First let me say that I'm not a NASCAR fan. I'm not here to cause trouble. I am, however, interested in what people more knowledgeable about the activity can add to a discussion that might be uncomfortable to talk about.
It has become clear over the past month that GM, Ford and Chrysler are in for some rough times. Assuming that they all manage to stay afloat, they will need to embrace change in some of their basic business philosophies.
GM, as an example, recently announced that they will be cutting back on their 2009 NASCAR related marketing expenditures. Amounts reported to be $120 - $140 million in 2007.
I have often felt that the Big 3 were not served well by NASCAR. In this decade alone, billions of dollars have been invested by the Big 3 on nothing more than brand development. Simply getting their logo on everything possible. Meanwhile, companies like Honda and Toyota (...and Nissan and Audi and BMW and Mercedes) have been investing in product development through racing programs that allow a lot of innovation. Much of what they learn is fed back to headquarters and eventually finds its way into their most basic street cars. Innovations like variable valve timing, improved fuel management systems, vehicle stability control, anti-lock brakes, active suspension and various materials related improvements have all been perfected on racing cars before they trickled down to the things that you and I can get our hands on.
NASCAR rules appear to prohibit innovation. Tightly controlled big block, push rod, carbureted engines and all kinds of limits on what a team is allowed to do with chassis and aero set up. No one in Detroit is learning anything useful here, yet they continue to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into the activity.
This might not be as much of a problem if they were also investing in activities that supported their R&D efforts. Sadly, other than a couple of Corvettes the Big 3 are not well represented on the world stage.
I'd be interested in how the NASCAR fan base perceives NASCAR's role in the products that the Big 3 produce and why these companies continue to make products that a large section of America considers last (if at all) when shopping for a car.
"Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" might have been a viable theory 30 years ago when GM, Ford and Chrysler were the big dogs in town. Clearly it is not working for them today or there wouldn't be talk of mergers and/or Chapter 11.
I believe the big three invest in Nascar for the advertising. They get a large loyal audience , and believe me Nascar fans are loyal to its sponsors. As far as who buys what car. You might want to read " The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman.
"Win on Sunday, sell on Monday" might have been a viable theory 30 years ago when GM, Ford and Chrysler were the big dogs in town. Clearly it is not working for them today or there wouldn't be talk of mergers and/or Chapter 11.
With the big three sitting in DC with their hats in their hands, maybe they should forget about NASCAR as a promotional tool. Some of the treehuggers are even talking about banning auto racing altogether as a way to save on fossil fuels and also to force the automakers to refocus on practical innovation.
There's a poll at slamboard (google it) about a racing ban. The yes votes have a slim lead at the moment.
With the big three sitting in DC with their hats in their hands, maybe they should forget about NASCAR as a promotional tool. Some of the treehuggers are even talking about banning auto racing altogether as a way to save on fossil fuels and also to force the automakers to refocus on practical innovation.
There's a poll at slamboard (google it) about a racing ban. The yes votes have a slim lead at the moment.
thats a scary thought though i think a ban or organized racing would just lead to a popularity spike for illegal street racing
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"It's all fun and games until somebody wrecks a racecar" Larry McRenyolds
With the big three sitting in DC with their hats in their hands, maybe they should forget about NASCAR as a promotional tool. Some of the treehuggers are even talking about banning auto racing altogether as a way to save on fossil fuels and also to force the automakers to refocus on practical innovation.
There's a poll at slamboard (google it) about a racing ban. The yes votes have a slim lead at the moment.
Personally I don't think that America will ever ban racing. Nascar fans are loyal consumers of their drivers sponsors and a lot of companies spend millions of dollars to advertise via Nascar. Chevy, Ford, Dodge and Toyota do reap sales and good will with their Nascar sponsorship. It would be silly for them to exit the sport.
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