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Right Place, Right Time

Back when I first started racing, I quickly learned about sponsorships and became interested in finding how it all worked. Coincidentally, I was just learning how expensive racing was as well. Looking back, the two were really no coincidence.

My first sponsor was Lockhart Phillips. I had started doing relatively well as an amateur, acquiring some decent results in my first full year. I sent in all my necessary information and tried to sell myself as best I could. I was often known as Joe Kraft's son throughout the paddock, which carried a lot of weight – especially when he was racing seriously. Of course he could have gotten the parts I needed, but that would have defeated the purpose.

LP ended up adding me onto their Privateer Program. I would have been happy if they had just sent me their sticker to put on my bike for free – it was something, anything. And I was stoked about it. I spent so much time putting their sticker on the bike. One on each side. They had a tricky sticker that wouldn't look good if I didn't put it on just right, so I was there forever making sure it was aligned perfectly. My dad had to be laughing, given how much time I spent on it. The bike had fresh bodywork and was a blank canvas that now had its first sticker. More would later follow.

Not long after the first sticker was put on the bike, we had the bike on display at Kart 2 Kart, which has been a long-time sponsor, partner – and today, are still good friends of mine. The common talk at the time was always about finding more sponsors and how to get more help – the kind of stuff every racer talks about. However one of the guys there knew somebody who was big into cars and might also be interested in bikes. I didn't think much of it at the time, but a few days later I came into Kart 2 Kart and there was a check sitting there, made out in my name for $500. I couldn't believe it. I had never even met the guy. And all he saw was my bike sitting in the building with a few small trophies around it. I had his number and tried to call him several times and ask what prompted this – and if nothing else, at least thank him. However I was never able to get in touch with him, so here I was with a check from someone I had never even met. I later heard he moved out of the country.

I still think about that every so often. Not only was it a huge help financially at the time, but it was a boost personally. Just starting out, learning the ropes and having someone do something like that. It was incredible. I still wish I could thank him for what he did, but the chances of that seem slim. Although once I'm all done racing, hopefully I can do something similar for somebody who's in the same shoes I was back then.

Thursday, July 30th, 2009 | POSTED AT: 5:54 AM
FILED UNDER: General

2 Comments on “Right Place, Right Time”

Nick wrote on 31 July, 2009, 8:46 PM
I have found its a lot nicer to give to people that don’t expect help and will appreciate it. To me its a lot like when you buy or work for something yourself it means more to you. But when your working real hard at something and someone else notices and wants to help without you even asking. That it when it all clicks.

I don’t have checks to write but I have some spare bikes that I have been sharing with people new to the sport. Its great to see their faces light up after there first ride even on the mini bikes/kart tracks.

Your great for our sport Eddie, keep up the good work.
Eddie wrote on 3 August, 2009, 6:44 AM
Thanks Nick. I bet anyone’s first ride on the kart tracks is a blast. I know inside Kart 2 Kart it’s the same with the fiddies. It didn’t take much to get people out there each week once they hit the track for the first time.