Business Spotlight: Baby Grand revving for manufacturing success

Everybody thought it was a good idea, but nobody thought Tom and Linda Cravens could actually turn that idea into a successful business. Nobody, that is, except the Cravenses.

In 1990, cable television made its way into the homes of Hartville residents. The Cravenses signed up for cable service and began following the NASCAR circuit. Soon they were hooked on racing and began traveling to places like Talladega, Ala., to watch the Winston Cup Series.

However, the Cravenses weren't satisfied just watching the races. They wanted to race, too.

In the fall of 1992, they developed the idea of building a new type of stock car. This car would be a two-thirds scale replica of a regular Winston Cup vehicle, use a Yamaha XJR1300 engine, weigh about 1,250 pounds and be able to achieve speeds of up to 140 mph.

It also would look and handle like a full-size stock car and be just as safe. The idea met with such enthusiasm that the Cravenses decided to turn their project into a business. They quickly discovered that building a prototype stock car was quite an endeavor.

Local tradespeople were hired to build the prototype in 1993. Two years and two prototypes later, the project was completed, and the Cravenses quickly began preparing for production.

In 1994 and 1995, the couple visited trade shows and began to develop a network of distributors throughout the United States promoting the new Baby Grand racing series. They also ran ads in trade publications.

Simultaneously, a facility for manufacturing Baby Grand cars was built in Marshfield, and blueprints were made of the prototype car. Six employees were hired along with 35 subcontractors, who produced various components using the same manufacturing specifications. In 1996, nearly four years after starting their business, the Cravenses were finally ready to start selling their cars to the public.

However, 1996 proved to be a difficult year. The Cravenses had sunk everything they had into the business only to find out that many of the people interested in buying a Baby Grand car now were reluctant to purchase one.

Before investing $16,000 in a Baby Grand potential customers wanted to make sure other people were buying the car. After all, why spend the money on a Baby Grand if nobody else owned one and you had no one to race against?

The two manufactured six more Baby Grands enough to hold a race. Most racetracks, however, require 20 or more cars of the same class to hold a race, and the Cravenses had to look hard for track owners who would allow them to hold a race with only six or seven cars.

The first Baby Grand races were held at tracks in Lebanon and Bolivar. The small cars looked and handled like NASCAR racers, but cost only $16,000 instead of $100,000. The Baby Grand series began to develop a following, and soon everyone from retirees to young married couples began buying cars so they could compete.

In 1997 the Cravenses took things a step further when they founded a second corporation called the Baby Grand Stock Car Association. The association developed a national scoring system and a set of regulations for drivers and owners to follow. These regulations, which are published at

www.babygrandracing.com,

are followed by more than 240 Baby Grand competitors located throughout the United States and Canada.

"Developing a scoring system and a set of national rules and regulations took us to the next level," Tom Cravens said. "Every weekend, races are held around the country, and we post the results on the Web site. Creating a standard scoring system for competitions meant drivers weren't just competing locally anymore, they were competing nationally against drivers located around the country."

The Cravenses also began soliciting sponsors for national competitions, which allowed them to offer prize money to winners. Around this same time, they started a driving school. For $495, prospective owners can attend a one-day school and learn how to drive a Baby Grand before purchasing one. The school also teaches owners how to attract local sponsors to help offset the cost of owning and maintaining a stock car.

"I would say 80 percent of the people who come to our school live outside of Missouri," Tom Cravens said. "It's a good way for someone to come and see if this is something they really want to do before they buy a car."

The Cravenses are making plans to get Baby Grand stock car races covered by a cable network. They're also enhancing their Web site. Soon, visitors will be able to view short-time videos of races across the country, and get information about owners and drivers.

"As the series develops, the races are getting more exciting," said Linda Cravens. "The drivers are getting more experienced, and some of them are using the Baby Grand series as a training ground so they can move up to another racing series."

Baby Grand Manufacturing Inc.

Year founded: 1993

Owner's name: Baby Grand Manufacturing Inc.

Address and phone number: PO Box 649, Marshfield 65706; 859-6685