In January of this year, the founders of Jetski Junkies USA, rolled out a few new pilot programs to help build relationships between dealer customers and club members. Due to the amount of ride time the JJ Club sees specifically here in Florida, the members tend to put a lot more hours on their PWC than the average rider.
These programs are specifically designed to get the dealership customers actively riding, meeting new people, learning from others about the industry, staying interested and of course having access to the best PWC adventures offered around the country. Multiple dealers were approached with offers and in April 2015, the first pilot program was put into action with one of Florida’s oldest, largest powersports dealers, Barney’s Motorcycle & Marine.
Barneys has been in business since 1946 and currently operates three major locations in St. Petersburg, Brooksville and Brandon, carrying every type of powersports toy imaginable along with all three OEM brands of personal watercraft: Yamaha, Sea-Doo and Kawasaki. Barneys covers at least 165 Gulf Coast miles and over two thirds of the Central Region of Florida within just an hour away.
Pride and heritage speaks volumes as the three dealerships are decorated with powersport pieces from the past, vintage watercraft, motorcycles, scooters, etc. all restored to like-new condition. The walls speak of racing history with plaques, articles and trophies adorning every square inch of open wall space giving you the feeling it’s not just about making a sale, it’s truly about making you a fan for life.
The pilot program, spearheaded by KC Wood, President of Barneys Motorcycle & Marine, Ralph Chancey of Powersports Advertising Group and the founders of Jetski Junkies Jet Ski Club, just finalized it’s second group PWC ride with outstanding success. The goal being to offer directly to the customers of Barneys, a World Class group touring experience, a first in the PWC industry.
The first group ride was held in May and took a very lucky 44 riders up the Intracoastal Waterway with a stop for lunch and then out into the Gulf of Mexico along the most beautiful beaches in the world, a stop for shell finding and swimming on a pristine island before ending the day. With nearly a third more signed up for ride Number Two, a storm attempted to shut us out; however, for the nearly 40 riders willing to wait it out, they received the ride of a lifetime with an intimate ride beneath Florida’s iconic Skyway Bridge and around the remains of the original Skyway Bridge which collapsed on May 9, 1980, now used as fishing piers.
From there it was up the shoals along the east side of Tampa Bay to Bishop Harbor for snorkeling and swimming and then to the Skyway Beach for lunch on the north side of I-275 before ending the day. Without a doubt, the riders coming out for these rides are having the time of their life and getting up close and personal with history and wildlife while meeting new like minded friends as well as the dealership owner and staff to help and answer any questions.
Hi
We are a Portuguese Club – MOTOJETSKI and we share The same opinion and the same experience.
The Club fans get more fun and rides more and have more to share with others.
Thanks