KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

Hey Guys,

I was/am very lucky to have my Car adopted as a project car for modified magazine. Those of you who have me in your FB/instagram have seen all the updates. But for those who are not, grab a copy of the newest issue (August) of Modified Magazine for the introduction of my project and my first official article for the magazine documenting my build.

We have a lot of partners in our build so its like winning the lottery. Partners include:

-Turbonetics
-Fullrace
-Turbosmart
-Turblown/Turbosmart
-AEM
-Rywire
-ACT
-Xcessive
-Holley Performance
-Earls Performance Plumbing
-Koul tools
-On-Point Dyno
-Vibrant Performance
-Fabrication work by Joe Ferguson of RPM motorsports

I'm sure I'm forgetting some but I can finally post a build thread now that the first article is out. Support the print and ensure more rotary content in the future

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

We are planning to have the car out for the upcoming Sigma Time attack event at the end of the month...fingers crossed.

Mr.Snakey

Congrats! I always buy modified when I come across it, will be certainly be picking up a copy. Cheers!

DaoNhatHai

iTrader: (38)

It's been years since I bought a tuner mag (soo many garbage ads and useless coverage) as I've since been reading EVO, but I'll pick this one up.

thewird

iTrader: (8)

Guess my advice, help, sponsor seeking throughout the build didn't mean anything. :P

Where can you buy these magazines anyway, I never buy them, they're always cluttered with ricer ads lol

thewird

speedgod

That's pretty cool man ill grab a copy shoppers drug mart will have it.

I am just curious but when you say you have a lot of partners does that mean you get **** done to your car for cheap or at no cost?

IAN

iTrader: (3)

Nice to have sponsers. I guess you have to dedicate alot of time to get sponsers

Looking forward to seeing another rotary out at Time Attack.

Have fun!

misterstyx69

iTrader: (142)

It means he is a "kept man"..lol!..

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

lol, Marco at the time, the sponsor you recommended to me was not feasible at the time. We had other contacts such as Turbonetics and Fullrace who have worked with the Magazine in the past and they stepped up with our turbo and manifold.

I did take your advice with our turbo selection and size and i hope that it works

Not to say that later on, that they have not been great contacts to work with and have been involved in our project.

anyways, I dont profess to know everything and I do ask the more knowledgeable people like yourself, Joe, Sash, Jim, Joe M (sigma),for advice and that has been invaluable, and will continue to do so.

Ads are necessary for companies to have their markets out there. As far as I can tell, there are no "ricer" ads on the mag that ive seen (to my definition anyways)

Chapters, shoppers and other book stores carry them

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

I am new to this whole business and let me tell you that it was a challenge securing sponsors. Pretty much I was given the challenge to email potential companies and send them a proposal....it did not help when i told them it was for Modified Magazine and Im sure they never heard of me lol. A few of them even emailed the senior editor who did say I was legit lol.

So what this means is if the Company is on board and wants to be part of the project then they give us their product and in exhange we obviously feature it in the magazine, online, and social media. which to them is cheaper than paying for advertising sometimes.

other companies offer partial or a good discount for parts if they can. I pretty much do all the work on the car so I can save cash that way...I dont have the tools to Fabricate so I look to Joe at RPM motorsports for his expertise.

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

Ian, you have no idea how much time I dedicated for it. I started in september of last year lol. Its something that Ive never dealt before and Im happy that I got the chance to take it on. It was discouraging at first when I get more "no's" than "yes". But with the guidance of my Senior Editor, he showed me what i needed to do.

It was a lot of hard work, and commitments do not end with just the print. Each companies will be updated of race results and how well things are going.

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

Haha Styx, I wouldnt go that far to say that. Having networked and developed these contacts will make it easier for sure now and hopefully in the future.

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

I did forget important people:

CJ motorsports (first company to be on board) and Injector Dynamics

Turblown

iTrader: (12)

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

Elliot, thanks for the Outline you and Nick sent me, Im working on the heat management issue now. We should be firing her up this weekend fingers crossed.

13BbackFire

iTrader: (2)

congratz buddy!, looks like you are doing great!! im trying as hard as I am to do so aswell but I have no back up support like (modify mag) but hopefully ill be their soon.

P.Burdon

IAN

iTrader: (3)

I can believe it was hard work. I understand but not fully as I never really progressed sponsers. I invested about 5K a year on my 89 FC (Easy just in tires, brakes, rebuilt the bilstein suspension,oil etc etc) and asked for some support/discount and never really received any but I didn't commit. Its awesome that you have acheived some sponsers.

So which racing series you gonna do? Sigma, CASC, CSCS etc? With sponsership comes big commitment. Do you have a racing T-SHIRT to flog lol

I sold my track car to try and build another track car only to give up this year. Maybe next year I will have something. Reconsidering buying the 89 back but would love an FD. My issue is I doubt I would fully commit to a track only car. Don't want a truck or trailer clogging my cookie cutter driveway. I like driving the car to the track and back. less expensive.

2Fierce

iTrader: (7)

sweet Ken! We're very fortunate to have a community of Rx7's (especially FD's) locally that look and drive amazing, especially yours. Hopefully you have it all sorted out in time for the CSCS Season Finale - its in September, so :P

I think I'll drop by Joe's soon to come see it

HiWire

Congrats and I'm looking forward to seeing the car in person.

Howi

iTrader: (2)

RCCAZ 1

iTrader: (10)

Ken, first off, congrats on the Modified article. I'll make sure to head out and grab a copy.

Secondly, it would be very helpful if someone would start a thread on how to gain sponsors. Many (myself included) have no idea of the ins and outs of writing a proposal, what to say and what not to say, etc. Any guidance you could provide would be helpful with the process "fresh" in your mind. Also, any "proposal" outlines, templates or guidance might be worthwhile. I think it would make for a great "sticky" thread.

JDK

iTrader: (8)

Great progress with the car Ken....can’t wait to see it in action, your very lucky to have the support you have been getting from Modified....I hope you do them proud

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

Hey Pat, I have been lucky...but like most of you here I have been a privateer for a few years so it is most definitely nice to have some help. Keep at it, I didn't get into timeattack/racing to gain sponsors. I did it because I enjoyed building something and also being able to race it. Being granted this opportunity was an extreme bonus.

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

Mikal, thanks Buddy. We were expecting you at Joes a few nights ago but you were apparently too busy getting your hair done

I honestly hope to be ready by then! lmfao

KenSpeC

iTrader: (16)

Thank you sir!

To be honest the major thing to keep in mind when searching/approaching potential sponsors is having the mindset of what YOU can offer them, not the other way around. You have to sell the **** out of yourself and make sure that you can or try your *** off to do what you "promise" them.

Companies often decide if they want to be part of a project if they can get a lot of exposure, be it car shows or race wins. If you have any good place finishes in timeattack/HPDs/autocross/drag racing etc...those are good things to have in the proposal for them to see that if they "invest" in you that they can see good return.

Some companies have bigger budgets than others so that plays a part too. What a lot of people don't know is that aftermarket companies have "Sponsorship Budgets" per season. I was not aware of this until I got replies saying " we are sorry but we have fulfilled our sponsorship budget for the year". So make sure you try to apply during the off season so you have a better chance of getting help.

Beggars can't be choosers...Free parts is awesome obviously, but if you get offered partial sponsorship or any help, be grateful and take it. Treat every sponsor the same regardless of how big or small their contributions are, because the smaller contributions may get bigger if you can make them happy.

Pictures or a documented build and description of your project and its intended use is a great and important way to get the companies interested in your project. The more hands on you are on your project is a plus too, it shows commitment.

It does not hurt if you have friends in the industry as well. They usually have contacts and networks with companies they have worked with/or working with and can usually vouch/influence potential sponsors.

If you can, pick an avenue where your car and potential sponsors can have a lot of exposure...like any form of racing. Im not sure how show cars do it so I cannot help in that area....SEMA builds are nuts and those get a lot of support....

I hope this helps and If anyone else has pointers then feel free to post!