Peter Murphy
I know the promoters are not making a killing, if anything at all, which is
why all of you have day jobs. But my quote still stands on its own. I guess
I should have put the words "try to" between can and make. I did not mean to
paint promoters as a greedy, vile, and money hungry bunch of characters.
I appreciate everything that the promoters and race organizers do for the
racing public and I try to remember to thank the workers at every event. I
apologize that my comment was not clearly expressed.
Pete Murphy
From: "Brad Cockman, DC" <bra-@bigfoot.com>
Reply-To: bra-@bigfoot.com
To: ob-@topica.com, Matthew Wolpert <matthew.-@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] ...so they can make as much money as possible. It
is all promoti
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 21:22:53 +0000
Thank you Matt for the concise understanding of race promoting. Recently
Tim Plummer and I put on the High Desert RR and Crit in Bend and while
in the end we did make some money it is always a gamble, not only in
promoting a race, but doing it in the waning part of the season so far
from the main bike racing hubs of Portland and Eugene (not to mention
possible weather snafus). We even had a couple of complaints regarding
our "expensive" race, which wouldn't have been any more expensive than
the next race had people taken the time to actually pre-register. Thanks
and kudos to those of you that saved $10. We also gave, as most
promoters do, the ability to volunteer for the race in some capacity.
These people either got to race for free or got some good schwag.
Yes, we made some money. Yes, that was our intention. If we penciled it
out to an hourly rate though it would not come out to a whole heck of a
lot. We (and our sponsors) do it out of a love for the sport and a love
of seeing people at our race enjoying the courses and the competition.
You know what else makes it worthwhile? The people that go out of their
way to thank us for putting on the race. Personally I try to make a
point of this at the races I go to, not only thanking the promoter but
the officials and volunteers as well.
To sum up: don't take racing for granted. Thank your officials. Thank
your promoters. Thank your sponsors and volunteers.
(steps off of soapbox)
Matthew Wolpert wrote:
Someone in OBRAland recently wrote:
"Every promoter who tells you about his race also wants the largest
crowd
possible so they can make as much money as possible. It is all
promotions."
While many might think this is the case as I once did, in truth it
betrays a complete lack of understanding of OBRA races. Yes, some do
make money sometimes. More often the people who put together bike
races actually lose money or at best break even.
The people who sponsor and organize bike races do so because they want
to give something back to the racing community, and out of a sense of
respect to the others who have spent many hours of their time working
hard so that the masses in Oregon have races to go to.
I want to make sure that this person knows that in addition to large
amounts of a organizers time which he or she is _donating_ to the
greater OBRA community, there are many costs associated with putting
together a bike race that require cash.
*Those porta johns that you sometimes have to wait in line to use,
someone has to pay for them.
*Medical personel and race officials receive a modest stipend for
their generous committment to volunteer.
*DOT Permits generally require fees for approval.
*Prizes, however small they may seem, cost someone money.
*Renting the OBRA equipment costs money.
*Insurance to protect OBRA and people who organize races and the
racers costs money.
*Food for volunteers and officials costs money.
*Printing race fliers costs money
There are a number of other "miscellaneous" costs associated with bike
races as well. While it's pretty easy to total the number of
participants and multiply by the race entry fee, and think "gee, these
guys are making a killing" it just isn't so.
After all of these items are paid for, I have personally witnessed
organizers distributing the remaining proceeds to the racers as ad hoc
prizes weeks after the race is over, or to the OBRA organization
directly.
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Murray <mike.m-@obra.org>
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 2004 11:13:09 -0700
Subject: RE: [OBRA Chat] Test Ride a Cannondale Six13, Sunday, Sept. 19
To: tnels-@aol.com, shane.-@comcast.net,
cur-@rivercitybicycles.com, ob-@topica.com
Tom's opinion is noted but it is just that, his opinion. It does not
reflect the intention that we had when we set up the lists and,
apparently, does not reflect the opinion of the majority of the
posters to the list. I certainly don't have any problem if the
ob-@topica.com list becomes a "free advertising tool". The list info
states:
"This is the mailing list for the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association.
Our mission is to foster and grow the sport of bicycle racing in
Oregon -road, track, mountain bike and cyclocross. This list is to be
used to post for-sale bicycle related items and to spark discussions
about the sport."
Note that this does not preclude commercial posts in any way. To date
commercial posts have not even been close to a problem.
Curt, feel free to continue to use the list as you have.
Mike Murray
-----Original Message-----
From: TNels-@aol.com [mailto:TNels-@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 17:59 PM
To: shane.-@comcast.net; cur-@rivercitybicycles.com;
ob-@topica.com
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Test Ride a Cannondale Six13, Sunday, Sept. 19
I agree that River City is a great shop and supports Oregon bicycle
racing at a great level. However, if every bicycle shop posted demos,
ads and other marketing tools to create business the OBRA e-mail list
would become a free advertising tool and be greatly off base of the
intended purpose it was to serve. I know that other local bicycle
retailers has used the discretion and decided not to blatantly conduct
business on the OBRA e-mail list. All local shops should try to
conduct their business activities in a respectful manner in regards to
the OBRA mailing list.
TomTo respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com. To respond
to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org To unsubscribe send to
obra-uns-@topica.comTo respond to the whole group send to
ob-@topica.com. To respond to the list manager send to
cmur-@obra.org To unsubscribe send to
To respond to the whole group send to ob-@topica.com.
To respond to the list manager send to cmur-@obra.org
To unsubscribe send to obra-uns-@topica.com