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Racing Secrets Newsletters Index· CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE: 2/14/2006 · CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE: 7/6/2005 · Racing Secrets Newsletter 6/15/2005 · Racing Secrets Newsletter 5/26/2005 ·
A Second Look Newsletter Vol.
15, May 2005 New to SCMSRN.com! |
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Racing Secrets Newsletter
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(22,400 Current Subscribers)
If you have time, please read the entire email.
- Engine Tips
- Racing Tips
- Sponsorship Tips
- Nascar Job Tips
- Driving Tips
PERFORMANCE QUOTE:
"The great aim of education is not knowledge but
action" ---Herbert Spencer (1820 - 1903)
-------------------------------------------------
FEATURED SITE - Speed Articles
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FEATURED PRODUCT - 7 Steps to a Nascar Career
http://racingsecrets.com/racing_jobs.shtml
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ENGINE TIPS:
Baseline Power
By Don Terrill (c)
At the core of every racer is a deep desire to
constantly improve performance. This desire, while
responsible for many successes, can also lead to
unnecessary failures.
Sometimes the application just doesn't call for the
most power - In that case, fall back on what you know
works:
* YOUR baseline Combination
* YOUR baseline Camshaft
* YOUR baseline Cylinder Head
* YOUR baseline Carburetor
* YOUR baseline Tuneup
I know what you're going to say, if I don't try new
things, how will I ever make more power? Well, for
many/most applications you don't need more power, for
example:
* Bracket Racing - There are advantages to leaving last
and chasing, but in the end, it's the driver with the
best package that wins, and that has nothing to do with
how fast the car is.
* Short Track Stock Car Racing - The majority of local
stock cars have more power than they'll ever need -
Read my article on getting back to the throttle.
http://raceology.com/2005/08/back-to-throttle.html
These two applications combine to make up 90% of
engines built.
I did some port work for a bracket guy recently - on a
combination I hadn't work on in years. I did the port
work and then talked him into letting me pick out the
cam. I selected a cam that has been around for decades
- a cam that has worked in everything I've put it in.
Everything I know about cams tells me I can do better,
but the majority of times I veered away from it, I lost
power. After running all season the engine finally made
it to the dyno - It beat expectations.
I'm a real believer in combinations. Like I've always
said, there are a 1,000 ways to make (x) horsepower,
choose one - Choose one YOU know works.
If you haven't been at it long enough to have
baselines, keep at it, you will. And remember,
sometimes we just need to leave a good thing alone.
More engine tips:
http://racingsecrets.com/technical_racing.html
http://speedtalk.com/store.html
RACING TIPS:
Car, Driver, Engine - Eliminate Two!
By Don Terrill(c)
While talking to teams contemplating a move to the next
level, I always give the same advice "you've got three
variables: the Car, the Driver and the Engine - You
need to eliminate ANY two as potential problems before
you show up for your first race."
In other words, if your driver is of unknown quality,
you'd better have a good car and engine. Likewise for
an unknown engine or chassis.
Results from NOT eliminating two:
* Prolonged tuning - The time required to sort out a
car goes up exponentially when you have to focus on
more than one area of the equation. Can you imagine
showing up at a new track with question marks on the
car, driver and engine? You'd have to be the luckiest
person on the planet to run well.
* Finger pointing - The chassis building blames the
engine builder, the engine builder blames the chassis
builder and the driver blames everybody. Not a pleasant
situation to say the least.
How to Eliminate Question Marks:
The car:
* Buy one of known quality - The best choice is buying
one with a proven history of winning. Buying a new
chassis, no matter how good the builder, still leaves a
question.
The driver:
* Hire the best driver in the class
* Let someone else hop in the car
* Find another ride for your driver
The engine:
* Buy one of known quality
* Dyno test
* Try another engine
Maybe it's because I'm an engine builder, but I believe
the engine is the easiest to eliminate - it's easy to
qualify - just dyno it. The driver and chassis have no
such definitive test. For me, there really is no excuse
for showing up at the track with an unknown engine.
More racing tips:
http://racingsecrets.com/
http://speedtalk.com/
SPONSORSHIP TIPS:
Leverage Your Assets
By Don Terrill (c)
From High School Physics we learn:
Torque = Force x Lever Arm.
If we sub...
* Sponsorship for Torque
* Assets for Force
* and Brains for Lever Arm
We get: Sponsorship = Assets x Brains
From this formula we can see that anytime we increase
our assets or brains, we increase sponsorship.
Your Assets:
The Obvious Ones:
* Your Car
* Your Labor
The Not So Obvious Ones:
* Your Business
* Your Education
* Your Connections
* Your Sales Ability
Leveraging Your Assets: (Using your brains)
* Your Car - Can you advertise your sponsor's business
on the car? Can you display the car at the business to
attract attention?
* Your Labor - Is there something the business owner
needs done that you can do?
* Your Business - How can you work your sponsor's
business into your marketing efforts?
* Your Education - What advice can you give to your
sponsor that could help his business?
* Your Connections - Do you know a large group of
people? Do you know important people who can help your
sponsor's business?
* Your Sales Ability - Can you directly, or do you know
a better way to, sell your sponsor's products and
services?
My Assets and how I would leverage them:
* SpeedTalk.com Talk Show - Have the sponsor as a guest
on the show.
* Speed Talk Message Board - Place a link to the
sponsor's website and create a section on the forum
specifically for them.
* Project Autos Site - Do a complete write-up on the
installation and use of their product and put a link to
their site.
* Used Racing Parts Classifieds - Place a link or
banner to their site.
* Racing Newsletter Mailing List - Announce their
sponsorship.
Notice I didn't even list my car. If you want to get
sponsored in this day and age, you're going to have to
use your brain and think a lot more creatively than
just stickers on a car.
More sponsorship advice:
http://racingsecrets.com/money_racing.html
http://speedtalk.com/store.html
NASCAR JOB TIPS:
Camping Out
By Don Terrill (c)2006
I only use this tip to get someone to do what they're
supposed to do, but there's no reason you can't use it
to get people to do what you want them to.
Now, when I say camp out I don't usually mean
literally, but sometimes I do. Sometimes it takes
showing up and staying until you get what you want.
Examples of "Camping Out":
* Show up at their home
* Show up at their business
* Email them
* Call them
* Send a letter
* Doing SOMETHING every day
The Fine Line:
* Push too far, piss them off.
* Push too little, get nothing.
* Push just right, get what you want.
Not everyone is going to have the stomach for this, but
the fact is, it works. It's easy for someone to blow
you off once or twice, but make them do it everyday and
they will finally stop and listen.
And when they stop to listen, you'd better be ready to
deliver - but that's for another article.
More Nascar Job Search Tips:
http://racingsecrets.com/racing_jobs.shtml
DRIVING TIPS:
Now's the time to make your own LUCK!
By Tami Eggleston (c)
At the races some people call certain drivers, "Lucky!"
And of course we have all heard the saying, "I would
rather be Lucky than Good!" Well, as a psychologist, I
would much rather be good and figure the luck will come
along eventually. If you are good, you can always be
good. But if you just rely on Luck, well that will
inevitably come and go. I also don't really believe
that some people are Lucky or Unlucky, I simply believe
some people are just smart, work hard, and probably
having a few extra bucks to buy some good parts and do
some maintenance! ;) So the winter months are the time
to make your own luck! What you do now can make you
lucky later when it actually matters--work hard in
January and February so you can be lucky from
March-October!
Doing some maintenance to the car is one thing that
needs to be done. Those "lucky" drivers are in their
shops working on their cars right now. This way their
cars will be ready for the race seaon. These "lucky"
racers are also probably working on their own mental
game by doing some practice trees, thinking about their
driving strategies, and maybe really taking some time
to analyze their racing program.
By doing some things now, you will also have that
feeling of being totally prepared and ready for the
race. It is impossible to get in the flow and drive
well when you are worrying about a technical,
mechanical, or other problem.
If you are working hard now, maybe you will be Lucky
next season, or maybe you will just be good...but
either way you are preparing yourself now to win later!
GOOD LUCK!
More Driving Tips:
http://racingsecrets.com/driving_racing.html
OTHER ARTICLES:
http://RacingArticles.com
PRODUCT LINKS:
Secrets of a 740hp Winston Cup engine
http://racingsecrets.com/racing_engines.shtml
Engine Experts
http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_racing_engines.shtml
Airflow Experts
http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_head_porting.shtml
Home Porting the Holley Carb
http://racingsecrets.com/holley_carburetors.shtml
Psyched Out! The psychology of drag racing
http://racingsecrets.com/stock_car_racing.shtml
Eye Training for drag racers Video
http://racingsecrets.com/drag_racing_eye.shtml
Spun Out! The psychology of stock car racing
http://racingsecrets.com/stock_car_racing.shtml
Sponsorship Roadmap
http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship.shtml
Sponsorship Experts
http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_sponsorship.shtml
Sponsor Hunt Software
http://racingsecrets.com/racing_sponsor_hunt.shtml
Sponsorship Coach
http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship_coach.shtml
Winning Proposals
http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship_proposals.shtml
Hidden Head Porting
http://acidporting.com/acid_porting.shtml
Art of Cheating
http://racingsecrets.com/racing_rules.shtml
7 Steps to a Nascar Career
http://racingwebpages.com/jobs.shtml
Street Stock Setup Manual
http://racingsecrets.com/street_stock_racing.shtml
Speed Talk Store
http://speedtalk.com/store.html
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http://speedtalk.com/mailfax.html
Special Newsletter Offers:
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Package Deals, save up to $123
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WEBMASTERS:
Want to make some money at your site?
http://racingincome.com/
Want to trade links with over 100 Racing Sites?
http://speedlist.com/cgi-bin/linkt.cgi?action=trade
Free Racing Banner Exchange:
http://racingads.com/
Let Visitors "Rate Your Site"
http://racingvote.com/
WRITERS:
Looking for book writers - http://writerswanted.com/
(All subjects, not just racing)
Looking for article writers - http://racingarticles.com/
(Racing only)
RACING SITES:
Used Racing Parts http://usedracingparts.com/
Used Shop Equipment http://usedshopequipment.com/
Job Listings http://racinghelp.com/cgi-bin/rh_jobs.cgi?
Racing Articles http://RacingArticles.com/
Racing Software http://RacingDownloads.com/
Audio Program http://SpeedTalk.com/
Speed Talk Road Show http://RacingRoadTrip.com/
Racing Setups http://powersetups.com/
Sponsorship Coaching Services http://speedcoach.com/
Project Cars http://projectautos.com/
RACING BLOGS:
Don's Tech Column http://raceology.com/
Sponsorship Blog http://sponsorshiphelp.com/
Nascar Job Search Blog http://racingjob.com/
Driving Secrets Blog http://drivingsecrets.com/blog/
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Invite a friend to receive this newsletter
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- Performance Tips
- Engine Tips
- Sponsorship Tips
- Driving Tips
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or
faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins, is
the man who thinks he can" --Vince Lombardi
NEW PRODUCTS:
Engine Experts - 10 CDs & Case
http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_racing_engines.shtml
NEW SITE:
Driving and Sponsorship Coaching Services
http://speedcoach.com
PERFORMANCE TIPS:
Quantum Leaps in Performance
By Don Terrill (c) 2005
Incremental Thinking: Every year we get a little bit
better.
* 500 more RPM
* 50 more Cubic Inches
* .050 more Valve Lift
* 0.1 higher Rocker Ratios
* 10% lighter Components
* 10 More CFM
* 20 More HP
Stop Thinking Incrementally!
Quantum Thinking: Think big. Think about where we will
be in 10-20 years and then try to do that in one year.
* 5,000 more RPM
* 500 more Cubic Inches
* .500 more Valve Lift
* 1.0 higher Rocker Ratios
* 75% lighter Components
* 300 More CFM
* 500 More HP
Don's Racing Blog: http://raceology.com
More Speed Tips:
http://racingsecrets.com
http://speedtalk.com
ENGINE TIPS:
Piston Ring Welding
By Don Terrill (c) 2005
Photo:
http://raceology.com/images/ring_welding-580.jpg
What is it:
* It's more commonly know as micro-welding.
* It's where aluminum from the piston is "transferred"
to the bottom of the compression ring.
* The welding will most likely take place near the
ends. The above ring shows no problems on the bottom or
opposite side of the gap on the bottom.
* It happens during break-in. If you can make it off
the dyno you're probably home free.
If you haven't experienced this problem yet, you either
haven't built enough engines or horsepower. It may have
already happened to you and you don't even know it -
start checking the bottom of the compression rings
during teardown.
How to know if it's happened:
* Low crankcase vacuum - If you run a vacuum in the
crankcase you can easily spot a problem with
micro-welding. When the compression ring sticks from
welding, blowby will increase and thus offset some of
the vacuum and lower the gauge reading. I've seen
engines lose 50% of their normal vacuum.
* Power off 2% plus - This is the first clue that
something is wrong. When I built engines in Nascar it
was easy to spot an engine that was off a fuzz. You
build dozens of the same engine and you'll have a
really good idea of how much each should make.
What causes it:
* Softening of piston material - engine got hot or?
* Poor ring groove machining - finish, flatness, ...
* Wrong ring-to-groove clearance.
* And probably some other factors no one knows about or
understands yet.
How to avoid it:
* Coating the bottom of the ring - phosphate dry
lubricant. This is the fix we used and solved 95% of
the problems.
* Coating ring land - phosphate dry lubricant.
* Tilting the ring land.
* Anodizing the ring land.
* Modified engine break-in method. If you run a vacuum
in the crankcase, vent the motor during break-in so
there is zero vacuum. This will allow more oil to reach
the upper ring groove and may inhibit welding.
* We even tried different end-gap locations during
assembly - believing if you kept the top ring gaps away
from the exhaust side of the piston it would help.
Don's Racing Blog: http://raceology.com
More Speed Tips:
http://racingsecrets.com
http://speedtalk.com
SPONSORSHIP TIPS:
Marketing Motorsports Sponsorship with Voice Mail and
E-Mail
By Charlie Hayes
To sell sponsorship for your car or team, there is one
thing you must get really good at: Communication. And
communicating today is largely done via e-mail and
voice mail.
Being good at voice mail is, as with most things worth
pursuing, largely a matter of practice, practice,
practice - and ultimately, learning primarily by DOING
it. Practice with friends' answering machines, a tape
machine. Make calls to prospects you doubt would be
interested in your program, just for the sake of
practice where you have nothing "at stake" other than
learning.
I've created some informal statistics on our own
sponsor search voice mail communication results, which
you may find interesting:
1. Out of every ten first calls to corporate marketers,
we end up on voice mail about 80% of the time.
Conclusion: Like it or not, you need to learn how to
deal with it, since 80% of your prospects USE it!
2. Out of those messages, about 25% return my message
after one call. An additional 25% respond after a
second or third message. And about half do not respond.
Conclusion: Voice mail is THE accepted and preferred
method of communicating for the Fortune 1000, as well
as most small businesses (including ours, I might add.)
And, if you will learn it, and practice to get good at
it, you can produce perfectly acceptable results - by
which I mean you will get to speak to about half the
people you want to reach.
The caveat is, of course, you do need to get good at
it. Yes, it is work. But how badly do you want to get a
sponsor? Remember too that it is all-important to
create a message the listener on the other end cares
enough about to respond to. In essence, if you leave a
message saying, "I have a neat race car, I'll bet you'd
love to sponsor it" will get you about 1 response per
100,000 calls!
What about e-mail?
E-mail generally is used to affirm or reinforce actual
live conversations. Rarely is a deal DONE with e-mail
... but it can be a useful tool and most people have it
and use it as an additional tool for communicating.
Mind you, e-mail can never replace a voice on the
phone, just as a voice on the phone can never replace a
face to face meeting. But it can LEAD to the voice on
the voice mail, then to the voice in real time, then to
the face to face.
Just remember that you are always addressing THEIR
needs and concerns. How can you help them sell their
product or service? Always be answering that question
when you write or call!
Top Ten Question NUMBER ONE
How do I reach the decision-maker on the telephone?
The answer is partially contained in #2, dealing with
voice mail. But before you can be effective in getting
your message heard you DO need to know tom whom to
direct it. How do you find out?
This is one of the most complex questions in the game,
because the right person will vary widely, in terms of
their title or job description, from firm to firm. The
easiest way to at least get a LIKELY "Right Gal or Guy"
is to call the company reception desk and ask, "Who in
your company is responsible for sports or event
marketing, or promotions like that?" Then you will
probably get steered to the correct person, but not
always. It takes some skill and experience to delve
more deeply into the company's structure by phone, and
it can certainly be done, but I don't have the room
here to detail the kinds of sophisticated tools we are
talking about. I CAN offer you one more tip on the
subject, though: Ask the person at some point in the
conversation if there is anyone else "you would need me
to speak with about this project, or is the decision
yours alone?" Listen carefully to the answer, and
design your future actions accordingly!
Marketing Motorsports truly is a science and requires
self-discipline, training and practice. But that said,
if I have one "Mega-Tip" it is this: Go for it. Just
get after it anyway. Don't try to have all the answers
before giving it a shot. You will find that the more
you do it the better you get, provided you have good
guidance from people who know how the game works: I
can't say this often enough:
NEVER stop learning. Take seminars, get the books, do
the coaching programs, get the right materials.
Importantly, try to work with ONE strategy and don't
"mix and match." Do what works!
Some of this material can also be found in the book
"Get Sponsored" by Charlie Hayes
For more on this and other Sponsorship Marketing issues
go to ...
http://GetSponsoredNow.com
More Sponsorship Tips:
http://racingsecrets.com/money_racing.html
DRIVING TIPS:
Top 10 things to do to get off to a good start for the
racing season! (Part 1)
By Tami Eggleston (c)2005
It is hard to believe that another race season has
started. Sport psychologists would argue that getting
off to a good start is very important for a successful
year. Here are my top 10 suggestions for a good start
to your race season.
1.) Practice! For many racers there are test and tunes
or some midweek races that you can hit to help get some
practice. Most of us start off a little rusty at the
beginning of the year. If you can't actually go
practice race, at least doing a little mental practice
(visualize all the things you need to do) can also
help. In addition, some racers say that playing video
games can help get a person back in the swing of
things. For drag racers, many have practice trees to
help get their reaction times back up to speed. Below
are two internet sites that have a practice tree and
hitting baseballs to help reaction times that are
needed in most every sport.
http://www.racewindsor.com/Trees/sportsman.html
http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/reactiontime.html
2.) Set your short term and long term goals. At the
beginning of the year it is essential to think about
what you want to achieve this year. This also involves
getting out a calendar and plotting out the races you
want to attend. Planning now can help bring success
later.
3.) A change would do you good! Too many racers start
off the season just the same as last year. The change
may come in terms of new equipment, for most of us a
change mentally or a change in a routine may be equally
(if not more) important. Think about some small
changes that you could do that could help your
performance.
4.) Talk it over! For many racers, they have a pitcrew
that may be friends or family members. At the
beginning of the season it is a good idea to talk about
the upcoming year with your pitcrew members and include
them in the planning and changes.
5.) Putting pen to paper. OK, this is not a very
exciting one, but one part of success is in the record
keeping. At the beginning of the year it is good to at
least start your paper work in good order. Keeping a
log book of the races attended, the maintenance of the
car, the outcomes of the race, mileage, expenses,
winning, etc. Using your computer to print out some
simple worksheets might help you better keep your
records.
Continued in our next newsletter...
More Driving Tips:
http://racingsecrets.com/driving_racing.html
OTHER ARTICLES:
http://RacingArticles.com
WEBMASTERS:
Want to make some money at your site?
http://racingincome.com/
PUBLISH YOUR WORK:
Got a skill or tip that might help our readers? Let us
help you from design to marketing.
http://WritersWanted.com
OTHER SITES:
Used Racing Parts http://usedracingparts.com
Used Shop Equipment http://usedshopequipment.com
Racing Articles http://RacingArticles.com
Racing Software http://RacingDownloads.com
Audio Program http://SpeedTalk.com
Speed Talk Road Show http://RacingRoadTrip.com
Racing Setups http://powersetups.com
Project Cars http://projectautos.com
Don's Tech Column http://raceology.com
See you next time...
PRODUCT LINKS:
Secrets of a 740hp Winston Cup engine
http://racingsecrets.com/racing_engines.shtml
Engine Experts
http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_racing_engines.shtml
Airflow Experts
http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_head_porting.shtml
Home Porting the Holley Carb
http://racingsecrets.com/holley_carburetors.shtml
Psyched Out! The psychology of drag racing
http://racingsecrets.com/stock_car_racing.shtml
Eye Training for drag racers Video
http://racingsecrets.com/drag_racing_eye.shtml
Spun Out! The psychology of stock car racing
http://racingsecrets.com/stock_car_racing.shtml
Sponsorship Roadmap
http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship.shtml
Sponsorship Experts
http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_sponsorship.shtml
Sponsor Hunt Software
http://racingsecrets.com/racing_sponsor_hunt.shtml
Sponsorship Coach
http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship_coach.shtml
Winning Proposals
http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship_proposals.shtml
Hidden Head Porting
http://acidporting.com/acid_porting.shtml
Art of Cheating
http://racingsecrets.com/racing_rules.shtml
7 Steps to a Nascar Career
http://racingwebpages.com/jobs.shtml
Street Stock Setup Manual
http://racingsecrets.com/street_stock_racing.shtml
Speed Talk Store
http://speedtalk.com/store.html
ORDERING INFO:
1) Order via Secure Server
https://racing.he.net/~secure12/racingsecrets.html
https://racing.he.net/~secure12/speedtalk.html
2) Order via Mail of Fax
http://racingsecrets.com/mail_fax.html
http://speedtalk.com/mailfax.html
PO Box 527, Oshtemo MI, 49077, United States
- Technical Tips
- Sponsorship Tips
- Driving Tips
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by
the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did
do." -Mark Twain
NEW PRODUCTS:
Sponsorship Experts - 10 CDs & Case
http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_sponsorship.shtml
Get Sponsored! - Books & CD or ebook
http://speedtalk.com/get_sponsored.html
NEW SPEED TALK INTERVIEWS:
Induction Dynamics - Larry Widmer
http://speedtalk.com/shows/053_larry_widmer.html
Female Racer Tips - Theodore & Sutton
http://speedtalk.com/shows/052_theodore_sutton.html
Sponsorship Solutions - Charlie Hayes
http://speedtalk.com/shows/051_charlie_hayes.html
TECHNICAL TIPS:
Top 10 Racing Columns from Last Year
by Don Terrill (c)2005
Here's the list of my favorites:
1. 10 Undeniable Truths about Going Fast
http://raceology.com/2003/03/10-undeniable-truths-about-going-fast.html
2. 10 Engine Wives' Tales - Debunked
http://raceology.com/2003/05/10-engine-wives-tales-debunked.html
3. 10 tips for shaving ET this weekend
http://raceology.com/2000/12/10-tips-for-shaving-et-this-weekend.html
4. 10 Power Killers & How To Avoid Them
http://raceology.com/2004/10/10-power-killers-how-to-avoid-them.html
5. 10 Tips for Engine Survival
http://raceology.com/2003/02/10-tips-for-engine-survival.html
6. 10 Surefire Ways to Lower Drag
http://raceology.com/2003/04/10-surefire-ways-to-lower-drag.html
7. Cam Doctor - The Quickest Camshaft Education
http://raceology.com/2004/11/cam-doctor-quickest-camshaft-education.html
8. Taguchi Method: Faster Race Testing
http://raceology.com/2004/11/taguchi-method-faster-race-testing.html
9. The 80/20 Power Principle
http://raceology.com/2004/09/8020-power-principle.html
10. Sonic Testing - What, Why, How
http://raceology.com/2004/11/sonic-testing-what-why-how.html
Don's Racing Blog:
http://raceology.com
------
Top 10 Racing Interviews from Last Year
by Don Terrill (c)2005
After I finished picking my personal favorites, one
thing was clear, the interviews were with people who
had nothing to prove and thus, nothing to hold back.
Big Daddy won hands down with a great story from his
childhood. Next was Harold Bettes at Superflow who was
an absolute joy to talk to. Rounding out the top 3 was
Darin Morgan at Reher Morrison who is the most open
smart-guy I know.
Here's the list of my favorites:
1. Don Garlits - On The Road With Big Daddy
http://speedtalk.com/shows/016_garlits_lehman.html
2. Harold Bettes - Flow Theory
http://speedtalk.com/shows/020_harold_bettes.html
3. Darin Morgan - Porting by The Numbers
http://speedtalk.com/shows/021_darin_morgan.html
4. Jim McFarland - Intake Manifold Science
http://speedtalk.com/shows/027_jim_mcfarland.html
5. French Grimes - In Tune
http://speedtalk.com/shows/032_french_grimes.html
6. Jere Stahl - Power by Stahl
http://speedtalk.com/shows/012_jere_stahl.html
7. Phil Martin - Nascar Head & Intake Porting
http://speedtalk.com/shows/041_phil_martin.html
8. JE Pistons - Piston Tech
http://speedtalk.com/shows/033_je_pistons.html
9. Trish Yunick Brown - Lessons from Smokey
http://speedtalk.com/shows/028_smokey_yunick.html
10. Joe Mondello - Porting Professor
http://speedtalk.com/shows/018_joe_mondello.html
Don's Racing Blog:
http://raceology.com
------
Top 10 Racing Photos from Last Year
by Don Terrill (c)2005
I took these photos over the last year and a half, and
as you'll see, had a lot of fun. Beverly and I went to
the Soap Box Derby, a Human Power Vehicle (HPV) race, a
Snowmobile Grass Drags, a Power Boat race and the more
popular Drag and Stock Car races.
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/hpv-7-20-03/images/DSC00713.jpg
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/soapbox-7-26-03/images/down_track.jpg
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/asa-8-2-03/images/free_tshirt.jpg
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/outlaws-8-7-03/images/steve_kinser.jpg
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/ihra-martin-8-10-03/images/girl.jpg
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/kzoo_9-20-03/images/wreck-2.jpg
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/grass-drags-10-03/images/dirt.jpg
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/apba-7-25-04/images/IMG_1269.jpg
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/cts-8-6-04/images/CTS-005.jpg
http://racingroadtrip.com/trips/sport_compact-8-8-04/images/IMG_1723.jpg
I truly believe there is much to be learned from
watching types of racing other than our own. The Soap
Box Derby might not seem like much, but I can't think
of a better place to learn about aerodynamics and drag.
Ok, well maybe a Human Power Vehicle race :)
Don's Racing Blog:
http://raceology.com
More Speed Tips:
http://racingsecrets.com
http://speedtalk.com
SPONSORSHIP TIPS:
The following is an article on Sports Sponsorship. It
gives some ideas on what benefits to point out to a
potential sponsors.
Sponsorship: A Key to Powerful Marketing
By Susan Friedmann (c)
Why sponsor?
Sponsorship offers the possibility of achieving several
goals at once. According to Schmader and Jackson in
their book, Special Events: Inside and Out, a company
can benefit from sponsorship in many ways, such as:
1. Enhancing Image/Shaping Consumer Attitudes
Often companies are looking to improve how they are
perceived by their target audience. Sponsoring events
that appeal to their market are likely to shape buying
attitudes and help generate a positive reaction. Coca
Cola, for example is always looking to generate a
positive influence of their products in the minds of
their consumers and as such regularly support events
they feel can influence consumer opinions.
2. Driving Sales
Sponsorship geared to driving sales can be an extremely
potent promotional tool. This objective allows sponsors
to showcase their product attributes. Food and beverage
companies often use sponsorship to encourage samplings
and sales.
IEG's Complete Guide to Sponsorship cites Visa's
fund-raising effort around its sponsorship of the
Olympic Games and the U.S. Olympic Team. They promoted
their association by offering to make a donation to the
team each time consumers charge a purchase to their
card. American Express used a similar strategy by
donating to needy causes with their "Charge Against
Hunger" campaign. As a result, both companies
experienced a significant rise in sales volume.
3. Creating positive publicity/heightening visibility
Every sponsor is seeking wide exposure in both
electronic and print media. Positive publicity helps
create heightened visibility of products/services.
Various media covering the event may include sponsors
names and/or photos. In addition, the kind of media
coverage a sponsor may get is often unaffordable if the
company were to think of purchasing it, and if it were
available. To maximize this objective, it is important
for the sponsoring company to have a comprehensive
media campaign to augment the regular media coverage
promoted by the organizers. Sponsorship can often
generate media coverage that might otherwise not have
been available.
4. Differentiating from competitors
The mere act of sponsoring an event, especially an
exclusive sponsorship, is a significant way to create
competitor differentiation. Your company name has the
opportunity to stand out head and shoulders above the
competition. This is particularly helpful if your
company wants to combat a competitor with a larger ad
budget. Sponsorship allows smaller companies to compete
with their industry giants.
Target audiences often perceive sponsorship in a
positive way. They see you as making a greater effort
to support the event, often allowing more or better
activities to take place as a result of your
sponsorship.
5. Helping with good "Corporate Citizen" role
Another powerful sponsorship objective allows companies
to be viewed as a "good neighbor." To be seen
supporting the community and contributing to its
economic development is extremely powerful and creates
enormous goodwill.
6. Enhancing business, consumer and VIP relations
Sponsorship that offers hospitality opportunities is
always very attractive to companies.
Perks may include special exclusive networking settings
such as VIP receptions or golf tournaments -
opportunities to meet key customers and solidify
business relationships.
It is important to evaluate each opportunity and look
for ways it could tie into your marketing objectives.
Susan A. Friedmann
http://www.thetradeshowcoach.com
More Sponsorship Tips:
http://racingsecrets.com/money_racing.html
DRIVING TIPS:
6 Healthy Eating Tips for Active Adults
By Meri Raffetto (c)
Adequate Carbs!
With the latest low carb trend it can become difficult,
to say the least, to figure out what you should be
eating especially if you are active! The truth is, when
you exercise your muscle burns a type of carbohydrate
called glycogen for fuel. To keep these important fuel
levels optimal for peak performance, we must eat a diet
rich in whole grains, beans, potatoes, and other
high-carbohydrate foods. You can't produce optimal
glycogen stores with a high protein low carbohydrate
diet. Go for the whole grains such as 100% whole wheat
breads, brown rice, quinoa, or millet. Limit the
'white' refined products.
Protein
Yes it is true, active people need more protein than
the average person. It is especially important after
our workouts to repair muscle damage. Include lean
meats, fish, soy, and eggs. Active people need about
3-4 three-ounce servings a day.
Eat Your Fruits and Veggies!
When you exercise, you breathe harder taking in more
oxygen. While you need oxygen to support life, it can
become unstable in the body. Unstable oxygen can
oxidize and damage your muscle cells which can bring on
inflammation and soreness. You can protect yourself
from oxidation by eating healthful amounts of
antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. Eat at
least five fruits and vegetables a day!
Drink, Drink, Drink
The more you exercise, the more you sweat. Replacing
these fluids is vital for peak performance and
endurance. During long workouts you may need a sports
drink that contains carbohydrates and electrolytes.
Drink at least 8-10 servings of fluids/day.
Fueling Before A Workout
This step alone will not only lengthen your workout but
it will also increase your performance which is key
when training for an event. If you don't eat before
exercise you will likely feel light-headedness,
fatigue, and nausea. In addition, your body turns to
muscle protein for fuel because it doesn't have enough
carbohydrate. By starting your workout well-fueled,
your body will burn a combination of the carbohydrate
stored in your muscles and stored fat. Eat 2-4 hours
before a workout or event. Choose a high carbohydrate,
low fat, moderate protein meal or snack. Drink at least
10 ounces of water to help offset sweat loss during
your workout.
Fueling After A Workout
It is important to consume calories and fluids during
the first half hour after you exercise for optimal
recovery. If you aren't hungry right away a quick snack
will do. Drinking a sports drink or 100% fruit juice
will do the trick! Don't forget to eat a meal later
with protein to repair muscle damage.
Meri Raffetto
http://www.reallivingnutrition.com
More Driving Tips:
http://racingsecrets.com/driving_racing.html
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See you next time...
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http://racingsecrets.com/racing_engines.shtml
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http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_head_porting.shtml
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http://racingsecrets.com/holley_carburetors.shtml
Psyched Out! The psychology of drag racing
http://racingsecrets.com/stock_car_racing.shtml
Eye Training for drag racers Video
http://racingsecrets.com/drag_racing_eye.shtml
Spun Out! The psychology of stock car racing
http://racingsecrets.com/stock_car_racing.shtml
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http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship.shtml
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http://racingsecrets.com/speedtalk_sponsorship.shtml
Sponsor Hunt Software
http://racingsecrets.com/racing_sponsor_hunt.shtml
Sponsorship Coach
http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship_coach.shtml
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http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship_proposals.shtml
Hidden Head Porting
http://acidporting.com/acid_porting.shtml
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http://racingsecrets.com/racing_rules.shtml
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· Horsepower Tips
· Sponsorship Tips
· Driving Tips
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"Do you think you'll be driving a race car for the rest of your
life?" -Matt Kenseth's English Teacher scolding
him for skipping class
New Products:
Reher Morrison Engine Building Books & CDs
http://speedtalk.com/reher_morrison_books.html
Doorslammers Chassis Books, Videos & CD
http://speedtalk.com/doorslammers_drag_chassis.html
Engine Rebuild DVD
http://speedtalk.com/engine_building_dvd.html
Sponsorship Marketplace Books & CD
http://speedtalk.com/racing_sponsors_market.html
New Speed Talk Interviews:
Quick Sponsorship Tips - Wright & Kitovitsu
http://speedtalk.com/shows/049_wright_kitovitsu.html
Short Track Success - Andy Bozell
http://speedtalk.com/shows/048_andy_bozell.html
LT1 & LS1 Tuning - Bryan Herter
http://speedtalk.com/shows/047_bryan_herter.html
HORSEPOWER TIPS:
Cam Doctor - Camshaft Education
By Don Terrill (c)2004
The Cam Doctor is a computer camshaft checking machine that can spit out an
unbelievable amount of data - more
than the average human could ever understand. Quadrant Scientific, a company
that is unfortunately no longer
in business, developed this groundbreaking product.
What the Cam Doctor can do: Measure cam lobes What the
Cam Doctor can't do: Design cam lobes
The simplest data you'll get is the actual cam card data. This may come as a
surprise to some, but the cam
card you receive with your cam is not a measurement of your cam, it's what the
cam is supposed to be. So, the
Cam Doctor allows you to double-check the manufacturer. Rarely do they screw
up, but it does happen.
Did someone grind the numbers off your camshaft? Not to fear, the Cam Doctor is
better than any private
investigator you could ever hire, well maybe. I actually had a customer take a
cam I had sold him to a
private investigator to see if the cam numbers could be recovered from where I
had ground them off - I sold
cams, not cam educations. To my disbelief it worked and the customer got the
cam numbers - you'd have thought
he decoded an ancient treasure map. So, if you ever run across an ass hole like
me, you'll have two options for
finding out what your cam is.
The Cam Doctor can do much more than just print out a cam card though. Print
out the raw data and you'll
see...
Crank location (Degrees)
Lifter location (inches)
Velocity (Inches of lift/Degrees of Crank rotation)
Acceleration (Rate of change of Velocity)
Jerk (Rate of change of Acceleration)
Quirk (Rate of change of Jerk) If you can understand
this data you belong at NASA.
What can be learned from this data?
Where the lash should be set - You can only hit the lifter with so much initial
velocity. I've tested
enough cams that I can now look at the raw Cam Doctor data and find a great
starting point for the lash. In
fact, after dyno/track testing, I always seem to end up in the same velocity
range.
Basecircle runout - Too much runout on a hydraulic cam could trick the lifter
into thinking it should open the
valve too soon, which would be a huge power killer. On solid lifter cams it's
not as big a deal, but will
effect your actual lash from cylinder to cylinder. Making some looser than you
think and some tighter than
you think.
Style of the ramps - For example: constant velocity open - this is where the
lifter acceleration goes to
zero for a while during the initial phase of valve opening.
Smallest flat tappet lifter diameter you can run – As the lifter gets bigger in
diameter, the lifter velocity
can go up. This is the reason for the constant velocity lobes - they go to the
max velocity the lifter can take
and just hang there.
Style of the nose - For example, some lift limited rule cams will have the
lifter acceleration go to zero for a
long period over the nose, in other words the nose is flat. It makes for a very
distinct graph when printed
out.
Are the opening and closing ramps the same? - Did the cam designer treat the
open and close ramps
differently? This is something you'd never know by the cam card and may play a
huge role in its performance.
Why does one cam out perform another on the dyno or track? - Compare them on
the cam doctor and you may
know why. Focus on the opening and closing ramps.
Calculate piston to valve clearance between two cams, rocker ratios or intake
centerline settings - This can
be very handy. Once you baseline the piston to valve clearance by actual
measurement, you can then calculate
any change without ever measuring again. Want to change
the rocker ratio? Look at the lobe lift at the tightest
P to V point to calculate the change. Other changes can
be done the same way.
Valve opening at max piston speed - Wouldn't it be
interesting to know how far the intake valve is open
when the piston is pulling its hardest? Damn right.
Area under the curve - This is the area of the lift vs.
duration curve. Basically, the total amount air the
engine could theoretically let in or out. I don't pay
much attention to this number, probably because I
haven't seen any direct correlation between it and
performance.
Actual valve open and close - .020 lobe lift is the
checking point most cam companies use for advertised
duration and open/close events on solid lifter cams.
Well, what if you're comparing a cam that was designed
to run .016 lash with one that runs .028? You're not
going to get an accurate enough picture to compare the
two and may end up making a poor cam decision.
Don's Weekly Tech Column:
http://raceology.com
--
Submit an article of your own
http://racingarticles.com/submit.html
--
SPONSORSHIP TIPS:
Six Sponsorship Mistakes to Avoid
By Milt Gedo, CRE Sports Marketing (c)2004
During my 10+ years involved in motorsports
sponsorship, I have seen racers commit just about every
mistake known to man, and I've committed a few myself.
While the title for this article could easily be "100
Sponsorship Mistakes to Avoid", I've decided to narrow
it down to the "Top 6" sponsorship mistakes that I see
committed most often. See how many of these mistakes
you, or someone you know, have committed in the past:
1) Offer the wrong actions or NO actions to a potential
sponsor. When discussing sponsorship, racers need to
realize that "actions" are what they and their race
team have to "sell" to a sponsor. An action ranges
from the simple display of the sponsor name/logo on the
race car all the way to extravagant hospitality
functions, and everything in-between. Any racer who is
SERIOUS about sponsorship should have an "inventory" of
at least 100 different actions they can offer to a
potential sponsor. When approaching a company for
sponsorship, it is likely they will only be interested
in 5-10 of the 100+ actions you offer as a race team.
Your job is to discover which actions your potential
sponsor is interested in... then list those actions,
and ONLY those actions in your marketing proposal.
When your prospect reads your proposal, you want a
positive reaction from EVERYTHING they read... that's
why it's critical to offer the RIGHT actions to a
potential sponsor! I am always surprised at how many
racers will actually approach a sponsor and offer NO
actions! In this day of fierce competition for
sponsorship dollars, don't come to the gunfight without
a gun. If you are not willing to offer any actions
that have VALUE to a sponsor, you need to accept the
fact you will NEVER be a sponsored racer.
2) Target the Wrong Companies for Sponsorship. Not
every company is a good "fit" for motorsports
sponsorship. There are many deciding factors, but two
biggies are demographics (who does the company sell
to?) and the size of their marketing budget. If you
approach a company for sponsorship whose target
demographic is overweight, middle-aged women, you
probably will NOT get a sponsorship from them,
regardless of whom you "know" or how good your
presentation is. Why? Because motorsports generally
DOES NOT REACH that demographic... period. Reread the
previous sentence until it makes sense to you. The
smart racer finds companies whose demographics closely
mirror the motorsports demographic, and pursues them
for sponsorship. The second consideration is budget
size. It makes no sense to pursue a company, even if
they are the "perfect company for motorsports", if
their marketing budget cannot support your sponsorship.
Perhaps that company would be better as an associate
sponsor than a major sponsor. When dealing with
budgets, realize you will probably not get more than
about 5% of the total marketing budget for your
sponsorship. So if you're looking for a $50,000
sponsorship, you need to be targeting companies with a
marketing budget of about $1,000,000 (because 5% of 1
million is 50k).
3) Over-Value Your Race Team and/or Actions. Although
most racers seem to under-value their actions, I have
seen some proposals where the opposite is true. The
rule of thumb is: Don't be greedy... marketing people
are NOT dumb! A racer I know approached a
multi-billion dollar, worldwide company for
sponsorship... and tried to get $20k for merely placing
their logo on the side of his Sportsman race car.
Needless to say, he left the meeting empty-handed.
Most marketing departments see PLENTY of proposals from
racers and race teams, so they have a good feel for
what various actions are worth. Price your sponsorship
fairly and reasonably... don't try to buy your vacation
home in Rio on the back of your sponsor!
4) Set Your Racing Budget Too Low. In the excitement
and eagerness to sign a sponsor, many racers will
accept an offer for less money... without adjusting
their actions! This is a big mistake. If you have
priced your program fairly, and you are offered less
money for sponsorship, there is NO WAY you can complete
all the actions you proposed for less money. The
proper way to handle this situation is to explain to
your sponsor that you're happy to work within their
budget, however you will need to adjust the actions
offered in order to "fit" your program to their budget.
You are dealing with business professionals, and they
don't expect to get anything for "free".
5) Mail UNSOLICITED Materials and Proposals. Many
racers will spend a lot of time, money and effort to
create a professional proposal... and then they mail it
to someone who NEVER ASKED TO SEE IT! This has never
made sense to me. You are dealing with busy executives
who probably work 60 hours per week, and do not have
time to read all the UNSOLICITED mail that crosses
their desks... no matter how professional it looks.
There is another word for unsolicited mail: Junk Mail!
What do YOU do with all the unsolicited mail you get
at home or work? Sadly, your $50 unsolicited proposal
will meet with the same fate when it hits the desk of a
busy executive. The best way to convert your
unsolicited proposal to a solicited proposal is to call
someone in the marketing department of your prospective
sponsor, and engage them in a conversation about what
you do and how it might "fit in" with their marketing
needs. At some point, if you've done your homework and
targeted a company that is a good "fit" for
motorsports, they'll ask for more information or to
"see something in writing". Now when you send your
proposal to this person, they'll be expecting it...
maybe even looking for it. The chance of having your
proposal read increases dramatically by using this
technique.
6) Give Up Too Soon! Although I'm a racer myself, I
sometimes don't understand my fellow racers at all. I
know racers who will lose in the first round, or fail
to qualify for a race, for weeks and months on end...
yet they always come back to try again. If only most
racers would show that same dogged determination when
it comes to sponsorship! Unfortunately, many racers
will get one or two rejections or get a few doors
slammed in their face, and they'll say, "I can't find a
sponsor... it's not meant to be." Where is that
never-say-die attitude that will drive the very same
racer to come back, week after week, until he becomes a
successful driver? Finding a sponsor is not easy
work... if it was, everybody would have a sponsor! But
it's NOT impossible either. When you get a door
slammed in your face, or another rejection letter, or a
phone hung up in your ear, remember this: The NEXT
contact you make might be THE ONE. And if you quit
now, another racer who had enough perseverance to make
ONE MORE CALL, will end up with your sponsor. Think
about it!
More Sponsorship Tips from Milt:
http://www.sponsorship-101.com/
http://racingsecrets.com/sponsorship_proposals.shtml
DRIVING TIPS:
Extreme Focus
By Tami Eggleston, Ph.D. (c)2004
"When I'm on the mound, I'm so locked in I don't even
see the dugout. It's just me and the glove. There's no
way I can hear what's going on in the bleachers."
--Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens
Nideffer and Sagal (2001) argue that "Concentration is
often the deciding factor in athletic competition."
Regardless of the specific sport, attention and
concentration are essential for success. The
basketball player who needs to focus to make a
free-throw, the ice-skater who has to land a particular
jump, the drag racer who has to have excellent reaction
times to win the race, and the stock car racer who has
to keep concentrated on the task at hand for long
periods of time. Perhaps, no other mental skill is
more important to the athlete than the ability to
concentrate, focus, and appropriately pay attention.
If you ask any racer (and they are honest!) they will
tell you that they have lost a race because they lost
their focus or they lost their concentration. In life
in general, we spend a lot of our time on "auto pilot."
Have you ever had that experience where you are driving
on the highway and you see mile marker # 125 and then
all of a sudden you see mile marker #150 and realize
that you have no conscious recollection of the past 25
miles?! In our day to day life it doesn't hurt us too
much to space out while driving on the interstate,
brushing our teeth, or even watching television.
However, what we are teaching our brain is that it is
OK to be lazy and not concentrate on life.
Unfortunately, this mindlessness can transfer to our
athletic endeavors. In auto racing, even the slightest
lack of concentration or focus can result in a loss or
even in an accident.
Although athletes and coaches use the words attention,
focus, concentration interchangeably and people often
use these words such as saying, "Pay Attention!"
"Focus!" or "Get out there and concentrate!" Social
sport psychologists have tried to more clearly
articulate these phenomena. Most sport psychologists
define attention as the ability to concentrate and
direct senses and thought processes to particular
objects and thoughts. Research on Attention Control
Training (ACT) has articulated the following steps to
help athletes develop selective attention in their
sport:
1.) Assess attentional strengths and weaknesses Take a
moment to think about when and where you have good
concentration and when sometimes your concentration
tends to wander.
2.) Assess the attentional demands of a given sport
Each sport is different. In drag racing, for example,
there has to be a high level of concentration for a
short amount of time (really no longer than 10
seconds!). In circle track racing, concentration needs
to be extended for a much longer time.
3.) Assess what happens to attention under pressure
situations For many people there is an optimal level of
energy that aids to our concentration. When we are too
bored like driving on the interstate we may lose
concentration and if we are too stressed (a big race)
we may lose our ability to focus. Strategies for
Improving Concentration, Attention, and Focus
"As fast as the game moves, his mind moves faster. He
is able to analyze the game frame by frame, as if the
play unfolds in slow motion. He can sustain
concentration in each frame of the game. If an
opposing player loses his concentration for a split
second--Bam! Michael grabs the advantage." -Isaiah
Thomas (1998) Talking about Michael Jordan
With so much at stake in terms of success and safety,
it is only logical that a variety of techniques have
been postulated to help improve concentration and
focus. In terms of ACT, these techniques would be
implemented after considering the athlete's strengths
and weaknesses as well as the sport-specific demands.
Some of these strategies are commonly used sport
psychology strategies that are useful for relaxation
and concentration such as teaching athletes to focus on
breathing (there are few better methods to regain and
keep focus than simply to breathe deeply), mentally
rehearse possibilities (use guided imagery to visualize
your driving in different scenarios), use positive
self-talk and cue words (practice using words such as
"breathe, look at the light, relaxed hands, etc.), take
practice seriously, try to be in the here and now and
stay in the present (Vealey, in press). Moran (1996)
emphasized the importance of a clear pre-performance
routine for attention and the ability to refocus during
competition. Many sport psychologists have found that
having a clear routine before, during, and after a race
could help you keep your focus. Sugarman (1999)
summarized more attention and concentration specific
activities in her book Winning The Mental Way. One
activity that she suggested is doing activities
blindfolded or with non-dominant hands. For example,
get in your race car blindfolded and visualize driving,
turing on and off switches, shifting, etc. This forces
your brain to pay attention without visual cues. Doing
things with your non-dominant hand also forces you to
use different brain circuitry. Finally many auto
racers say that playing video games can help improve
their overall level of concentration.
During this off-season time, in addition to working on
the race car, maybe it is time to tune-up the driver's
concentration. Pick a couple of the above activities
(e.g., breathing, visual imagery, practicing while
blindfolded) to work on your concentration. Also make
an effort to live your day to day life more mindful,
when you feel your concentration starting to wander, be
in control of it by pulling your brain back into focus.
When you need to relax, tell your brain it can wander
and relax, but then work on having the ability to
control your consciousness. By using this off-season
to work on some concentration skills you will not only
improve your auto racing abilities, but you may also
find that you are a bit more successful with your
career and your relationships as well.
I have summarized the literature on attention and
concentration with the following acronym:
F=Fuel your desire--Know your motivation and
goals--keep up the passion
O=Optimal energy--Know appropriate arousal/relaxation
levels for best performance
C=Consistency--Know the importance of practice and
routines
U=Understand your natural strengths and areas of
improvement
S=Shift Gears--Know when you need to mentally shift
gears and work on controlling your attention.
"Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future,
concentrate the mind on the present moment." -Buddha
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Celebrating 20 Years: 1985-2005
“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.”
--Henry Ford
Founded in the summer of 1985, Joyce Julius and Associates has been measuring and evaluating sponsorship dating back to the days when NASCAR was considered a regional sport and the local television newscast was your best chance to get caught up on the scores. Since then, the concept of sponsorship has evolved into a respected marketing function, with larger budgets and higher return expectations every year.
The primary goal of Joyce Julius from day one has been to deliver independent research in the areas of sponsorship and promotions, and 20 years later, we have not wavered from that original approach. As we take a moment to reflect on this milestone, we would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported us over the years. Recent Sports Business Journal ad
From our original clients, such as Robert Bosch Corporation and Valvoline, to name a few, to some of our more recent additions like U.S. Coast Guard and Pacific Cycle—it continues to be a pleasure providing assistance in the area of sponsorship research. We strongly believe our personalized approach, coupled with a staff of dedicated research pros, has led to our longevity and will enable us to expand upon our leadership role within the industry in the years to come.
“With the majority of our research staff having been with us for more than five years, and in some cases 10 and 15 years, our hands-on knowledge of the industry is a true strength of our organization,” says Senior Executive Vice President, Cindy Shevrovich.
As we set our sights on another 20 years of service to the world of sponsorship (a.k.a. promotions, product integration, partnerships, traditional advertising alternatives, etc.), we look forward with great anticipation to new innovations we are currently developing that will provide even greater resources and options to our valued clients. As always, we appreciate any feedback, and we would welcome the opportunity to hear from you.
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Premier Events Yield Varying
Television Exposure Results
Recently, Joyce Julius and Associates examined arguably the top four US sporting event telecasts kicking off 2005 – in chronological order, the Super Bowl, Daytona 500, NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship and The Masters. While all enjoyed a rich tradition, viewership increases and competitive outcomes, sponsorship opportunities among these crown jewels of sport were all over the map this year.
For the sake of an interesting, if not completely scientific, comparison, our research staff measured the in-broadcast exposure received by ALLTEL, the Jacksonville stadium entitlement sponsor of Super Bowl XXXIX, along with Daytona 500 winner Jeff Gordon’s primary sponsor DuPont, the halftime sponsor of CBS’ NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game—Cingular--and Nike’s exposure stemming from Tiger Woods’ eventual playoff victory during the dramatic final round of The Masters.
What quickly became apparent was the wide-ranging levels of commitment on the parts of the sponsors, which featured four uniquely different approaches to sponsorship, and not surprisingly, four differing results.
During the Fox broadcast of the Super Bowl early last February, ALLTEL managed just 26 seconds of clear, in-focus exposure time throughout the game portion of the telecast, with all of the exposure stemming from random shots of the stadium in which the brand’s signs were visible. When compared to the record setting commercial cost for the telecast ($2.4 million per 30 seconds), ALLTEL drew $2,080,000 of comparable exposure value.
A few weeks later, Fox once again took center stage with coverage of NASCAR’s Daytona 500. Gordon’s triumph enabled long-time sponsor DuPont to net $9.4 million of exposure value, thanks to a slew of sources emblazoned with the brand’s logo collecting 15 minutes, seven seconds of on-screen time, in addition to three mentions of DuPont by Gordon and the announcers.
CBS’ primetime telecast of the NCAA Men’s Basketball championship game from St. Louis paid off handsomely for Cingular, to the tune of $5 million. A whopping 17 in-broadcast mentions of the halftime sponsor, one minute, along with 31 seconds of on-camera time, accounted for Cingular's successful showing.
Finally, CBS’ Sunday afternoon showdown between Woods and Chris DiMarco during April’s telecast of The Masters, saw three Nike entities—Nike, Nike One Platinum Ball and Tiger Woods Collection—collect a combined $10,824,000 from 30:04 of clear, in-focus exposure time.
Nike The Masters CBS $10.8 Million
DuPont Daytona 500 Fox $9.4 Million
Cingular NCAA B’ball. CBS $5.0 Million
ALLTEL Super Bowl Fox $2.1 Million
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Motorsports Sponsorship
Defying any type of sophomore jinx, Nextel saw its in-broadcast exposure value rise 37% through the first six races of the 2005 Cup Series compared to last season. Increased on-screen time stemming from running order graphics during the Fox telecasts has been the largest single contributor to Nextel’s increased exposure.
ESPN2’s in-car camera simulcast of the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series’ opener from Miami actually produced nearly twice as much cumulative on-screen time for sponsors (8:38:33 versus 4:41:23) than the traditional telecast airing on ESPN. When also factoring in the verbal mentions and the advertising costs for each telecast, the in-car show led to $7.9 million of comparable value, while sponsors shared $9.8 million during the standard broadcast.
The hype surrounding the debut of the new “retro”-styled Ford Mustang GT streetcar has also spilled into the motorsports arena following the model’s successful introduction into the 2005 Grand-Am Cup Series. Two Grand-Sport division victories in as many races this season have paid dividends in exposing the new car to the viewing public. During the first Speed Channel telecast of the season from Daytona International Speedway, the Mustang GT appeared on-screen for 4:37 and was mentioned 81 times (more than any other sponsor) for a comparable value yield of $54,350. The car brand’s impressive figures carried over to California Speedway, as telecasts devoted to the event generated a further 13:00 of in-focus time, 261 verbal references and $56,500. The $110,850 of exposure value has placed Mustang GT among the top monitored sponsors in the series, an impressive debut by any standard.
Thanks to Bobby Labonte’s penchant for promoting stars of the country music industry, artists from Nashville now have another place to turn to promote their new albums. In two recent stops on the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series tour, Labonte put in a strong performance, coming in a close second in Atlanta and winning in Martinsville (garnering him a victory in all three of NASCAR’s major series) and in both races his Chevy Silverado was adorned with the name and likeness of two hot acts on the country music scene: Phil Vassar and the group Trick Pony. During Labonte’s run in Atlanta, the Phil Vassar logo was monitored for 2:24, and during his run on the tight confines of Martinsville Speedway, Trick Pony received 2:48 of on-screen time. When factoring in mentions for both acts, aligning forces with Nextel Cup regular Labonte as he moonlights in the Truck Series has earned the country music performers an average of $39,000 of comparable exposure value thus far in 2005.
The switch this year from Spike TV to NBC for Champ Car’s crown jewel the Long Beach Grand Prix, proved profitable for the race’s entitlement sponsor Toyota. The auto brand saw its in-broadcast exposure value rise by some 400% to more than $1 million during this year’s telecast. The carmaker has reaped all this exposure success despite not fielding a car in the series since 2002.
The battle is on in the 2005 American Le Mans Series among tire manufacturers seeking exposure. Through telecasts of the first two events, Pirelli ($1,740,800), Michelin ($1,435,425) and Yokohama Tires ($994,550) occupied three of the top four spots among the series' leading team sponsors in terms of in-broadcast television exposure value.
With six of the first nine NASCAR Busch Series events featuring a presenting sponsor, the grouping has collectively appeared on screen for more than seven hours, leading to some $22 million of exposure value when compared to the respective costs of 30-second commercials during event broadcasts. By comparison, in those six races, title sponsors claimed $7 million. The presenting sponsors’ dual role as team sponsor has helped to account for the disparity in exposure value.
The first two races of the 2005 ARCA RE/MAX Series saw the total amount of in-broadcast time for series title sponsor RE/MAX International rise more than 30 minutes compared with the same period a season ago. Through four telecasts – two airings each – of the Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 from Daytona International Speedway and the PFG Lester 150 from Nashville Superspeedway, the real estate giant’s logo has appeared clearly and in focus for a combined total of three hours, 44 minutes, eight seconds (3:44:08). This total on-screen time represents an increase of 38 minutes, 42 seconds (38:42) for RE/MAX International over last year’s total (3:05:26) through the same number of telecasts.
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AFL's National Success Beneficial
to Chicago Rush Franchise
With a broadcast network deal solidly in place with NBC, the addition of Fox Sports Net providing a national cable presence this year, and the first ever neutral-site ArenaBowl championship game slated for Las Vegas this June, the Arena Football League as a whole has made tremendous progress the last few years.
Recently, Joyce Julius and Associates had the opportunity to chat with Dave McClamroch, Corporate Sales Manager with the Chicago Rush, to gain perspective on the league’s sponsorship offerings from the team standpoint.
Has there been any reaction regarding the ArenaBowl being held in Las Vegas this June from your corporate partners?
McClamroch: The response has all been positive. As everyone will start to see this June, the ArenaBowl will become an extraordinary annual event that extends far beyond the championship game. With Las Vegas secured as the home of the ArenaBowl Weekend for three years, it allows every team to plan accordingly and provide elements of hospitality that they have never before had access to. The AFL should be commended for the work they have done in securing this. It’s always nice to be able to include a trip to Las Vegas into a partnership. If we are fortunate enough to make it there, and to play for a championship, we want our partners to share in that once in a lifetime experience.
In terms of corporate sponsorship, how has NBC’s, and more recently FSN’s, coverage made an impact with your sponsors?
McClamroch: The impact of the increased exposure cannot be overstated. Internally we have always known what an electrifying sport Arena Football is, but there are still millions of sports fans that have not been exposed to the game. With the increased exposure comes a much higher and more diverse viewership, allowing us to partner with companies that have more of a national reach as many of our games are broadcast to over 50% of the country.
Does fielding a competitive team in a large market give the Chicago Rush any advantages, in terms of television coverage, etc.?
McClamroch: The fact that we play in a top market certainly helps. However, our on-field success and loyal fan base are vital. We have the best fans in the AFL and their support makes our arena one of the loudest in the league. For our fans every game is big, regardless of the team we are playing. It’s fun to watch a game on TV with that type of environment. Additionally, I think there are some natural rivalries that exist with Chicago and some other markets that make for compelling TV.
What types of unique advantages can you offer a sponsor that the local NBA or MLB teams cannot? Are those the types of organizations who you are battling for sponsorship dollars, or is it more a question of sponsoring versus not sponsoring?
McClamroch: Accessibility and flexibility are the keys. There are certain things we can do at a local level that many NBA or MLB teams cannot. For instance, our players are more accessible. After every game, win or lose, our players and coaches are out on the field signing autographs for the fans. In addition, they are out at least once a week at various events in the community. It helps us create a real bond between our players and our sponsors and fans. I’m just not sure you can get that with the other local teams. Secondly, we pride ourselves in our flexibility. We offer partnership packages at all levels and that are not prepackaged. This allows us to create multi-layered partnerships that cater to our partner’s needs and that more importantly can adapt midseason to changing marketing objectives. In our mind, our partnership agreements are living documents meant to evolve throughout the term.
All of the other teams in Chicago and events such as concerts and plays are seen as competition for sponsor dollars. But this by no means precludes partners from partnering with multiple teams. In fact, we believe our partners should be involved with other Chicago teams because it only helps our partner’s ultimate objective. It also shows their commitment to sports in Chicago, which helps solidify our relationship.
What type of support do you receive from the League?
McClamroch: The AFL does a fantastic job of helping out the local teams in providing the tools necessary for teams to succeed. Some leagues may look at their league office with a “Big Brother” mentality. The AFL embraces a more level relationship. The AFL is always willing to work with each team in acquiring new partnerships. The AFL is not a competitor to the teams when it comes to selling partnerships as much as a facilitator in building relationships that help all the parties involved. Furthermore, they have fostered an open environment in which teams share ideas and contacts with one another. For instance, if we have a partner in Chicago that wants to tap into the Dallas market, we will do our best to make that connection. For a league to succeed through the years, all the teams need to look out for each other. The AFL stresses this constantly.
Are your sponsors demanding more return for their investment than in the past? Is there anything you have added in the last few years to help deliver more?
McClamroch: The key to a successful partnership is to constantly find new ways to enhance a partner’s objectives and increase their ROI. With true partnerships there is going to be a grace period of trial and error at times. However, ultimately, if we fail to provide an ROI as a property, we are failing our partners and do not deserve their business.
One of our focuses in the last couple of years has been creating new pieces of inventory for our partners to benefit from. For instance, due to the extraordinary coverage on NBC, we realized the player bench areas were shown constantly throughout the broadcasts. As a result we made signage available on the glass behind the bench. The result has been phenomenal with increased exposure beyond what we had envisioned.
Are there any significant trends that are, or will be, impacting AFL sponsorship on the local level?
McClamroch: You bet. AFL attendance in Chicago and league-wide is at an all-time high and continues to see growth every season. In addition, more AFL games are broadcast on network TV than any other league except the NFL. As a result more sports fans are being exposed to Arena Football each year. Adding to this is a trend that tells us that AFL fans are more willing to try, switch or be loyal to our sponsors’ products than any other professional sports league. That is a very powerful stat for partners. This is especially promising, considering that compared to the NFL, NASCAR and MLB, the AFL is still in its infancy. The 2006 season will only be its 20th season. If you look at where those leagues were at after 20 years and where they are now, I think its safe to say the AFL has a very bright future ahead. Our sponsors are beginning to realize the potential of this league and how impactful their messages can be.
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A Second Look...
A Second Look is a newsletter published by Joyce Julius and Associates, Inc., updating recent developments, trends and happenings in the areas of sports, special events and entertainment marketing. All information contained in this newsletter is available for journalistic use, with all rights reserved.
ãSCMSRN.com/Paul J Miller III 2005
