SNOW RACING AT SNETTERTON
An anti-climactic debut of Sabre's Mazda RX-7 racer in the 750 Club's aRoadsports series resulted when a blown engine prevented a race appearance for driver Neil Crilly. Running in the test day prior to the event at an ice cold Snetterton (UK) on April 12, the engine expired after only a handful of laps. The day was so cold that snow actually fell several times during the day, although rain and several sunny periods arrived as well to complete the climactic chaos of the day. Sabre was also working with Forsberg Services to perform a short test of a new data acquisition system, fitting the equipment and it's communication antennae to the car, but the test had to be scrubbed after the car wouldn't cooperate. It is thought that engine seals had developed faults, and that this created an internal water leak which led to overheating and major engine damage. The advent of the blown engine will provide an opportunity to up the horsepower with an engine rebuild, however, as the car was under powered for the series anyway. It is likely a 285 hp peripheral port engine will be built for the car and it will be switched from the current fuel injection to a carburetor system. (The old power plant produced about 220 hp.) Look for another, (more successful!) appearance of the car later this year.
USING CORPORATE HOSPITALITY Why sponsor motorsport? Part 3--More benefits: Corporate Hospitality
Corporate hospitality is in many cases the most significant sponsor benefit. In particular for companies who want to market business to business, set up new distributors or concentrate on building long term client relationships. The most obvious benefit of corporate hospitality involves treating your potential customers and their families and friends to a unique entertainment experience, in which the entertainment 'vehicle" acts as a rolling billboard for your company. But, hospitality programs can be customized to do much more. A few examples:
Business to business marketing--When your company is marketing to other businesses and working to build long term client relationships, you can not only entertain at the races, but also give your client advertising graphic space on the car, or split it with them. In the latter case, this provides new advertising for both you and them and also creates a cooperative partnership with that client.
Corporate days and events--Your company's race sponsorship program can also include track days and other "corporate day" elements. Your sponsored driver can instruct top performers, top clients or staff generally, in a fun day of high performance driving at a race track in exciting street and/or race cars. Other event ideas include driver presentations at company functions, tying in company or motivational themes and corporate graphics; host/hostess programs at the race events to smooth all the edges of the race day experience (transport, parking, tour guide); and tours of major motor sport facilities like the Porsche facility and test track at Weissach, Germany, for example.
Savasort President Phil Elmore
Meeting new clients at the races--I can't count the number of times this has happened to my sponsorship clients. The reason? Because the many other sponsors and companies involved in motor sport present a great opportunity. These companies are successful, actively involved in marketing themseives, and financially strong. And, importantly, they also share the common, unifying interest of supporting a motor sport team or driver, and probably do so because they enjoy the sport. This is the type of common link that not only creates clients, but also friends. A small marketing program set up to target these fellow sponsors can pay handsome benefits.
In summary, corporate hospitality programs are another area in which creativity is the only limit. The creativity to come up with a program tailored exactly to your company's marketing goals is also another strength that Sabre can offer to your company in a sponsorship program.
Next month: Facts and figures on media exposure obtainable via motor sport.
TEAMClub Info...
The TEAMClub is a great way to support the Team. Corporate TEAMCIub levels that offer low cost, unique advertising and premium corporate hospitality are also available. Check the coupon, or call Sabre at 49-89-1599-0374 for more. We are also happy to provide Sponsor references who can relay firsthand the value of Sabre's programs.
The Sabre Sport SAVASORT TEAMClub is a great way to support the Team and get great Sabre TEAM SAVASORT gear. Membership includes:
- Sabre TEAM SAVASORT baseballcap
- Autographed TEAM Porsche photo
- Sabre TEAM SAVASORT 100% cotton Polo shirt (Please specify S-M-L-XL)
- A one-year subscription to the Sabre TEAM SAVASORT NEWSletter
- Team tour at any event that team runs during year
- Free entry into SAVASORT's "Win a Trip to a 24 Hour Race" contest."
Comments or Questions:
webmaster@sabresport.com