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March 21, 2012, 6:31 a.m.
3/21/2012
By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com
Like any form of racing, everyone's goal is to become a top sponsored driver. Most manufacturer's of cars, parts, accessories, and anything else R/C related offer various sponsorship programs which allow drivers of all levels to receive support in their racing as well as helping to promote and build-up the sponsoring company.
It wasn't long ago that I personally owned one of these sponsoring companies in the industry, and still receive sponsorship request letters today. I received an email this morning in regards to a sponsorship that I couldn't help but read over and over again wondering if the guy who wrote it would be able to leave the house today as his head HAD to be too big to fit through the door.
As a previous sponsoring company in the industry, in my opinion, it's not always about how many races you win, how you're destined to be the next big thing, or the reasons you "would have won BUT...". Top drivers like Ryan Maifield, Jesse Robbers, Ryan Lutz, and others are obviously sponsored because they have the capability to win, BUT they are also sponsored and looked up to by so many because of their personalities.
At one time in R/C the ONLY way to get sponsored was to make multiple A-Mains at national caliber races. Let's face it, at THIS time, most of us aren't doing that (Not saying that you won't someday). Today companies have opened up the opportunity for up and coming racers to receive sponsorship support, BUT the criteria is more than just winning races. As a sponsored driver, whether your winning or not, you are representing the company your driving for on AND off the track.
In MY OPINION, a racer who shows potential as a racer on the track and is easy to talk to, helpful, fun to be around, and has a good positive attitude is far more impressive than someone who goes undefeated club racing but spends their time in the pits telling everyone how great they are.
On track performance speaks for itself, and off the track it isn't always necessary to spend your time talking about yourself. Instead show your sponsors or potential sponsors that you're a racer others can come to for help, setups, or just to hang around. On a local level racers don't typically buy a car because it just won a world championship, they buy it because of the local team driver who is willing to help out, share info, answer questions, and drives good on the track.
Once again, in MY OPINION, when looking to get sponsored always include your major race results and finishes as those ARE important, HOWEVER, don't go over board and be sure to show companies that whether you are winning or not, that you will be an excellent representation for their company and products.
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