sponsors needed......HELP!
Discussion
sorry 
Gaining sponsorship is the hardest thing in motorsport and THE reason why most drivers fail in their ambitions. Most companies like to be associated with success, so if you can do well, get yourself into the local paper, then you can punt that publicity around the local businesses. They will be more likely to put their hand in their pocket if it will have free coverage in the local paper. Don't forget at your level you are not only up against other drivers looking for sponsorship but all the local soccer teams and the like. Your disadvantage is that you are one person, whereas a local football team has 11 shirts with a space for a company name on them which will be easily seen in the photos on the back page of a paper.
You would be better advised to look for evening and weekend work to pay your own way.
You would be better advised to look for evening and weekend work to pay your own way.
You will almost certainly not get any sponsorship for karting. There is no exposure unless you are at world championship level.
There are hundreds of people racing karts every week and probably doing very well. But most will not make it into a car series.
as above. Get yourself a second job or run someone else in karts to make your money so you can race
There are hundreds of people racing karts every week and probably doing very well. But most will not make it into a car series.
as above. Get yourself a second job or run someone else in karts to make your money so you can race
first of all you need to define what you want, how much and what you are prepared to do for the cash...
given you are racing in a regional karting championship, you are best looking for very local sponsors, local business etc, and keeping your expectations very small. if you get a local builder for example to buy a set of tyres in addition for his name on your kart, race suit, the sid eof your kart, his flyers on your windscreen in the car park, your grave, you are doing well....you get the point.
times are hard, we are all in financial trouble (given what is for sale in Octane this month!!) so keep expectations low and try to think of a way to make your request stand out from the rest. what is in it for them, do they want to come and watch you race? if so, what can they do when they are there (race circuits are always cold, karting is noisy and can be a bit dull of you dont really know whats going on....)
try all the local garages in your area, one man band kind of thing, take them out for a test day in the kart so they can see what you do, get them involved, have the kart on display at their premises, send them results and race reports, get the local paper invovled...
you will find its a lot of hard work and ultimately, for very little benefit. the cost of a set of tyres will be eaten up by other costs if you do have to take the kart to the garage at the weekend for a display, or for complimentary tickets to a race etc etc
for your level i would say its more hassle than its worth, race for fun and without the pressure of dealing with sponsors. besides when you do finish high on a budget its all the more satisfying, i know i like beating other people on my bike knowing theirs has cost three times as much!
given you are racing in a regional karting championship, you are best looking for very local sponsors, local business etc, and keeping your expectations very small. if you get a local builder for example to buy a set of tyres in addition for his name on your kart, race suit, the sid eof your kart, his flyers on your windscreen in the car park, your grave, you are doing well....you get the point.
times are hard, we are all in financial trouble (given what is for sale in Octane this month!!) so keep expectations low and try to think of a way to make your request stand out from the rest. what is in it for them, do they want to come and watch you race? if so, what can they do when they are there (race circuits are always cold, karting is noisy and can be a bit dull of you dont really know whats going on....)
try all the local garages in your area, one man band kind of thing, take them out for a test day in the kart so they can see what you do, get them involved, have the kart on display at their premises, send them results and race reports, get the local paper invovled...
you will find its a lot of hard work and ultimately, for very little benefit. the cost of a set of tyres will be eaten up by other costs if you do have to take the kart to the garage at the weekend for a display, or for complimentary tickets to a race etc etc
for your level i would say its more hassle than its worth, race for fun and without the pressure of dealing with sponsors. besides when you do finish high on a budget its all the more satisfying, i know i like beating other people on my bike knowing theirs has cost three times as much!
come on guys give the kid a break, we know what its like but the fresh face of youth has no idea. either give him so help and advice or dont bother posting anything. he's going to learn sooner or later that finding sponsorship for anyhting is tough but at least give him some pointers....
mikott30 said:
just starting my first season in karting, could really dow ith a sponsor or 2 to help with funding, any tips for getting some?
Forget about "real" sponsors, its not going to happen in your first season. Do the rounds of your uncles, family friends etc that may be able to sponsor you a few quid, even something like a tyre each, then thank them profusely for their sponsorship/donation to the cause. Send in reports to the local rag after each meeting thanking those involved for their support with a few lines about your heroic struggle against the odds to make it to the meeting, and a bit of personal interest stuff. If you do Ok in your first season, then get a portfolio together of race reports, results, what support you need to win the championship in your second season, and do the rounds of local businesses thinking about what you can offer them in return for their support. Reality is that if you have no realistic chance of being in the top ranks of the championship, you usually have no realistic chance of sponsorship outside of family/friends who are doing it as a favour. Good luck.
I'm not sure what spares / consumables you need for karts but probably the best route would be to see what deal suppliers would offer you on these?
I am building a new race car and in the process of looking for parts (standard car manufacturer body parts) have come across a company that could be willing to do a nice discount on them in exchange for a few stickers on the car.
This always seems to be the most common form of 'sponsorship' from talking to other racers.
I am building a new race car and in the process of looking for parts (standard car manufacturer body parts) have come across a company that could be willing to do a nice discount on them in exchange for a few stickers on the car.
This always seems to be the most common form of 'sponsorship' from talking to other racers.
Mike,
As has been said above its going to be incredibly hard to get anyone to part with their cash in terms of sponsorship - but you could try and negotiate some deals with parts suppliers at a discount in return for slapping a few of their stickers about and mentioning them on your website etc.
You're bound to get mixed feedback here, but for a first effort at the website its not too bad, the pics could do with being a little clearer (lighter in most cases), and the detail in it (although honest as I assume you wrote it yourself) could do with a little more insight to give visitors to the site something else to keep them there.
I checked through the site in about a minute and would have liked maybe some more links to the race circuits, to your suppliers, even linking to your facebook page or something like that might tempt a few more likeminded folks, or some potential fans / sponsors / helpers in.
Your results seem pretty strong too for a first outing, so good on ya for giving it a go and I wish you luck in the new kart / season.
Theres lots of people out there who wouldnt even bother going to the trouble of asking for help, or setting up a site, or trying different championships etc. You just have to hope you continue to do well and someone spots some talent.
As has been said above its going to be incredibly hard to get anyone to part with their cash in terms of sponsorship - but you could try and negotiate some deals with parts suppliers at a discount in return for slapping a few of their stickers about and mentioning them on your website etc.
You're bound to get mixed feedback here, but for a first effort at the website its not too bad, the pics could do with being a little clearer (lighter in most cases), and the detail in it (although honest as I assume you wrote it yourself) could do with a little more insight to give visitors to the site something else to keep them there.
I checked through the site in about a minute and would have liked maybe some more links to the race circuits, to your suppliers, even linking to your facebook page or something like that might tempt a few more likeminded folks, or some potential fans / sponsors / helpers in.
Your results seem pretty strong too for a first outing, so good on ya for giving it a go and I wish you luck in the new kart / season.
Theres lots of people out there who wouldnt even bother going to the trouble of asking for help, or setting up a site, or trying different championships etc. You just have to hope you continue to do well and someone spots some talent.
Hi mate,
Site looks ok.
Few things. your sponsorship page, you need to think very carefully about the wording. Right from the start it makes you sound desperate for money. Sponsorship comes in many forms most of which are better than cash. Also that picture in the profile, bin that and get a picture in the paddock of you with the kart. Maybe make the results page more like a table instead of a in this round blah blah blah. in this round blah blah blah. Makes it easier to scan. But for a first try its pretty good.
Good luck next year.
Site looks ok.
Few things. your sponsorship page, you need to think very carefully about the wording. Right from the start it makes you sound desperate for money. Sponsorship comes in many forms most of which are better than cash. Also that picture in the profile, bin that and get a picture in the paddock of you with the kart. Maybe make the results page more like a table instead of a in this round blah blah blah. in this round blah blah blah. Makes it easier to scan. But for a first try its pretty good.
Good luck next year.
hi everyone, first of all thanks for the replys, i worded it wrong at the start im not desperate for sponsors i can fund it myself and i think some people (specially nearer the start of the thread) think im looking for someone to come along and pay for it all, im not. i know its an expensive sport and i am prepared for that but everybody i know who is racing karts has afew very small sponsors just to assist really thats all im looking for. for the glitch on the site im not sure whats goin on because i have just tested the site on firefox,safari on my mac and on internet explorer on windows and its working fine for me :s thanks for all the positive feedback on the site and support tho 
Try Opie oils, they do a sponsorship packages for different levels, means you get cheaper products. As mentioned before motor factors etc if you get a discount from them it s start even if its for spares for the vehicle you use to get to meetings.
Did the shop part of the site cost to get up and running, if it did ditch it. I wouldnt even buy something with Brawn-ferrari on it. SPend it on something else.
Did the shop part of the site cost to get up and running, if it did ditch it. I wouldnt even buy something with Brawn-ferrari on it. SPend it on something else.
Try emailing around to the marketing depts. of as many companies as you can, but keep each email personal to each company (not just a blanket email) im sure you can get the email address's for the marketing dept. of the companies on their websites. even if they arent to do with karting/morotsport, some people could still be interested. Dont rule anyone out of your emails and you might just strike lucky.
Dont forget to tell them what THEY are getting, and not just asking them for money or they will just delete the emails and ignore you. If you can give them something then they will give you what you want in return. - also try thinking out of the box on how you can help to promote them, you need to set yourself apart from everyone else asking for sponsorship.
I hear Monster energy have a section on their website to enquire about sponsorship - you may need some titles first though before they will look at you, but it cant hurt trying!
Dont forget to tell them what THEY are getting, and not just asking them for money or they will just delete the emails and ignore you. If you can give them something then they will give you what you want in return. - also try thinking out of the box on how you can help to promote them, you need to set yourself apart from everyone else asking for sponsorship.
I hear Monster energy have a section on their website to enquire about sponsorship - you may need some titles first though before they will look at you, but it cant hurt trying!
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