How to Select a Sponsor for a Soap Box Derby Car

Soap box derby car races are popular events in cities around the country. Some racers devote hours a day to building, designing, and practicing for the next big event. Some soap box derby car racers are even semi-professional and have been able to receive a sponsor or two to help pay for their efforts. You don't need to select a corporate sponsor to participate. Even friends and family can sponsor you.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soap box derby car
• Sponsors

Select a Sponsor for a Soap Box Derby Car Race

1. Find local businesses in your neighborhood that would be willing to sponsor your car for the next soap box derby. Many businesses will help pay for your car in exchange for advertising on the car itself (much like you would find in NASCAR or other racing circuit).

2. Inquire at the marketing departments at major businesses to find out what their policies are when it comes to sponsoring events and sports in the community. Many big companies have endowments specifically set aside to be used for sponsorship and donations.

3. Ask your friends and family to help sponsor your involvement in a soap box derby. Sponsorship includes a number of benefits for private investors, including tickets to shows, merchandise, choice seating and other great perks.

4. Contact a local radio station to ask them to come and participate in the event, or to at least sponsor it. Many radio stations like to send news vans with station merchandise to events like soap box derbies in order to promote themselves. The real benefit lies in getting the word out about the race to a wider audience.

5. Be sure to submit the information about your sponsors directly to the derby's headquarters so that they can be mentioned in any programs or literature produced for the event. Some events require that sponsors provide ads so they can be placed in the flyers and programs.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to get lots of little donations from sponsors as opposed to finding one single sponsor to pay for your soap box derby car or event entrance fee. Most events encourage racers to select a large number of sponsors to help increase awareness of the sport.
• Don't break the rules or cheat when constructing your soap box derby car or during the race. Not only will you be disqualified, but you may also end up barred from attending future events and lose your sponsors.

Resources

• All American Soap Box Derby Association