GoFundMe Fuel Charlie's Dream to Podium in Formula Pacific

[SpeedyCorky]

@@@ !!! HEAVILY REVISED AND UPDATED POST !!!!!!! @@@

I'm looking for a ~$3500 sponsor, and a loaner R3 or Ninja 300 motorcycle.

My 2027 goal is to obtain a white plate via a podium finish in the Novice 350 championship - so that I can then enter my R1 in 2028 Formula Pacific to compete at the front of the pack for podiums - while representing anyone who believes in me.

I've spent nearly 30 years riding sportbikes as a full-time hobby, 20 of which included track. At track days, I am commonly the fastest customer in A group, and consistently in the top 3 or so. I've been told for decades that I should give racing a real shot. At 46 *woof* it feels like its now or never.

What I need is help covering the costs of a season: race entries, couple sets of slicks, licensing, transponder, etc; and to borrow a R3 or Ninja 300, that is already (or can be made to) compete safely. If someone is able to help with pit equipment like *ahem* A/C, that's a massive bonus.

In return, I'll proudly represent your business or brand at every event, on social media, and in the paddock. You'll have someone who is passionate, grateful, and committed to making the most of the opportunity, that also has a strong chance of success. I've passed NRS. I can race prep, modify, maintain, store, and transport the motorcycle to all race and practice events.

I know sponsorships aren't easy to come by; but I would not be doing this if I didn't think I had a good chance at a top spot competing in Formula Pacific. If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, I'd love to have a conversation.

 

[gixxerjeff]

"A boy can dream...."

 

[budman]

If I had that stupid money I would grant your wish.

That would be so awesome helping all kinds of people with all kinds of dreams.

Good luck Charlie. Sub 2 on an R6 is not bad at all!

 

[greenmonster]

Sounds like a well thought out plan. Any chance of a corporate sponsorship happening?

 

[SpeedyCorky]

Sounds like a well thought out plan. Any chance of a corporate sponsorship happening?

i'm totally not the kind of guy who is gonna go beg some corporation for sponsorship. If they see the skills and want to offer, fine. I'm not gonna chase it.
i see this happening with a private sponsor, or not at all.
plus, i HIGHLY doubt anyone who hasnt seen me ride, would sponsor me. i'm old; so i have no long term potential.

 

[SpeedyCorky]

you know.. someone gave me a not half bad idea.......
maybe i'm asking the wrong questions....

Maybe I should be asking to barrow a 400cc bike for the season, and sponsorship for entry fees and tyres - for my first novice season. Obtain a podium finish in the season championship of the 400cc class so that I can get the white plate and run in Formula Pacific.

YEAH. thats like WAY CHEAPER....

....and if i found someone sucker ass enough to let me borrow their bike (I have a few candidates in mind...)), then the whole thing could be done for a fraction of the cost of running my R6 ...

YEAH. i've edited the original post, and the G0FundM3, incorporated a bit of a buddy's verbal judo (thank you Scott)...


.......i think the revised version sounds like a way better deal

 

[greenmonster]

$3500 is way more doable.

Assuming you can get a 400cc bike why not open a zero interest credit card and put the cost on that?

 

[jbawden]

I'd love to see you out there to experience racing versus track days The two experiences are distant cousins at best.

I won't pry into your personal finances and ask why you need to borrow a bike and money, but the way we 've all done it was scrape up the cash and a bike and give it a go because we love it. If you're really good, you'll catch the eye of a tire vendors and maybe some class sponsor money, but that is about it. We all want to race on someone else's equipment and bank account, but that doesn't happen at the club level and even Moto America if you're not at the pointy end of the time sheets.

$3,500 isn't even close to enough to cover all the regular expenses of a full season with unexpected issues like falling and mechanicals. I'm not trying to discourage you, rather trying to set some realistic expectations from a grey beard that has raced and been involved in AFM staff for decades.

Lastly, NEVER race on a credit card!

 

[Das MotorRad]

I may or may not have bought my s1000rr using a credit card and raced it while still making payments… turned out okay, but it could have gone real bad, too

 

[SpeedyCorky]

I'd love to see you out there to experience racing versus track days The two experiences are distant cousins at best.

I won't pry into your personal finances and ask why you need to borrow a bike and money, but the way we 've all done it was scrape up the cash and a bike and give it a go because we love it. If you're really good, you'll catch the eye of a tire vendors and maybe some class sponsor money, but that is about it. We all want to race on someone else's equipment and bank account, but that doesn't happen at the club level and even Moto America if you're not at the pointy end of the time sheets.

$3,500 isn't even close to enough to cover all the regular expenses of a full season with unexpected issues like falling and mechanicals. I'm not trying to discourage you, rather trying to set some realistic expectations from a grey beard that has raced and been involved in AFM staff for decades.

Lastly, NEVER race on a credit card!

I am well aware of all these facts. but thank you for voicing them, if not for me, but for others to learn as well.
tho ya dont think , assuming i was able to barrow a 400cc Ninja, that $3500 would cover entry, and tyres and fuel for the season??? really? lets assume no crashing... its 5 races, 6 laps per race. thats 30 fkn laps... i'd likely only have to run 4 of the 5 races to secure a 400cc podium championship, and hence the white plate, which is all that needs to happen in 2027. then i'd be on my own bike (R1) for FP in 2028

i'm doing it mostly b/c other ppl have expressed so much interest in me doing it. this is to see if anyone is gonna put their money where their mouth is. i'm far less doing so it because i want to do it, or because i have something to prove. i'm an WELL established fast guy already at the track, have been for a couple decades. it'd be nice to have a trophy and be able to say i did it when i'm 60 n' all, but i'm just not willing to sacrifice my current financial position (or my current track day budget) to make it happen. sorry, but i'm smarter than to mess up the good place i'm in as far as thats concerned.

only a fkn retarded moron face would race on a credit card. especially a literbike ....... Oh oops, sorry Das Motorrad; that was a blanket statement, nothing personal lolz

 

[SpeedyCorky]

$3500 is way more doable.

Assuming you can get a 400cc bike why not open a zero interest credit card and put the cost on that?

hey bruh i know this real cool drug dealer dude i can introduce you to. he's also a loan shark.
first hit of dat black tar heroin is free; and you can borrow money from him to pay for the next few hits. its so cool bro!!!!!!!! hahahaha

 

[augustiron]

Kinda odd that you just clarified that you have the money to do all this yourself, You are not an aspiring racer with a dream who just can't afford it and needs help, you just want to offload the expense to somebody else because... It seems not worth it to you, which is an odd sales pitch.

I want to own a vintage rare muscle car, I could afford it myself, but I don't want to spend my own money on it, anybody want to give me one?

 

[gixxerjeff]

Kinda odd that you just clarified that you have the money to do all this yourself, You are not an aspiring racer with a dream who just can't afford it and needs help, you just want to offload the expense to somebody else because... It seems not worth it to you, which is an odd sales pitch.

I want to own a vintage rare muscle car, I could afford it myself, but I don't want to spend my own money on it, anybody want to give me one?

You just read my mind, and then wrote it all down.

 

[jbawden]

One other thing I'll add; over the years working tech I've seen dozens of street and track day riders come into AFM with delusions of dominating X class based on what they have experienced in their respective environments. I think there is a 99.9% success rate of these folks being absolutely humbled by the pace of experienced racers.

I'd recommend coming out to an AFM race and giving it a go to see how you stack up before you ask for other peoples money. You can rent a bike and and get treated like a professional racer at the same time. https://rumblestriprentals.com/ One last thing, cutting a leader pace lap on a 400 vs an R1 are two entirely different riding style play books . A 400 title in 2027 makes a 2028 FP #1 plate essentially impossible feat of Rossi level natural talent. I'm here for it if you can make happen!

 

[SFMCjohn]

it’s fun to think about …

when I was a club racer back when dinosaurs still roamed, the most important thing for me was getting all the race-pace track time I could.

seems to me that someone doing a lot of track days, and trying to keep up with club racers in A group might do OK their first season of racing.

I’d just use my R1 for my novice season, if I already had that in the garage, and was comfortable doing those long A session track daze on a liter bike?

especially if I was gunning for FP glory asap—get out there my novice season and see where my lap-times were, FP wize, on the big bike?

also occurred to me that it would probably bee good practice seeking sponsorship early in a clubracing career, which in general probably only lasts three years or so.

be able to tailor the pitch to say that one had done well their novice season ona R1, turning FP-competitive lap times, and therefore ready to take on the world.

anyway … be pretty cool to hear that Mr SpeedyCorky was getting Formula Pacific podiums in a year or two.

 

[SpeedyCorky]

as said, i'd be doing it more for other people, than myself. so the rest shouldnt surprise you.
if you knew my personal, very unique, financial situation, you'd further understand
as said, i never expected this to pan out. but u never kno. i'd be willing to bet in the racing hay-days that a post/fundraiser like this, with a rider like me with the likelyhood of winning, might have gained some real traction, back when people had more disposable income and the sport was substantially lesss expensive. not these days. i get it.

and, at least my from perspective, even the thought that I wouldnt dominate novice 400cc, is laughable. i pass the yellow plate 400s on the outside of T2 on my 600, with ease. i've ridden underpowered mini bikes for a couple decades. i have skillset both on fast bike and slow ones.
weather i can podium in FP is a different story. i have the solo lap times, i've ridden with all the top guys in FP and i'm for sure up to their pace. weather i could do that for 12 laps straight, with ppl breathing up my ass but also with me having other to suck on their rear - anyones bet. I think i have a very good shot, and this is an excellent opportunity for a sponsor to get onboard early... its honestly a bit of a test to see if a known fast guy who has a real shot to advertise your brand at the top of NorCal club level racing - can even get any real backing these days. if not, meh, i doubted it from the start, so whatevz

 

[Enchanter]

Kinda odd that you just clarified that you have the money to do all this yourself, You are not an aspiring racer with a dream who just can't afford it and needs help, you just want to offload the expense to somebody else because... It seems not worth it to you, which is an odd sales pitch.

Well said.

 

[SpeedyCorky]

Learned more about AFM classes, i thought 400cc was the smallest these days. nope.
So i'm opening this up to the 350cc class, that'd be better, cheaper anyway
So if you have a loaner
Yamaha R3
Ninja 300
or whatever similar that might keep up with the front in Novice

 

[greenmonster]

Sorry to say but you’ve lowered your request twice and it’s becoming a little embarrassing.

I get that you want this badly but hold out for what you really want. This thread is only a few days old.

 

[SFMCjohn]

as said, i'd be doing it more for other people, than myself. so the rest shouldnt surprise you.

yes, I get it because I believe you could do it—so you’d bee doing it for me, too …

the novice R1 thing may appeal to you more as you become more familiar with the AFM. if you’re just looking to get your expert white number plate, it may be easier to do on a big bike, since it’s rare that a novice can turn expert lap times on a big fast bike, and most novices start on smaller bikes, so there’s less competition for a novice ona R1, for example.

anyway, hopefully someone will come up with your preferred Ninja 300 for your novice season in 2027 and I’ll get to root for you in FP in 2028—that would be pretty cool for me …