and what kind of things do sponsors offer? I'm pretty sure of myself in all other areas, except for financing this

 

Show that you can win
Be a role model in the paddock
Keep a clean car and paddock area
Set goals for yourself and your proposed sponsor
Show them your race schedule, attendance numbers, etc
PERSONALITY

at our level discount prices, discount services, parts at cost, trackside support is great

do not be greedy, any help can be good help

 

Do some searching on H-T and on professional motosports teams websites - not only road race but drag race also. Many of them have sponsor proposals on their website. This will give you a good starting point.

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=479746

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=90900

Some really great tips in these

 

find a new place that's just starting up and doesn't have that much exposure. for instance......the guy that installed my cage is getting ready to go "public" and as of right now is getting business purely through word of mouth. I'm hoping i can get him to sponsor me for something small.......like fuel for the weekend, or a few hundred dollars/season, er something like that.

just asking for parts at cost should be very attractive. it doesn't really cost the business anything, they get exposure, and it helps you out.

don't just go around asking for money. have a written proposal of how YOU can help THEM. even if you aren't winning you can get sponsors, just keep a clean car, professional paddock area, and a willing attitude and you'll be fine.

 

I'd stick with asking for discounts on parts or services. You might even be able to do some bartering.

At this level I don't think it is wise to ask for money. But if you do I would tie it into a specific need. For instance $500.00 for a set of tires, or x dollars for fuel for the weekend. You are much more likely to get help if the sponsor can see what his contribution is spent on.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd stick with asking for discounts on parts or services. You might even be able to do some bartering.

At this level I don't think it is wise to ask for money. But if you do I would tie it into a specific need. For instance $500.00 for a set of tires, or x dollars for fuel for the weekend. You are much more likely to get help if the sponsor can see what his contribution is spent on.

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agreed

 

When you get to be as good as I am you can just ask for stuff right here on H-T and get it.

HeeHee
Wheeeeeeee!

Seriously. See my signature. Sponsorship rocks.

Know exactly what you're asking for.
Be able to explain why you need it.
Be able to explain what you can give the sponsor(s) in return. (no B.S. B.S. walks).
Once you make a promise, you're in. Just like a contract. You can't ask a sponsor to support you and then decide you can't afford to race this year after all. Make sure you are set and ready BEFORE you even ask for help.
And finally... Be a winner. Nobody likes their name plastered all over DFL.

 

Sponsors offer a number of things - free or deeply discounted products and services, financial aid, a place to work on the car, advice, spare parts...you name it and it's out there.

One thing you can do is leverage the high visibility of Honda Challenge. We've gotten a lot of press in magazines from Grassroots Motorsports to Super Street. When it's a featured group at something like Import Carlisle, throw that into your proposal too.

Keep a nice looking car too, and if you're going after a shop, offer to put the car in the shop for a customer appreciation day or as a week long display. You might get a double bonus here as it can serve as a place to store the car as well.

Sometimes they'll even come to you. Especially companies that are trying to help build their customer base by getting their products out there on the track in front of people. And use your contacts! Know someone already sponsored by a company you're trying to woo? Get them to put in a good word for you. I've got Catch 22 to thank for the sweet deal I got on my cage, for example.

Sponsors kick a lot of ***, but they expect results in return. So, ironically, having one does add significant pressure to your race weekends...or at least, it does for me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rickpeak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'd stick with asking for discounts on parts or services. You might even be able to do some bartering.


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agreed again.
Most spnsors at a club level are barter and or discount on goods.

 

keyword is ROI - return on investment. You have to figure out a way to give sponsors value. Put yourself in their shoe and think... you don't necessary have to winning or even racing to score it...

for example, with some good networking and right timing, i was able to get sponsored by toyo tires... but i've been networking and planning everything for a long time. years. hopefully it will all come together next year.




Modified by GhettoRacer at 11:41 PM 8/21/2003

 

different from sponsorship, look for contingencies. but you gotta win in order for them to pay off...

 

Sometimes sponsors come looking for you!

Get out there and race, have a good attitude and DON'T burn any bridges. This RR community is very small... You never know who's watching or willing to give you something.

Two of my favorite stories.

1. I did offer a current RRG.com racer some limited sponsorship money a while back. The funny thing is they turned it down, "REAL money". NO Chit! Said that their fenders were already spoken for.
I'm thinking- Well okay then, your running my A-D and have small stickers already?

2. Don't be that guy who e-mails and says... " My name is Racer X and I'm willing to save your newly formed, struggling company. All you need to do this- give me free stuff". Me- Let me get back to you.

Andie Lin and I shared many similar stories like this. He has some real good ones!


Advice:

What I see many drivers doing wrong is the lack of follow-up after they get sponsored. There are a few guys who do follow-up.... but the majority do not. Sponsors know this! The guys who will get '2nd' sponsorship goodies are the ones who send e-mails, photos and updates. However, the majority don't ever contact the company again after the sponsorship is given. Bad form and just plain rude.

Good luck with the search.

BTW- Results with me really are not all that important. I want a driver whos positive, happy and enjoyable to be around. If they happen to win... thats a bonus.

John
RRG.com


Modified by JohnW at 10:46 PM 8/22/2003

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by urbanlegend21 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Show that you can win
Be a role model in the paddock
Keep a clean car and paddock area
Set goals for yourself and your proposed sponsor
Show them your race schedule, attendance numbers, etc
PERSONALITY

at our level discount prices, discount services, parts at cost, trackside support is great

do not be greedy, any help can be good help</TD></TR></TABLE>

DNO!!!! What he said.

The other thing to do is to hit up your biz owning friends and offer them advertising space on your "Rolling Billboard Company". This is what I did with one of my buddies. I'm sure this is a rare case, but he spends over 200k a year oni advertising. So 4k to me is just a spit in the bucket. I'm giving him both doors and the hood. For him, it's a write off... and you never know who's gonna see his logo. In return, I'm going to make sure that the car always looks excellent. Towing with an open trailer is also a plus, unless you tow in an enclosed trailer and plaster your sponsors name on the side of that. I know I'm real lucky to have a friend in the position to do this for me, and everyone's not going to have that option. But!, Like urbanlegend21 say's "don't be greedy". Anything helps, even if it's just parts at cost, gas, entry fees, etc.... It'll all ad up.

Good luck.

 

I look in the mirror and i say, you need lighter wheels. I look back and say, yep, lets go buy em. Then later, i say, you need a JDM rear sway, and i look back and say, yes i do, lets go buy it. Now if i look in that mirror and my sponsor wife is looking back, i am screwed, but as long as it is sponsor me, i am in business.

 

If you are serious about finding sponsorship like myself, then buy the book "The Great Money Hunt." It is geared towards motorsports and goes through the whole process from what racing series you want to start with to your first phone call to your first interview to contracts. It has anything and everything you need to know about sponsorship in motorsports.

You will also learn by reading it that you can suck *** as a driver and still get a great sponsorship deal. You ARE NOT selling your driving record or your greatest achievements as a driver. You ARE offering them advertisement on a moving billboard essentially.

Read the book (as I am now) and you'll see what I'm talking about.

http://www.racefree.com/thegreatmoneyhunt.html

Good luck,

AJ Nealey

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SlapSmak &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I look in the mirror and i say, you need lighter wheels. I look back and say, yep, lets go buy em. Then later, i say, you need a JDM rear sway, and i look back and say, yes i do, lets go buy it. Now if i look in that mirror and my sponsor wife is looking back, i am screwed, but as long as it is sponsor me, i am in business.</TD></TR></TABLE>

LMAO!!!!

I'm trying to get my brother's trucking company to sponsor me, the only problem is the company is already sponsoring a Pro Nostalga Dragster..... His own!!