You race cars? that's
pretty cool, is it like out at Deer Creek? ( a local dirt track)
yeah I race, but not on the dirt, it race on road courses
around the country in the Pirelli world challenge, well, when funding allows me
to.
What do you do in between races?
I coach other drivers at Brainerd international raceway, but
still have a 8-5 job for a health care company, working from home. I try to
stay in shape by hitting the gym, and I use a driving simulator at home to
drive tracks I might be racing at.
You mean like gran turismo?
No its a program called iRacing, it is a pretty accurate
rendition of a real track that I normally would compete at, but I just use it
to learn the turns. lefts and rights, hills, etc....
So when is your next race?
I have no idea, I am currently working on my marketing
proposals for next year. I hope to partner up with some companies willing to
give me a chance to drive.
Where is your race car?
It's near Miami with the team, and I'm here in Minnesota, I
heard they started it up the other day, and refilled the tires with air. I get
to see the rest of my team go to track after track each weekend. they have been
doing this longer than I have and have a pretty solid foot in the door. truly
proud of their hard work....
Who is your favorite driver?
Besides myself? I have a bunch of favorites because they have in some way helped out a friend that is a driver, or something like that
Well hey, let me know when you will be racing next, I will
look for you on TV!
yeah, I will let everyone know, trust me!!
This would be a conversation that I have one to a couple
times a week. From people on social media, to people in person, to people from work. Fans, friends
are amazed at how much a racing weekend costs. I recently took a look at my
first set of proposals that I sent out two years ago after getting approved for
an IMSA ST license. All I can say is that I
have learned a ton of things over the last 2 years. Including learning on the
track, competing in 6 Pirelli World Challenge races, all of which were on TV!
let's go back for a minute though:
 |
| Epic track outfit |
I attended Road America races throughout the 80's and a
little of the 90's. When I was a little kid, I'm talking cowboy boots and shorts
type of outfit for midsummer type of
kid, I would watch the racers, on the track, off the track, how they interact
with the fans, how they carry themselves, how they dip away from a crowd even,
but mostly how they drive, the line they took around a corner, the line they
took the lap before compared to the line this lap, the next lap etc. I listened for the car noises, when they
started to brake, the blip of the throttle, which gear they went down to, or
how many times they shifted in a certain section of the track.
I could tell that a driver was coming in too hot to a
corner, before it was evident that they were. I would usually point it out right before it
started to happen. This isn't a " I can see the air from the car ahead of
me", Dale Earnhardt Sr type of thing, but yeah, it sounds like it.
Grammar isn't a strong point for me so if you see run on
sentences, or lots of commas, please just roll with it for now....
I am worried about the drivers like myself that get a taste,
usually by putting themselves in a financial hole. But they get a taste of
something that they have been dreaming about, day in and day out. you see, kids like me have been thinking
about this every day since they went to the race track at 5 years old. Now with
the opportunities that I could possibly take advantage of, it is very, very
tough, confusing, frustrating to not be able to go out and race. The main thing
that is holding myself and hundreds if not thousands of drivers out there is
funding, the other f word. If a company were to come on board with
me and trust that I can help them out with promoting their product, I
can guarantee you that I would represent that company to the best of my
abilities, day in and day out. But the
first a driver has to do besides be independently wealthy, or have a family
that is, is get a fan base, a group of
people that have a passion for drivers and racing that are willing to stand
behind the product that the driver represents. 
You see, I have taken the money from my 8-5 job, purchased
all the necessary equipment that I need to wear to be able to get in the car,
put my tax return money towards a weekend, taken out loans, added to that loan,
used credit cards, consolidated them, paid them off, ran Crowdfunding projects.
help build a couple of race cars, paid for entry fees to do amateur races to
build my racing resume, fixed cars from the racing during the day so we can run
tomorrow, installed safety upgrades, worked till midnight or beyond the night
before we had to hit the road, only to have track time shortened by a weld
failing, or some other 2 dollar part. I've sent out proposals, by mail, or
email. I've talked with potential sponsors, basically telling them I would do
just about anything possible to have them come on board with me. I've promoted
potential sponsors without them giving me anything but a product discount, I've
had people go after the same sponsor that I promoted to try and gain a working
relationship with them. I have spent countless hours trying to figure out just
the right person at whatever company I thought would be a good fit, only to
have my email or letter never responded to. I've had great conversations with
potential sponsors only to have them cut short by whichever reason they choose.
I've had potential sponsors respond to me proposal with a no, even without me
telling them how much each level would be for them to join me....
I still have the belief that motorsports value to a company
is huge, we have the most loyal fans. I can't tell you how many people are
sporting a certain pair of socks that I bought to help promote my Crowdfunding
projects. These people have also gone ahead and put their own orders in for
additional socks, hats, shirts etc. The power of motorsports marketing is
bigger than you may think.
So why hasn't a company jumped on board? I can think of a
few reasons, timing, questions about exposure, economy, budgets fulfilled for
the year already. It could be just about anything these days. What I do know
for the next potential sponsor that is willing to see the passion, excitement,
and willingness to promote in me, I will not disappoint. you
see, I am over the story that started out this blog entry, had enough with
watching the races on TV vs. going to the track and competing. I know that is
not enough to convince a sponsor to jump on board for 2016, but let it be my
starting point for now.
I have always believed in the saying, " you must live
through the questions, because without questions there are no answers." So I live through the questions, and you will
find the answers.... let's just work towards the answers that I am looking for.
For potential sponsors, people that wish to get involved, I
have a proposal with your name on it, I have spent a better part of my life
thinking about the opportunity to send it to you. This isn't a packet that I
whipped up in a weekend, it is the thoughts of a 5 year old kid all grown up
and ready to take on 2016.
If you have got this far, please comment below, and thank
you for reading.
Chris Holter
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