Sposorship -specific suggestions please

[FROSTY:Me]

Ok guys n gals how about some specific suggestions as to where to look for sponsorship.
Some of you must have some bright spark ideas that we havent thought of.
Just shaking the KB brains trust up for ideas as to specific places to contact and different aproaches that might not have been thought of

[Karma]

Well you need a company that benefits from the publicity you can give them on the track, and they therefore need to be marketing to the crowd.
I'd imagine it's young blokes with disposable income.
You also need a company that has enough money to throw around that it can bother with bike racing which I'd imagine isn't as high profile as some other sports.
You tried going to major companies? ie. Microsoft (XBox) / Sony / Panasonic etc...

[Mooch]

It was interesting to watch an associate "market" for sponsorship in the cage racing world. The driver is very competent NZ driver, but not so good on marketing. A good friend of the associate helped him market better by doing the following.

A CV of the guys race career was put together, this included a few pictures of the driver, the car and a few track shots of the car.

A powerpoint presentation was also developed outlining what they were after in terms of money and to give a taste of what they were offering. It also outlined the race series and the opportunities to view the racing.

Question and answers followed.

A fast punchy short movie was done in a style similar to a motor sport highlights video was done , a few still shots , some trackside footage , and a bit of in car video. Anyone with a handycam and a PC can do this for you today. This was used to finish the presentation

They put careful thought into what they could offer the sponsor. They targeted corporate companies that would normally have customer events. (like rugby , theatre , motor racing and the likes) The corporate would take the clients trackside and give them a day of racing, give them drinks / meal. The Driver would make a few appearances during the day at the corporate tent / box. The corporate could offset the day under entertainment and marketing (read tax offset) and everybody goes home happy and it also builds your own profile with more people knowing how you are and gives them someone to back while watching the racing.

I realise that motorcycle racing has a slightly smaller following, but maybe some of the above would help yourself.

[gav]

Ok guys n gals how about some specific suggestions as to where to look for sponsorship.
Some of you must have some bright spark ideas that we havent thought of.

Start winning and keep on winning! Sponsors will flock to you!

[FROSTY:Me]

gee thanks gav --I'm working on that one

[soundbeltfarm]

have you tried for pub charity?
i told TS about it but not sure if he followed it up.
our cricket club was needing sponsership and we had a guy join it who seemed to be able to think of wicked ideas for sponsership, now we are the wealthiest cricket club in taranaki.
he went to one of our local pubs and asked about pub charity sponsership for our club,
we got 10k out of it and it cost us nothing , but we had our end year dinner there.
they have to give a percentage of the pokie's towards a community based activity, and the owner told us they were allowed to use it for sporting codes.
so it,s worth a try.

[ManDownUnder]

No doubt some/all of these have been covered...

Lotteries commission?

Approach some of the companies advertising at the track (they're obviously sympathetic, and might be open to you "taking their message" further afield...)

Bike shops

Bike Gear makers.

Car Painters (show off/get a custom paint job AND sponsorship). Or panelbeaters?

That advertising outfit that pays people to put the ads on cars. Why not do it for bikes too?

Paint manufacturers (they have bigger budgets and advertise on the TV).

Anyone advertising on TV with a "sympathetic product" I.e. one that compliments their business (Paint, Tyres etc).

Mike Perot Mortgages (obviously a racing kinda guy with some dosh to put forward).

Do some research and find who used to race and is now up in business circles

errr... that's about it from the top of my head.

edit - as per soundbelt famr's closing comment... let us know who sponsors you and I'll (personally) put them on a "preferred supplier" list - i.e. they get more of my business. I'm sure others would do the same

[James Deuce]

Don't approach anyone until you have a press kit like Mooch says. Don't forget that sponsorship can be product rather than money. Often product is easier for Corporate sponsors to provide, like tyres, trailers, fuel & oil, mobile phones, foodstuffs, yadda yadda.

[soundbeltfarm]

a novel one is do what some people have done before auction off your back or vehicle on TM for a couple of weeks or somthing.

[FROSTY:Me]

One thing I thought of was selling off bragging rights on the bike--Your signature goes on the fairing for like $20.00

[Fishy]

Hey Frosty have you tried Red Bull? They are always trying to get their name out there. I remember a few years back they were asking around for guys on modern sports bikes that would be willing to have their bikes completely repainted in Red Bull colour scheme and graphic... I know of a couple of guys that took up their offer.

Might be a go?. Worth a try anyway

[enigma51]

One thing I thought of was selling off bragging rights on the bike--Your signature goes on the fairing for like $20.00

Not a bad idea. Talk to colemans etc about putting there stickers and stuff on you bike for x amount of money per cm and see what happens

[Badcat]

Hey Frosty have you tried Red Bull? They are always trying to get their name out there. I remember a few years back they were asking around for guys on modern sports bikes that would be willing to have their bikes completely repainted in Red Bull colour scheme and graphic... I know of a couple of guys that took up their offer.

Might be a go?. Worth a try anyway

red bull's GM is a guy called Glyn.
they actually have some budget, unlike most, and could be a good opportunity.
you WILL need a press kit, with a clear schedule of events entered, as discussed above.

k

[cowpoos]

One thing I thought of was selling off bragging rights on the bike--Your signature goes on the fairing for like $20.00

"hey everyone I had my sig on a bike that came in 6th in F3"

that ain't the best bragging rights to hav at the pub...

I think a few guys here have some excellent ideas.... mooch,sound and fish hav some good points and ideas...

[HDTboy]

I always though Burger Fuel would be keen to sponsor motorsports, due to the play on words.
They were a minor sponsor of the friday night drags last season, and one of the franchise offices is in Lake Rd, next door to my old work.
Their colour scheme is quite cool, and the logo could be easily sign written onto a bike and / or trailer