This is something I’ve wanted to write for a while. Thoughts that have been in my head that I wanted to put down somewhere, and this blog is the perfect place to so. Every sport or hobby has the professional, semi professional and the amateur. And as a racer with a full time job I fall into the amateur category, along with 90% of racers. Without the amateur, there is no semi pro or professional.

The professional is needed to make the products look good, to show them winning, nice race reports and amazing pictures that make us think “wow I need to buy that” or “that will make me faster ”. The semi pro can have the same effect, but due to a work life maybe can’t put the same time in or effort. But they are as helpful as possible and have the same knowledge basis.

For many many years I got it into my own head that being a sponsored or supported racer was the greatest thing on earth…. Or at least in the hobby. If I was supported the same as the top other guy I’ll do just as well, or if I have the same products I’ll do just aswell. But this isn’t the case

Our hobby has the pro as I’ve mentioned who is fully supported from the factory and maybe racing is the full time job. They gain a salary from racing etc. The semi pro gets full factory support, but has a normal day to day working job but still goes to the track as much as possible and within reason , and the amateur unless they work for a model shop or something in the industry work a Normal job whatever that may be .

So how do you become this semi pro or full pro. It’s time and the effort to lay the base. They use their own money, and race as much as is possible. This in turn, allows them to gain knowledge and understanding. To try things out, some maybe wacky and weird and others of the normal. The sacrifice has to be made before the fruits of their labour can be shown.

These drivers that have become the best in a country or in the world, have worked hard at club level, winning that and then going higher to regional level. In the process gaining help and support. They have earned the right to get given the free equipment or the valuable help.

Lots of drivers, myself included are classed as supported or sponsored drivers. The ease of gaining support nowadays is a lot easier then when I started racing. A lot of this is down to social media. Because you can write nice race reports, tag people and brands and many people can see it. The older days it was more email, and a cv if you will . Most supported drivers are “contracted drivers” Which is a weird way of putting it but there is some truth. By being one of these drivers your getting the prestige of being part of a team or company. The company may help a lot or a little, but in doing so your racing with their names on your clothes and cars. Being a “contracted driver” means your racing for the brand without anything binding as in a real contract, but by representing means you may get some discounts. This means different things to different people.

The people who support me, have become friends and people I can rely on for help and support. Advice that helps me to do well, but in this I am able to help others. I don’t believe drivers now understand the prestige of the sponsorship or support. I am supported by a brand I knew from when I was younger. And the brand is making a resurgence and I’m proud to be part of it.

I was asked recently how did you get supported by this brand, and with explanation I said because I reached out. If you are the cream of the crop brands will come for you, but most will approach companies. The bluntly asked how much discount I got. It’s rude but a lot are driven by this, which they believe will make racing cheaper. It does, but being supported can draw you in to spend more using all of the brands goods. This was a young driver coming through the ranks, his head seemed set on becoming on one of these supported drivers. 20 mins of talking and his head seem destined on the ,destination of supported driver. And I believe this my head fuck him along the way. Why? If he makes the mistake, or fucks up, will the thoughts spiral thinking that in doing this he’s lost his chance. He seemed pinned on it making his racing cheaper. We race the same car, except as I have a little support from the distributor. Does he think I have something he doesn’t?? I explained that everything I have an use is obtained via all the normal shops and resources whether he believed that or not is a good guess .You should race because you enjoy it. Laugh with friends. As you get older you understand this. Or if your not at the top fighting for wins.

So I’ve gone full circle. We need to respect those at the top, those who have put in the years of work and gained the right to the free items and all the information. The top drivers are at the top for a reason, talent, preparation and the right equipment to do the job. We shouldn’t be bashing them because they get that. There maybe times where they will help as much as possible, but there are some tricks they may keep which help them remain at the top. But that’s understandable and why they are there

Thanks for reading And getting this far