I’ve been urged by several close to me to pick up where I left off – chronicling my adventures and musings mostly from behind the wheel. But where do you start when a year has past?
So I’ll give the Cliff Note version now and expand later on some […]
I am on the plane to San Diego and just set down a copy of the latest Fortune Magazine -my closest connection with Americana since departing. Within the pages, Jeff Bezos recommends little retreats to check out, unplug and get a little dose of creativity.
These upcoming two posts won’t be […]
I’m heading to Paris and Morocco on Wednesday, but this time with a different agenda – no agenda. After catching up with friends in Paris and making sure the competing US Gazelles are ready to compete, I’ll be heading to southern Morocco to see the country from a different angle. I’ll be slowing down, using my driving and navigation skills to see the countryside at a different pace. Then, I’ll be putting it to words and pictures for Overland Journal.
So let me get down to business and give you the skinny on why my navigator Chrissie and I withdrew from this year’s Rallye Aicha des Gazelles. To give a little background, we were competing for a factory program with a vehicle registered in the Crossover Category. To make a long story a little shorter and spare the details, here’s what happened. Rally moves vehicle to 4×4 class without informing us – approximately 5 weeks before the rally. We reply with a request to reconsider as the technical director had sent a letter in writing on November 15th that the vehicle was indeed in the Crossover Category. No change. Responses came from others but not the technical director. I’ll leave out the details.
Many people ask me for advice regarding sponsorship for the Gazelle (and other racing, events, etc.). Asking for sponsorship isn’t easy. This is obviously not a complete guide but a few tips from my experience. There are several strategies that can be successful, but one of the most important things to remember is – no one is going to sponsor you if you don’t ask.
Do your research – Just because you think a company is the right fit, doesn’t mean they do. Before you pitch a company, make sure you have done your research and have a clear reason why they are the right fit and what value you can provide them.
Ask for help but don’t expect someone else to do the work for you. – Sponsorship takes time. You may have to pitch MANY companies to get a couple. Unless your best friend is a sponsorship expert, you will probably be doing the work yourself. It will make you appreciate the entire process and sponsor.
Great looking proposal & well-written pitch – make it compelling and succinct. Always remember that companies have stacks of pitches and inboxes full of requests. STAND OUT and be memorable. Remember your passion for the event and convey that in your communications. (I recently received the wildest, funniest request including the option to name someone’s first born. We will never forget that letter or […]
I’m sipping a cappuccino in the Marseille Airport waiting for a flight to Heathrow. It’s a beautiful sunrise over the Mediterranean and I am feeling the effects of jet lag and minimal sleep.
I flew Reno – San Fran – Heathrow – Paris CDG and had a wonderful and much needed reunion with my favorite Gazelles in Paris on Sunday night. Monday morning before sunrise I headed south on the TGV and arrived in Avignon on the Rhone River. I’ve passed Avignon several times in the past, in a hurry to somewhere else. I am astonished at what an amazing place it is – this magical, historical town behind large fortress walls made me feel tossed back to the 13th century.
I spent two exceptional days with Maienga – the organizers of the Rallye Aicha des Gazelles. I can understand why they chose Provence as home base as opposed to Paris – I felt quite at home and at peace. With a nightmare of a travel schedule and operating on almost no sleep for weeks, I felt immediately relaxed when I stepped foot into the offices.
Spending time with Dominique Serra, the owner and creator of the beloved Gazelle Rally, gave me a different glimpse of this magnificent woman. Serra is a complex person who literally built this event step by step and has fought hard to keep the values and vision. It is tough to be an event director, promoter, etc. – especially when […]
