Cy-Car: Marketing: First Public Showing

On December 6, 2008 the Rogue Valley Riders and local Harley Davidson store put on "The 28th Annual Rogue Valley Toy Run" where over 600 motorcycles paraded through downtown Medford, Oregon carrying toys for disadvantaged children. (Click here to see local news story.) Prior to the parade, the leather clad participants gathered in a large local parking lot, lining up their bikes for the parade, and consuming coffee and doughnuts prior to the 12 o'clock start time. We were invited to come display our TigerCat 3V2 prototype and that's exactly what we did.

Our guys worked late Friday night (and into Saturday morning) to make sure she was show worthy. We extend a very special THANK YOU to Steve Rambo and Gary Reisser who volunteered 3 straight days and went the extra mile for us. Glen, our "fab guy" said he couldn't have done without them!

But they did it! And we were there bright and early Saturday morning pulling the TigerCat 3V2 off the trailer and setting up. That "we" would be Martin Wade (Cy-Car TigerCat designer and mechanical engineer), Bruce Powell (friend, contributor of mechanical ideas, and owner of the trailer), Carl Myers (Cy-Car Marketing guy) and me, Carla Myers (Carl's daughter, Cy-Car web designer and publicist extraordinair!)

Tons of people stopped by to look at our prototype, and I had the privilege of talking to many of them. They gave some great suggestions (like the idea to have a canine rumble seat in the back), asked insightful questions, and provided lots of positive input. "Cool" seemed to be the adjective of choice regarding the TigerCat, and many expressed interest in learning more about our cy-car via our e-mail broadcasts coming up next year. (If you want to be on our list, please email cgmyers@charter.net with "BROADCAST" in the subject line.) My job there was to survey people and have them complete a questionnaire. I got valuable feedback for our marketing department.

My favorite question, from guys who looked closely at the rear wheel and noticed the lack of a drive belt was "How does it run?" We explained that this is our prototype, and she is not quite up and running yet. That will come early next year.

The parade departed at noon, with the roar of 600 motorcycles shaking the earth and making a very powerful statement. It was a great end to our first public outing, and a very cool event all the way around.