Well, i just applied for my ccs license and am trying to get started soon. Finally 13 yrs, 2 engagement, 1 divorce, and many girlfriends later, my current wife is pushing me to follow my dream of racing. I know that you need to be racing for a while before asking for sponsorship, but ive done my sponsorship petition already and have been faxing, emailing and mailing it to everyone i can think of. I contacted my uncle Tony (Tony Foster of PCS Daytona) to get his advice. havent heard back yet. Im still in the army stationed in Missouri after 13 yrs. I have 2 Team hammer schools and found my lap times of 2:05 last october to be decent times for my 1st time on that particular Daytona lay out. Anyone have any advice to give me? I am very open minded and take critism fairly well.
Roadracing World had a series of articles on this: How To Get And Maintain Sponsors. I'd contact them at www.roadracingworld.com to see if you can get those issues.
i have that issue and read the article that john ulrich wrote. actually i think i read it twice a day. just was wondering if anyone had done the same thing as me and was able to make it happen. i have already researched and figured almost exactly what it will cost me to run a season for either great plains or mid west. mid-west has more races so the cost is more. The only cost that cant really be figured is for extras (things that break). i figured in a set of tires for each practice, a set for each race, and 3 sets of rains for the season. 4 sets of brake pads, 2 sets of chains and sprockets. ect..
here is what im submitting to people. feel free to review it and critique it. actually it would be appreciated.
Increase your credit card limit.
Get use to a empty wallet or run before you get addictted.
too late on the being addicted thing.
Quote from: f3racer on June 25, 2009, 11:07:13 AM
i figured in a set of tires for each practice, a set for each race, and 3 sets of rains for the season.
.....I'll buy your take-offs. LOL I WISH I could set up a season like that. I am def. a low budget guy, I suppose! Good luck man!
Hey F3Racer,
I'm guessing that you're stationed at Ft Leonard Wood.
Why not come up to St. Louis Aug 15/16 for the MCRA Track Day and CCS races?
Even if you're not ready to race this year come on up and hang out! :thumb:
Or if Topeka would work out better for you come on over the 2nd weekend in July.
I work Tech and Grid in STL and starter at Topeka - look me up and I'd be happy to introduce you to a bunch of good, like-minded folks! :biggrin:
Hell.... I'd even introduce you to skiandclimb - he's a STL Cop!
oh, i didnt say i could afford it. i just fugured what it would cost me. i tried to show what it would cost sponsors to advertise through me versus what they already pay. i proposed that i put their logo on my daily driver truck, trailer and bike. i hit up the competition for people who are already sponsoring bikes (i.e. energy drink companies, etc..), and i hit up the us army. if i have to enter my 1st race using my street dunlop qualifiers then i will. to get into my 1st race all i would really need to do is get a belly pan (or fabricate one), pay for my license, pay for the race entry, remove lighting, and safety wire some things. if im reading the the rule book right.
thanks for the invite Burt. I am at Ft Leonard Wood. I will try for the ST Louis date. i will be in florida picking up my daughter for the summer the second week of july.
I'm not sure anyone uses more than one set of rain tires per season? If you take good care of them, one set will last you a season or more. (I could be totally wrong, I'm just not sure I know of anyone roaching a set in one wet race unless it was say, a GT race that dried halfway through)
Quote from: Burt Munro on June 25, 2009, 04:43:08 PM
Hey F3Racer,
I'm guessing that you're stationed at Ft Leonard Wood.
Why not come up to St. Louis Aug 15/16 for the MCRA Track Day and CCS races?
Even if you're not ready to race this year come on up and hang out! :thumb:
Or if Topeka would work out better for you come on over the 2nd weekend in July.
I work Tech and Grid in STL and starter at Topeka - look me up and I'd be happy to introduce you to a bunch of good, like-minded folks! :biggrin:
Hell.... I'd even introduce you to skiandclimb - he's a STL Cop!
THIS IS A RUSE!!!...WEAVER IS NOT THIS NICE!!!
DO NOT TRUST HIM, HE IS A PROFESSIONAL SHIT DISTURBER!!!
My FZR400 is a reliable and economical racer.
Registration for Saturday practice and 1 race Sunday - $130
Tires for the weekend- $100(Tires last four weekends)
Fuel - $25
Run in Ultralight where it is marginally competitive and loads of fun.
Mark
I think the first thing is to actually race. It was something that John Ulrich replied to years ago where someone wrote in saying how fast they thought they would be if they had X, Y, Z, such-and-such, and thus & so. And John put it pretty well with a simple statement: racers race.
Racers give blood and other fluids, work three jobs, write for sponsorships...
Get lots of credit cards and go bankrupt...multiple times...
Lie, cheat, and steal...
One might be surprised to find out that there were a lot of fast guys in AMA Supersport in previous years that were paying $50k-$120k for those rides. None of which would return that money if they won all the races, and they had no real chance to do so either.
Yeah, certainly, aim high, but recognize the real limitations to offering a sponsorship opportunity to a five to ten race program that has 1000 to 3000 spectators made up of the racers you're competing against and their families and friends. I think we have a thread going on that one right now.
Quote from: backMARKr on June 25, 2009, 07:12:17 PM
THIS IS A RUSE!!!...WEAVER IS NOT THIS NICE!!!
DO NOT TRUST HIM, HE IS A PROFESSIONAL SHIT DISTURBER!!!
How do you put somebody on 'Ignore'?
"my current wife is pushing me to follow my dream of racing."
First thing to do is check to see if she up'd your life insurance policy!!! LOL!!!!
call sprocket specialist they have special kit to add chain drive to your wallet and a secret opener for the bosses purse . i'm so full of sh$t tonight must be the darvocets.go lightweight and good luck
Your tire numbers are way off for a new racer. I'm running top three in amateur middleweight and I'm using a set of tires per weekend, if not a little more. I won a race at Blackhawk on tires that had 60 laps on them and my times weren't more than a second off what I run on brand new tires.
I would say use whatever take-offs you can find cheap for your Friday practice and new racer school and then get a new set for your races that weekend. Then when those are used up, use them for your next practice.
If you end up running mid-west I'll see you there, good luck.
i dont think i can go lightweight. i am going to use my street bike (07 cbr 600 rr). i am pulling her completely off the street. i spent last night fabricating a fiberglass catch pan and headlight blanks. i downloaded the 09 rule book and read it twice. thanks for all the graet advice
Quote from: R1Racer99 on June 26, 2009, 02:14:09 AM
new racer school
If you end up running mid-west I'll see you there, good luck.
thanks for the tire advice it will be used. my 1st race is probably going to be on my street qualifiers.
new racer school? do i have to have that? i already have the team hammer school. if i have to have that i didnt see it anywhere. where do i do that at?
looks like i will start at either great plains or mid-west. great plains has less races there fore easier to afford.
AFLAC
Quote from: f3racer on June 26, 2009, 08:46:30 AM
uhh yeah im lost
Insurance for when you crash.
The Team hammer could suffice if it were the racer school and you received a certificate. You would then take that to registration and get set with your race license. If unsure call CCS before you get to the track. I think Nancy is heading that now.
Running your CBR can be a whole lot more money lost when you crash as compared to just purchasing a set-up SV for lightweight. Once you turn your streetbike into a track bike and crash it takes so much more money and time to get it back to stock and street ready. Consider that you could get started with a $2000 SV that is all ready to go for the track. I bought a "battered" FZR400 and swapped out parts, bought new sharkskinz and put it on the track for $700.
Cheap? Right now it is for the initial outlay. You could rent a bike for your first time out.
Mark
Quote from: skidMARK on June 26, 2009, 08:57:12 AM
The Team hammer could suffice if it were the racer school and you received a certificate.
If unsure call CCS before you get to the track.
Once you turn your streetbike into a track bike and crash it takes so much more money and time to get it back to stock and street ready.
i already called ccs and asked about the team hammer school. it is good. i have the cert. once the cbr is stripped it will never go back on the street. i bought this bike new feb 08 when i got back from iraq and already have 17000 miles on it. it keeps me in trouble with the cops (well..i keep myself in trouble) all the street stuff is being sold to make up more money to race. the only factory thing that came off the bike that i will keep is the stock wheels. i will use those for practices with the practice tires. you advice is great but the fact that i cant afford to spend any money on another machine just yet. and honestly as long i get to do only one race in the season it wil be worth it. i will be going to st louis for the race in august and going to start getting to know some people. pick up some used tires and get ready for the next race. but atleast now i know i only need 1 set of tires for the race weekend and 1 set of rains for the season.
Quote from: f3racer on June 26, 2009, 08:37:39 AM
i spent last night fabricating a fiberglass catch pan and headlight blanks.
You probably have already thought this all through......
Sounds like you're planning on using street bodywork for racing? Usually that brings good money on ebay to help finance other racing needs and race bodywork is a whole lot cheaper. Unless of course your factory stuff has some 'issues' and won't bring top dollar.
Factory bodywork doesn't crash very well either and then you end up buying race bodywork anyway.
Just curious and trying to be helpful...... Like I said, there's probably more to the story than what you shared. :thumb:
good idea. i didnt think of how much money the factory stuff would get me. iwas just thinking of how little i had to spend to get into my 1st race. thanks
Yep, selling of the street bodywork (which only had 300 miles on it and was pristine) and lights paid for my track plastics, rear sets, clip-ons and some other stuff.
wow! did you sell it on ebay?
Yep, ebay. I think I got a total of like, $1,200 selling the street stuff. (bodywork, lights, seats, (don't sell the seat unless you get a superbike tail that doesn't need it.) stock rearset/pegs and handlebars)
Of course then you wont really be able to put it back to street trim without buying all that stuff back again.
In your hunt for sponsorship, definitely approach the companies that make track plastics, you probably wont get anything for free, but you may be able to get a discount.
Amen to what Super Dave said. Also, the last thing on my mind right now would be sponsorship. It ain't gonna happen anytime soon. Get some race plastics, get your suspension dialed in and race
Understand it only takes one race to have your shiny bike made into something that may after a crash have little or nothing of value to salvage. None of us hope for that, but if your on a super tight budget already, expenses to finish a season can and often do include "new bike-destroyed last one"..
If you don't have health insurance.. don't race. Im asuming since your military you have good insurance so that comment was directed at those who don't.
2:05 lap time on the "old" configuration is not setting the world on fire but is a good start. As far as sponsorship there is contingency awards from manufacturers like Vortex,Silkolene,Michelin (and other tires),PitBull,EBC,SHarkskinz, etc. Research what classes these product awards are paid in and race these classes. IF your going to race you might as well have a chance to get some $ toward product for your efforts. Other than that, find a rich friend or relative.
thanks.
Like Greg said, make sure you get setup for all the contingency stuff. As an AM, it's probably the best way to reduce some of the costs of racing. In particular, I would look at the tire companies contingecy payouts for amatuers as that will probably be your biggest expense.
I know Probst (member here on the board) sells a lot of used takeoffs in good shape for a good price.
As far as selling your plastics... you'll prolly have good luck listing them on the CBR forums too as street guys are almost always looking for a set.
Having bought two bikes and converted them to "race" bikes, I personally think you're better off selling your street bike and picking up a used race bike that already has most of the work done to it.
Have fun!
Quote from: r1owner on June 30, 2009, 01:41:49 PM
Like Greg said, make sure you get setup for all the contingency stuff. As an AM, it's probably the best way to reduce some of the costs of racing. In particular, I would look at the tire companies contingecy payouts for amatuers as that will probably be your biggest expense.
I know Probst (member here on the board) sells a lot of used takeoffs in good shape for a good price.
As far as selling your plastics... you'll prolly have good luck listing them on the CBR forums too as street guys are almost always looking for a set.
Having bought two bikes and converted them to "race" bikes, I personally think you're better off selling your street bike and picking up a used race bike that already has most of the work done to it.
Have fun!
Amen to picking up a year or 2 old racebike ready to go. I as well prepped 2 brand new 2007 bikes in 07 and wow.. quite expensive. Sometimes getting used your not exactly sure what your getting but i have had good experiences buying from reputable racers that are not out to screw people. You will save a ton of cash and TIME having a race ready bike you can pick up and take right to the races.