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

Headed for the Holidays

Almost the end of the year again! UGH! Still looking for sponsor and such. The economy seems to be starting back so maybe next year?? I really want to help Trevor Project and other youth based organizations keep our future in check.

I also just got back from VIR (Virginia International Raceway) competing in the 13 hour enduro. What a blast! Most of our crew was new to endurance racing but they did a great job! We ended up 3rd in class and 8th overall. I got all the wet stints of course! (the rain at night on slicks was especially interesting...but fun). I have something being filmed here shortly so look for me on the networks!

It has been a while!

Sorry it has been so long that I posted here. I just did not seem to be getting any responses so I just let it go. I enjoy putting up news and updates but if no one responds, it seems kinda silly. Let me know what you think or give some suggestions! I am still trying to find supporters and will keep trying probably until I am dead. I have been training on mountain bikes getting myself in the best shape of my life and look forward to racing in the near future...

New Representation!

I have acquired the skills of a professional sports management company to represent me! I am confident that they have the abilities to take me to the next level! Here is the press release:

FK Sports Management is very excited to announce that we are welcoming a new member to the FK Sports family, and that we are now officially representing Evan Darling! As a race car driver, Evan was the SCCA 2005 SE Division ITA Champion and has won numerous Divisional titles. He has been involved in the SCCA SPEED World Challenge series and raced in the Grand AM Koni Challenge series. Evan is a certified master mechanic and a driving instructor for many clubs including Chin Motorsports, Ferrari Owners Club and Porsche BMW Owners Club. Evan will be racing in the 2009 Grand Am Koni Sports Car Challenge series, and Tom and I will be immediately working on obtaining sponsors for his racing team. You can learn more about Evan on his website: http://www.edarlingenterprises.com/index.htm.

These are some very dedicated professionals that have/are representing some pretty big names! Here is a link to their website: http://fksportsmanagement.com/

Let me know what you all think!