Sponsorship advice

[matt2101]

Not sure if this has already been done somewhere, but Im looking for advice on raising sponsorship as a driver.

Is there anyone here who has had some success stories/disasters which they might be able to share?

Im not looking for anything major at the moment, but just a little help to ensure I am able to keep competing next season, with a view to moving up the ladder a bit. If I had to set a goal it would be something like the Silverstone 24 hours in 2007 or 2008 as a one off event, or Ginettas as a championship.

Any advice anyone can give would be greatly appreciated, as to be honest I dont know where to start!

[chassis 33]

There have been a few threads on it

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=228544&f=42&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=263637&f=42&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=233519&f=42&h=0

The long and the short of it is at club level sponsorship is about networking, putting people in touch with eachother so they can make money.

You aren't going to attract a sponsor by saying come to Anglesey in late September and sit in our motorhome avoiding the rain, give it ten years you might be able to say come to Brands,Sillystone,wherever your racing next there will be some folks there who are interested in meeting you to discuss your new product.

You're not going to get into that position without networking and getting to know what people do in terms who might be interested in what.

Good luck.
Regards
Iain

[matt2101]

Thanks for that. It actually had not occured to me that I could be a middle man for introducing companies with the common ground of having an interest in my racing in order for them to do business.
Also Ive abandoned the plans for a nice glossy brochure until Ive got something with substance to put in it! As you say, 50 people will see me coming out of the chicane at Snett in my Locost is not going to seem impressive to anyone!

[chassis 33]

Yup, you have to climb a long way up the ladder before people want to associate with you just becasue of your brand name, but thats not to say you shouldn't have the basis for one now.

Read Perry McCarthy's autobiography, it gives a great insight into the pains of finding money to fund your racing habit.

Regards
Iain

[4wheel drifter]

chassis 33 said:

Read Perry McCarthy's autobiography, it gives a great insight into the pains of finding money to fund your racing habit.

Regards
Iain

And who knows you too could end up as The Stig?

My tip is to offer the prospective sponsor a return for his money not ask him to fund your racing. i.e. You need to put a lot of effort into showing him how you can entertain his clients and or maybe take them out on a corporate track day with "hot rides" etc. Indicate he will need to spend at least as much on promoting his motor sport involvement and preferably include it within his marketing strategy.

It is not easy.

[thunderbelmont]

Another tack is to offer them equity in the car, could be risky, but they then have an asset that they can "see" on their books.

Make sure that you have a buy-back at very very low rate when the agreement comes to a close.

Rob.