This is just a note to let everyone know the latest and the end of summer news from us at the Racing Dreamz Foundation.
First, I would like to thank all of you that have expressed your support for our cause. We are humbled by the many great comments and calls that we have received. Your kindness and support helps keep us focused on the mission to help the disadvantaged and downtrotten children to seek out a better path for their lives.
Now, for the news. Where do I start? So many things has happened over the summer and so many things are in the works. For starters, I'd like to express our regret that we were not able to setup at the 3rd Annual Borla Exhaust Auto Show. Our truck got damaged by a 'hit n run' driver. That took over a week to get straightened out. This caused us to miss the opportunity to obtain the trophy kart from our friends at Racing2Cure. Coupled with one of our supporters totally forgot to get the asphalt kart, we just weren't able to setup. We were able to attend and we represented RD to the Borla officials. So, not a total loss.
We are excited about the future however. We have obtained corporate sponsorship from Kirkenburt's Smokehouse Grill in Murfreesboro. They have graciously agreed to let us use their restaurant for a silent auction. We have solicited several major Nascar teams for donated racing items from their teams for auctioning off. This will be held December 3rd, 2011. For more information, please visit our Facebook page and Kirkenburt's in the very near future. We will be working on having a phone bank set up there for bidders to call in to place their bids. All proceeds will go to the Racing Dreamz Foundation. An advertisement will be in the Nashville area media for this event. Tim Steed, our board member and Media Director, will be hosting this event. This event will also, hopefully, be broadcast LIVE on our very own TV channel. Yep, that's right, Racing Dreamz has their own TV channel. There's not much on it now, but we're working on filling up the video department and hopefully will have events both live and uploaded for your viewing pleasure. You can check it out at www.livestream.com/racingdreamz. So stay tuned for further developments.
Now for the racing news. While we still are underfunded for purchasing the karts and equipment, we are working on offering our sponsors something back for their buck. As everyone knows, I, as well as many on our board of directors, are active in the simulated racing community worldwide. After some very serious thought, I have decided to start racing at iRacing.com. It is a global simulated racing site with many great opportunities for us. There are over 25,000 sim racers there with many top race car drivers, like Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Stewart, and many more, enrolled at iRacing. They have the most advanced and most accurate tracks and race mods available in the sim racing world. iRacing.com has over 25 race cars/trucks, and over 47 race tracks with many tracks that have different variations. So, potentually, at least 75 tracks can be raced on. All tracks were digitally lazered for the most accurate details. Even the smallest cracks in the pavement are there from the real tracks. So what does all this mean to you? Well, one of our board members, Jim Eagan Motorsport Design, who is a professional graphic artist, will 'paint' your logo on our racing vehicles. Which means, that your company/personal logo or name can be seen by up to and over 25,000 people. Not to mention the videos that will be made and broadcast on Racing Dreamz TV. So, for a nominal 'donation', we will put your logo on the car of your choice for 1 year. And we will record each race your car is raced in. I know you're thinking, "what if you dont do good?" I agree, we're just starting, but so far, my track record is pretty good. I have gotten a top 5 finish in 8 out of the last 10 races. And I've only raced 20 races at iRacing.com. And I'm only getting started. :)
So, here comes the pitch, but you do get something back. For a mere $100 donation, your logo/info will be painted on the car of your choice for one year. Not just on a small spot on a fender, but we can accomendate you for a prime spot. If you choose to donate more, depending on your donation of course, we can paint the car anyway you want it. From bumper to bumper. So, this is a great marketing opportunity for you. Sure, it's just sim racing, but think of the dollar value you are getting for just $100. Where else can you get potential exposure to over 25,000+ people for this little amount of money. And, it doesnt matter where you are because sim racing is worldwide. Now for your choice of vehicle. You may choose from:
Legends Ford '34 Coupe(600 Racing)
MX5 Cup/Roadster(Mazda Racing)
Pontiac Solstice
SCCA Spec Racer Ford
Street Stock(oval)
Chevrolet Corvette C6r
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala (Class B & 2009)
Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS
Chevrolet Silverado
Dallara IndyCar
Ford V8 SuperCar(Australian Racing)
Ford GT(40)
Ford Mustang FR500S
HPD ARX-01C(Honda Performance Development, Inc)
Lotus '79
SK Modified and Tour Modified
Radical SR8
Riley Prototype
Silver Crown
Skip Barber Formula 2000
Star Mazda
Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
Williams-Toyota FW31
Sprint Car
You car will be raced and video recorded up to 3 times a week. So, you can see, you can pick your type of racing, your type of track(s) and your logo on a top 5 finishing car. This is better than some top Nascar teams where a small sticker decal can cost as much as $100,000. So, get your logo professionally painted on your car and help the kids. All proceeds go to the Racing Dreamz Foundation. A truly win - win situation. Also, we are partnered with another sim racing website that we hope will go live in a few months. They are working on it daily and Racing Dreamz will be a major factor in that racing site. Stay tuned for more details on this also.
For other news, we are hoping to enter into the the local parades. We'll be driving the Racing Dreamz truck(our Nissan) with banners on sides and front, with the Playseat simulator in the back. One of us, either Donna or I, will be racing in the sim ****pit for everyone to see. We are in the process of getting worked out, a spot, for us to setup at the weekly Carter County Car Show in downtown Elizabethton, to showcase our organization and let spectators try their hand at sim racing.
Also, the last of this month, we'll start working with a grant writer who has volunteered to help us search and apply for grants all over the country and to help us apply for our 501(c)3 status. Our local U.S. congressman, Phil Roe, has graciously offered to help us apply for grants also. Congressman Roe has volunteered to write letters to the appropriate government offices in our behalf. So, things are happening. Hopefully, next year, we'll be able to start enrolling kids into the karting programs and start building the karts for them. Oh, I almost forgot, after a vote from the board, we have decided to build the Cross Kart. To get a better picture, imagine world rally racing, but in kart(full roll cage) form. Totally off road, but no big jumps or obstacles. A dirt, road course. Safer for the kids and a whole lot of fun and a great learning experience. :)
Thank you for taking time to read this long note. We hope all is well with you and yours in these troubling times. And, thank you for your consideration, support and prayers for the kids and our efforts at the Racing Dreamz Foundation. For more information on how to donate or to talk about how to get your logo on the racers or just to shoot the breeze, please feel free to visit our website at www.racingdreamz.org or give me a call. I'd love to talk with ya.
