Sponsorship Question

[dr00t]

When I see vehicles, such as the cars in all the mischief movies, I notice small and large company stickers or logos on them. Now I realize, obviously, this is sponsorship...

But my question is, what type of things do these "sponsors" give them? (Ex. Money, A Hat, A Shirt, A Free Car, ??)

Do the drivers literally afford their car from Sponsorship funds, or do they usually own the car, and then find sponsors to make their cars look cool...?

Someone please clear this up for me.

Thanks.

[jderry]

If you are asking about sponsorship -- you will not get sponsored. The fact is, some people throw stickers on their car to make them go faster ...

In reality, I highly doubt many of the cars get 100% full sponsorship ... I mean, I get discounts ... but, I don't get things for free. Dado will vouch for this as well ... we don't get things for 100% free a majority of the time. Sometimes we DO receive free things; but, 99.9% of the time, we still pay ...

For instance, a roll cage that lists for $6500 -- we might pay $4000 -- but, we still pay.

To even consider becoming sponsored -- you must sink a SHITLOAD (excuse my language) of money into a car. I mean, TENS OF THOUSANDS into a car ... before companies will really look at you. You can't just do a bodykit and wing.

You must do custom interior, nice rims, complete engine bay, etc. I mean, I should send you email that I received from Pablo about how much further "I" would have to go to get into a car feature ... a CRAPLOAD more ... I need custom fiberglass work, custom two-tone interior, preferably custom paint job, etc...etc. I would rather go faster than spend money on that stuff ...

99% of the people do not get paid by sponsors either -- getting sponsored is nice -- but, very difficult to do. A BMW is even more difficult because the market niche is smaller than say someone with a honda or civic. Crap, for the amount Dado, Ron (madhatter), Josh, myself, etc have spent ... we would have probably one of the BADDEST Acura's Tegs or Honda's in the world.

Then again, my friend who has done a crapload of mods to his porsche -- probably would have one of the baddest E36 M3's in the nation .... I balk at spending $10K -- he laughs at me and spends $10K for a body kit ... and then another $40K on top of that for engine/turbo upgrades, another $8K for suspension, another $7K for a roll cage, etc...etc.

Besides, you don't want to make the BMW a garage queen -- you want to drive it and enjoy it, if you are a show car, you can't drive around for fear of rock chips, etc ... so, IMHO ... try to find a balance -- good mix of performance and aesthetics ... and if a company likes, great, if not ... screw'em ...

[ted920]

I agree with James.

I have a '99 Lexus Gs that is sponsored by a number of companies. Some of the stuff Igot for FREE like a few hundred doallrs of Mother's products, FREE audio install work etc. I also just picked up a free BFG Tire deal (worth $1,200).

I also just picked up a wheel sponsorship for FORGED wheels but I still have to pay $1,800 discounted off the $3,200 price (20" triple chrome forged 3-piece).

It is possible to get sponsored byut you have to have a PHAT RIDE and most importantly its all about what you can do for the sponsor in helping to promote their product.

Peace,

Ted

[dr00t]

So where do most people here, with higher end vehicles, get all of their money. I mean, I realize most probably have other jobs... but spending 10k is a nice chunk from a salary to be putting on a car.

I just want to better understand how things are done with most of you. I really appreciate the responses.

[ted920]

MBA and investor.

I'm a hustler baby!

In retrospect, I probably have spent more $$ on my car then I should have but I just caught the bug.

Next car will be a luxury ride but few if any mods besides wheels.

Ted

[IanBMW]

Hey ted920 post pics of your car.

[Dado]

I think the main thing people should think about before asking this question is What can you offer?

[OhhNoo]

I agree with those above. My friend and I chipped together with the help of my work and we built a E30 M3 for SCCA. I mean we were spending everything on this car and at the time we are only 16 and 17. I mean I worked two jobs he worked one and got paid through his dad. We hustled for people to sponsor us. We got anybody and there parents who thought we were doing a good job to sponsor us. We in the end had about 16 sponsors, which we all combined and held BBQs with them. It is all about networking. My uncle opened up opportunties and you do have to sell yourself. People are putting their money on the line so you can work for them. Personally after we advertised a good bit one of our sponsors AutoTech said his business went up because we got the car from him. Its not what you get out of it, its what you give back, you will be a billboard and if you go to shows you have to give shoutouts because that is what sponsoring is. They want other people to see what they can accomplish if they go their business. Overall Rundown was this for our sponsors.

4-Autoshops
2-Tire Places
1-Body Shop
1-Metal Shop
3-Family Restauraunts-
1-Gas Station owned by a friends dad
3-Corporate Business
1-Performance Dealer
We had a great time but school started to catch up and we passed the car over to my uncle and he has added more sponsors.
In the end it is not trying to use them, but to have a win win situation. Hey I'm 18 and I have raced SCCA and have had a sponsor car but it is demanding but I dont regret it. All i need now is to fix my POS 2002 Audi 1.8TQ hmmm...just network and doors will open

Jared
P.S. Sorry about the length.

[scottycs]

It is all about who you know.

Like james said, speed is better than looks! His car isn't the best looking car on the road, but its surely one of the faster ones on the road. Id take his car in a heartbeat over a "show" car. Anyways, rock chips are like dimples on a golf ball, makes that shit faster.

[Newfie2]

i...concure.......it takes a lot of shit done to your car to get a sponsership....and i mean a LOT and yeah i think spped is much better then looks i mean if i was dishing out sponsers id look for speed and then looks not looks then speed like osme of these guys out there are doing!...and what dado is saying does make scence...wait how do you spell scence?...forget the scence but the bottom line is you car has to go fast...look good...and you have to be a good driver which is another thing some people out there are over looking today...!!

[ted920]

In reality, to get sponsors in the import show scene your car doesn't necessarily have to be a speed demon but it can't necessarily be a slow poke either. In my scene, its all about having a really nice tight ride that people can admire and then being able to really offer the sponsor something compelling. For me, it was much easier getting a wheel sponsorship once I had the BFG tire commitment because I could tell the wheel company that my car was going to be traveling with BFG to a half dozen big shows next season garnewring a lot of publicity and exposure for their product.

Thats the way it works, one thing feeds off of the other.

I will also admit that I have a god frined who is sponsored by very big companies to the hilt and he has helped me to get started and helped me get a few of my sponsorships - so knowing some people definately helps as well.

As far as pics go, I have tried to post previously but most of them are unable to be posted b/c they are "too big" .

I will however, post what I can now.

Included will be a pic of the new wheels that I'm getting as well.

Peace,

Ted

[ted920]

I have some pics on my hard drive, how do I post them here?

I seem to be having a bit of a problem here.

Ted

[czm3]

I have a sponsorship on both of my BMWs from a wheel repair/tire shop. I have spent a bit of money at that shop, and the wheels on my e46 get the company plenty of attention (the key issue...)

It also helped me that I bought the owner's e36....

While they dont give me money or parts, they sell everything to me wholesale, and get me significant discounts on labor (balancing, straightening etc etc)

Unfortunately all the money is coming out of my pockets.

[tdc]

Dado hit it right on the nose.

No company is going to do a damn thing for you unless they get something in return.

So the best way for you to even get an audience with companies is by presenting what you can offer them in return for their goods and/or services.

[ted920]

As I have stated in my psts, its all about what you can do for the sponsor. If its something compelling and worthwhile then you have a chance otherwise, no can do.

TDC: right on the money!

Ted