Does Royal Purple Care About Their Customers?

[Hagen Gary]

Ed, let's see what you wrote in your email to them. Did you let them know that it was the tracks fault that NHRA had to cancel the sportsmen? Seems like they have no idea that the track has problems with the sportsmen pits and that was the cause of no sportsmen racing. I understand NHRA's reasoning. They would have had to let all the pros, alcohol, and pro mods move out and then move all of the sportsmen in to be able to race. They would have had to run the race on Monday and then a bunch of sportsmen still would be pissed that they couldn't stay and had to forfeit. At least they gave us our entry and all crew member tickets back. That cost them big time, and it was the best decision. With that said, I'm starting my email to Royal Purple now and I suggest we all do the same. It's the tracks fault.... Period.

[Bob Don]

I think you guys are wasting your time going after Royal Purple. All they did was buy naming rights to the track. They don't have anything to do with track operations. That would be like blaming Minute Maid every time the Astros lose. NHRA made the cancellation decision. Your beef would be would them. I have no dog in this hunt, just my .02.

[Hagen Gary]

Originally Posted by Bob Don

I think you guys are wasting your time going after Royal Purple. All they did was buy naming rights to the track. They don't have anything to do with track operations. That would be like blaming Minute Maid every time the Astros lose. NHRA made the cancellation decision. Your beef would be would them. I have no dog in this hunt, just my .02.

This post makes zero sense. We aren't blaming royal purple for us losing a round like blaming minute maid for the Astros. Now if minute maid parks seats were full of turds and the stadium was crumbleling to the ground and that's why they canceled the game, then you could make that analogy. I would bet Minute maid wouldn't want thier name in that park anymore. That is what we are trying to get done, make the track improve or lose its royal purple money. This is not NHRAs fault. The venue Is the reason for the cancelation. But what do I know, I was just racing there and seen it first hand, a few times now

[Bob Don]

Originally Posted by Hagen Gary

This post makes zero sense. We aren't blaming royal purple for us losing a round like blaming minute maid for the Astros. Now if minute maid parks seats were full of turds and the stadium was crumbleling to the ground and that's why they canceled the game, then you could make that analogy. I would bet Minute maid wouldn't want thier name in that park anymore. That is what we are trying to get done, make the track improve or lose its royal purple money. This is not NHRAs fault. The venue Is the reason for the cancelation. But what do I know, I was just racing there and seen it first hand, a few times now

You're right, the "Astros losing" analogy is a bit of a disconnect. Blaming Minute Maid for a stadium deficiency would be more appropriate. In any event, the point I was trying to make was that a company that buys naming rights has little to do with venue operations. I hope you are successful in bringing pressure on the track owners.

[supergas4]

Hagon you are totaly right.royal purple should care with their name on the place.I will write the marketing dr.too.maybe 200 emails from racers will get him thinking straight.Dwight Allen.we had one in s/g and one in s/c.

[Randall Klein]

Wow! If our marketing manager had that response, he would be a former mkt manager. He should be working for Obama or MS-NBC! Most often when you have "naming rights" on a facility, you are hoping to enhance your corporate image. You're "face" to the customer is the facility and its amenities.

Generally named entities are not on dilapidated venues.

Royal Purple surely realizes that its paying customers are almost all sportsmen racers, don't they?

You name it, you own the experience your customers get.

[Ed Carpenter]

Originally Posted by Hagen Gary

Ed, let's see what you wrote in your email to them. Did you let them know that it was the tracks fault that NHRA had to cancel the sportsmen? Seems like they have no idea that the track has problems with the sportsmen pits and that was the cause of no sportsmen racing. I understand NHRA's reasoning. They would have had to let all the pros, alcohol, and pro mods move out and then move all of the sportsmen in to be able to race. They would have had to run the race on Monday and then a bunch of sportsmen still would be pissed that they couldn't stay and had to forfeit. At least they gave us our entry and all crew member tickets back. That cost them big time, and it was the best decision. With that said, I'm starting my email to Royal Purple now and I suggest we all do the same. It's the tracks fault.... Period.

Hagen this is my email to Royal Purple

My name is Ed Carpenter. I am a NHRA Super Stock racer. My car number is 4244 a 66 Chevy II. I am writing you about the decable that happened at Royal Purple Raceway this past weekend at the national event in Baytown. As I'm sure you are aware over 400 sportsman racers were sent home without running eliminations. We were told "this race never happened". I was one of the 400 plus. This is unacceptable and I blame the track. This is the 3rd time I've been there that the pits have flooded and affected races. I can;t believe a title sponsor of a track such as yourself would allow this to happen again and again. I am not the only with this line of thought. On a popular racing forum the question was asked It’s still a mud pit and looks very bad on them and Royal Purple. I wonder if Royal Purple would be interested in hearing how they are a title sponsor of a track that doesn't give a crap about people who buy their product. Isn't that how special interest groups get it done? I w ould like your opinion on this. I for one will not participate in any event at Royal Purple Raceway again until improvements have been made to the pit area at the track.

Ed Carpenter

[Mike Brogniez]

NHRA, Royal Purple and the track are in association to provide all racers and spectators this race.
Recently NHRA has not done much for sportsman racing.
Royal Purple's ''canned'' response from the Marketing rep (suit) does nothing for Ed and other Sportsman using their product.
The track fails in providing adequate facilities.
As consumers we have the right to choose if we want to support them.
I know what I would do.
MB

[Alan Roehrich]

What you need to realize is that buying naming rights to a venue does not give you a huge amount of control over operations. So Royal Purple cannot tell the track what to do and how to do it, and they certainly can't do either with NHRA, especially since the sportsman racing is sponsored by Lucal Oil (for which we should all thank the Lucas family). For the most part, Royal Purple bought naming rights, which gives them advertising space and time. Had no one bought naming rights, the track might not operate at all. If that is what you want, by all means, blame Royal Purple, and trash them pubilicly. Then maybe no one will buy naming rights, and more facilities could close.

[HR9121]

Royal Purple may not have much say in in the operation of the track but they have all the say as to where and what they do with their sponsorship money and that is as much leverage as you can get these days. If I was the CEO of a company I don't believe I would want my name associated with a track or anyone else not operating up to par. Most everyone involved knows it not Royal Purple's fault and I don't think most people blame NHRA either but in these economic times I can't imagine either one of them not demanding changes to help change public perception. I have no dog in the fight but feel for those who wasted time and money.