Trying to get something going

I have noticed alot of international traffic on my website and blog...Lots of visits from Russia lately. Anyone there want to respond? I am still trying and will always try. I may be shutting down my website soon as it doesn't seem to make sense for me to keep it up if there is no interest in sponsorship. I will put the video on youtube and just get a cheap to maintain webpage. It is with great sadness that I shrink into the backround and get back to work and try and forget the last 5 years of struggling and begging. I do not know what I would have done differently or could ever do in the future to get people interested. There really is just no place for an out race car driver. I pretty much ended my career by trying to do this honestly and openly. I also should have listened to my conservative family and not tried this. It is embarrasing how little financial support has come from all of this. I love my fans and please keep the great emails and words of encouragement coming! I will always try and be my best (and get sponsors) but the GLBT financial world has spoken with no interest in getting someone out there in the straight world with an open message to our youth that you can do anything. I really thought it was an important message but I guess not. We live a stereotype. Sad.

I also just think I failed with my celebrity contacting skills. I tried paying publicists thousands of dollars to just make contact with Lady Gaga, Elton John, John Travolta and anyone else that may have interest in my mission but they all failed or just didnt put in the effort. If anyone knows how to contact a celebrity let me know!

I am getting ready for my first USA Cycling race next month to get a category rating (everyone starts at Cat 5) and begin my amateur bicycle racing journey. I have raced BMX bicycles for years, Mountain bikes and now road bikes. This is a great hobby getting me into the best shape of my life. I will try and blog about my progress even though it is much more boring than blogging about racing cars on the Pro level.

Thanks everyone for being there!
Evan

The Smart Ride 8

Well now that the 13 Hour race has come and gone I am working towards my goals for The Smart Ride! If anyone knows someone with a place in Key West I could use a place to crash Saturday night as hotels are expensive! I have almost reached my goal but need a few more people to step up and donate. On the link below you can make a donation for me from $1 to $1000. Every little bit helps! Here is the link...

https://thesmartride.org/8/pledge/index.php?participantID=354&step=step3

I hope the weather is better than it was in Virginia! I have developed a head cold from the trip and I really hope it goes away so I can start training again!

AMAZING

I have been working on figuring out how to do some promotions to gain visibility and maybe compete again. I started searching and looking at different blogs and such and found some disturbing stuff. We all know Fred Phelps is a coward that hates everyone but when you see the number of supporters and fans he has its disturbing. I looked at his blog http://blogs.sparenot.com/ (comments are off of course as he is afraid of public opinion) and he really is an activist of the worst kind. I wish I had as much support as him. I am one of the few people that represent the LGBT community by coming out in my sport and my demographic hasnt yet supported me and the trevor project. Are there that many more wealthy hateful people that would support someone like that in comparison to our community? Disturbing. We have alot of wealth in our community and it seems to be a very self serving group we are part of. There are lots of great people that work their asses off to help and support our organizations but the majority of the wealthy ones only seem to support themselves and tax write offs. When will someone step to the front and help some sports figures compete in the mainstream straight sports? It will not happen without support.

I wish I had a better way to reach people as I am no marketing expert. It looks like people like Fred Phelps reach people through extreme hate and negativity. I can not to that. I need a way to reach out to the ones that want to help. I have many letters and packages out to people that don't seem to care. Does anyone care is the question. As I go back to work and try and dissapear into normal society I take with me the bitter taste of rejection. I really wish someone could change that...

thank you everyone for your support and words of encouragement through the past few years and sorry I couldn't find people or companies to support an Out racer.

'till next time,
Evan

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...

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

Fundraiser in Columbus

Hey there, I just finished a fundraiser in Columbus Ohio at a bar called Exile. If you are ever visiting this area check it out! It has a great mix of people in it and the bar was obviously just renovated. It looks like they have alot of improvements to come as well. I am going to Mid Ohio this weekend (I am actually here now) to network and keep my face fresh with the series. Still trying on the sponsor stuff. My agent, Elliot Rozenberg is working on some ideas to approach companies and I have great hope that we can do something. Thats all for now...

Doesn't look good

Well I really tried and I do not have enough funds to make Lime Rock. This is an expensive sport that I am trying to excel in but with no corporate support it will not happen. I put it all out on the line for our community and thought I was doing something good, but I guess I was too early to try this approach. I will continue to try but I doubt I will make many races with no support. I am going to keep approaching corporations and will keep you all informed. Thank you to all that have helped and supported me to this point. I do have an entry fee already paid for Lime Rock (thanks everyone from Faultline!) and I can transfer it to a future race. The travel expenses and funds needed to operate the car are just too much. Well its back to work for me and thanks again for the kind words of support and private help from you!

Been a while...

Ok I have not posted much on here lately but get lots of people looking at it. Say hello or give me an opinion! We had a great fundraiser at The Faultline in LA with a great turnout of support! I would like to thank everyone involved for thier hard work and support to get me to the track. My search for a sponsor is still coming up empty and I would like some opinions on how to get some (or one big one!). I can use a private sponsor to put charities on the car or a commercial sponsor to promote thier products. It is very expensive to race and I am short for Lime Rock (race is May 23-25) and TV broadcast is May 31 at 8/11 pm. This is a great oppertunity for someone to get thier product name or charity of choice out there for the world to see and help sponsor the only active GLBT driver out there today!

I will be doing more fundraisers as the year progresses to try and make races but if sponsorship comes my way I would love to help local charities raise funds. Give it some thought and get back to me!

Evan

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

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.