My alltime favorite Champion post (don't recall who wrote it) class and honor
Once upon a time...
A few guys decided to start building boats. They had a novel idea. Instead of putting the emphasis on smoke, mirrors, marketing and bull$@&!!, they put their effort into designing a product that performed. A boat hull that out turned, out rode, and was safer, and even faster than most of it's peers. They dressed their hull with fit and finish details that set the standard in the industry, and topped it off with deeper, glossier, smoother gelcoat than any other bass boat of the day. This boat was a champion.
Then, these same guys decided to let the product speak for itself. Instead of giving away free boats to prostaff, and putting glossy ads in every bass fishing publication they could find, they taught their pros how to make their boat do turns a jet ski would envy. They sold their product by putting butts in seats. "Sell a test drive, and you have sold a boat" was the plan.
It worked.
They created a loyal, some would even say rabid, following. This following became a family. They celebrated this family with a homecoming event for their kids every fall, drawing hundreds of boats back to Mecca, Northern Arkansas.
Time marches on, people move in and out, some skilled in business, and honest, and others who made poor choices. Those poor choices came home to roost, and soon the family is hurt, wondering what will become of their Champion.
The design lineage and BS free philosophy are too good to let go though, and some new family members lift the Champ from a near knockout blow. It is a long fight, going many rounds, and the Volunteer State boys fought it well and hard, working with the goal of bringing the brusied, but still standing Champ back to it's former glory.
Greed takes it's toll on our nation's economy, and the Volunteers have the rug pulled out from under them. The Champ goes down for the count.
The legacy is plundered, and the former Champ, now a redheaded step child, is reduced to simply a donor in the gene pool of boat designs. Can't beat em? Steal what brought The Champ to the big dance.
The no BS, put butts in the seat, build a better product and let it sell itself dream is gone.
Thank you to John Storie, Bill Pace, Bruce Benton, Dave Shlick, Kelly Power, Don Wood, Stephanie Dinkins, and all the other Mountian Home and Murfreesboro folks who sweat, itched, bled, and worked their butts off to make a living and build something more than just a boat. You made a Champion.
Modified by bassin butch at 9:33 PM 5/18/2011
Re: My alltime favorite Champion post (don't recall who wr ... (bassin butch)
Re: My alltime favorite Champion post (don't recall who wr ... (bassin butch)
Re: My alltime favorite Champion post (don't recall who wr ... (bassin butch)
Re: My alltime favorite Champion post (don't recall who wr ... (bassin butch)
Re: My alltime favorite Champion post (Lpolk)
Just keep in mind that the stickers on the side is less important that the hull they are adhered to. I am SO happy with my boat, but if something were to happen to it, I for one don't think I would hesitate to buy a brand new one with those other stickers on it.
I for one LOVE the ride of my hull, the safety and the ability to corner. Honestly I can't see the badges on the side of my boat while I am fishing from it nor flying by the other lead sleds on smooth or rough water.
So if it is all about the ride does it really matter what is says on the side? Or are we falling into what Mr. Goff referred to as the lemming mentality and abandoning what got us all here together in the first place. A hull that is truly a cut above the rest.
Sorry if this is off topic, but there have been a lot of posts lately about going to this brand or that. I for one hope that people continue to buy Champion Hulls so that one day, if I have to, I can get as close to what I have as possible.
Modified by Dspchamy at 10:06 PM 5/18/2011
Re: My alltime favorite Champion post (don't recall who wr ... (bassin butch)
Thanks Butch-
That one was mine, with some inspiration from some of Pat's stories. I just ate dinner in Mountain Home yesterday, and still got a lump in my throat when I drove by the road to the old plant and thought about how many times my dad drove his boat crazy kid by there to drool.
Ahh the emotion we can attach to these hunks of glass and resin...
Mark Burris
Re: My alltime favorite Champion post (Dspchamy)
Re: My alltime favorite Champion post (WaYoop)
Re: My alltime favorite Champion post (mixermarkb)
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by mixermarkb »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Thanks Butch-
That one was mine, with some inspiration from some of Pat's stories. I just ate dinner in Mountain Home yesterday, and still got a lump in my throat when I drove by the road to the old plant and thought about how many times my dad drove his boat crazy kid by there to drool.
Ahh the emotion we can attach to these hunks of glass and resin...
Mark Burris</td></tr></table>
Great one Mark - I remember it too & it is now added to the 'ChampioN World' thread under Pat's thoughts on the wide body models Vs. the original Mt. Home game changers... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/USA1.gif
