Quote:
Originally Posted by reginthemouth
I'd like to see a NASCAR sponsored beach cleaning. Then I would understand the link between NASCAR and diving.
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Let me explain what I know about Team Scuba. If I make a mistake, maybe Ray will jump in here and correct it.
Ray Black Jr. is the founder and CEO of the Commercial Diving Academy in Jackonsville, Florida. It is my understanding the Ray is a life long diver, has been very active in diving from the recreational and comercial perspective. He is simply like many of us...... He eats, sleeps, and lives diving. As I understand it, he raised his family the same way. As a result, Ray Black Jr. became a scuba diver.
Several years ago, Ray Jr. went to his dad and said he wanted to try to drive a race car. Ray Sr., being of that generation that hoped to provide a better way for his kids and allow them wider participation in a variety of things than he have been provided....said "OK". Now remember, Ray Sr. was not a particularily avid race car fan. He took some of his hard earned money and purchase Ray Jr. an FMCRA race car. (this is a half-scale verison of a regular race car). They went racing. The the surprise of both of them, Ray Jr. won! In fact, he went on to win the season championship and was voted Rookie of the Year.
I think it came as a surprise to both of them that this kid had this particular talent. Now, like all parents, Ray Sr. wanted to help his son continue to do what he seemed to express a talent in. Long story short......this lead to Team Scuba.
Why Scuba as a sponsor? Remember, this is a DIVING family, not necessarily a RACING family. It just so happened one of the members of the family is a really good racer and will more than likely be a name you hear TONS about in several years.
Ray Sr. only cares about diving. To be honest, I don't think he cares much about owning a NASCAR team. He is there for his son. But, I think he intends to do a first class job since he is there; just like he has done with all his ventures.
This is a family that wants to promote scuba diving. There is no unique connection between NASCAR and scuba, any more than there is a connection between NASCAR and Tide, or NASCAR and Budweiser, or NASCAR and any other brand or activity. The only connection is the NASCAR audience, a group of people that demonstrate amazing brand and company loyality to NASCAR sponsors.
You don't need to like racing to like Team Scuba. You only need to like diving! Team Scuba is a way to get the scuba message to hundreds of thousands of people who fall in the perfect age, income, experience, and participation demographics for diving.
Thanks to a fast kid and a helpful dad, scuba diving is going to be on television! This can only be a good idea.
Ray, correct me where I am wrong. Thanks.
Phil Ellis
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