franklin_m

I'm skeptical that RC flying and NASCAR pull from the same demographic. But that's just me. I'm glad you were busy. I'm glad it's a good show for local folks who's cost of attendance is low. But for those of us that live outside the area, AMA thinking that I'm going to drive five plus hours one way, probably at least one night in a hotel due to driving distance, and pay for a ticket on top of that -- just to save a few dollars? Maybe? Granted, I'm not one that turns toward "Taj-Muncie" every morninig and chants "I'm not worthy," so for me cost/benefit is a major factor. You're a businessman, I'm sure you get that point.

I'm one where it's about time, logistics, and bang for the buck. While I love the idea of a LHS, in my experience it's been a bust. For example, I value my dollar and I'm not going to pay more and wait for parts that I could have had sooner and more quickly from Amazon prime (with greater selection). With the Internet forums, I can get most questions answered so that I don't need to go in and touch things anymore.

Online folks have really figured out the customer service thing. They work to earn my business as opposed to trying to shame me into spending more because of some unwritten book of things I "should" do.

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Nice report.

I don't know about the northeast but I can promise you down here NASCAR and RC guys (myself excluded I could care less) are well intertwined. In fact I know several NASCAR people that are involved in the hobby.

Hydro Junkie

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't NASCAR something integrated in the DNA south of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi? I know hydroplane racing is in the DNA in Madison IN and Seattle WA so why should NASCAR be any different in the south?

init4fun

Interesting that NASCAR would be mentioned , seeing how it's facing quite the decline of it's own . If you folks down south are that much of die hard NASCAR racing fans you'd best be getting your butts back into the seats since audience attendance figures are down to close to half of their all time high and the attendance slump continues in a downward trend . (just type "NASCAR attendance decline" in your search bar to read of the attendence and TV ratings drop that NASCAR is presently suffering through)

And no , here in the northeast , especially Boston , NASCAR ain't all that popular , maybe because the day to day driving on Route 3 looks kinda like NASCAR so no one wants to watch a replay of their daily commute to work and back .....

rcmiket

Me and my flying buddies are all NASCAR fans and not one of us were born in the south. The popularity decline was due to several reasons over the last 8 years the economy tanking was a huge reason. Doing a 3 day excursion race is a pretty penny when you figure in travel , room and board and tickets.

Mike

franklin_m

Kinda like it's expensive to attend RC Expo East unless you live locally (gas, food, lodging, tickets). Especially when one could sthe vendor page and see the lackluster support from big names. Looking at the list, one might be tempted to think it was the Academy of Model Aqua-nautics!

franklin_m

So, reports here indicate the west coast event was also attended more lightly than in the past. Was there a NASCAR race that same day too?

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

No idea, I told you I'm not a fan. I went to exactly one Daytona 500 because a customer gave me a package that included hospitality passes, good seats, and free parking.

It was neat once but I wouldn't do it again.

Now, Unlimited Hydroplane Racing, that I can get into!

Hydro Junkie

Then this should make you happy.
June 17 has an Unlimited test session in Guntersville Alabama
June 30-July is the Madison Regatta and, trust me, THAT ONE IS WORTH GOING TO!!!!!!!!!!!!! I say that from experience

init4fun

Hi Mike ,

One of the articles I read actually went as far as citing NASCAR's lack of edgy/charismatic characters compared to years past as one of the several reasons for the decline . Who knows ? could be , folks just love the whole good guy VS bad guy thing , it's what the WWF lived on all those years

rcmiket

Now with Tony Stewart retired we lost another fun to watch racer. We'll have to see who emerges as or next "edgy/charismatic character", I'm sure someone will pickup the slack.

Mike

dryverman

My Feedback: (2)

A couple of younger drivers come to mind, Logano and Keslowski. Chase Elliot and Daniel Suarez will also be ones to watch in the near future.

Back to the op's subject...two fellow club members and I made the 8 hr. round trip from VT. We all agreed on one thing...it will be our last AMA Expo trip.

init4fun

Hi Mike ,

Damn the years fly by , huh ? This is how I remember Tony Stewart and to think of him retiring just makes me feel , , old .....

Hi dryverman ,

Can I ask what turned you off about the event ? Was it too sparsely populated ? Was there no real value to you as an RC modeler to have made the 8 hour round trip ? I do believe the trade show is going the way of the dinosaur , trade shows having been the entertainment of a different age that don't really mesh with today's instant accessibility of info & bargains on line .

rcmiket

Keep a eye on Bell in the truck series. He's going to be a good one.

Mike

rcmiket

[QUOTE=init4fun;12312708] Hi Mike ,

Damn the years fly by , huh ? This is how I remember Tony Stewart and to think of him retiring just makes me feel , , old .....


You and me both.

Mike

dryverman

My Feedback: (2)

Hi dryverman ,

Can I ask what turned you off about the event ? Was it too sparsely populated ? Was there no real value to you as an RC modeler to have made the 8 hour round trip ? I do believe the trade show is going the way of the dinosaur , trade shows having been the entertainment of a different age that don't really mesh with today's instant accessibility of info & bargains on line .[/QUOTE]

My interest in the hobby is mainly giant scale...other than a few very nicely done models on static display, there wasn't much for me to get excited about. I'm just not into drone racing or r/c boats.

dryverman

My Feedback: (2)

My interest in the hobby is mainly giant scale...other than a few very nicely done models on static display, there wasn't much for me to get excited about. I'm just not into drone racing or r/c boats.[/QUOTE]

Sorry...double post...

rcboaterbill

A trio of us drove down from New England to attend yesterday. ( Saturday, 23 Feb 2019.)

To us, it felt like the show is in a death spiral- fewer exhibitors, nothing really new to see, lighter attendance. Our feeling was that when a hobby show is resorting to Anderson replacement windows, real estate, and other non-hobby vendors to try to fill the floor, that it is on the way out.

We probably won’t bother doing the “four hour each way” drive in the future....

fliers1

I guess when it gets to the point where there are more vendors than spectators, it may be time to shut it down.

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

With the current state of the AMA they really don't have the money or time to spend(waste) on things like this. Sponsoring this trade show is not going to cure their financial woes or bring in more members.The AMA needs to get their house in order

fliers1

AMA Chief Financial Officer Keith Sessions:He asked at what point do you determine that traditions no longer have the importance they once did (ex.: trade shows, competitions) and suggested considering strategic changes in allocation of available funding.

franklin_m

Which one of the esteemed "Knights of the Model Aircraft Roundtable" pushed this idea? Not that anyone will be voted out of office for wasting members' money or making poor strategic decisions (like this). The prior EVP referred to AMA leadership as "pretty smart," so think it would be good to know which one of them came up with the Edsel that is Expo East.

Appowner

Isn't this the one previously known as the WRAMS or something like that? In Baltimore?

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

Yes . It used to be in White Plains, NY , then moved to Secaucus, NJ in 2012 and then it was sold to the AMA in 2017.

Appowner

Ah Yes! That one. Never made it to that one. There was one in Baltimore, maybe still is, that I went to once. Lived an hour and a half from it for 29 years and went once. That should tell you something.

I grew up 35 miles from the Toledo show. Have yet to see anything to match that one. Even so, it's been years since I've attended that one too.