Fan Sponsored Car

[bigolepig]

I have been in contact with Robby Gordon Motor Sports about the concept of putting together a "fan" sponsored car. This is an excerpt of the initial email I sent to RGM about this...

I have met Robby multiple times and have always been amazed at the amount of time he allots for his fans each and every weekend. The past few weeks without a sponsorship has inspired me. The fact that Robby has sponsored himself in two of the last three races made me think...Why couldn't we as fans "sponsor" a car. The idea is a simple one (nothing is ever simple I know) but one that I believe could work. I would (with RGM permission of course) start a campaign to sell small decals to be put on "OUR" car. The decals will be approximately 1x3 in various bright colors to be "personalized" by each fan and then applied to the car. The overall effect will look like confetti, on the car, hence a symbol of our celebration of being a Robby Fan.

The response I got was actually favorable and I am working out the logistics of this concept...I realize Robby is not one of the best loved drivers (last count I was one of 3 fans in the world) but I thought I would share this with ya'll so you know the truth depths of my eccentricities :wink:

[Nascarcamping]

Thats a great idea :D

Let me know how and what you hear back, even though he is not a popular driver like others, the media has made a lot about his lack of sponsors, so that in itself is great sponsorship in itself, you should tell RG this!!

Maybe even we as a group could sponsor him :?:

Curious to know what the space on the hood would cost....

Let us know this sounds interesting, just as an underdog, I think a lot of people would get behind the idea!

[bigolepig]

Thanks...will keep you all posted. I just got so furious over the Verizon/Motorolla sponsorship mess, that inspired me to think can NASCAR say FANS can't sponsor a car? That just got the ball rolling...the Marketing Director at RGM stated he had seen a project like this happen in a European Series, fans bought small black or white squares, and they were then put on the car to make it look like a checkered flag. So the concept is similar to something that has been done before, just not in NASCAR.

I have had some call it Charity...but that is when I correct them and say NO, it is a vision...therefore it is CLARITY!!

[Riplin]

Well I guess I #2 in the 3 fans that love RG. Who is the 3rd?
Let me know how I can get my name on Robby's car?
Great Idea :D

[jennyt43fan]

I think it's a great idea. RG is one of those where he makes you spittin' mad when he messes with your driver :roll: , but you gotta admire someone that can be a single car owner/driver and still be competitive. 8)

I'd be interested in doing something if you get something rolling. We don't exactly embrace the new "mega teams" idea.

[bigolepig]

Well it is an eye popping figure... 350,000 is the MINIMUM that they will do a primary sponsor for ONE race. HOWEVER...I am going to try talk to Robby myself at the Texas Race...I have a something I have to give him after our conversation in Atlanta. (Will tell you all about that in another post, don't want to confuse things here)

I thought it might only (ONLY) be around 100,000. to do this and my idea was to sell small 1x3 decals in various colors to fans for about 100.00 per decal, then put them on a black car and it would look like confetti...perhaps the bottom of the car could be done with some small black and white checkered decals. Finding 1000 people would not be that bad, but the 3500 number may be more than attainable. BUT I emailed Jamey Slawter at RGM about this again today...might be dead in the water...

The email address for Jamey is JSlawter@teamgordon.com if you want to write to support the "vision"...As I told Jamey "I know this is probably something that is going to be met with skepticism, however that leads to determination, which as you know is the path to success. "

[racemommy]

interesting concept...it will be neat if it all works out. please keep us updated. That is a nice chunk o' change to complete the mission either way!!

[jennyt43fan]

Well it is an eye popping figure... 350,000 is the MINIMUM that they will do a primary sponsor for ONE race. "

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

I guess when you think about it, it isn't THAT shocking...but the figure is big no matter which way you slice it. I would still think that where there's a will there's a way.

Let us know what you find out - and tell us the story about what you have to give him at Texas :shock: That sounds like a good story! :lol: :wink:

[bigolepig]

Well...I make a point to be out in time to see Robby once during the race weekend. This year at the Atlanta Spring race was no different...

We park in the Champions Reserved parking (which is located between two rows of merchandise trailers) in Atlanta. Robby's trailer was not too far away, and we have found historically he pulls up in this lot. He pulls up ONE spot away from where we were parked. As he was going to get back in his truck I hollered "Good Luck today Robby" and he turned around and saw that I had all my Robby Gordon gear on. Came over gave me a big squeeze. As he was walking away, I said "Hey Robby, I am going to get you a little cup to put on your dash and you have to put a quarter in it every time you cuss on the radio"..(If you have never listened to him on the radio, you can tell HOW happy he is by the number of F-bombs he is dropping all over the track). He turned around with the most sheepish look on his face and said "OHHHHHH I Don't cuss on the radio" and one of his gang with him about fell on the ground laughing. My mom, who is battling cancer, and just finished a round of chemo walked over during all of this and said that we would like to get my picture with him. He said SURE!! So I hopped in the truck got the camera, my mom has her "do rag" on and Robby grabs her and says "YOU first" I take two pictures and he tells her "keep fighting". Mom takes my pictures, and I tell him that he should get Preparation H as a sponsor since NASCAR is such a pain in his a--. That is when he came back AGAIN and told me he got the whole thing worked out for that weekend...Small battle won (and incidently WHAT inspired me to have this corn brain idea of the fansorship)

SO with that said...I found a small bank that looks like a old timey bomb with a fuse on it...going to give it to him at Texas with 1.50 in it and tell him I got him covered from the Atlanta race...

He is a great fan oriented driver...not too many will hang out with them in the parking lot and take the time that he does.

What is REALLY cool...a few years back when my mom was first diagnosed with cancer...we were at the Fall (2003) Atlanta race. This was the first time she got to meet Robby. He was sooooo incredible, and really won her over that day. About two weeks later she had her first surgery on the cancer in her leg. All through this she was still gushing about meeting Robby Gordon...all the nurses heard about it...etc etc. I thought you know THAT is really cool. SO I wrote to his website just to THANK him for the time that he takes with his fans, and told him how much it meant to my mom. Few days later I get an email back wanting to know my mom's address...what arrives, but a personalized get well autographed photos from Robby himself...WHO else would do that.

[Nascarcamping]

Thats a great story :D

I heard today that he did the same thing in his golf cart or something, I caught the tail end of it on tv.

My mom also battled Cancer, it was tough.

How is your mom doing?

[bigolepig]

Not out of the woods yet...may have to have another surgery (has had three over the last four years), has done radiation and chemo and it keeps rearing its ugly head...Good thing is IF there is anyone who has the right attitude about it, it IS my momma!! She could take on Rocky...quite the fighter!! :D

[racemommy]

That is an awesome story. I sat here reading it with a smile, and tears running down my face.

[Shirley]

Great Story, I also had a smile on my face with a tear in my eyes. Back in 91 I lost my Mother and in 95 I lost my Mother-In-Law due to Cancer.
I have heard of several great story about Robby, but I have never meet him. All of them about the same as yours.
I will be saying a prayer for your Mother and for your Family. Because I know first hand what your going throw.
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