What would you change?

[supercub]

I plan on sending a letter to RARA in a few weeks after things have calmed down. My intentions are NOT to find fault with every little detail, but to offer constructive suggestions that would basically cover three areas. First, would be to increase attendance. Second would be to increase the number of air race planes/pilots, and Third to better entertain and inform the crowd
.
I have some specific ideas, but I'm just one person. Hopefully everyone will write RARA with their idea, but if not, I hope you'll let me know what they are.

Thanks
Brian

[FlyKidChris]

Re: What would you change?

I'd change the announcers, I really would. They made so many mistakes, I can't list them all. In the end, I want accuracy and speeds* and don't want or appreciate the "color" commentary.

*Lap speeds for the fastest half of each heat would be nice.

[Mike51]

Re: What would you change?

The biggest single thing they can do to increase attendance is to go back to the old days (not so very long ago) when they had one or more of the 'big three' military demo teams (Blues, T-Birds, Snowbirds) there every year. With the greatest of respect to their performance, The Patriots simply don't have the same pulling power that these teams do.

[Desertdawg]

Re: What would you change?

One way to increase attendance start promoting and talking 2015 early.

In reality I did not see anything local until 4 weeks before????

Nationally probably wasn't any better?

People just do not make hotel and travel plans 4 weeks out.

RARA also needs a marketing team/plan in place now, not just couple members of a board that barely have time to contribute to the RARA.

There's great stories from every hanger and pit, RARA should post weekly stories and updates to their site. Not just 2-3 updates for the entire year!

This is a great event, people will come, we've proved that over the years. It's the silence and uncertainty thats doesn't spark interest.

[Desertdawg]

Re: What would you change?

The biggest single thing they can do to increase attendance is to go back to the old days (not so very long ago) when they had one or more of the 'big three' military demo teams (Blues, T-Birds, Snowbirds) there every year. With the greatest of respect to their performance, The Patriots simply don't have the same pulling power that these teams do.

The F22 routine this year was pretty good.

[N22252]

Re: What would you change?

1.) Bronze...Silver...Gold...Repeat Daily for best results
2.) Promote it... That Voodoo/Strega photo finish should have been on every sports highlight reel last weekend
3.) Can the dopey announcing
4.) The Horsemen
5.) Car Drop...What ever happened to that

[Idaho_cowpony]

Re: What would you change?

1. Public Use shaded ares, with complimentary ice-water. (located in the Pits, and GA)
2. +1 The announcers need a serious make-over.


3. HERE WE GO

RARA needs to focus REAL HARD on the Unlimited class. They should be bending over backward to support and defend the cause of the Unlimited guys. EVERY ONE OF THEM. (Including those not present this, or the past couple years)

I know the FAA is making it doggone tough..

But still. Let's scrape the $$$ together... not for another dumb 'airshow' act.... not for a jet demo... for our UNLIMITED prize purse.

Then, let's re-structure the class, so that the Gold capable guys don't have to start in a freakin' bronze heat. Start in the #8 slot if you can't qualify...not at the back of the pack.. c'mon we know who's going to win Strega vs. Sparky.. really..

If the pilots pre-elected that they were competing for the GOLD, then they would not move down any further than the amount of said pilots who did such.

Meanwhile, those who elected NOT to race for the Gold, could battle it out for fun..and if they decided to move-up later in the week, because positions had opened up, fine and dandy.

I'm sure two consecutive years of 30+ Unlimited's on the ramp, would drive the attendance up better than the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds. I can see them at my local airshow... I go to Reno for one thing.. THE RACES. Let's RACE.

Oh.. and Thank-you Tiger, that was one heck of a show...
When I thanked him in person, he said with a grin.. "..you liked that!?!..." My reply; "yes sir.. welcome back"

- Joseph

[flyingjibus]

Re: What would you change?

Pay the pilots, not the RARA board members. Former Pres. Mike Houghton (Sp?) was paid $160,000 a year according to the casino's who asked that his cost be removed before they would contribute any more money to RARA. This was told to me by the people who own the lot I camp at, who also said that RARA has been next to impossible to work with.

Stop treating new teams like ****. Thom Richards treatment was inexcusable. Grow the sport, don't stifle it.

Do what you say you are going to do. Great car drop this year RARA! oh wait....

Dont treat your most loyal of fans like criminals. The treatment I received this year at the gates was bull****. I specifically did not wear my section 3 shirt on one of the days to see if anything changed, and i was shocked by the results. inexcusable.

Fix the issues with the FAA or give up. Tiger was DQ'ed for winning a race in a safe manner. How does that make sense? If it's a race then let them race, otherwise call it a parade.

[Donald McMullin]

Re: What would you change?

The Southern Cal CAF brought their planes to fill slots vacated by unlimited planes not wanting to attend. Last year the CAF did a great job of filling slots in the show. This year they were not allowed to fly in the show.

The CAF should be allowed to fill at least a 10 min slots each day if they are willing to bring their planes.

[flyingjibus]

Re: What would you change?

The Southern Cal CAF brought their planes to fill slots vacated by unlimited planes not wanting to attend. Last year the CAF did a great job of filling slots in the show. This year they were not allowed to fly in the show.

The CAF should be allowed to fill at least a 10 min slots each day if they are willing to bring their planes.

I was wondering what those planes were doing gathering dust in the pits. Ridiculous.

[De Camara]

Re: What would you change?

I was warned about the front line "nazi-like" patrol.

Not my words btw
It was from a VERY large group of obviously very loyal fans next to me and my son.

I personally witnessed more than one instance of an older fellow with line patrol, perform
A shocking outburst towards a fan for simply leaning over the line rope to snap a quick
picture!

You could hear a pin drop immediately afterwards.

My kid was STUNNED!

As were the whole front line that witnessed his outrageous screaming performance at the fan.

To witness, much less take this abuse is just extremely unprofessional by ANY standard.

Somebody PLEASE share YOUR experience/s.

Afterwards, we were all enlightened by fans that had been there since Wednesday, that that wasn't near as bad as
Another older fellow on line patrol in other incidents.

You can tell me/us a line of reasons to protect the line, and the fans/competitors.
But NO ONE can justify these horrific seemingly melt downs by line staff.

It made for a pretty uncomfortable, and unwelcome feeling of how RARA staff members directly treated fans.

Now
I know there's alot to be said about announcer communicabilities.
BUT, why weren't speaker accommodations for ALL the fans in the Pit area/show line treated to announcements like the old days?

Any announcement capability certainly couldn't have hurt.

The fees keep going up
Accommodations are changing
No Bronze unlimiteds

What happened to acts like
Sean Tucker?
Kyle Franklin?

Why not even have Red Bull racers?

Jet dragster?
Sky crane/car drop?

John Mohr?

B-29
Collings birds

A-10

Maybe I'm too nostalgic?
NOT!

[Donald McMullin]

Re: What would you change?

I was wondering what those planes were doing gathering dust in the pits. Ridiculous.

CAF was helping fill vacant spots due to RARA not being able to attract Bronze and Medallion class racer like they were able to as recent as 2012

[Ken Adkins]

Re: What would you change?

Don't want to pile on but have to share my thoughts. Been coming to Reno since 1979, and it's killing me watching the decline of one of my life-long passions.

3 big issues in the room:

1. The size of the unlimited field has to increase - somehow. No bronze race on Sunday, and a Silver with only 5 planes is not good enough. Yes, the Gold field was good but....

2. Bring back the T-birds or Blue Angels. The casual fans love the military jets. I talked to several people at the McDonalds in Auburn on the drive home who were still raving about the F-22.

3. The unlimited announcers have to go. It's a tired act that gets more annoying every year. "Stewie" Dawson, "Little Stevie" Hinton, calling Voodoo an "also-ran" before Steve-o got in the cockpit (I'm sure Will Whiteside was thrilled), calling Sherman Smoot "Sherm Cooper", the confusion/ignorance of the different engines in the Sanders Sea Furies -- all of it was inexcusable.

[Reever]

Re: What would you change?

My main gripe has been the same since the late 70's. Increase in prize money for the Unlimiteds and ALL classes. This would have to be done by increased visibility and sponsorship. It has always seemed to me that RARA does not understand that the Unlimiteds are the back bone of this show. I did write a letter to RARA some fourteen years ago telling them what I thought, and I never got my press credentials ever again.

[shadow]

Re: What would you change?

Dont treat your most loyal of fans like criminals. The treatment I received this year at the gates was bull****. I specifically did not wear my section 3 shirt on one of the days to see if anything changed, and i was shocked by the results. inexcusable.

Would you mind elaborating. I'm rather curious how you were treated.

Thanks!