Motorsports in Indiana - Research Paper Example

Motorsports in Indiana Abstract The Indiana, Central Indian in specific, has a reputation for being the world’s racing capital. The designation exists traditionally because of the presence of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Notably, the presence of the Indianapolis 500 accounts for the popularity of the sport in Indiana. The research paper will give a broader look at the motorsports industry relating to its historical implications, economic issues, social issues, cultural perspective, and the science behind such technology in Indiana. Discussing the industry’s future, thereby, identifying the challenges and their possible solutions is of importance (Jawad & Baumann, 2002). Introduction As the name goes, motorsports is a sport of racing. It is a unique game in the world of sports. At the highest level, motorsports are about technology and the ongoing innovation. Therefore, as the focus may be on the drivers, the focus is also on the engineers, the fabricator, and the mechanic. Focus is also on the innovators of gasoline alley, Martinsville and virtually all parts related to the sporting activity. In a simple term, the baseball uses the cowhide, the football uses pigskin, and the Motorsports use the Kevlar. The sport commits to subsequent innovations that make the motorsport cluster different from other games (Ballard & Hudson, 2013). The motorsports cluster has a wide range of industry sectors that has a wider economic distribution spread within the state. It is of importance to understand the relationship between the motorsports cluster and the core racing industry. The core racing industry is whereby the firms directly involves in the sport of racing. Therefore, such industries would not exist if not for the racing game. Such core racing industries comprise of firms that provide benefits to and from the economic interactions between the core competition companies (Jawad & Baumann, 2002). In addition to the companies in the core racing industry, the motorsports cluster also has firms in 120 six-digit NAICS codes. It provides for the purchase of materials, parts from and to core racing industries and services. To highlight the race team, or parts manufacturer who operates by dependence on the purchase of the materials. They connect to the motorsports cluster by other firms comprising of the vehicle production companies. Such companies buy and sell to the racing firms sharing the same technology, the same supply chain, and the same labor pool. The cluster also links to the support services such as the financial, the marketing, and the legal firms. Therefore, motorsport group refers to a multiple of activities within the racing industry (Jawad & Baumann, 2002). Historical Implications The history of motor racing dates back in the year 1867. The race was between two self-powered road vehicles. During this period, the track competition was still very new. The internal combustion racing games began the construction of gasoline automobile. That was the year 1887. A significant transformation was in the 1930s. It transformed high-priced road cars to pure racers. Sports car racing emerged after the Second World War. From the 1960s henceforth, the purposed built racecars started racing as motorsports (Ballard & Hudson, 2013). Over the years, the motorsports industry has faced significant changes associated with the advancement of science and technology. The progress has grown to a magnificent level in Indiana to a level of identifying motorsports as one of the key economic activity. The country gains a lot of domestic and foreign currency from the sports (Jawad & Baumann, 2002). The Indiana’s century-long racing heritage is in the process of construction, created by Governor Mitch Daniels. Within Indiana, Economic Development Corporation, the construction is taking place by encouraging technological innovation, motorsports, industry investment, and job creation in the industry (Gifford, 2009). Economic Importance of Motorsports The motorsports touch on almost every corner of the Indiana economy. Motorsport is essential to the economy. It is part sports, part research and development, part precious manufacturing, part recreation and part industrial design. To a greater extent, the industry is also part advertising and marketing, part research and development, a component organization of vast events and multiple roles linked to the industry. It is indirectly responsible for approximately 421,000 jobs. The cluster directly employs more than 23,000 within the state and averagely pays a wage of $63,000, thereby exceeding the average wage of the state by over $ 13,000 (Gifford & Kingfisher, 2006). The industry touches an average of 91 of the Indiana’s 92 counties in one way or another. Beyond the racetracks, there also exist the fabricators, the manufacturers, the race teams, the research and development firms and the suppliers. The cluster comprises of firms such as the welding companies, public relations firms, the marketing, and the service providers, composing of the whole footprint of the industry within the state. All these contribute to the government revenue. The jobs created are also important in increasing the purchasing power of the citizens (Gifford & Kingfisher, 2006). The core racing industry itself contributes a lot to the economy. The motorsports have approximately 2,130 establishments that relate to racing sport. Track firm at the center represents an average of 8.7% of the firms in the cluster. The number of individuals employed in the base is close to 23,000 people. The number represents 5.5% of the total employment in the cluster (McKinney & Metz, 2002). Therefore, the motorsports group creates a wide range of employment opportunities thereby contributing to the economy. A stable economy is one that employs its population, thus, contributing to growth. Indiana comes to the top three locations where motorsports industry is vital in the world. The motorsports cluster is significant to the economy of Indiana in its diversity and its size. Averagely every county in Indiana benefits from the motorsports cluster. The motorsports industry links itself to other companies such as the passenger vehicle, defense, manufacturing, orthopedics, and the aerospace. Therefore, with a core cluster of motorsports firms in the region, other chain industries are not exclusively motorsport related. Therefore, this accounts for the diversification of the industry within the state. Such diversification is necessary for a sustainable economy (Gifford & Kingfisher, 2006). Another economic contribution of the industry in Indiana is that its footprint goes beyond the region. The racing teams domiciled in the state of Indiana extends all over the country thereby bringing dollars back. The industries or the companies that supply the motorsports cluster also send their wares all over the world, having customers in over twenty countries. In the same wavelength, spectators come all over the world to witness such sports. Hence, the industry is not limited to the state; it economically spreads to other regions (McKinney & Metz, 2002). Apart from the above contributions, other elements enhance its collective importance to the economy of Indiana. In particular, the international nature of the racing activity enhances the state’s international image. The improved image attracts foreign investments and the human capital in Indiana. The tourists are important in foreign exchange thereby adding up to the government revenue (Gifford, 2009). The high skill nature of the cluster and high technology attracts innovators and engineers to Indiana. Such specialists are responsible for ensuring a continued growth in innovation and inventions in the region. Motorsports industry is also essential in engendering the business links necessary in the globalization of the local products (Gifford, 2009). Finally, the advanced technological and manufacturing component of motorsports supports the manufacturing base in Indiana. It is also of importance to those who wish to advance their career in the industry. Indiana has been the ground where many come to advance their profession in manufacturing. Such contributions are significant as they enhance the development of knowledge and growth in educational programs within the region (McKinney & Metz, 2002). Social Issues The sporting activity has the greatest positive social impact in Indonesia. It gives people a chance to become innovative in terms of support in relevant fields. It also avails to the people the opportunity to interact and to build stronger social ties. Motorsports events bring a large number of visitors. The economic value of the events surpasses the social benefits to the community. Such activities provide opportunities for the service industry like clubs. They also give organizations an opportunity to mobilize and collect fund, in the process, bring people together (McKinney & Metz, 2002). Motorsports brings many people together from different dimensions. People travel across the world for motorsports competitions. During such events, people prepare much earlier and some accordingly book hotels earlier enough. With interactions and cultural exchanges, there is some tendency of nurturing positive values to the citizens. Therefore, the events contribute in bringing people from different cultural diversities for a common purpose (Gifford, 2009). From motorsports, many of the Indonesians have mingled and to some extent, married with people from different sections of the world. Such sports are of significance as they help to relieve one from boredom and more often, one identifies with a team. Thereby, motorsports act as a source of social identification (Jawad & Baumann, 2002). Cultural Perspective Indiana, North Carolina, and England are popular for their success in the motorsports industry. England, culturally acknowledged as the epicenter of the Formula 1. It has the most advanced technology and reaps the most from the motorsports industry. North Carolina culturally recognized as the NASCAR hub. While Indiana, culturally identified as the home of open-wheel oval racing. It comprises of the Indianapolis and the open wheel prominent events. There also exists the corporate leadership in terms of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Car (Riley, George& Society of Automotive Engineers, 2002). There is a diverse and a more prominent motorsports culture comprising of the midgets, powerboats, sprint cars, karting, motorcycle, and many other forms of racing. The Indonesians associate with motorsports culture. Since the state government reaps a lot from the industry, the government promotes the activity by giving an essential support it can. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has a motorsport division that focuses on the provision of support and the recruitment of the motorsport assets in the state (McKinney & Metz, 2002). On a different perspective, the influx of different cultures resulting from the motor sporting events contributes to the development of diverse culture and population (Ballard & Hudson, 2013). Science behind the Technology The industry relies heavily on innovations and improvements. The year 2004 report on motorsports identified that as patents are the conventional measures of change, it is not a useful measure on motorsports. The reason comes from the pace of innovation. The pace is so rapid that new parts of technology often go obsolete before the completion of the patent application process. Every design engineer in the assembly line aims at making the parts better at every stage (Jawad & Baumann, 2002). The uniqueness of the innovations in the industry is identified with the advancement in scientific research and technology. It requires educated, highly motivated and a well-trained workforce. The rate of change has a vast range of relevant technology transfer. The motorsports focus does not entirely rely on the mass production of parts. For example, Bo-Mar was able to design a customized a new fuel-efficient diesel engine that Cummins could not design. The science behind the advancement within the industry relies majorly on technological transfer (McKinney & Metz, 2002). A unique science that makes the motorsport different from other sports is scientific discoveries. A motor used in such racing games is different from other vehicles mainly because of its high downforce wing and the airfoil they have. That accounts for the science that is behind the success of the industry. The down force is a critical parameter in determining the race vehicle performance (Jawad & Baumann, 2002). Along with weight, power, and tires, it is one of the most important aspects in which Indonesia pride in their open wheel racecars. Such cars have wings and other elements of the aerodynamic package. It gives the vehicle an airfoil shape, which is superior in performance. The various components of the aerodynamic package contribute to the downforce level, thereby making the body efficient for motor sporting. Therefore, motorsports in Indiana spurs inventions and innovations. The advancement of innovations and the inventions also help in other sectors (McKinney & Metz, 2002). The future of Motorsports in Indonesia Most of the drawbacks to the industry relates to the technological transfer and the commercialization of the motorsports. A number of project planners’ points out that motorsports cluster have a considerable amount of intellectual property. The companies and the racing teams generate many intellectual properties. However, it is not routinely under protection by patents. Patents seem too slow to keep with the pace of the innovation. Moreover, companies in the industry do not look for technical assistance or research and development; from the universities. Therefore, a delay in the research and innovations holds the industry to grow to a greater level (McKinney & Metz, 2002). Practical solutions for the above key challenges facing the industry are as follows. First, there is need to create a pilot team of engineers. University researchers and entrepreneurs that associate themselves with the industry must be able to offer efficient security checks for the teams. Such teams have to inspire trust and confidence from the companies they work (Jawad & Baumann, 2002). Second, the industry should consider assembling a cadre of IP attorneys that will assist in the pilot project by ensuring reduced legal rates. The attorneys will assist the companies in filing their patent applications too. Third, there has to be a transfer of technology through the Indiana Motorsports Association, thereby, assembling a group of the pilot companies. The pilot companies should be willing and have to be ready for the participation in the pilot projects (Ballard & Hudson, 2013). The fourth solution is for the companies that have agreed to enter the business. The harvester team will have the responsibility of interviewing the researchers, mechanics, engineers, and those aiming at working on the innovations or the inventions. Fifth, since identifying a commercial activity may be challenging, application of the pilot project may be an excellent opportunity. It may be important in engaging entrepreneurship programs at the universities to enable students to review IP portfolios (McKinney & Metz, 2002). Lastly, the technology available for licensing should be assembling into technology road show. Such move will allow potential investors to understand how the technologies work, which might be an excellent exposure (Jawad & Baumann, 2002). Conclusion As one of the United States of America’s leading motorsports company hubs, Indiana provides motorsports companies from around the globe with resources and the talent they need to succeed. The motorsports events are of economic, social, and cultural importance to the state of Indonesia. The state prides in its advancement in science and technology, specifically, the mechanical part, which put it at the top of the industry. With an excellent geographical landscape, the state comes among the top regions in motorsports activity (Riley, George& Society of Automotive Engineers, 2002). References McKinney, M., Metz, L. D., Society of Automotive Engineers., & Motorsports Engineering Conference & Exhibition. (2002). Potential for a ground-effects top fuel dragster. Warrendale, PA: SAE International. Jawad, B. A., & Baumann, J. (2002). Design of Formula SAE suspension. Warrendale, Pa: Society of Automotive Engineers. Riley, W. B., George, A. R., & Society of Automotive Engineers. (2002). Design, analysis and testing of a formula SAE car chassis. Warrendale, Pa: Society of Automotive Engineers. Ballard, S. L., & Hudson, P. L. (2013). Listen Here: Women Writing in Appalachia. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. Gifford, C. (2009). Motorsports. London: Wayland. Gifford, C., & Kingfisher (Firm). (2006). Racing: The ultimate motorsports encyclopedia. New York: Kingfisher/Houghton Mifflin Co. 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