Paul Tracy... I just don't get it

Bob Evans · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 65

I don't know, I like Jimmy Spencer.

Doug Welch · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 2:59 am Post subject: Paul Tracy... I just don't get it

I got this Paul Tracy stuff going in the first place by questioning his motivations and karting. Actually, as a driver I happen to like him and I have rooted for him. I like a guy who drives the tires off a car. Therefore I can not support bashing him as a person.

Having said that, I do think it is legitimate to question his motives in karting. My reasons are that there is not a great deal of money in karting and we need more money put into it, not taken out of it. So when he moved his name to another group to get a better deal, it certainly raises the question, is he trying to put something in or take something out?

Doug

Marc Miller · Advertiser Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1834

Once again, I ask this question.

Why is it that if Paul Tracy makes money in karting it would be a bad thing? How would Tracy making a little money have him "take anything away" from karting? If he personally gains from this karting project, I'd be the first to applaud him... and if he doesn't, the first to say, "He must really enjoy it!"

This idea of "putting in" or "taking out" is ridiculous to me. To use the phrase "he moved his name to another group to get a better deal", makes me wonder what you know that no one else knows.

As far as I know, it has nothing to do with a better deal for Paul. Paul never really made or worried about the profits, he left it up to the distribution agent and manufacturer. If anything, the new rights for distribution given to SSC may enhance the distribution efforts of his karting line and promote karting even better then before, but the fact that they switched has NOTHING to do with him wanting to take something away from karting.

As Tim B. points out, Tracy owes nothing to karting. He is doing this because he enjoys it and wants to help a few guys out that he likes. If you want to point fingers at those who want to capitalize on this, look at the companies who are jumping to handle the Paul Tracy line. THEY are the ones that will be turning the profit. Now ask yourself... since they are making money, are THEY giving to or taking away from karting??

Well, if they make money... then I applaud them, because they are finally giving karting a few legitimate businesses that turn a profit and can stand tall in the marketplace rather than struggle for business next to a father and son running a equally successful karting dealership out of their basement. Any time you take a serious stab at a true business in karting, you are bringing something to karting.

MM

[ August 09, 2001: Message edited by: Marc Miller ]

Doug Welch · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 4:12 am Post subject: Paul Tracy... I just don't get it

Marc

I would be willing to bet that for the vast majority of karters, it is not a business. While we all have our own personal and selfish reasons for doing it, most would fall under one of the following.

We want a rush but can't afford a "real" car.

We are looking to advance in motorsports.

We are kids who's parents are giving us a cool toy to play with.

We are kids looking to advance in motorsports.

We just plain like driving a kart.

Now every one of the above has no problem with paying their bills except for those in the wanting to advance in motorsports group. It is that group that is most intent on running in national events where the costs are high. It is that group that is looking for sponsorship to offset some of the costs. It is that group that is looking for opportunities with the established motorsports community. It is with sponsorship that talent can rise to the top without having to be lucky enough to be spawned in the back seat of a MB and not a Chevy.

I will have few who will disagree with me that a person like Tracy can bring a positive spotlight to our sport. His kart connection has been mentioned many times during the CART broadcasts as has Memo's.

What karting needs is for money from outside the sport to flow into the sport. That money comes in the form of sponsorship from companies not associated with karting. If Tracy and others can do that, then we should welcome them with open arms and aid them in any way we can.

When an athelete like Micheal Jordan endorses a pair of shoes, does that help or hurt you as a consumer? I would argue that it hurts you in that it adds nothing to the performance of the shoe. It doesn't make the shoe better, just more expensive. Slappping the Tracy name on a CRG doesn't make it better, just more expensive. That doesn't help karting, it just makes it more expensive.

I think the question is valid. Is Paul using his name to make money for himself or does he truely want to give something to karting as many would like us to believe? What he can give to karting is his time, his energies, his knowledge, his connections with sponsors, his connections with race teams. He can open doors for kids who want to advance in motorsports. If this is what he is trying to do, I support him. If he is just trying to trade on his name to make a few bucks, then I will look to another kart line that doesn't have to come up with extra dollars to cover the costs of celebrety(sp) endorsments.

Now you know why I don't have Nike shoes.

Doug

[ August 09, 2001: Message edited by: Doug Welch ]

Tim Blaney · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1127

quote:
Originally posted by Doug Welch:

Point #1
What karting needs is for money from outside the sport to flow into the sport. That money comes in the form of sponsorship from companies not associated with karting. If Tracy and others can do that, then we should welcome them with open arms and aid them in any way we can.

Point #2
What he can give to karting is his time, his energies, his knowledge, his connections with sponsors, his connections with race teams. He can open doors for kids who want to advance in motorsports. If this is what he is trying to do, I support him. If he is just trying to trade on his name to make a few bucks, then I will look to another kart line that doesn't have to come up with extra dollars to cover the costs of celebrety(sp) endorsments.

[ August 09, 2001: Message edited by: Doug Welch ]

To point #1:
I couldn't disagree more. It is not Paul Tracy's job to find sponsors for someone's race program. That, is their job. If it is a series or an individual race, it is the job of the organizers/ promoters to go get sponsors.

To point #2:
That is precisely what he is doing. From what I have heard, the guys driving for Paul have been introduced all over the CART community and now have a very nice address list of names of people who they can turn to as their career builds.

Add to this the publicity his efforts have brought to the sport and on the whole his participation have been nothing but extremely positive.

Tim Pappas · Joined: 25 Jul 2001 Posts: 792 Location: Burkina Faso,

quote:
Originally posted by Doug Welch:

Having said that, I do think it is legitimate to question his motives in karting. My reasons are that there is not a great deal of money in karting and we need more money put into it, not taken out of it. So when he moved his name to another group to get a better deal, it certainly raises the question, is he trying to put something in or take something out?

Doug

First of all Doug, if you got the information that he switched to SSC for a better deal from the interview of the person he switched from, you might consider that there are two sides to every story. I would hope that you are not so narrow-minded that you grasp onto one bit of information from one source and believe that is all there is to the story.

I will say it again. Paul has never taken one penny out of karting. He has supported his team and karts both financially and with his time. If anyone has seen him at the races wiping down a kart or assembling a new kart they would know that he is doing this because he loves it. The Paul that noone sees is the one at the shop helping prep karts for a race, or the Paul that calls his team at the PM race in Reno when he is in Japan, just to see how the guys are doing. Ask the guys on the team what he has done for them. Whether you like him or not, he has helped push this sport and his team into the media spotlight and in doing so helped out some guys that would still be struggling both with their careers and financially.

Nuff said. You make up your own mind.

TP

Ed Weathers · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 36 Location: Hood River, Oregon

Let me start by saying I am no Paul Tracy fan. Actually I'm not a fan of the driver Paul Tracy. Never met the man he could be the greatest guy in the world. I will appluad him for putting his money and name forward to garner some exposure for our wonderful sport. I don't know the situation with his old manufacturer or the situation with his new one. My guess is either does anyone else in this thread with the exception of Mr. Pappas. Lets focus on what he has done first and foremost he has brought a certain amount of exposure to karting and that is soreley needed. You want corporate sponsorship? guess what you need exposure before anybody is going to fork out some $$$$$. Paul, if you elevate the sport and you happen to make a profit bravo to you!!!!Paul your efforts you have gone a long ways towards making me a fan of the race driver Paul Tracy!!!!!

One final thought, do you really think that Tracy's move had anything to do with money? For gods sake do you think any profit from his karting business could even come close to his salary at TKG? Get real people.

Darrin Tebbe · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 7:17 am Post subject: Paul Tracy... I just don't get it

Wow, I did't think this would be this hot of a topic. I certainly agree that Paul is putting something back into karting, and the fact is people do not operate any business for practice, they do it for profit. There is nothing wrong with Paul making a profit in karting. That's what a business does. I also have no personal beef with Paul, he may be a great guy that just makes poor decisions on the track. I'm just saying that comparing Paul Tracy to Michael Jordan (as a brand name) is waaaaayyyyy off base. As for exposure, I think SKUSA deserves alot more credit than Paul Tracy and his racing team.

DT

Darren Swisher · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 7:45 am Post subject: Paul Tracy... I just don't get it

The way I see it, and I may be way off base, Is that SSC has a huge amount of resources behind them and Paul maybe thinking that if he partners with them his team and the sport may have a better exposure level. I think he is thinking like most of us business people in that what ever we put into the sport now we are hoping for 10 fold in future returns. Bacically an Investment with many high risks.

Just my opinion, I may be way off base.

Darren

Doug Welch · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 8:13 am Post subject: Paul Tracy... I just don't get it

Lets get this profit stuff put to rest. I am as big a capalistic pig as the next guy. Politically, I'm a republican. However, I have always operated from a stand point of fair profit, not profitering. I have wanted to get rich over time, not all at once and have always tried to provide a value from my services.

Having said that, karting has more of than it's fair share of profiters. Way too many. As karters, we need to be alert for them as in our haste to beat the competition, we are easy pickings. That is why the question is raised.

Doug

Jeff Mulvihill Jr · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 9:32 am Post subject: Paul Tracy... I just don't get it

quote:
Originally posted by Darrin Tebbe:
I'm just saying that comparing Paul Tracy to Michael Jordan (as a brand name) is waaaaayyyyy off base.
DT

Since I brought Michael into the story... I'm curious about your statement. First though, I'm a HUGE MJ fan. Paul Tracy is OK, I like to see him win, but he's not my favorite by any means...

What have they done by endorsements?

Michael Jordan is with Nike to pad his wallet. When was the last time you saw MJ at a High School or even college giving free coaching or handing out water to the kids or ANYTHING for that matter, maybe he has, but did you see it on ESPN! Now compare that to Paul Tracy... has anyone seen him at a kart race lately?

If you're saying that Paul Tracy is not the Michael Jordan of Auto Racing, I 100% agree. IMO there is NO Michael Jordan of any other sport than Golf!

Will Paul Tracy help karting? Already has, but in an entirely different manner than MJ or Tiger have helped their sports. Time, effort, money, contacts, exposure, those are the things that Mr. Tracy can and has brought to karting. What is he getting out of it? WHO cares? Money, maybe? What are WE getting out of it? I would say for the most part, karters are getting entertainment out of it... maybe Mr. Tracy is a normal guy too, maybe he's having a good time!

[ August 09, 2001: Message edited by: Jeff Mulvihill Jr ]

Darrin Tebbe

My point is that Tracy going from brand X to brand Y is much less newsworthy than if Jordan went from Nike to Reebok, for example.

I think the closest thing to a Jordan that CART has seen recently was the Zanardi-Ganassi combo. If you were going to win you had to beat Alex, much like if you were going to beat the bulls you had to beat Mike.

DT

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

lets just say the closest this sport had to a Michael Jordan is the guy who built the Tracy's up until now...

Jeff Mulvihill Jr · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 1:07 pm Post subject: Paul Tracy... I just don't get it

quote:
Originally posted by Mary-Ann Horley:
lets just say the closest this sport had to a Michael Jordan is the guy who built the Tracy's up until now...

Can you imagine how great basketball would be if Michael did what Mr. Penske has with Auto Racing? WOW!

Steve Moore · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 1:44 pm Post subject: Paul Tracy... I just don't get it

quote:
Originally posted by Doug Welch:
Having said that, karting has more of than it's fair share of profiters. Way too many.
Doug[/QB]

Profiteers? I've certainly spent more than my share thrashing around, but in my admittedly limited experience, most of the people I know in this "business" are supporting their racing endeavours through some other source of income. And that goes right up to some pretty major teams, and even chassis manufacturers. This is a place to lose money, not make it.