I was racking my brain trying to come up with a race report from last week, but everything I wrote down didn't really do my thoughts justice. Like most of us, I do a lot of racing on the forums and Facebook. Topics and opinions get thrown around like a game of "keep away" at times, and while I generally don't put too much stock in what's said on the interweb, a couple topics seemingly encapsulated my race day and week leading up to and after it. So I thought I'd spend the next couple posts addressing my thoughts on a couple of hot topics in the RC world.
Let's start with a seemingly sore subject to many.....
Let's start with a seemingly sore subject to many.....
"Sponsors" and "Support"
The argument about sponsorships within the RC industry is an endless one, to put it softly. The debate ranges from whether or not someone is "deserving" of a sponsor, to the true meaning of the word itself. It's no secret that sponsorships have changed a lot in the past few years, and not just in the RC world. Support is more accessible than ever in nearly every form of competition. Blame it on social media, or blame it on the current economic climate, but advertising is changing. Companies have more avenues in which to reach the masses than ever, many of which are much less expensive and I'd venture to guess, much more effective than the advertising techniques of old.
To better grasp the current trend of "sponsorships" within RC, I believe we need to better use the term "sponsor". Let's not beat around the bush, a company's main objective is to produce sales. Sales come from advertising, and what better way to advertise, than utilizing a "soldier on the ground" approach? Physical exposure at the races through driver "sponsorship" has been the classic form of product placement for years, and is the standard avenue for any form of support by a company.
More recently, direct-to-consumer sales have become popular, and while I'm not huge on these types of practices for retail sales, I understand the idea behind them. I'm a brick 'n mortar guy. I love going to the hobby shop, and try to support these places as much as possible. A common thought is the most current crop of "sponsored drivers" are just contracted direct-consumers. This, for the most part, is true. These deals all but ensure that said-driver is going to purchase said-product only from them, based on the discount given. In return, said-company is assured a certain amount of "free advertising" from said-driver in the form of sticker placement on cars, social media posts, etc. It's a pretty simple system that many people seem to have an issue with. I understand a percentage of hobby shop sales are lost with these deals, but how much really? What's the harm in a "privateer" receiving a discount for being a loyal customer, or a good racer, or a positive influence?
"Privateer".... an interesting term that is seldom used in RC, but has a very basic yet relevant meaning. Motocross is the first sport to come to mind, when I think of the proper meaning of privateer. See if you can spot the similarities to our humble hobby......
In motocross, there are two tiers of support: "Factory" riders, and "Privateers". That's it. Pretty cut & dry if you ask me. On one side, you have the Ken Roczens and Eli Tomacs of the world. These are the few elite riders who are paid a salary to ride, have multiple bikes for practice and racing, which are paid for by the factory or team they ride for. They use prototype parts, and have a heavy influence on what technology makes its way to the production models that their race bikes are based on.
On the other side, you have the Adam Enticknap's and Nick Schmidt's, and well.... Pretty much the rest of us. These are privateers of motocross. The backbone, the weekend warriors, these are the heroes we root for, the underdogs that have basic "support" from various small sponsors, and take on the Goliaths of the sport week in and week out. Everyone loves the underdog, and we certainly love our privateers. These are the representatives of the common racer. These riders pay their way to the races, pay for most of their equipment, albeit at a discounted price from various companies that support their cause.
See any parallels to the RC industry yet?
How many RC racers in the world are "Factory Sponsored" drivers? How many racers influence the design of a car? How many are included in an advertising campaign of a given company? A very small percentage. There's only so many Ryan Cavalieri's and Jered Tebo's to go around. The rest of us are just some sort of privateer at the end of the day. Privateers have an inherent ability to scratch and claw for success. We are scrappy and resourceful. We aren't paid to race. We still buy from the hobby shops, we still pay for parts, we still pay entry fees, and some of us hustle for, and recieve "support" when possible.
Seeing those parallels now?
Back in 2012, I was offered a support deal with Schumacher Racing at the recommendation of a friend. It was a great opportunity for me as a racer, because not only was I able to represent a brand on the side of my car, but I was able to purchase cars and parts at a discounted price, that normally would've been out of reach for my wallet at full retail. At the time, I was on a tight budget (Still am) and this "sponsorship" allowed me access to different classes that I just didn't have the money for before. The concept is simple: I buy parts and cars from a company at a discounted price, and in return, their company shows up on my car bodies and pit area. It was a badass "privateer support" program. Sponsorship, I believe was and is the wrong term for these deals. I got nothing for free. I still paid for my equipment, I was just now able to afford what I couldn't before. I was still a privateer, but I had access to better equipment to progress my tuning and racing abilities. Pretty cool stuff for a "Budget Champion".
Fast forward to this year, and I raced my brand new Schumacher Mi6 Evo for the first time last week. I'm back racing Schumacher cars, and enjoying the support I get from the team as I once had. I also get support from Sticky Kicks RC, which I use for traction compounds and cleaners. These "sponsors" allow me to race at a higher level as a privateer than before. Nothing is free unless you're Rick Howart or Ronald Volker, and I'm no Howart or Volker. I'm a privateer, and I love the support I receive from these two awesome companies. They make racing better, more fun and more affordable for me, so on behalf of my wife, thanks guys. ;)
So why do racers rag on other racers for receiving a "deal"? Why the animosity toward receiving a discount for parts, tires, etc.? This is the part that's always confused me. It's a privateer's job to hustle. It's in our blood as weekend warriors to make this hobby more affordable and more competitive for ourselves, so why not allow those that receive support, to do their thing? Not all of us have six-figure jobs, or dispensable hobby funds. Many of us beg and plead with spouses/girlfriends to spend time and money on this sport. Many of us are just stoked to hang with old friends from time to time, while many of us are trying to make up those few seconds without shelling out countless greenbacks.
I will say this: I believe that a lot of what goes into receiving support is the attitude of the racer on and off the track. If you represent the hobby and yourself in a positive way, and help others and promote, I guarantee that will get noticed faster than a grouch that wins every heat. Race wins and results matter to me, but I'd rather spend my time helping others go faster and "enjoy" my hobby, than worry about tenths of a second - every second of the day. There's those that do both, and their names are Tebo, Evans, Reinard, etc.
So before you slam the current crop of "sponsored" drivers, just remember... we're all just privateers. We're all just looking for an easier way to keep up with the (lap) times. We're all just looking for some "support".
Peace and fast laps.
-JRoy386
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