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.