Monday, December 10, 2007

Still Trying!

Although I have not secured sponsorship for next season or Daytona in 3 weeks (hint hint!) I have some great media events set up for next year. I will keep you all informed on the progress! As I have said before I will keep trying. I have recieved many emails of support to keep trying so I will. The season is coming up fast and I am burning the midnight oil to try and get to Daytona. There is a large break in racing from Daytona to the next race so there is time.

On another note, Joe an I are trying to plan for the Fireball Run next year as the deadline is getting close for our entry. If you want to get involved in this great media event please contact me for the details. We were on numerous news broadcasts around the country during the last run so this year should be even better! You can see how we did at fireballrun.com and gaywheels.com (team G.L.A.M.) last race.

Thanks again for the words of support!
Evan

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Oh well

It looks like I will be going back to work as a mechanic or service writer. I have tried everything to get sponsorship on the pro level. I have not been successful this year. I am trying to support some great non-profits and be the first Out Pro racer but there is no one to help me in my endeavor. I have tried all the major GLBT friendly companies and been turned down. I have tried to secure an agent or manager aand been turned down. The racing community has accepted me but the GLBT community has not been so supportive. I wish I could say I am racing next year and give the TV dates but without help it just will not happen. I gave it my full effort and wish anyone out there that tries to break into a sport being honest with themselves and the public the best of luck. It is not easy. I have won many races but this is by far the hardest thing I have ever done. I sold my business to pursue this thing and just got turned down by my last big lead. I am now starting my life over. I will continue to work with my race team and continue to try and secure sponsorship but I will not be able to race without support.

Thank you to all that sent me emails of support and gratitude and I will say this. I will keep trying my best to be a good role model and I will keep trying to get sponsored.

Thank you all for reading!
Evan

Monday, November 12, 2007

Out 100 Awards

I just got back from NYC as I was attending the Out 100 awards as an honoree! It was a great party and there were many influential people there. I am hoping some of them will take an interest in my sponsorship possibilities! I think I have done alot this year in media and would hope someone as a company or individual can recognize this as a great media opportunity. As said before I have multiple demographics and want to help the community recognize equality everywhere. In the great realm of things my sponsorship is not that expensive and would benefit many. I will keep trying and being persistent in my quest. If anyone is interested please visit my website and contact me...or just hit the donate button for paypal!

Friday, October 26, 2007

Representation


I am still looking for a sports agent or someone who can help with the procurement of sponsorship. I am a racer not a publicist or agent. I think I have done pretty good in teh publicist department with all my media as of late but I need a pro!

Monday, October 22, 2007

October Update


Well the Fireball Run was a blast! You can see how it went here: http://www.gaywheels.com/teamglam.htm We met some great people and did it for a great cause...missing children. Here is the website with more info: http://www.childrescuenetwork.org/ I am looking forward to next year and hopefully we will have the same level of sponsorship so we can perform again! We finished 2nd in Luxury class and 11th overall. Not bad considering we were in a totally stock Saab 9-3 Aero. I was able to manage a 7th place finish on the Houston track challenge against some pretty stout cars. The Saab is a great all around car that is every bit as capable as its competition on the track...and even better on the street!

I am still looking for sponsors for next years Grand Am schedule...any interested parties can contact me thru my website (which has a paypal button on it ;) ) I have a winning plan...just need interested parties to step forward and help make it happen! There are multiple demographics to be targeted with sponsorship so it should be easy to make that decision...and if a private sponsor wants to help I can put very worthy charities on the car as well! This is one way to help people feel good about themselves in our diverse lives!

Well I am off to Virginia International Raceway (VIR)way next month to race in the "Charge of the Headlight Brigade" 13 hour endurace race with GSM Motorsports trusty VW in hopes of victory!

GSM (German Speed Merchants) are based out of Wilmington, NC and own a great shop specializing in...German cars. They really work on everything but that is their specialty. They have turned out to be a very accepting team and are a group of great people. If you are ever in the area and need your car serviced I would highly reccomend this honest shop...a hard thing to come by these days!

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Fireball Run!

I am running in the Fireball Run rally this year hoping to bring attention to missing children and many other causes. It is important for us as a community to try and do positive things for others to see.
Our missing child that we were assigned is Jacqueline Jara Castro. Jacqueline, along with her brother Jonathon, were last seen in Warner Robins, GA. They may be in the company of their non-custodial mother. Anyone with information should contact the Gwinnett County Police Dept. at 770.513.5100 or Child Rescue Network at 877.209.KIDS ext. 82. If you go to http://www.fireballrun.com/ and look for our team (Team G.L.A.M. #53) you can see a picture of her.
I am also looking for some smaller more affordable sponsorships. I am racing in a few high publicity club races in Virginia, Atlanta and Sebring this fall and would like to see some community support.

Friday, September 14, 2007

been a while!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post...I have been in NC working for Roar Racing. I put lots of time in to those cars setting up, testing and fixing to make them fast. I was hoping to get a ride with them for a race or 2 but I do not have the money to race them. The days are gone where hard work and talent get you rides...it takes money. Lots of money. I have left Roar and am looking for a job now as I can not go on living day to day wondering if I am going to be able to pay my bills. My savings ran out long ago and I am not a member of the lucky sperm club. I will continue to look for sponsors and promote myself but until I get one (a sponsor) racing is done. I have a few proposals out there and maybe we will make it happen and I have not lost hope...just need to concentrate on making a living.
Racing is a very expensive sport and I would tell anyone who wants to get into it (on a pro level) bring lots of money. As a tech or team mgr it is different but it will require lots of hard thankless work.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Barber

Well the Barber weekend was interesting...if you ever go there you absolutely MUST go to the Barber Museum! I have never seen such a fine collection of motorcycles and cars...bring good walking shoes and a camera! The race was not so good. Both cars broke...well at least I was not driving them! LOL. We went to Road Atlanta to race in the enduro on sunday in the rain...started at the back (no qualifying time as we were at Barber) and the steering wheel came off in turn 1!! That woke me up! Didn't hit anything then it came off again in turn 5. I stopped and made sure it was secure and continued on my merry way. We finished 11th in class (out of about 40) and 19th overall (out of about 65). Wish we won! I am STILL looking for sponsors so keep those Ideas coming!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

I am looking for suggestions to get me some sponsors!! post what ever you can come up with...

Friday, July 6, 2007

Funding!

I am at the end of my financial abilities to race. If there is anyone out there that wants to see me do well in this sport now is the time to step up to the plate! I have a paypal button on my website ( edarlingenterprises.com ) . There has to be a GLBT business or individual out there that wants to help! This is my quest to find them! I am going back to work after this month is through with no future races planned. I have a few media things I am pursuing and maybe something will come of that but for now I am pretty much finished. I have recieved alot of good supportive emails and kind words of support and would like to thank everyone for them. It has been a fun, stressful and enlightening year so far and I hope I have made a difference to someone. I will be at Barber Motorsports Park on July 20-22 to do my usual with Roar racing (RX 8) and might drive. feel free to contact me thru my website or look me up at the track.

peace

Friday, June 29, 2007

Oh well

I did not get to drive the Roar car this weekend but I did crew chief for it. The Transmission blew up during the race anyways...it finished 16th although the car led for quite a few laps. I just got a call from the GTI team owner...the car is still not complete so no Watkins Glen :( unless someone wants to sponsor me...I have had no luck with that either. I will keep trying until I have to go back to work or to jail which ever comes first!

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Summer Racing

Well the car is not done yet (GTI) and it will not make Mid Ohio...oh well at least I know it will be fixed right! Those guys will have it looking like new in no time! I am headed to Ohio anyways to help the Roar Racing RX8's again. Never know maybe I will drive again if no one gets the seat with $$. We will definitely be at Watkins Glen NY on July 6-7 with the GTI...hopefully we will have a successful weekend again!

Monday, May 28, 2007

Bummer

I guess you can't win them all! I went to Lime Rock Park for the Grand Am Koni Challenge race this past weekend with hopes of getting some much needed media and drivers points. The weather was beautiful and things looked bright. I did the first practice session and it was fine...we had some air in the brake lines so I needed to drive around that but it was my first time there so I just needed to learn the track. After my session we bled the brakes and put some fresher tires on for my co-drivers session. He had alot of experience here so I was hoping to learn from him. He went out and got progressively faster until he lost it in T10 and went head on into the wall at 90+ MPH. Basically that ended our weekend and the car. Oh well I hope the car is repaired in time for Mid Ohio in about 4 weeks! I wanted to go to Mosport and still could if someone would step up to the plate and sponsor me (obviously I would be driving a different car)! The GSM Motorsports/Bildon GTI is an awesome machine and I look forward to racing it. The team is top notch and the car is extremely well prepared. It was a shame to see it go into the wall. But as always when it is repaired it will be better than new...if it is totalled then a new one will be built.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Laguna Seca

Well just got back from Laguna Seca California...It was beautiful out there although it was a little cold. I was working on the Roar Racing RX8's and got word that I was to drive the one we were trying to fix. We worked our tails off to make it get around the track (the car was spun and wrecked at Homestead by some overzealous Acuras...) and we got it ready just in time for the race...we limped around in practice and qualifying to try and get a feel for the car and the track. The motor had too many races on it and since this was more of a test than a race we figured why not. When race time came we did pretty good considering the circumstances...the RX8's handling is incredible! our team car was leading for a while and we just tried to get thru the race clean. That came to an end when one of the Subaru Legacy's tried a dive bomb pass in the last turn...hit me in the door really hard. Hard enough to move his frame rail into his timing cover and destroy his engine. We were fine and just had to pit to fix the hanging trim pieces. We continued on to finish 13th. Not bad for just testing a car with a weak motor and stock diff...I can see how these cars could win (RX8).

I am now off to Lime Rock Park in CT. I barely have enough money to do this and without any sponsors I think this will be my last race. I will continue to market myself and try but this is a real expensive sport. I sold my business to pursue this and now the money has dried up. I may have a few opportunities to drive here and there but there is more to this thing than driving. I want to bring attention to the Trevor Project and make a difference in todays closed minded world.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Update! Update!

Well I just got back from VIR (Virginia International Raceway) testing the GSM/Bildon GTI that we are racing at Lime Rock Park in Conneticut. The car was great and I learned a track I have never driven. The track is one of the best I have ever seen! Rolling hills and blind challenging corners that are taken at real high speeds! The surrounding area is beautiful. I only did 2 sessions, 7 laps and 9 laps so I never turned a competitive time, but I did get to know the track...

The next update is I am going to Laguna Seca in California (5/16-5/20)! I am crewing for the Roar Racing RX8's and maybe driving one if the stars and moons line up properly.

I have much good press lately and am making a big effort to make this thing work, but it looks like I may have to put Pro racing "back in the closet". I have had no results as for companies that want to support my cause. It is a real shame because we were making big strides with this program. If anyone reading this knows of any companies that want to get involved in this unique opportunity, please let me know!!!

Evan

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Next Step

Ok my next race will be at Lime Rock Park in Conneticut on May 25-28 in Grand Am Cup (Koni ST). This will be my first time there so I will need to be up to speed pretty quickly! I will be driving the GSM Motorsports/Bildon GTI again...one fast car! We will have our work ahead of us setting it up for this unique track but we were able to dial in the GTI for Homestead starting with a clean sheet. I recieved alot of info on setting it up for this track from some friends up there so look out!

Monday, April 16, 2007

Homestead

Well my first Pro race is in the books...It was an awesome weekend and the GSM GTI was a force to be reckond with! I was fastest in practice until the last lap and got moved to 3rd. We qualified 6th and in the race Andrew my codriver brought it to the front! We pitted under a caution at the 1 hour mark and I got in the car for the duration. I went out on the tail end of the lead lap and was able to bring the car to about 5th when we got word that we sped on pit lane...I had a drive thru penalty which brought us back to last again under green. Quite frustrating! I got back up to 4th and battled there for a while until I got taken out by a Speedsource car (he apologised and was very nice about it!) the car did not handle quite the same from there out...I then got hit by the Subaru Legacy and we went back to 10th...I was able to get back to 7th before the checkers fell. It was quite an experience. If I can get some sponsors I would like to do more races in this series. If not I can't race for a while...

Monday, April 9, 2007

Articles everywhere!

Well I did it...My article came out in the Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/588/story/67282.html
It is a pretty in depth interview and I hope to get some sponsor support from it! I also saw that my interview with Dan Woog is out as well http://www.innewsweekly.com/innews/?class_code=Sp&article_code=3704 They are both well written articles and I can't wait to see the response!

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Grand Am Cup!

I will be racing a VW GTI at Homestead-Miami Speedway on April 13-15!!! Come on out and watch or tune in to Speed Channel to see!! I will post the airtime when it will be on!

Friday, March 16, 2007

Hey there happy friday everyone!! I have been talking to The Trevor Project (http://www.thetrevorproject.org/staging/home.aspx) and I am going to run their decals on my car now to bring wareness to this great cause. If I get more private sponsorship I can give them more coverage and if it is corporate support we can work out where the decals will be placed. We need to help our youth and give back a little as they are the future!!

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

new car!

Ok...I just acquired a 2003 Acura RS-X Type S. I want to build it for Grand Am Cup (now called Koni Challenge). To do this I NEED SPONSORS!! This is a very competitive televised series! It is a lot less expensive than Speed World Challenge but it is just as competitive. It is also an endurance series so I will be getting one of my racing buddies to race with me. Anyone want to be a part of a winning team?

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Here is a little about me:
I am trying to get some sponsors so I can race Pro next year and keep moving up the ranks. I have been interested in racing my whole life and always knew it was what I wanted (and needed) to do with my life! I came out when I was 18 and had to leave home. It was very difficult through the years but I eventually saved enough money working as a mechanic to start racing myself (on a very poor budget!). Most of the people in racing now had alot of family support...something I never had. I am still racing today but it is getting more and more difficult financially as I move up the ranks. There has to be a person or group of people out there that wants to see a gay person doing well on tv in Pro races! I am out and not afraid to tell anyone! Most people don't think I am gay but when they find out I usually keep the people as friends and change their outlook on what a "gay" person is.
I had a hard time coming to terms with my parents non-acceptance of me (we stay in contact but they still don't-and never will understand) and want to help our youth through this tough time by being out and in a Pro environment. I wrote an article for Flavor Magazine addressing gay/teen suicide prevention and I hope I can do something to help our community come to terms with this problem through awareness. Here is a link to my website. http://www.edarlingenterprises.com/ It is new and still being fine tuned... I also did a radio show on worldtalkradio.com http://www.worldtalkradio.com/show.asp?sid=228 on 2/20/07 you can go to the archive and hear Joshua Estrin and Lady Chablis interview me live!
There are more gay race fans than most people think and maybe with me going Pro in my division we can bring out more gay race fans together!!

Friday, February 23, 2007

welcome!

Welcome to my new blog!! Let me introduce myself...My name is Evan Darling and I am a race car driver. I have a press release out on the web now explaining more about myself. I am trying to bring awareness to teen/gay suicide prevention. Feel free to make comments and give feedback!