Defining a sponsorship...

[DrivenMind]

Start small, go to a sign shop and work out a deal with them...or maybe start with a paint shop. hell, if you buy the paint and do most of the taping i can spray it...just get a couple quarts or a gallon of satin black and maybe throw a little really fine metallic in it. With a scotch pad and paint thinner it could be done in a couple hours max. Remember they will feed off other companies, tell you them you have a sign shop willing to do their graphics anyway they like, etc.

JTuned has a great article on getting sponsors, i can't access their site from work but i'll find the link tonight if someone doesn't beat me to it...

I just found the article you mentioned... that was pretty good. I think I meet sponsorship requirements, given how actively involved I am in the car scene around Atlanta and the drifting scene overall. I'm usually out every weekend at meets or doing something car related, I attend drift events on an almost monthly basis, and have various types of media content (videos, and pictures) including my car.

As far as painting the car goes, I'd love to paint it Satin black. Unfortunately my doors are a beat to hell and the car needs some minor body work (new fittings on the fenders, and a new grill). I'd rather not paint the car only to ruin the new paint whenever I get the time (and money) to get the body fixed.

[Sirius R]

Most Sponsors look at not only the project in question or the amount of publicity gained from the sponsorship but the person being sponsored. If a sponsor is willing to give a discount ranging from 10% to 100%, they want their company and product to be represented while in the public eye. A sponsored car/person must be willing to stand behind the sponsor 24/7.

As you and your projects progress and you begin to make friends in the industry gaining sponsors becomes much easier provided your sponsors continue to be represented well.

There are “buy in” or “discount” sponsors that can be found at every national car show claiming that if you pay $35.00 processing fee they will sponsor your car with $xx,xxx worth of discounts. In reality, their bull shit. I’ve never had a sponsor ask for an application charge or offer a discount provided my credit was good.

Most sponsorships have a 12 month term of agreement, meaning that the sponsor expects that you will keep their product on your car for a minimum of 1 year. Some are shorter, some are longer. I have never had one in writing but I have seen companies sending out a contract in special situations. Some sponsors will ask for the product back when you are done with it. I’ve seen this with tire companies and pre-production products. They will sometimes want to run tests on the used equipment.

All sponsors look for a unique project to attach themselves to. If you have (no offense) a run-of-the-mill 98 civic with lambo doors and turbo, your chances might not be that great of gaining some high profile sponsors. If you build a 98 civic that runs 9.40’s you can probably find someone interested in helping.

All sponsors want recognition. “stickers” or “roll call” on the exterior of the car are the norm 95% of the time.

[DrivenMind]

All sponsors look for a unique project to attach themselves to. If you have (no offense) a run-of-the-mill 98 civic with lambo doors and turbo, your chances might not be that great of gaining some high profile sponsors. If you build a 98 civic that runs 9.40’s you can probably find someone interested in helping.

All sponsors want recognition. “stickers” or “roll call” on the exterior of the car are the norm 95% of the time.

If that's the case I guess it's good to own an AE86...