Sponsorship

[Paul in NZ]

Not clobbering anyone but..

You need to look at the wider picture... Most people are not clobbering you at all, it's just that a lot of motorcyclist's don't actually care much for road racing... It has bugger all to do with my life how fast a GSXR-1BR-RR will go around Manfield even if Burt Brittin is riding it. Sponsors will be people that do care...

If you want more sponsors, you might think about giving people a reason to care? I dunno, just a thought...

[gav]

Sorry, I wasnt moaning about it, just stating what I saw. In fact I've done OK with sponsorship myslef and have posted here before the approach to take and some ideas to use. Its not sour grapes or anything like that. I've both gained sponsorship and given out sponsorship and worked with riders in the past.

[Shaun]

Hmmm, lets see here. When a rider with the background of Jason McEwan and with the backing of someone as savvy as Shaun Harris, is struggling to fund a return to the National racing scene, what chance have novice/rookie riders really got. KB and all the great members donated what $5000 (?), what return did we see? Don't know how much was raised, no one has really said, havent really read any decent reports on how he went/did or where the money was spent. Is this the way to receive money and report back to your sponsors?
Fact is, road racing aint a cheap sport, if you can't afford it, maybe you're in the wrong sport?

Hi Gav,
1)There are a bunch of Kiwi riders riding around on cost price product that I have supplied them through my buisiness

2) There is another Kiwi biker racing a very cheep GSXR 600

3) I recieve and send a bunch of emails/PM's to Kiwi bikers about bike set up etc

4) My door is always open to the Kiwi biker riders

5) Some times a little post likes yours can be very distructive!

6) Kiwi Biker got the very best race coverage this year with the sign written bikes,( I had the F3 bike painted in the colours as a way of saying thankyou) and a lot of Kiwi bikers came up to us in the pits at the races and had a good chat with Jason and myself

7) 5K, no way dude! $2500 of it goes to pay for the track hirage in June the 24th, some thing Speedmedic will be posting up soon

I hope this show's you what I have tried to give back to the Kiwi Biker team.

Have a good day.

[Racey Rider]

Well done Shaun and SM for giving calm informative replys.

It's important that everyone feels they can ask their questions if they have issues that they are unclear about. And a calm answer to help us understand is often all that is needed.
Cheers
Racey

[gav]

Thanks for the replies, Shaun and SM. Maybe this info could have been posted sooner, sorry $5K was a figure I plucked out of the air, hence the (?).
And thanks to your efforts with all the riders who have benefitted.
Glad to see that every one has come out of it happy. Whats next on the cards for Jason? Is he going to keep racing, Shaun or do you see the future backing younger talent?
What would be really great is some sort of academy that could get a young rider into racing maybe in Aus or the US or possibly an entry in World SuperSport? Maybe some sort of united effort from yourself, Shaun, with help from say Brian Bernard, Peter Fenton from Triple RRR, Andrew Stroud and Ray Clee. Maybe select one rider under say 23 or 25 years, and see if we could get a few wild card entries or even a few test ride slots. Surely the kiwi connection is still pretty strong in MotoGP and World Superbike behind the scenes?

[slowpoke]

Hmmmm, as a new KBer and returning Kiwi who has finally succumbed to the temptation of grippin' and rippin' it on the track (at my age I should know better) I've read quite a few of this sort of thread with a heavy heart. What's with the "Gimmee some money and I'll do good" attitude? Man, all this whining about "I'm not gonna compete 'cos I'll never have the money of the big boys" is just...embarrassing...and kind of pathetic.
You do something like this for the thrill of it and the sheer desire to test yourself. Sure, if you're any good and get towards the pointy end then your looking for the last few poofteenths that only money can buy.
But (there's always a but) sponsors want to see a throttle jockey who's prepared to make a few sacrifices and who's looking for ways to get the job done, not excuses why they aren't successful.
As for a lack of resources, are you kidding me? That's THE Shaun frikkin' Harris, IOM winner, just a few posts back, who's VOLOUNTEERING huge amounts of knowledge that money can't buy! And people are baggin' this guy? Like I said it's just embarrassing...
I emailed Tony Rees from WA with a pissant question a while back and the guy was back to me within 24 hrs...these guys are INVALUABLE! Use them, include them, appreciate them for what they've done and what they can STILL do.
I know I've stretched the bounds of this topic but it shames me (us) that we disrespect people who have been there and put in the hard yards and acheived incredible results while some people (KBers included) throw rocks from the safety of their couch.
Back to the topic, I see the short answer to the sponsorship enigma like this: it's all down to impressing the right people, with the right attitude, the right results and the right presentation.

[FROSTY:Me]

slowpoke -Maybee I'm reading summat different from you but Ive never seen a KB racer say "give me some money or I can't race"
You have to accept this is an expensive sport --I did what I believe is a realistic breakdown on what a season costs.
NO woe is me because I for one accept that if the price gets too high I could stop -it is a sport after all
I think the point of this thread is that any racer seeking sponsorship needs to look down all avenues.
Im doing so

[Shaun]

Thanks for the replies, Shaun and SM. Maybe this info could have been posted sooner, sorry $5K was a figure I plucked out of the air, hence the (?).
And thanks to your efforts with all the riders who have benefitted.
Glad to see that every one has come out of it happy. Whats next on the cards for Jason? Is he going to keep racing, Shaun or do you see the future backing younger talent?
What would be really great is some sort of academy that could get a young rider into racing maybe in Aus or the US or possibly an entry in World SuperSport? Maybe some sort of united effort from yourself, Shaun, with help from say Brian Bernard, Peter Fenton from Triple RRR, Andrew Stroud and Ray Clee. Maybe select one rider under say 23 or 25 years, and see if we could get a few wild card entries or even a few test ride slots. Surely the kiwi connection is still pretty strong in MotoGP and World Superbike behind the scenes?

Hi Gav, not sure about Jason's future at the moment mate, I/WE supported Jason because he is a fantastic racer and a bloody good bloke who needed a bit of a leg up to get is life started started again, so to all the donated to the cause, A BIG THANKYOU, mission acomplished!

I am personally interested in helping the future, take a look at what Peter Jones and a bunch of others are doing in the Sth Island with young riders, I watched all there races at Ruapuna, and if I had 3 more SV 650 machines I would get 3 of those young riders and help guide them.

As far as international plans support goes, last year I helped to get Dominic Jones to the USA, he has made the decision to return to the states next month I believe, Dom is only just 21. I would love for him to do this year in the States and then for 2007 to go to the WSB races in the production 1000 class for under 23 year old riders.

We all have a massive passion for our sport, but for a lot of riders there spare time is takin up with Family and work to pay the bills of life, so that does not leave a lot of time to try to help/guide/manage other riders future.

I have done what I have done so far because when I first started racing I got fantastic support ( Very Lucky! Thanks to Road and Sport motorcycles Hamilton) I said to myself that I would not leave our sport without putting back into it what I took out, I have now done that and could stop racing tomorrow? if I did not want to race any more!

Moto-Dynamix is currently working with a good PR company to try and find the funding to get a KIWI rider back into a world championship, any bloody class,just get a good young top Kiwi back out there.

I personaly would love to see the HPP funding that MNZ has access to saved up for 2 years and send one rider to do at least 3 wild card 600 races in the world Super sport class, who? Craig Shrrif- Hayden Fitzgerald -Dominic Jones Sam Smith and many more that are out there now, Chris Peris who raced in my team is doing that series now and holding his head up, Qualified in 15th place at the first round last week, so that proves that Kiwi's are good enough based on his results and others performance out there.

The problem is the new Kiwi attitude, I can't because

No Money
No contacts
etc etc etc, BULLSHIT

How did all the old hands get to go and race over seas,
1)they decided what they wanted to do,

2) they budgeted for what they could do

3) they went and did it

Sound easy, it is!

I arrived in Japan with $80 NZ dollars in my pocket and had to jump off a bus and run away because I could not pay for the full journey I was on to work on a horse farm, I ha a job to go to, I had no money and no race team.

The rest is history, the point to my dribble is

Kiwi's are now a bunch of soft C----! who are always looking to lay blame else where instead of putting up our own hands and getting on with he job, and that attitude makes it pretty hard for people from the old school to deal with.

Sorry if I rambled to much

[ManDownUnder]

No Money
No contacts
etc etc etc, BULLSHIT

How did all the old hands get to go and race over seas,
1)they decided what they wanted to do,
2) they budgeted for what they could do
3) they went and did it

Sound easy, it is!

I arrived in Japan with $80 NZ dollars in my pocket and had to jump off a bus and run away because I could not pay for the full journey I was on to work on a horse farm, I ha a job to go to, I had no money and no race team.

The rest is history, the point to my dribble is

Kiwi's are now a bunch of soft C----! who are always looking to lay blame else where instead of putting up our own hands and getting on with he job, and that attitude makes it pretty hard for people from the old school to deal with.

Sorry if I rambled to much

No ramble mate - you've got my respect. In fact you'll get my business to if I knew what you did - and I'm not looking for a KB discount either.

That's how it's meant to be done...

[FROSTY:Me]

Shawn.
maybee gav pulled things a bit off the mark but the point of this thread seems to be -finding sponsorship or a possible means to do so.
As I've posted elswhere there are clearly 3 options if ya wanna race
1) just dont race -cheapest/easiest option.
2) race within the budget you set from your own funds -thats what I and most of the club level racers i know are doing and realisticly will continue to do. I must say I havent heard anyone doing it moaning about the costs.
I must say though I believe setting a budget and calculating what is needed to stay within it is pretty important.
3)Get other people to help pay for it -
I also see young kiwi talent that with encouragement could go a long way.
They literally don't have the funds to take the step up.
So why not show them means to raise the extra funds --make themselves a saleable commodity.
My take on road racing in NZ is that unless we encourage young guys into it
its going to die. Or itll be old farts like me doing 1.20's round pukie thinking we're really fast

[Shaun]

No ramble mate - you've got my respect. In fact you'll get my business to if I knew what you did - and I'm not looking for a KB discount either.

That's how it's meant to be done...
__________________

Cheers! Moto-dynamix is ME! a one man band, very low over head costs.

I specialise in suspension work and accessories and mechanical repair and race bike building.

As per any motorcycle buisness I can supply any parts available to the NZ market, Pirelli and EBC is my favorite product to get out there.

[Shaun]

Shawn.
maybee gav pulled things a bit off the mark but the point of this thread seems to be -finding sponsorship or a possible means to do so.
As I've posted elswhere there are clearly 3 options if ya wanna race
1) just dont race -cheapest/easiest option.
2) race within the budget you set from your own funds -thats what I and most of the club level racers i know are doing and realisticly will continue to do. I must say I havent heard anyone doing it moaning about the costs.
I must say though I believe setting a budget and calculating what is needed to stay within it is pretty important.
3)Get other people to help pay for it -
I also see young kiwi talent that with encouragement could go a long way.
They literally don't have the funds to take the step up.
So why not show them means to raise the extra funds --make themselves a saleable commodity.
My take on road racing in NZ is that unless we encourage young guys into it
its going to die. Or itll be old farts like me doing 1.20's round pukie thinking we're really fast

There is no way to show them the way to raise funds, before any rider is going to get any support, they have to show the world what they are made of, do they really want this, are they prepared to go into serious dept to get there, are they prepared to work 2x full time jobs to pay for there addition, can they turn up to the track looking clean and tidy like the way a person representing a company should, are they going to spit the dummy when they crash. or do not get the results.

My way of doing just what you have asked is to help directly with the young riders, Dom Jones Chris Bramley and others

I have introduced them to people
I have helped teach them a bit about race set up and preperation
I have shown them a way to work on track plans

Apart from this it really is up to the rider to show us what they have got

The best way if people are serious about helping the young future riders is

1) 2-10 investors of say 7-10K
2) Choose a good rider to head up this team and then choose the riders to support
Go hard and plan well

[slowpoke]

slowpoke -Maybee I'm reading summat different from you but Ive never seen a KB racer say "give me some money or I can't race"
You have to accept this is an expensive sport --I did what I believe is a realistic breakdown on what a season costs.
NO woe is me because I for one accept that if the price gets too high I could stop -it is a sport after all
I think the point of this thread is that any racer seeking sponsorship needs to look down all avenues.
Im doing so

Sorry Frosty, my lil' brain fart there wasn't directed at the bikers like yourself who are the first to lend a hand or get involved or offer ideas (8 point sumthin posts a day...my fingers are sore just thinkin' about it!). Your, and people like you, obvious enthusiasm is sorely needed.
I'm in the process of returning after 15years in Oz and I've just been a bit disturbed at some of the negative attitudes I've seen on here and radiating from the biking fraternity in general.
I've spent nearly 10years in Western Australia where the local racers are seriously up against it due to the travel constraints/parts availability/only 1 track in WA etc trying to compete in the Eastern States. But talk to some of the young and not so young riders running raffles, doing overtime, staying with Ma and Pa etc trying to get a bit of extra dosh together to make another 4 day drive to Phillip Island just to finish 21st, and their excitement is infectious.
Even non-motorcyclists acknowledge that we are involved in an exciting sport so how hard can it really be to market ourselves individually AND as a whole. Forget getting Microsoft, Macdonalds etc involved, that is way outside the realms of possibility AT OUR LEVEL. We should be concentrating on getting Bill from Bills' (fill in appropriate business here) INVITED to the track and INCLUDED in the team (barbecue, beers, chat) and APPRECIATED for any assistance he may be able to provide. This could be in the form of useable services, services to raffle off, access to machinery/equipment, straight cash etc. And don't forget the public acknowledgement: tell your friends/colleagues, slap on the signage, send out the photo's for they guy to hang in his showroom/office.
We shouldn't be out there cap in hand begging for money...we should be offerring the opportunity for INVOLVEMENT. I know, it's frikkin' hard figuring out where the next set of tyres is going to come from but excitement is infectious so be POSITIVE and INCLUSIVE to both competitors and spectators (potential sponsors) alike.

[FROSTY:Me]

Shawn I think You are one level above what Im thinking.
To use two KB racers as examples
KK and two smoke -Both showing tallent at club level but needing that boost up from club to national level.
Yep they are doing all they can to get there themselves but a bit of support from those around them -who are interested in their future can help.
Realisticly I think national level is where people get noticed by people like you and given they have proven themselves can be pulled into a team.

Slowpoke --dude i think its the nature of a forum like this that people do tend to"vent" their feelings.
Ive done my share of the down n outs--I remember when my engine blew up before the last round at taupo --I was gutted--and winged on and on about it--for a day anyhoo --then I found a motor -stretched the already stretched budget and the rest is history.

[FROSTY:Me]

Theres a basic principle in sales --it goes --"feed the funnel"
The way it applies here is that for our sport to survive we need to introduce more people to it.
My aproach (and far from origonal aproach by the way)
is to get people along to track days -young and old -from 1000 track day ers there might be 100 who want to give racing a go.
From those 100 maybee 10 will go on to national level -from those 10 maybe just maybee 1 will be a world beater.
The second principle is that by having track days the pool of enthusiastic (sp) people to support these 10 national racers will increase.
-yEA iM A DREAMER I KNOW