BallReviews

Equipment Boards => Lane #1 => Topic started by: Aloarjr810 on December 14, 2017, 02:31:17 PM

Title: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Aloarjr810 on December 14, 2017, 02:31:17 PM
Posted on Facebook by Lane #1:

"Hello Sawheads and all past Lane #1 customers. I've come here to announce, to many of you's dismay (and some elated), that on our 25th Anniversary month, Lane #1 will officially be shutting down for a while, until new blood steps up to continue the brand, as it's time to pass the torch.

It's been a wonderful 25 years, with the pleasure of seeing so many bowlers bowl their first 300 game, first 800 series, highest series, first tournament win, increase their average by over 20 pins, winning the most money, first average over 200, etc., etc... All the success stories over the years is what put and/or kept a smile on my face, making me strive to bring better products to the bowling industry.

I want you all to know that I enjoyed every minute giving you all advice on drilling layouts and/or ball recommendations, but the time has come for me to move on to bigger and better things in life, as the bowling industry has left me out to dry, so to speak.

So with all that said, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday season and let's all pray that someone steps up to the plate to keep Lane #1 going strong into the future.

In the meantime, I'll be working on opening up Club 11, next to Strike n Spare lanes, home of this years Bowlers Journal tournament at the USBC Nationals here in Syracuse, so please stop in and say hello if you're coming into town..? Ciao for now..."


Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: HackJandy on December 14, 2017, 03:43:48 PM
Posted on Facebook by Lane #1:

"Hello Sawheads and all past Lane #1 customers. I've come here to announce, to many of you's dismay (and some elated), that on our 25th Anniversary month, Lane #1 will officially be shutting down for a while, until new blood steps up to continue the brand, as it's time to pass the torch.

It's been a wonderful 25 years, with the pleasure of seeing so many bowlers bowl their first 300 game, first 800 series, highest series, first tournament win, increase their average by over 20 pins, winning the most money, first average over 200, etc., etc... All the success stories over the years is what put and/or kept a smile on my face, making me strive to bring better products to the bowling industry.

I want you all to know that I enjoyed every minute giving you all advice on drilling layouts and/or ball recommendations, but the time has come for me to move on to bigger and better things in life, as the bowling industry has left me out to dry, so to speak.

So with all that said, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday season and let's all pray that someone steps up to the plate to keep Lane #1 going strong into the future.

In the meantime, I'll be working on opening up Club 11, next to Strike n Spare lanes, home of this years Bowlers Journal tournament at the USBC Nationals here in Syracuse, so please stop in and say hello if you're coming into town..? Ciao for now..."

Dude did make some balls people loved so going to be polite but many might argue Ritchie often left himself high and dry.  Personally have one of his balls and its meh but will give props to his polish even though I guess he bought that product.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: milorafferty on December 14, 2017, 03:46:46 PM
"...as the bowling industry has left me out to dry, so to speak...."


What a pompous egotistical tool.




"..and some elated..."


Who would possibly be elated? I can see Lane #1 fans being sad. But elated? I'm sure the REAL ball companies don't give a shit one way or the other about the 150-200 balls a year this idiot sells.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: northface28 on December 14, 2017, 04:03:59 PM
They still made balls?
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Bowl_Freak on December 14, 2017, 04:12:28 PM
And i thought they shut down 2 years ago....
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: milorafferty on December 14, 2017, 04:17:53 PM
And i thought they shut down 2 years ago....

They probably did, but it took two years before the dick figured out that people weren't going to pay $300 for his crap he had in storage.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Aloarjr810 on December 14, 2017, 04:22:58 PM
They still made balls?

They hadn't made balls in a long time (since they couldn't pay for the pour), Richie was just selling old stock. While he was trying to get someone to pay a premium price for the company.

Like Storm:
"We've had talks in the past with Storm, but they were never able to see the light and come to the table with any serious offer. They're on top, thus had the feeling owning Lane #1 wasn't necessary.

I would sure like to prove them wring someday, as I know what the capability of this brand really could do if it had a major manufacturer resources behind it.

Oh well, we will see if they have regretted their decision in a few years, or have a change of heart, or not..? Only time will tell."

Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: milorafferty on December 14, 2017, 04:36:27 PM
They still made balls?

They hadn't made balls in a long time (since they couldn't pay for the pour), Ritchie was just selling old stock. While he was trying to get someone to pay a premium price for the company.

Like Storm:
"We've had talks in the past with Storm, but they were never able to see the light and come to the table with any serious offer. They're on top, thus had the feeling owning Lane #1 wasn't necessary.

I would sure like to prove them wring someday, as I know what the capability of this brand really could do if it had a major manufacturer resources behind it.

Oh well, we will see if they have regretted their decision in a few years, or have a change of heart, or not..? Only time will tell."



Yea, it sure seems that Storm made a huge mistake not buying Lane #1. HUGE I say.  ;D
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: DP3 on December 14, 2017, 05:18:16 PM
I'll never forget how classless and and unkind he was to me over the phone when I was a college senior reaching out to his company to see if they would be interested in sponsoring our bowling team.

Any new blood willing to step up and take on a ton of debt?
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: HackJandy on December 14, 2017, 06:32:09 PM
How much longer are his patents valid?  Isn't that about all there is of value to buy?  And even then how valuable are they really?
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Aloarjr810 on December 14, 2017, 06:35:28 PM
The nails in the coffin are when they dropped their PBA registration, that and asking high premium dollar for balls.

The old PSO here said one time a rep for them came in wanting to see about getting them to try Lane #1. He tried to sell one to him for full price, the pso asked what kind of price they'd give him on a case of 4.

The guy called up the company, did some figuring then said they'd take $5 off each ball so $20 off the case. PSO showed him door, he said that was the last time they came there.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Snakster on December 14, 2017, 08:48:21 PM
Any new blood willing to step up and take on a ton of debt?

Would I have to be obnoxious?
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Juggernaut on December 15, 2017, 08:12:20 AM
Any new blood willing to step up and take on a ton of debt?

Would I have to be obnoxious?

 No, just smarter than everybody else, and right all the time.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Snakster on December 15, 2017, 06:29:26 PM
Any new blood willing to step up and take on a ton of debt?

Would I have to be obnoxious?
2 for 2. All I need now is money.
 No, just smarter than everybody else, and right all the time.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Aloarjr810 on December 15, 2017, 06:44:19 PM
Here's the attitude you have to have:

This is in a thread where Richie talks about 3 lane patterns he developed that basically would make all house equal.

It's Time To Take Back Our Game/Sport, Using The ABC's Of Lane Conditioning
http://bowlingballexchange.com/showthread.php?t=64287 (http://bowlingballexchange.com/showthread.php?t=64287)

"Excuse me sir, but who do you think you're speaking to, some house hack lane man or someone similar to a Roger Penske engine builder of the bowling industry..? I've done much research over the years creating these patterns. If you really believe I don't know what I talking about, you have no respect for true pioneers of the industry."

So you have to be a Roger Penske of bowling and true pioneer of the industry!
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: BigWillyStyle on December 15, 2017, 09:12:53 PM
The real nail in the coffin, was when they stopped having Brunswick pour the covers on their equipment. I'm not sure if any of you guys threw any of the older Lane#1 stuff NIB (not plugged or redrilled), but most of it was AMAZING for me. Only ball I ever didn't match up with was the Super Carbide Bomb, and looking back, I believe it was because I didn't use it on the proper conditions...

Not vouching for Ritchie to get a Nobel Peace Prize or anything, but that older equipment would've been worth it to acquire. Only post-Brunswick ball I liked was the Black Panther, and that seemed to die relatively quickly for me.

Also, anyone out there with a 16# NIB Super Carbide message me LOL!
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: HackJandy on December 15, 2017, 09:26:10 PM
Yeah he had some fans but not sure he ever made enough money to pay for the pours which might have been why the move away from Brunswick (not claiming to know whole story, maybe it was the move to Mexico or whatever).
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: lilpossum1 on December 15, 2017, 11:57:56 PM
The classic narcissism disorder is strong with this Ritchie guy... I am almost ashamed to have one of his old balls in my locker, and i got it fourth hand lmao
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: BallReviews-Removed0385 on December 16, 2017, 01:12:57 AM

Although seeing a company call it quits is never a good thing, I think most people would have more empathy had Ritchie been less "polarizing," so to speak.  Whenever you take the attitude that everyone else is doing it wrong or in a substandard way then your own product must be obviously superior, and if not, how do you justify the much higher price? 

My first ever 300 game was with a Hammer Spike pearl, which had a diamond-shaped core, as I recall, so there could have been merit in the idea, but then again, a variety of cores may have worked better.  Who knows?

Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: DP3 on December 16, 2017, 05:05:35 AM
And that Spike Pearl was $139.99 drilled. I remember getting that ball the day it came out in high school. What a gem.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Impending Doom on December 16, 2017, 05:38:58 AM
The spike pearl wasn't a diamond. It looked more like a railroad Spike with a bulge in the middle. http://123bowl.com/bowling-balls/faball/spike-hammer/

2.50 and 0.070? Yes please!! I loved mine.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: REVerse on December 16, 2017, 08:22:28 AM
The Lane #1 Liberator Urethane has worked really well for my son in league play. Richie should have kept it around longer. It is actually a very good ball. We never tried any other Lane #1 balls due to being VERY over priced.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: HankScorpio on December 16, 2017, 09:13:53 AM
I had a Cobalt Bomb Pearl that was excellent. Brunswick pour. If I found a 15# NIB today, I’d drill it up.

After that, I tried a few other Lane 1s that were after they left Brunswick - Time Bomb, Red Death, Blue Death, etc. Boy did those all roll like shit. The chainsaw might’ve been the worst - I tried two of them and they were both over/under nightmares.

Ultimately, Richie makes it clear why he failed even in his announcement - “to many’s dismay (and some elated)”. Always him vs everyone else.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: tkkshop on December 16, 2017, 09:56:41 AM
The spike pearl wasn't a diamond. It looked more like a railroad Spike with a bulge in the middle. http://123bowl.com/bowling-balls/faball/spike-hammer/

2.50 and 0.070? Yes please!! I loved mine.
while the spike wasn't a pure diamond by any means. It does remind me of a later Richie release (if only Richie would have used the full diamond instead of the half)

http://123bowl.com/bowling-balls/lane-1/ripsaw/ (http://123bowl.com/bowling-balls/lane-1/ripsaw/)
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: HackJandy on December 16, 2017, 10:56:01 AM
Blueberry buzzsaw heard was a great piece as well (cranberry as well).  Wouldn't mind punching one of those up if fell in my lap.  Sucker for old school powerkoil.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: bltbyj on December 16, 2017, 10:05:03 PM
I'm only using Lane 1 this season. I have the Carbide Pearl, Carbide LRG, Emerald C/2, Uranium HRG, Pro Purple, Pink Panther,  Dart, Liberator and XXXL Starburst.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: AlonzoHarris on December 17, 2017, 12:07:10 AM
My first reactive ball was a Hybrid Dirty Bomb, followed by the OG Dirty Bomb. Both Brunswick pours. Great balls, but then I took an 8 year break from bowling when high school bowling ended and Brunswick wasn't pouring for them anymore.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: vkowalski1970 on December 17, 2017, 04:48:15 PM
I had a Pink Panther, Pink Panther Pearl and Chainsaw SOS...They were very good. Shot 300 with the SOS, best burnt lane ball Ive ever seen, would love to have another..
Had a few others:Buzzbomb Carnage, Time Bomb and Big Curve were all junk for me....

Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Aloarjr810 on December 27, 2017, 07:27:58 PM
Wow I was just reading a post where Richie said that Brunswick sabotaged his product (I guess back when they poured his balls) and got caught. That's why he stopped having them pouring for him.

How He was humble at one time, but being humble didn't get him anywhere and all it got him was his ideas getting stolen, they left him out to dry. He didn't get any opportunities to work for any of the companies, or design products for them, they just used him.

Boy that was something!
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: BallReviews-Removed0385 on December 28, 2017, 03:01:12 AM

^^^^

Whenever there's a "divorce" there will always be two sides to everything.  I heard Brunswick stopped because he wasn't paying his bills...  Either way, only Richie and a few people at Brunswick would know for sure.   All I know is that when a company is profitable they usually stay in business...  At this point it probably doesn't matter.


 
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: JessN16 on January 04, 2018, 03:38:12 AM
I hate to hear this happened but I can't say I was surprised by it.

What stinks worst for me is that I've been playing around with a Lane #1 Droid for a few months and have been just killing it with that ball. I've struggled a good bit the last 3-4 years after some health issues and it felt good to score well again.

My only encounter with Richie was at The Gathering one year in North Carolina and I asked him a fairly pointed question about why I was having some matchup issues with a couple of his balls, and he answered gracefully and tried to be helpful.

On the other hand, as others have said, the move away from Brunswick was largely a killer. Most of the balls poured by Columbia are junk. Many of the balls poured by 900G are touchy and extremely condition-specific.

That heavy-rolling, strong-midlane characteristic of most Lane #1 stuff proved to be an excellent matchup for me. I don't bowl nearly as much as I used to and don't drill up nearly as much stuff as I once did, but I feel a bit lost now, I have to say. This is not a good day for our sport even if you hated the management.

Jess
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: HackJandy on January 04, 2018, 10:04:20 AM
Only Lane 1 ball I have ever owned is this Stealth Bomber solid I am getting redrilled to try one last time before I give up on it.  Ball doesn't do crap in the mid lane for me and turns even less on heavy oil which is not what its supposed to do.  Definitely $140 I wish I spent on another ball.  Easy to see why people won't pay double for a ball when Radical is 10x better at that segment of the market of super strong asyms.  Love his Bean's polish though which is why saw this day coming and ordered big ass bottle.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Curly on January 05, 2018, 12:32:36 PM
I really liked their Brunswick stuff. The diamond core was a brilliant match-up with Brunswick's Powercoil coverstock. The manufacturing quality was always real good too. We never sold many though... due to their outrageous pricing. Btw, kudos to Ritchie and all their good folks. They sure had outstanding customer service. Sorry to hear they're closing shop.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: HackJandy on January 05, 2018, 12:34:32 PM
I really liked their Brunswick stuff. The diamond core was a brilliant match-up with Brunswick's Powercoil coverstock. The manufacturing quality was always real good too. We never sold many though... due to their outrageous pricing. Btw, kudos to Ritchie and all their good folks. They sure had outstanding customer service. Sorry to hear they're closing shop.

Hard to make a bad ball with powerkoil though imo.  Even my $100 value priced Rampage at the time is one of my better balls a decade later.
Title: Re: LANE #1 calls it quits!
Post by: Curly on January 05, 2018, 12:40:56 PM
True. Lol! That all ties in with their pricing. With so many comparable balls to choose from, folks just didn't want to pay an extra 50-80 bucks for the Lane1 logo alone.