Opinions on race CV please...

[Tony.OK]

Ok..........it seems that I am brave enough to hurtle around the track on a two wheeled wizzy thing but not brave enough to go up to any bussinesses and try asking for help.
Its starting to hurt the finances now so its time to grow some balls and get out there.
As a starting point I've done a bit of a CV that I'm keen to get any feedback on before I make a cock of myself.

So honest opinions please.................

[Squiggles]

post it up as a document, what type of businesses do you intend to approach? m/c stores? bunnings etc? There are a couple of colloquialisms in there you might want to remove ("probs")

[Tony.OK]

post it up as a document, what type of businesses do you intend to approach? m/c stores? bunnings etc? There are a couple of colloquialisms in there you might want to remove ("probs")

Ok, have saved it as a Word doc so hope it works, I only have Open Office on my PC.
Any bussiness will do if they want to help...................I'd even put Tampax stickers on at this stage

Err umm........colloquialisms.............might need to break that one down for a dumbass that wasn't paying attention in english.

[Hitcher]

Only distribute this as a PDF. You don't want to make it easy for people to fanny around with your documents.

[xwhatsit]

Only distribute this as a PDF. You don't want to make it easy for people to fanny around with your documents.

Yup. Tell you what Tony, you get what you want down as a Word document, then when you're done, I'll typeset it as a PDF document using LaTeX. Flick it to my email at xerxesdaphat@gmail.com .

[GIXser]

Ok, have saved it as a Word doc so hope it works, I only have Open Office on my PC.
Any bussiness will do if they want to help...................I'd even put Tampax stickers on at this stage

Err umm........colloquialisms.............might need to break that one down for a dumbass that wasn't paying attention in english.

that would work cos your'e a "cunt"!!

[GIXser]

ok..... if youre asking for an opion ye.. shall recieve ( i think it has some flaws )
and i shall be blunt
whilst i think its a good read (the cv) you are basically asking for money in return for What ?? a hobby
in there you havent mentioned what you can do for the companies sponsoring you, in order for them to grow their business.
Also you have outlined the costs of running the bike, if it was me i would offer a package to any potential sponsor, and grade the packages ie 5 k 7 k and 10 k..

for example..in a nut shell i can elaborate if you want me to..

5 k will get the sponsor , certain signing rights on the bike, as well as you doing some work for them in any way shape or form
7 k as above but with other benefits
and again with the ten k

The sponsor will ask straight away whats in it for them ??? so ask your self the same question.

dude i have many more thoughts on this buzzing around in this tiny brain of mine, im happy to chat some time...

[Marknz]

I say go for it... a flame paint job, some decent tyres, get some engine work done.........

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/833717



Oh shit! Not that sort of CV? Fook!

Sorry for hijacking your thread Tony, but I needed the laugh this avo.

[svr]

Are there any slick-talking marketing types out there who do rider CV and / or management ? Obviously NZ is a small market but there must be some demand for this type of work.

[svr]

And well done so far on the racing front Tony! Bet you're kicking yourself you didn't start sooner aye?

[Rob Taylor]

Well i cant read it cause my computer opens it all spastic like, but you would have to ride a Ducati with us anyway and i dont think you could handle it,Drew cant

[cs363]

I agree with some of the other posts - the first thing you need to sell a potential sponsor is 'what you can do for them'. This should be the main focus of your approach, after all you are asking them for money which is a scarce commodity these days.
Cut out all the budget details and the list of mods/upgrades on your bike as 95% of potential sponsors probably won't be interested.
Also, unless you are mates with Sir Richard Branson or someone equally as flush with coin, forget about the dollar figures quoted above - it's hard enough for big name riders to get that sort of money, let alone a virtual unknown of advancing years (no offence, just being blunt and bearing in mind that 30+ is considered geriatric in most forms of motorsport!).
Actually, your age could be used to advantage - perhaps approaching companies that make/sell products aimed at the 30+ age group would be the go?
I would also advise against approaching motorcycle shops or wholesalers as they are inundated with sponsorship requests on an almost daily basis and despite what a lot of uninformed people on here think, there isn't oodles of money made by the majority of motorcycle industry businesses and besides you are asking them to basically give a potential customer free product.
keep your CV short and to the point, concentrating on selling the potential sponsor on what you can do for them - this should go a lot further than just having their logos on your bike, gear and trailer. Offer to use the bike as an instore promotional tool, sponsor days - hire a track and take them or their customers for rides, that sort of thing.
Also, make sure you, your bike, gear and trailer etc are immaculately turned out - presentation is everything, you can get away with not being #1 by looking like a winner at all times.
Other potential ideas are offering your bike to a magazine for a 'race bike test' - guaranteed exposure for your sponsor.
Hope these ideas help, and remember - getting and retaining sponsorship is a lot more work than the actual racing (unless you're bloody lucky)

[Tony.OK]

that would work cos your'e a "cunt"!!

And that'd make you a BIG DICK...................always chasin the cunt but not good enough to get it

Hey thanks people.............alot to think about, hadn't realized I was so far off the mark.

[Tony.OK]

And well done so far on the racing front Tony! Bet you're kicking yourself you didn't start sooner aye?

Yep, but I'll have no regrets later for trying at my grand old age hahaa.

Well i cant read it cause my computer opens it all spastic like, but you would have to ride a Ducati with us anyway and i dont think you could handle it,Drew cant

Not that I'd dream of approaching another riders sponsor...............those Duc's seem to be a bit odd, one falls over all the time whilst the other ticks along fine

[Teambwr47]

I was somewhat amazed that when i started back racing and approached a Yamaha dealer in Auckland that he said nobody had ever asked for support before?

Sponsorship is about profile, yours and that of your sponsor......

Its about creating a viable return for investment and appearing to give a return on your sponsors money or discounted products.

I sought out a magazine piece here in New Zealand which i now have monthly in KiwiRider as a means to entertain but also to boost my profile with sponsors in mind. On the weekend I was told in the paddock 'that's a waste of time mate'.... how short sighted some people can be!!!

The article has been running for 1 month yet a number of people including the Wanganui Street race committee came and spoke to me as a result of the article. I have been able to present the mag and article to the likes of Yamaha and Dunlop who support me and it as well as my results aided me in landing two sponsors after the weekend that may finance my whole season. So was thinking outside the square a 'waste of time'....hardly.

Good luck with the search for sponsors Tony and please don't listen to the short of sight and mind that will still be moaning 'theres no sponsors' even though they can't be arsed to THINK a bit more.

I have a race CV that got me quite a bit of help when I first got here but I never talk figures in it. My race CV says what I've done and who i am etc and I then talk figures when I get the chance to present to people. If you show me yours I'll show you mine.

I've found that to date its been easier to get support here in New Zealand than it was in the UK but then I may have just been lucky. I also think and have heard from one of my sponsors that they get more value from an older rider than a young rider who's typically not bothered about the sponsor long term.