Air Race Update with the CEO shows the event is moving forward.

On New Year’s Eve day several people gathered in the office of the Reno Air Race Association for some business. It was to draw a lucky person’s name from a raffle for a car.

Prior to that we had a chance to talk with Micheal Crowell, the new CEO of RARA. Over the past 10 months he’s been working to put the event on a firmer footing.

Michael Crowell took over at CEO of the Reno Air Racing Association last spring.

Asked about 2015 he said, “It’s been great, you know we had a lot of obstacles to overcome from the last few years and we were really able to get everything organized, got our finances in order, we had an increase in our gate, which is great and we had some great races, safe races”

He added that this past year’s Air Races had an 8% increase in spectators when compared to the amount two years ago.

“And we’re close to the 150,00 spectator mark again. After 2011 we dropped down to about 110,000 but now it’s coming back,” he said.

On the negative side, long time sponsor Breitling ended it’s support of the event.

When asked about this Crowell said, “You know Britling was a good sponsor, we had them for 10 or 12 years, they were great. But as you know relationships run their course and they cut their sponsorship funding to us, of course this year they had their demo team traveling the United States, which is very, very expensive and when they came here they were very expensive. But like I said, they’ve been great to work with over the years and its time for us and everybody to step back and take a breath.”

Currently there is an effort to find new sponsors but he added that nothing can be said right now although they are looking at doing something different for sponsorship.

“What we’re looking for are medium sized sponsors, instead of having one giant sized sponsor. That way we can diversify the crowd appeal and that’s what we’re working on right now,” he said. “And there are many of them out there and we’re actually trying to get Nikon back and they’re very positive at this point.”

Another positive for the upcoming Air Races is the return of the Flying Blue Angels. Crowell didn’t have the exact figures because RARA has just started online ticket sales but he said, “…they are coming in very nicely.”

It’s hoped this will draw even more spectators to the event this coming September.

After the disaster a couple of years ago the FAA put in new rules governing the Air Races.

When asked about the current situation he said, “They’re comfortable and we are and as long as we can have a safe race and stay within their parameters, everything is great. And they’re also good to work with, there not as hard on people as you think. They’re good people.”

Another change is bringing in a national network to help expand coverage of the event.

We’ve very excited,” he said. You know last year we brought in NBC sports for the first time. They’re going to do an hour show March 27th.

He added there will be more information forthcoming as to the exact time and channels.

“For us we needed to expand and needed to make this a national event. It’s the only closed pylon racing in the world, we need to brand it better and that’s what we’re trying to do with NBC Sports,” he said. “It’s a long-term event with them, not just a one-year deal. It’s part of our three, four, five-year marketing plan.”

He indicated NBC Sports might have updates during the race. “And that’s part of being with somebody as large as NBC Sports. They will promote their other programs and other things and we’re comfortable with them.”

Asked about his view for the future, he said, “Very positive, we have our costs under control, our volunteers are great, we have some performers this year and booked for 2017. Like I said, getting our finances in order was a key component, cause we had lost so much money over the last few years. And we made a little bit this year that shows we can do it and we’re very excited.”

Right after the interview he turned to the business at hand.

This car was raffled off to help the Air Races.

As part of RARA’s fund raising there was a raffle at last year’s event. The prize was a Lexus RC 350F sports car donated by Dolan Lexus.

T-6 champion Dennis Buehn draws the winning ticket.

So on New Year’s Eve Dennis Buehn, the six-time T-6 champion, drew the winning ticket and handed it to Crowell, who announced the winner; Jim Signaigo from Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Dennis Buehn hands the winning raffle ticket to RARA CEO Michael Crowell.

While Brian Ralston from Dolan Lexus watched Crowell called the winner. When he first took the call Signaigo couldn’t figure out why he was being called.

Brian Ralston from Dolan Lexus watches as Michael Crowell calls the winning raffle ticket owner.

That all changed when he found out why he was being called. Now he has to figure out how to retrieve his prize so there might be a trip to Reno in his near future.

So as the New Year dawns Crowell has RARA moving forward toward this year’s Air Races. The next step will be a visit by members of the Blue Angels for a site survey that will set the stage for their show in September.

OTHER RACING NEWS:

• Air Race 1, a You Tube channel, has a series of videos about If1 racing that includes not only Reno but the overseas events as well.

• The 2016 Dakar Rally began on Sunday but the first broadcast, on NBC Sports, started Monday. This probably the world’s toughest rally and this year will be run in Argentina and Boliva.

While the schedule says 2 p.m. the broadcast begins at 2:30 on Tuesday so checking the TV guide is suggested.

Below is the preliminary TV schedule and all broadcasts are on NBC Sports.

Monday 1/6 – 5:00pm-5:30pm

Tuesday 1/7 – 5:00pm-5:30pm

Wednesday 1/8 – 5:00pm-5:30pm

Thursday 1/9 – 5:00pm-5:30pm

Friday 1/10 – 5:00pm-5:30pm

Saturday 1/11 – 5:30pm-6:00pm

Sunday 1/12 – 10:00pm-10:30pm

Monday 1/13 – 6:30pm-7:00pm

Tuesday 1/14 – 5:00pm-5:30pm

Wednesday 1/15 – 5:00pm-5:30pm

Thursday 1/16 – 5:00pm-5:30pm

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