I don't want to be pissed off!

[flyingjibus]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

I feel your pain man. I really do.

We have to remind ourselves though. This is a hobby for these guys. Nothing more. And a really exspensive hobby at that.

None of these team owners are making any money, only losing it.

The only people who owe anyone anything, are us the fans. We owe the owners for them choosing to share their passion with us, when they can.

[BuckyD]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

"AMEN", there, Jibus!!!

DBD

[BUD_XXX]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

Wait a minute.......they got blenders in the grandstands...????

Next thing you'll be telling us they are mixing up pink things, with whipped cream on top! And here I've been ordering lemonade...all these years.

That must be s Section 3 thing???

[Big_Jim]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

I feel your pain man. I really do.

We have to remind ourselves though. This is a hobby for these guys. Nothing more. And a really exspensive hobby at that.

None of these team owners are making any money, only losing it.

The only people who owe anyone anything, are us the fans. We owe the owners for them choosing to share their passion with us, when they can.

Also keep in mind, they're not doing it 'for you' (the fan)...the pilots, the crews, the owners...they're doing it for themselves. As an owner/wrench twister of a racing vehicle, I can tell you that as nice as it is to have fans in the stands watching, and fans coming to talk to you, I was only doing it for ME. I would have raced if there wasn't anybody there to watch...and HAVE before.

Again...it's nothing personal. After all, I am going down to Reno in a couple weeks AS A FAN. Of course I want to see every possible competitor there, running their hardest on Sunday afternoon. But it's racing, and that doesn't always happen.

[Red]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

Lol....so many "opinions" (you know what they say about those right?), when in acuality with all of your giant budget experience, you really have no idea what it takes to field a competitive race team. You can armchair quarterback all you want about how you would do it, but the fact is precious few of us actually can, and you are not privey to whatever plans are in place.

You yap on about budgets and use corporate America to draw comparison, yet you forget that no matter how well prepared these teams are, how much prior planning goes on, how many record setting laps they run, that in the end it is a giant losing proposition for the people who foot the bill. This is not about bottom line profit, so the parallel doesn't exist. It's a stretch to even call this a professional sport! The guys that do it, are there for the love of it, plain and simple. No one is making money spending (investing by your line of thinking?) it on racing.

No matter what happens I'm thankful these people continue to throw money around for my entertainment and I applaud that whole heartedly, and support them as much as I can with donations, mechandise sales etc.

[Guest]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

Hey Bud XX,
Yep, they really do. Over the years I've seen a few of these high-powered Hamilton Beaches! If you walk thru the box seat area west the "Orangees", I bet you'll run across it. While I'm usually out on the sticks thru most of the day, I cruise the pits and stands regularly after coming back in. These folks start showing up on Thursday PM of Friday AM.

If I recall it's the same folks who bring in the wading pool and fill it up by hauling in H2O by the barrel, loaded on a Radio Flyer wagon. It's a show...especially when the T-shirt clad guests arrive...if you catch my drift.

Ditto, Flyingjibus. It's us, the fan, that owes the teams our thanks and support. We aren't entitled to anything...unless you're writing a very big check every month to play, your job is to show up, spend money, have fun, and enjoy the show.

[planecrazy2]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

Yo Bus,

I see it a bit differently.

I believe the owners that bother to bring a mount to the field in September are not "hobbyists". They are “professional” race teams. From the smallest F1 to the DC-7 that was raced in San Diego and Mojave.

Yeah, the money is barely there….But….because exact earnings are “hidden” from the fan base, (I suspect because it is SO embarrassingly low) it is there to pay expenses in all but the most extreme cases, (blown race engines excepted), for the top winners?

I am sure they wished to be known and called professionals rather than hobbyists.

But at the end of the day…..Watching the Bear on a stock engine this year will be like watching the newly retired Space Shuttles be used by Southwest airlines on the Los Angeles to San Diego run.

And yes, my Wife also thinks I am a hyper opinionated Bastard. So you can't say anything worse than that......

[Red]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

I would kill to be first in the for the LA to SD run!

[Guest]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

Hey Crazy,
Reasonable people can disagree. Bottom line though: we both fly or drive home after Sunday with a huge smile, great memories, dark tan, and itching to jump on the web and start planning for 2011!

This sport (and I use that term loosely) is quite different from most other motorsports. Trying to think of another one that only runs once a year, has limited major sponsorships, relies on bare-bones marketing, and in which the participants know coming in there's very little chance of achieving a positive ROI. Perhap Unlimited Hydroplane Racing and it's on it's last leg. Are you listening, RARA?

It's about being here...period. Challenging your skills, partnering with volunteers, operating on shoe-string budgets, just to get the chance to say, "I raced at Reno."

Understand your point of view, Crazy. Just don't subscribe to it but then again, I don't have to. You and I will both enjoy the hell out of the second week in September, I'm sure! There's no place else on earth I'd rather be and I suspect that's true for you as well.

Enjoy!

[bulldawg66]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

Another thing to think about, Crazy....

Mr. Lewis came to PRS this year with at least 2 aircraft, one of them being the P51 La Pistolera. (Guys, please correct me if I'm wrong)

As far as I've been told, he will be fielding at least 3 aircraft with his money - the Bear, Big Bossman and Here, Kitty Kitty.

Let's not forget that he'll have Glacier Girl there, as well.

So, do you want him to put ALL his money into the Bear for race day, or give us the opportunity to see all these aircraft in the few days that we have alloted ourselves to be in Reno?

God Bless those that allow us to see these brief glimpses of history in the air!

That being said,,,,,,, GO BEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!


Tom

[flyingjibus]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

Yo Bus,

I see it a bit differently.

I believe the owners that bother to bring a mount to the field in September are not "hobbyists". They are “professional” race teams. From the smallest F1 to the DC-7 that was raced in San Diego and Mojave.

Yeah, the money is barely there….But….because exact earnings are “hidden” from the fan base, (I suspect because it is SO embarrassingly low) it is there to pay expenses in all but the most extreme cases, (blown race engines excepted), for the top winners?

I am sure they wished to be known and called professionals rather than hobbyists.

But at the end of the day…..Watching the Bear on a stock engine this year will be like watching the newly retired Space Shuttles be used by Southwest airlines on the Los Angeles to San Diego run.

And yes, my Wife also thinks I am a hyper opinionated Bastard. So you can't say anything worse than that......

Professional-
participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs <a professional golfer> b : having a particular profession as a permanent career <a professional soldier> c : engaged in by persons receiving financial return <professional football>

Yeah, the money is barely there….But….because exact earnings are “hidden” from the fan base, (I suspect because it is SO embarrassingly low) it is there to pay expenses in all but the most extreme cases

I dont think you realize how little they win. 1st place gets enough money to just about pay for the gas they burn during the week.

there is no "breaking even" even for first place

IF1 may be a bit less expensive then unlimited's, but that not what we are talking about here.

This is a hobby. Ask one of the plane owners how much money they "make" and they will laugh at you.

Again, I completely understand where you are coming from, and what you are saying, I just dont think you fully grasp what they are doing out there.

I caused a super **** storm awhile back when it was annouced that Critical Mass was to be dismantled (search and you will find it )

It sucks to see such beautiful and tremendous peices of history removed from existance. But ask yourself what you would rathar have.
An endless blackhole that swallows cubic dollars, or a big shiney pile of cash?

We are EXTREMELY lucky to have even 5 planes show up for this.

This is the only time and place the F.A.A. will allow this type of thing to happen. For many participants the only motivation to show up is because this is the only time they can fly this fast, this low to the ground. And to do so you have to pay (and pay and pay) to play.

Who are we to dictate how much they pay and at what speed?

P.S. I officially have the fever now. I cannot stop thinking about where I will be in 25 days, 19 hours, 2 minutes, 41 seconds

[Ken from PG]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

[QUOTE=BUD_XXX;81282]Wait a minute.......they got blenders in the grandstands...????

[sierra fox]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

[QUOTE=Ken from PG;81294]

Wait a minute.......they got blenders in the grandstands...????

LMAO!!!

[planecrazy2]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

All noted on the well thought out replies here. I posted this to raise some blood pressure over the upcoming event. Been too quiet my friends. Get excited!

I for one would rather see a hot rod, flat out, balls to the wall, fire breathing, rip snorting, pylon chewing, properly prepared Bear than all the rest of Mr. L's birds. For my entertainment, he could leave them tired, non-competitive followers home and bring a fully prepared Bear to the party.

And that's not a knock on R.L. I worship the ground he flies over out of respect for his efforts to share the love.

Cheers,

Glen

[Hans Oberev]

Re: I don't want to be pissed off!

Dear Planecrazy, thanks for having the salt to post a challenge to the establishment. I'm still licking my wounds from my round with RRIII. Entitlement? Of course we are entitled to nothing but that doesn't mean we can't hope and dream. Just because we don't write the checks doesn't mean we can't have passion and along with it excitement and disappointment. Everyone that has been around any kind of racing however well funded knows that it's all about the excitement of expectation and a good result is the cherry that gets eaten once in a great while. Flyingjibus, great post. I felt the goosebumps.