learned this much in business, and life. Promoting events is extremely difficult and risky. No matter what it looks like on the outside, there is a lot of risk, and the reward is pretty tough to manage. A promoter must be very careful with expenses to realize a gain.
In the coming weeks, I will be sending out an email that spells out my vision for the HellsGate GP. This is based on event experience that goes back to the late 80's. More so it is built on what I learned at KOH, and managing a very large marketing budget for Lincoln Electric. Please make sure your on my email list.
Rocksports pays out much better than desert racing. That is a fact. Dave and I set out to accomplish that, and Dave has stepped that up. The KOH purse makes the Baja 1000 purse laughable. Even Lucas short course does not have a great purse. Most of those teams racing Lucas are owned by Lucas BTW.
Our sport has a unique opportunity. A fresh revenue stream. A controlled venue that offers the opportunity to sell beer. This venue also has grandstand seating for 6500. Paying spectators in a controlled venue of this size is not something our sport has been able to fully capitalize on. Its located 5 miles from the edge of a metro area with a population of 500k
This is where you come in. Are you willing to become an entertainer? KOH was set up as the ultimate desert race. A drivers race. Its pretty tough to make money off the spectators, and always has been. HellsGate is a spectators race.
Sponsors like eyeballs. Sponsors also have deliverable's they expect. We all know the most expensive tires you will ever get are the free ones.
Paying spectators require one major deliverable. Entertainment. Spectators like customer service, who doesn't? Are you offering the spectators entertainment and good customer service?
Keeping the entry fee low, and the purse high means we need a different revenue stream. You simply can't run an event with a $200 entry fee, and a purse in the $10,000 range. 50 cars is a handful, and that does not cover every other pocket that needs to be filled.
If we paid back deeper what does that look like to a budget?
Estimate only
1st $5000
2nd $3000
3rd $2500
4th $2000
5th $1500
6th $1000
7th $800
8th $700
9th $600
10th $500
$17,600 Total purse. I suspect you all would like to see the winner get more?
Lets throw another $5000 grand at our winner for the sake of discussion.
$22,600.00 Total purse. Now I am not going to dive into all the associated expenses that go with racing, but just assume that this is a small expense in the grand scheme of things.
With a 30 car count you are looking at an entry fee of about 750.00 per racer just to cover the purse. With this model a third of the field gets something.
To accomplish a goal like this the budget has to have expenses trimmed and revenue increased in other areas, the drivers hold the keys to the castle. Will you provide the butts in the seats? Do we invest in a model that ends with every paying spectator walking out of the event saying "That was F'N Awesome, I can't wait until next year. I need to tell my three friends about this."
Do the sponsors get what they need, by measuring how many people attended? Real data not guessing. Do you even know what they need? Have you asked them?
Do we pick up profit with the sale of every beer? Is it hot in July in Reno? Guess what more beer sales. Hey look at that, maybe a sponsor opportunity for your race effort. Imagine if you could be sponsored by PBR?
And the kicker.......Do we direct more people into the casino, and show them the value our sport can bring to the gaming industry? Do we attract people from all over the country and maybe the world and show them our sport can fill their city? You have certainly done this already attracting 30,000 people into the middle of no where.
Its time we move beyond hoping our very small industry will continue to finance our sport, and look for real revenue streams like other racing avenues. Its time we work together to make this a profitable venture.
Lets talk about what your dream payout looks like, and how we make it a reality. FWIW I know a Lucas driver that does not care about the purse, because his sponsor deals are lucrative enough to keep him racing, and living a decent lifestyle, so perhaps we need to have that discussion as well?
I have learned that when you are doing something right you need to work even harder to continue staying on top. Your sport is on top right now. Work hard to keep growing it.
What Say You? Whats your purse structure look like?
jeff
I copied the thread i posted word for word so that the UTV racers can see exactly what I am asking. This may not apply to some but I think its relevant. Consider the hammers, and the concern that UTVs are a side show. I assume the UTV race has been supplemented almost ever year as its loses money. The UTV race will have to be supplemented at HellsGate if we go with a low entry fee, and a $5000 purse. Have you guys actually had any discussion about how the long term future looks for this type of racing?
While UTV's offer an affordable alternative to a full size race program, the costs to promote the race don't change.
What would you guys like to see regarding entry fee, and purse? You should consider that if the promoter does not turn a profit he may not continue to offer that type of racing. Rather than make claims that the racing will go away if there is not a good car count, or sponsors, lets see what we can do to discuss a solution.
Thread in blue is from U4 discussion below.
Thanks for your time, I hope you will come visit us in Reno.
Are you willing to invest in making an event profitable enough to pay down to 15th place? OR Maybe even deeper?
Perception is reality, I have learned this much in business, and life. Promoting events is extremely difficult and risky. No matter what it looks like on the outside, there is a lot of risk, and the reward is pretty tough to manage. A promoter must be very careful with expenses to realize a gain.
In the coming weeks, I will be sending out an email that spells out my vision for the HellsGate GP. This is based on event experience that goes back to the late 80's. More so it is built on what I learned at KOH, and managing a very large marketing budget for Lincoln Electric. Please make sure your on my email list.
Rocksports pays out much better than desert racing. That is a fact. Dave and I set out to accomplish that, and Dave has stepped that up. The KOH purse makes the Baja 1000 purse laughable. Even Lucas short course does not have a great purse. Most of those teams racing Lucas are owned by Lucas BTW.
Our sport has a unique opportunity. A fresh revenue stream. A controlled venue that offers the opportunity to sell beer. This venue also has grandstand seating for 6500. Paying spectators in a controlled venue of this size is not something our sport has been able to fully capitalize on. Its located 5 miles from the edge of a metro area with a population of 500k
This is where you come in. Are you willing to become an entertainer? KOH was set up as the ultimate desert race. A drivers race. Its pretty tough to make money off the spectators, and always has been. HellsGate is a spectators race.
Sponsors like eyeballs. Sponsors also have deliverable's they expect. We all know the most expensive tires you will ever get are the free ones.
Paying spectators require one major deliverable. Entertainment. Spectators like customer service, who doesn't? Are you offering the spectators entertainment and good customer service?
Keeping the entry fee low, and the purse high means we need a different revenue stream. You simply can't run an event with a $200 entry fee, and a purse in the $10,000 range. 50 cars is a handful, and that does not cover every other pocket that needs to be filled.
If we paid back deeper what does that look like to a budget?
Estimate only
1st $5000
2nd $3000
3rd $2500
4th $2000
5th $1500
6th $1000
7th $800
8th $700
9th $600
10th $500
$17,600 Total purse. I suspect you all would like to see the winner get more?
Lets throw another $5000 grand at our winner for the sake of discussion.
$22,600.00 Total purse. Now I am not going to dive into all the associated expenses that go with racing, but just assume that this is a small expense in the grand scheme of things.
With a 30 car count you are looking at an entry fee of about 750.00 per racer just to cover the purse. With this model a third of the field gets something.
To accomplish a goal like this the budget has to have expenses trimmed and revenue increased in other areas, the drivers hold the keys to the castle. Will you provide the butts in the seats? Do we invest in a model that ends with every paying spectator walking out of the event saying "That was F'N Awesome, I can't wait until next year. I need to tell my three friends about this."
Do the sponsors get what they need, by measuring how many people attended? Real data not guessing. Do you even know what they need? Have you asked them?
Do we pick up profit with the sale of every beer? Is it hot in July in Reno? Guess what more beer sales. Hey look at that, maybe a sponsor opportunity for your race effort. Imagine if you could be sponsored by PBR?
And the kicker.......Do we direct more people into the casino, and show them the value our sport can bring to the gaming industry? Do we attract people from all over the country and maybe the world and show them our sport can fill their city? You have certainly done this already attracting 30,000 people into the middle of no where.
Its time we move beyond hoping our very small industry will continue to finance our sport, and look for real revenue streams like other racing avenues. Its time we work together to make this a profitable venture.
Lets talk about what your dream payout looks like, and how we make it a reality. FWIW I know a Lucas driver that does not care about the purse, because his sponsor deals are lucrative enough to keep him racing, and living a decent lifestyle, so perhaps we need to have that discussion as well?
I have learned that when you are doing something right you need to work even harder to continue staying on top. Your sport is on top right now. Work hard to keep growing it.
What Say You? Whats your purse structure look like?
jeff
on amazon.com
1. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/UTV-Mountain-Polaris-Harnesses-RZR900XP-KIT1-2/dp/B006WN0TR8/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1393819878&sr=8-11&keywords=utv"]UTV Mountain Polaris RZR 900 XP Back Seat and Roll Cage Kit. Two 4-Point Harnesses. RZR900XP-KIT1-2[/ame]
2. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/UTV-Mountain-Commander-Included-UTV101C/dp/B005LVC2TK/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1393819878&sr=8-13&keywords=utv"]UTV Mountain Can Am Commander Rear Seat and Roll Cage Kit. 42" Bench Seat Included. UTV101C[/ame]
3. [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Swisher-Universal-Receiver-Mounting-10260/dp/B000N5ZFNO/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1393819878&sr=8-15&keywords=utv"]Swisher UTV Universal Receiver Mounting Kit 10260[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYFk3S_2NAU"]Polaris RZR 900 XP Back Seat and Roll Cage - From GearUp2Go.com - YouTube[/ame]
<img src="http://www.bediro.com/images/4/w1.png" />
Where can I find the saftey rules for the utv class? Will motor swapped UTV'S be allowed to run?
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
http://silverstatejamboree.com/team-view/hellsgate/
4 wheel drive motor swapped UTVs would tun in Unlimited 4wd UTV. Sorry 2 wheel drive wont make it around the course.
Thanks for the Intro Jeff
We are determined to make this a premiere UTV event. Please feel free to contact me, my cell is always on. 916-eight one three- 6 four 2 5.
I want to know what you need to make this event something you will come back to year after year. The UTV's are the fastest growing classes in all forms of desert/short course racing. We want to meet the needs of your sponsors, your families and of course, you
Let's have some input. Let's make this the event of the season! Without the racers and butts in seats - we have nothing.
bring it!
Bebe
We are determined to make this a premiere UTV event. Please feel free to contact me, my cell is always on. 916-eight one three- 6 four 2 5.
I want to know what you need to make this event something you will come back to year after year. The UTV's are the fastest growing classes in all forms of desert/short course racing. We want to meet the needs of your sponsors, your families and of course, you
Let's have some input. Let's make this the event of the season! Without the racers and butts in seats - we have nothing.
bring it!
Bebe
I have 4 wd but a stock fuel tank is the only thing that would keep me from racing this unlimited class. I do not have a fuel cell and no place in the bed to mount it.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
http://silverstatejamboree.com/hellsgate-gp/hellsgate-registration-is-open-april-1st/
Registration is open. $5000 in prize money for the UTV class. Dedicated UTV Course that uses only a small part of the rock course. A full week of fun, trail riding, and shenanigans.
Thanks SXSPerformance for stepping up and sponsoring the UTV event. You guys will want to make sure you don't miss the PRP seats Pool party on Thursday afternoon. Tech your car in the valet lane, and head upstairs for a dip in the pool and a cold beer.
Registration is open. $5000 in prize money for the UTV class. Dedicated UTV Course that uses only a small part of the rock course. A full week of fun, trail riding, and shenanigans.
Thanks SXSPerformance for stepping up and sponsoring the UTV event. You guys will want to make sure you don't miss the PRP seats Pool party on Thursday afternoon. Tech your car in the valet lane, and head upstairs for a dip in the pool and a cold beer.