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First – thank you for your posting. Let me address your statements and concerns as best I can.
As you have pointed out – this is 2010 – another new year and season of racing is underway...and this means that D1 will have an even harder time of correcting the mistakes of the past – but please know that this is goal 1. We understand people’s skepticism and acknowledge that only time and actions will prove 2010 to be what everyone wants to see from D1.
Let me further address some of your comments more specifically.
“Tantrums and Trophy Trashing”.
I don’t want to dismiss this as overstated – but simply put.... drivers on both shores are comprised of talent that are for the most part well intentioned – but often misguided in their actions or words. The drift organizations in both the US and Japan should not be condemned for a single driver’s actions.
“Late Season”
I appreciate your willingness to accept a late season and late season notice and acknowledge that there are others who may not. To put this into perspective – the new D1 partnership wanted to act conservatively this year given the ‘empty promises’ of the past. As you will note – a televised D1 show was promised last year and then never delivered on. This promise came directly from the organizer and as honest as he was in his desire to deliver on that promise – it does take considerable efforts to put together a lucrative television deal – and this did not manifest for him, and as you have pointed out – there should have been no blowing smoke about it until it was real. That is not the case this year. As you will note from the press release – the new D1 organization is being headed by leaders in the television industry (an important difference between this and any other year)...Bob Cook is the former president of 20 Century Fox and Sam Johnson is a 20 year veteran in television marketing. They simply wanted to have every i dotted and t crossed before announcing anything. Simply put – they wanted it to be ‘real’...no more promises. Ink needed to be on the paper before they would move forward with any announcement because they were determined to not do what had been done previously. That is now the case. Speed has made a very serious commitment to D1 as they are also interested in growing the next generation of top motor sport. Also of important note – D1 Worldwide Entertainment is not only bringing the US held events to Speed – but televising the entire season of D1 as it unfolds in Japan as well. This is a first.
“Drivers for D1 2010”
Yes the race season is half over – and this alone will assist in making available many of the top drivers as most D1 events will happen after their other commitments finish. Other important considerations that will be weighed up by drivers (in particular those who have sponsors) is that this series is televised. A full hour long 15 part series that will not only cover the races – but will feature drivers, their shops, their sponsors and more. This value will not be ignored by drivers as sponsors will want to be part of that massive exposure. Another important difference will be the purse – this will be considerably more than we have ever seen in the sport. Again – a new effort to help elevate this to the professional level that other motor sports enjoy.
“Judging and Announcing”
We share your concerns about ‘quality judging’ and appreciate your suggestions – we are considering these as well as other options and will make an announcement as early as we possibly can.
“Image”
You make some very good points with regard to D1 and its main US competitor. We have a ton of respect for what they have done for the sport and their series in particular. But rather than focus on how D1 will position themselves in the drift community here in the US – we will focus solely on bringing D1 as it exists in Japan to US events and to the American television audience. D1 will succeed and survive as they have for over a decade by developing a US counterpart that is on par with the Japanese. This is not going to happen quickly – but it will be the objective and it will be both competitive and entertaining. That is all we can do.
“Television”
Your comments are likely shared by others – but that does not make them true. In fact – the American partners in D1 Worldwide Entertainment are comprised of television executives with decades of experience within that industry and their efforts will be to put together an entertaining product that will appeal to both long time fans, avid enthusiasts, as well as to develop a whole new audience.
As you have pointed out – this is 2010 – another new year and season of racing is underway...and this means that D1 will have an even harder time of correcting the mistakes of the past – but please know that this is goal 1. We understand people’s skepticism and acknowledge that only time and actions will prove 2010 to be what everyone wants to see from D1.
Let me further address some of your comments more specifically.
“Tantrums and Trophy Trashing”.
I don’t want to dismiss this as overstated – but simply put.... drivers on both shores are comprised of talent that are for the most part well intentioned – but often misguided in their actions or words. The drift organizations in both the US and Japan should not be condemned for a single driver’s actions.
“Late Season”
I appreciate your willingness to accept a late season and late season notice and acknowledge that there are others who may not. To put this into perspective – the new D1 partnership wanted to act conservatively this year given the ‘empty promises’ of the past. As you will note – a televised D1 show was promised last year and then never delivered on. This promise came directly from the organizer and as honest as he was in his desire to deliver on that promise – it does take considerable efforts to put together a lucrative television deal – and this did not manifest for him, and as you have pointed out – there should have been no blowing smoke about it until it was real. That is not the case this year. As you will note from the press release – the new D1 organization is being headed by leaders in the television industry (an important difference between this and any other year)...Bob Cook is the former president of 20 Century Fox and Sam Johnson is a 20 year veteran in television marketing. They simply wanted to have every i dotted and t crossed before announcing anything. Simply put – they wanted it to be ‘real’...no more promises. Ink needed to be on the paper before they would move forward with any announcement because they were determined to not do what had been done previously. That is now the case. Speed has made a very serious commitment to D1 as they are also interested in growing the next generation of top motor sport. Also of important note – D1 Worldwide Entertainment is not only bringing the US held events to Speed – but televising the entire season of D1 as it unfolds in Japan as well. This is a first.
“Drivers for D1 2010”
Yes the race season is half over – and this alone will assist in making available many of the top drivers as most D1 events will happen after their other commitments finish. Other important considerations that will be weighed up by drivers (in particular those who have sponsors) is that this series is televised. A full hour long 15 part series that will not only cover the races – but will feature drivers, their shops, their sponsors and more. This value will not be ignored by drivers as sponsors will want to be part of that massive exposure. Another important difference will be the purse – this will be considerably more than we have ever seen in the sport. Again – a new effort to help elevate this to the professional level that other motor sports enjoy.
“Judging and Announcing”
We share your concerns about ‘quality judging’ and appreciate your suggestions – we are considering these as well as other options and will make an announcement as early as we possibly can.
“Image”
You make some very good points with regard to D1 and its main US competitor. We have a ton of respect for what they have done for the sport and their series in particular. But rather than focus on how D1 will position themselves in the drift community here in the US – we will focus solely on bringing D1 as it exists in Japan to US events and to the American television audience. D1 will succeed and survive as they have for over a decade by developing a US counterpart that is on par with the Japanese. This is not going to happen quickly – but it will be the objective and it will be both competitive and entertaining. That is all we can do.
“Television”
Your comments are likely shared by others – but that does not make them true. In fact – the American partners in D1 Worldwide Entertainment are comprised of television executives with decades of experience within that industry and their efforts will be to put together an entertaining product that will appeal to both long time fans, avid enthusiasts, as well as to develop a whole new audience.