Year End...

Well the last race of the season for me was a BMW Car Club of America club race (BMWCCA) in Savanna, GA. I was planning on driving my friend Craigs M3 in IP (I Prepared) and Robs 325i in ITR (Improved Touring "R"). Friday was a sprint race, Sat was the Endurance race and andother sprint on sunday. I am a co-driver in the endurance races and I was to start in the M3 and finish in the 325i. Thursday testing went well and both cars were very competitive on old tires posting some pretty fast laps so we were happy going into friday. Craig had a decent qualifying effort for the sprint and started 2nd in class and Rob due to some other factors entered the car in IP (there were no other entrants in ITR and it is no fun racing yourself). For what it was he did great! With 3 laps to go a Spec E36 car being lapped by Craig in the epic battle for 1st spun in front of him in a 100+MPH corner. There was not much for Craig to do but hit the brakes to minimize damage. They hit and Craig continued on with lots of damage. The car was not leaking anything and the temps remained good so he finished out the race holding on to 2nd place. Rob finished safely in 7th in class posting some respectable times. We worked until 2AM saturday then right up to Enduro qualifying to get the car straight. Its amazing what you can do with chains, trees and F250's. Got the car ready just in time for a rainy qualifyer. I love the rain and tend to be real fast but the car kept popping out of 4th...a very important gear! we ended up 9th on the grid and 4th in class. We quickly tore into the car looking for something and found 2 destroyed transmission mounts. We barely had enough time to swap them in and put dry tires on (it stopped raining) and tweak the setup (never got all the adjustments done for the dry). I got the start and it was evident that the transmission may not survive this one! I got it to work pretty good and worked my way up to 2nd catching the leader pretty easily (man I wish that transmission worked!) and pitted in 2nd overall. Craig got in and held on as long as he could but the trans kept getting worse. He limped home in 3rd in class and 6th overall...not bad for a car that had been rebuilt at the track with beer duct tape and zip ties! Anyways I got into Robs car and his clutch was starting to slip. It wasnt too bad but it will need to be fixed before the next one. I only did about 3 laps and the checkers fell. Long and eventful weekend! Thanks to all the guys from BMWCCA and VDCA (Vintage club) that came over and helped pound the car back into shape!

See 'yall next year!
evan

Frontiers Article

My Frontiers article is just out...a big thanks to my publicist, John Blanchette for setting it up for me!

http://www.frontiersweb.com/Features/Exclusive-Interviews/Story.aspx?ID=1309218

Tragedy

"This latest string of suicides is an indication of how society is accepting our young people into this world. Online bullying and ignorance is taking lives and something must be done to make it stop. We have to educate society to be more accepting and compassionate to our childrens needs. The education needs to start with parents not teaching their children to hate and be callous to others differences. We have a long way to go to make our society a more accepting and safe place. There are many great organizations like The Trevor Project to help kids in need and we need to educate kids and adults to see there is a place to go and get help and guidance. More visibility is also needed in front of the right demographic groups."

Evan Darling
Grand Am Race Car Driver
edarlingenterprises.com

Its Funny...

It's Funny

As a race car driver through the years I have done pretty well behind the wheel. I started autocrossing (races for time around cones in parking lots), graduating to track days in my old Mustangs and Z cars then on to amateur racing at tracks around the country. I always wanted to go Pro and knew I had the talent to do so. Racing is an expensive sport and most people get enthusiastically into racing hoping to be the next big thing only to realize there are many people that are very good at it as well. There are 5 main groups at an amateur race. The big budget guys that are talented enough to win, the low budget guys that scrape everything they have into the car and fight for wins, the guy with the budget and mediocre talent, the guy with the skills but no budget and the guy with want and drive but no budget and not the best skills. The many people I have talked to over the years trying to get into pro racing seem to think if you are good you just go to the racetrack and get in a car and win. There is so much to it, it is almost impossible to explain to someone who knows nothing about racing.
I have had a very successful amateur career in racing winning my share of races and wanted to take it to the next level. Many racers and media types always say you need a hook, something that sets you apart from everyone else. I look around at all the racers and see money and talent...what do I have that is different...well, I am Out and being myself in this straight sport, why don't I come out as the Out Pro Race Car Driver. I know I am good at what I do, I don't look so bad in front of a camera and there is no one else like me in the sport. I do it. Steve Rothaus from the Miami Herald did a great interview and gave me an entire section before the Miami Grand Prix in 2007, my first Pro race. We did well finishing 7th in a stout field of Pro's. I had many well wishers and haters contacting me through my website explaining to me how to live my life. I did not know how to handle the media very well and had a series of mediocre but well intended publicists and agents that did not know anything about sports and racing. I did the best I could to attract sponsors and got a little support from local businesses but not nearly enough to sustain a racing career. I needed to go big. I started contacting celebrities but realized you just cant call them up and ask them advise or for sponsorship without going through a labyrinth of "people". On top of this many people keep asking me why I had to come out as a gay race car driver. If you are a good driver you should be able to make it on those merits. Well yea I should be able to do that but without money and sponsors I can't drive to show my talents. I have met many great people along the way and wish to continue. My coming out has gotten me some great media attention, but still no sponsors.
The current state of the economy has not helped matters but things seem to have stabilized. There are many great charities that could benefit from sponsoring me in a Pro televised series and I am sure there are some big hearted people that would like to see this, my problem is getting them as an audience. My new publicist, John Blanchette, Is trying to get me in front of these people. We are contacting The View, Ellen, Rosie and Oprah in an attempt to show the world what I am trying to do. On my website (edarlingenterprises.com) is a short film put on by Subaru and LOGO that shows who I am. A Google of my name has many articles and interviews I have done. I have taken a lot of flak doing what I believe in and do not want to give up. Jay Leno has told me he thinks there is a place for me and I should keep trying. David Letterman has a BMW race team. I am trying to get through to him as well. Any help, leads, contacts and sponsorship is needed and appreciated!
BTW the point of all this is to try and show people how it is in the racing community so they can make educated decisions on participating in a sport like this.

Thanks for reading!
Evan

Road Atlanta

Well we went to Road Atlanta for the BMWCCA Endurance Race and won it! Great racing and great people. Our next event is in Watkins Glen NY in 2 weekends. On my way to NC from Florida last week I lost the right rear wheel on my truck on 95 north. Traveling at 75mph the truck turned left. It was scary but luckily it just damaged the truck. now I am in NC with a broken truck needing $$ repairs. I am pushing to get it fixed so I can get home! Well thats it for updates.

Follow me on twitter (evanmdarling)!
Evan

New Developments

Hey there, I was finally able to procure a really great publicity firm, Blanchette & Associates Public Relations. This firm has a huge amount of success in entertainment and business fields and I am proud to be part of their future! They have already prepared and scheduled interviews and other media for me! I will post my schedule as soon as I work it out!

I am now on Twitter and its really new to me. I am learning to "tweet" developments and I will be able to "tweet" from the race track or other events I am at! Follow me at: twitter.com/EvanMDarling

Thats it for now but keep an eye out for new developments!

The End Is Near

Well I have been at this for almost 4 years now and no sign of a sponsor. I went out on a limb and dedicated my life to racing. I put myself out there for the community in hopes of some support and to support some great causes. I branded myself as an Out Race Car Driver and tried to take all the right paths. I had publicists (some ok some just stupid) and agents. I have been in all the major publications and on the Out 100 list. I just don't get why there is no support for an out sports figure within our community. It is very dissapointing to see all these grants and sponsorships for websites and parties but when someone tries to make a difference in the public's eyes, there is not much support. I have had contact with some great people recently that may have something in store for me and the charities I want to support so stay tuned. I am just venting as now I have to go back to my old profession of being a line technician and I am going to have to deal with being in this industry as an openly gay man. It was never a problem before as I kept to myself but now I am an ex-gay race car driver that failed to get sponsorship. It will be rough to say the least! I also have to concede to my republican family that it was silly to think a gay person could get sponsorship in a straight sport. Unfortunately up to this point they are correct. I would definitely not recommend anyone in sports to come out until retirement unless they are happy where they are in their sport. It seems to be career suicide. Agents refuse to represent you and unless you are independedntly wealthy or have someone elses bank roll (mom dad sugar daddy sugar momma etc) you will fail. PLEASE someone prove this wrong! I don't want to lose too much faith in our community! I have lost all my savings, my house, car, health insurance and my job pursuing my passion. I will continue to try my best to get sponsored and prove them wrong! On another note, I have a video coming out on LOGO soon. Check back at my website (edarlingenterprises.com) for a preview!

hope everyone has a great summer!

Summer Blues

Well its July and it is hot in FL. I am headed to Virginia International Raceway next weekend for a BMW CCA/PBOC/Viper Club Race. It should be a blast as it is a sprint format and I am driving 2 different cars over the weekend! I am looking forward to it. I also have some developments I will share in the near future when I know more. As it stands now I am planning on going back to work next month. If sponsorship or endorsement comes, I will be racing. If not I will be slaving. Fingers crossed!

Contact

I am at a loss. I have tried contacting Rosie O'Donell, Ellen Degeneres Elton John and other Out celebs...they don't even respond. I am not good at getting through to people and do not have contacts to do so...is there anyone out there that can help? Maybe they do not have any interest in helping an out athlete but at least a response...

Back from Ohio

Well I'm back from Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the BMWCCA Club Race over Memorial Day Weekend. The weekend started out pretty good as the car felt great in my session. Later in the day on friday the car started to get hot. I replaced the water pump and thermostat and found no leaks. The car seemed better on Saturday as the owner raced it in the 2 sprint races and did pretty good. Sunday arrived and I got in to qualify for the enduro and after a warm up lap and half a hot lap the car got real hot. I pulled in to see water pushing out of the over flow and all the needles buried. We packed up and drove home. I was really hoping to make it a 3peat as we won at Roebling Road and Virginia International Raceway and this would have made 3 at Mid-O. Oh well! It was not a drama free weekend with the tow either! On our way through Virginia, a boost pipe blew off the truck (a piece of the air intake system) and the hose clamp went through the LR tire while we were climbing a hill at 2K feet. we replaced the tire with the spare and tried to limp back to a ford dealer but really couldn't move off the highway. We pulled out the Honda mini bike and I rode it down I-77 to get the part...

New Idea and Great Opportunity!

I am back and starting a new marketing program. As many of you know, I am a supporter of TheTrevorProject.org and I would like to offer a program that would bring media attention to this great program and my Pro racing career. In this tough economy it has been difficult to procure enough sponsorship to race in Grand Am and be able to survive. Many big corporations have cut back sponsorships and that has made it difficult for everyone in the racing (and all other!) communities. I am reaching out to everyone and all communities with this program. My idea is to get lots of private and small corporate involvement in my quest. It is pretty simple. I need to get contributions ranging from $100 to $1000 to race next year (and this year if there is enough interest). I cannot afford my own Grand Am car so when I race it is always a different teams car. I am allowed a certain amount of area on the cars depending on how much I contribute to the team. The idea is to get 2-3 large graphics that have "TheTrevorProject.org" with everyone's names (company names, personal names etc) printed within the graphic. I would also use these graphics on my personal race car (amateur series car as Pro cars are way too $$$).

Here is a list of some of the benefits that would come from sponsorship:

• Support for TheTrevorProject.org in front of an international audience on Speed Channel
• Support for the only Out Pro Race Car Driver
• Links from my website (edarlingenterprises.com) to your organization or web page
• Photo and video media from each event
• Exposure at media events I will attend
• $1000+ sponsors will receive tickets to a chosen race in your area

For this to work I will need to reach a financial goal. I would like to launch this program immediately and will have a progress bar on my website and here when I start to receive donations. I really think this can work with all the support I have received in the past! In doing this program I believe I can generate even more media in some of the larger publications and TV media. I just need to get the ball rolling with your help!

The Demographics for this race series is very large and when you include the GLBT demographic it makes my audience one of the largest in Professional sports! Please give me some feedback on this program as I get it started! I also have a paypal link on my website so be sure to contact me if a donation is going to be made thru that so I can forward all the media to you!

Thanks and hopefully more to come soon!

Evan Darling

Updates and Ups and Downs

Well I almost completely finished my move to Florida. I have been going back and forth to NC trying to get all my stuff secure. It has been a difficult few months! I got back from VIR (Virginia International Raceway) 2 weeks ago after racing in the BMW Car Club of America endurance race. We had a great time and finally won! My co-driver, Craig Lippe, did a great job behind the wheel and with strategies. We won by .503 seconds! What a great time! This is coming off the last time I drove it. that was Roebling Road where it was pissing down rain and we won that with the bonus of an overall pole position! The car we were driving is a BMW M3 running in IP ("I" Prepared is a class with limited modifications to the car). I got back to FL and received a call from one of the top Grand Am teams. I needed to come up with some money to get up to VIR again to race in the Grand Am race! Well my fundraising skills are not so good and it was short notice so I tried to the last minute. Didn't make it. I am still pretty depressed about it but there isn't much I can do about it now but try for the next one! Someone please step up and help for Mid-Ohio in June!

I have some great strategies for sponsors and would like to put them out there for discussion. I am and always will try and support non-profits. The Trevor Project has always been very high on my list as it is one of our most important assets as a community. here is their website:

http://thetrevorproject.org/home2.aspx

I believe having info on this organization on my car in front of a televised audience would do a great job getting outlets like this in the mainstream media where it is most needed. Many of these kids are not exposed to GLBT media and have very few options. By getting the word out in front of a predominantly straight oriented market, more people would be reached! Help me make this happen!

On another note before I went to VIR for the BMW race I went to Wellington FL for the first ever Gay Polo League Polo match. Wow what an exciting sport! I had no idea...These guys move fast on these horses and play pretty aggressive! Here is a link to their website:

http://www.gaypolo.com/splash/

I have also tried to contact Ricky Martin about sponsorship or support for me and the Trevor Project but I have not heard back from him or any of his agents. It seems almost impossible to get through to some of these people. Maybe he will see this...never know!

Well that's all for now!

Florida Boy

Well I'm back to Fort Lauderdale FL now...it seems just as cold down here as it was in NC! I lived down here for almost 20 years and wished for a cool winter. I move down here and we have one! I guess FL wanted me back! It is good to be here and see old friends and try and get back to my old life. I am starting a small business with a friend and am going to let my agent do footwork for me for sponsorships. I have had no luck finding support and apologise for not being out there that much representing. It is a very expensive sport and when you are trying to support non-profits or any cause, funds are very scarce. I will always try and help Trevor Project and raise awareness of the problems our youth face every day. It also didn't help that I came out as I started my Pro career. Well you never know what will happen next...I have a show just filmed about me and it will air soon (I will update here and my website when it comes out...) and I hope that brings me some exposure. I don't seem to get much here on my blog anymore, I guess I need to update it more often as the only people commenting are spam delivery people.

January 2010...racing has begun!

Its a real bummer to be sitting here while the Daytona 24 hr race is buzzing in the backround. Things were looking up towards the end of last year after doing some filming (more to come!) as I was hoping to get some sponsorship (or at least a ride) to run the Continental Tire Challenge (former Koni Challenge) race friday. Nothing yet. I guess there is always next year for a championship...

On another note, I competed in the VIR Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13hr race. Story is here: http://tarheelbmwcca.org/WEB%202010%20January.pdf And I made the cover! This is a great BMWCCA regional magazine. We had lots of fun and finished well.

My latest personal update is that I am moving back to Fort Lauderdale FL as there is not much in the way of work up here in NC and I believe I would be better off marketing myself in FL. I have made some great friends up here and I will continue to visit and race with the Tarheel folks. This area has VIR (Virginia International Raceway) and it is probably one of the best tracks in the world!

I put some safetys on my comments area as too many people were posting viagra and watch ads...I keep an eye on it so if anyone posts on here I can get the message on pretty quick (unless I am in a race car...)

I hope everyone has a great new year!

Evan