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SS Engine Guy · 07-27-2009, 11:45 PM

A different look at decals. Your racecar is a signboard. Depending on how you display your signboard is the same as any outdoor advertising. A signboard in a really busy business/traffic area is expensive. A signboard in the bad area or less traveled street is somewhat cheaper.

I along with many others here can remember the days when you ran a decal for your camshaft that wasn't the camshaft you ran in your car to keep your competitors wondering. Of course this was when a competitive SS car was in the 10k-12k range and gas was under a dollar.

I look at my race operation as a good chance for the aftermarket to display and advertise their product. Not only the car but the driver, the crew (if any), the pit area etc. The sanctioning bodies lack of promotion of the classes I choose to participate in usually regulate the amount of "traffic" or potential buyers of a product. This is why few of us have sponsors inside or outside of the motorsports field. But that is a whole different topic.

Bottom line: I display advertising (decals) of the manufacturers that help to support racing. I run products based not on popularity but products that WORK along with TECH SUPPORT that gets the job done. I will not run decals that claim that their product is only good for a certain amount of time, however, I do understand that parts, like anything else wear out. But by putting a time limit on paying for the advertising that I have done over the years is not acceptable to me, nor should it be acceptable to any of you. My racecar is ALMOST free advertising at every track that I go to until I win, r/u, or win class. Then I get payed. (Sometimes).... I will not spend time and pay phone bills to talk to machines that want me to press two for English. I have done my job. I ran the product. I use the product in customers engines. I display the decals. I tell potential customers of the top of the line components that I use.
Now back to the middle of the last paragraph where I said "ALMOST free advertising". I do now and have in the past charged "up front" for my signboard. It is a nice signboard. It appears at some of the biggest events(Nationals).It is not a regional signboard it travels. It comes with a professional crew. Why shouldn't I get top dollar for my signboard? Many companies that racers deal with are not listed as contingency sponsors for reasons that vary. Usually money. However, any nationally known company and also many regionally known companies know the value of advertising and a target audience. Some companies give me and my customers (yes I pass the savings along) price incentives to display their name on signboards. Whether it be pure product or a small discount they "pay" for their advertising. This varies from 10% off up to complete components to pay for their advertising. This is up front. Nothing if I win or lose.

We need to stop being racing prostitutes and take charge of our own destiny. Not only in advertising but in our sport and its future.

The moral of this story: I run decals that pay me in some timely fashion for the clutter on my racecar. I'm not shy in the least of telling a manufaturer what "I" require in order for "them" to appear on my signboard. In short, every decal that appears on my car has either already paid, or is paying, or will pay for its placement there. I am running less decals than ever due to the economic mess and the ones that have been removed will be replaced when things hopefully recover so no hard feelings there. If you do much racing you know who pays, who dosne't and what are the requirements to collect. In my opinion if the decal is on the car and the product is easily varified (you can see it) then case closed. In other instances such as engine components deep within.....nothing but the decal should suffice. Another complex problem with a very simple answer.

One other thing. Racecars without decals are Great! Nothing impresses me more than a nice racecar, well thought out, clean and put together right. There is no rule that says you have to be in the signboard business.

07-27-2009, 11:45 PM	#10
SS Engine Guy Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: usa Posts: 256 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Lack of contingency decals on cars???? A different look at decals. Your racecar is a signboard. Depending on how you display your signboard is the same as any outdoor advertising. A signboard in a really busy business/traffic area is expensive. A signboard in the bad area or less traveled street is somewhat cheaper. I along with many others here can remember the days when you ran a decal for your camshaft that wasn't the camshaft you ran in your car to keep your competitors wondering. Of course this was when a competitive SS car was in the 10k-12k range and gas was under a dollar. I look at my race operation as a good chance for the aftermarket to display and advertise their product. Not only the car but the driver, the crew (if any), the pit area etc. The sanctioning bodies lack of promotion of the classes I choose to participate in usually regulate the amount of "traffic" or potential buyers of a product. This is why few of us have sponsors inside or outside of the motorsports field. But that is a whole different topic. Bottom line: I display advertising (decals) of the manufacturers that help to support racing. I run products based not on popularity but products that WORK along with TECH SUPPORT that gets the job done. I will not run decals that claim that their product is only good for a certain amount of time, however, I do understand that parts, like anything else wear out. But by putting a time limit on paying for the advertising that I have done over the years is not acceptable to me, nor should it be acceptable to any of you. My racecar is ALMOST free advertising at every track that I go to until I win, r/u, or win class. Then I get payed. (Sometimes).... I will not spend time and pay phone bills to talk to machines that want me to press two for English. I have done my job. I ran the product. I use the product in customers engines. I display the decals. I tell potential customers of the top of the line components that I use. Now back to the middle of the last paragraph where I said "ALMOST free advertising". I do now and have in the past charged "up front" for my signboard. It is a nice signboard. It appears at some of the biggest events(Nationals).It is not a regional signboard it travels. It comes with a professional crew. Why shouldn't I get top dollar for my signboard? Many companies that racers deal with are not listed as contingency sponsors for reasons that vary. Usually money. However, any nationally known company and also many regionally known companies know the value of advertising and a target audience. Some companies give me and my customers (yes I pass the savings along) price incentives to display their name on signboards. Whether it be pure product or a small discount they "pay" for their advertising. This varies from 10% off up to complete components to pay for their advertising. This is up front. Nothing if I win or lose. We need to stop being racing prostitutes and take charge of our own destiny. Not only in advertising but in our sport and its future. The moral of this story: I run decals that pay me in some timely fashion for the clutter on my racecar. I'm not shy in the least of telling a manufaturer what "I" require in order for "them" to appear on my signboard. In short, every decal that appears on my car has either already paid, or is paying, or will pay for its placement there. I am running less decals than ever due to the economic mess and the ones that have been removed will be replaced when things hopefully recover so no hard feelings there. If you do much racing you know who pays, who dosne't and what are the requirements to collect. In my opinion if the decal is on the car and the product is easily varified (you can see it) then case closed. In other instances such as engine components deep within.....nothing but the decal should suffice. Another complex problem with a very simple answer. One other thing. Racecars without decals are Great! Nothing impresses me more than a nice racecar, well thought out, clean and put together right. There is no rule that says you have to be in the signboard business.