TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Why Sponsor A Powerboat 1
PRODUCT EXPOSURE 1
Racing Sites 1
What Does This Organizational Structure Provide in Terms of Exposure? 1
SST-60/70 OUTBOARD PERFORMANCE CRAFT BOATS 1
2001 OUTBOARD PERFORMANCE CRAFT RACING SCHEDULE 2
KRATOCHWILL RACING TEAM PROFILE 2
Profile of Tyler T. Kratochwill (DRIVER) 2
Profile of Thomas R. Kratochwill (Safety Chief) 3
Profile of Dennis A. White (Crew Chief) 3
Profile of Kirby Pabst (Chief Engineer) 3
Profile of Carl Barrett (Electrical Engineer) 3
Profile of John (“Sam”) Samelian (Safety Support) 3
SPONSOR PROGRAM 4
Primary Sponsorship 4
Co-Sponsorship 4
SPONSOR ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM 4
Early Arrival Sponsorship Program 5
Parade Program 5
Race Fan Exposure 5
Media Program 5
Apparel Program 5
Off-Season Program 5
PERSONAL PROMOTIONS 6
Personal Contact 6
On-Site Promotions 6
Hospitality/Client Entertainment 6
APPENDIX 7
PROMOTIONS THROUGH POWERBOAT RACING
Why Sponsor A Powerboat?
There are a number of major benefits associated with sponsoring a powerboat racing team. To begin with, boating is an extremely popular watersport activity within the United States and around the world. It is estimated that there are over 110 million participants in a variety of water-related sports. In fact, there are over 70 million boating enthusiasts in the United States. The sheer number of individuals who have interest in water-related sports represents a potential draw for a variety of markets. Finally, each year millions of Americans view powerboat racing either at national, regional, state or television events. Therefore, the potential exposure to individuals interested in your products would be tremendous.
We have provided some examples of companies that sponsor powerboats in Appendix A. These pictures will show a cross-section of the diversity of sponsors from past racing seasons.
PRODUCT EXPOSURE
Racing Sites
To understand the amount of coverage provided by powerboat racing, it is important to note that several regional and national organizations sponsor powerboat racing events. We are members of the American Power Boat Association (APBA), the world’s largest sanctioning body for professional racing of powerboats in the United States. The APBA sanctions powerboat races across the country, provides a variety of member benefits as well as insurance for race teams and sponsors. In addition to this national organization, a number of regional and national clubs sponsor powerboat regattas. Within the Midwest region, the Wisconsin Grand Prix Marine Association (Wisconsin), the Great Lakes Boat Club (Illinois) and the Twin City Powerboat Association (Minnesota) sponsor races that feature the division that we race called Outboard Performance Craft (OPC). The picture of our boat on the front cover provides an illustration of one type of boat within this category of racing.
What Does This Organizational Structure Provide in Terms of Exposure?
The APBA promotes racing at the national and international level. The APBA is on the internet at http://www.apba-boatracing.com. State and regional clubs promote powerboat racing in their regions. Based on these promotions, television coverage as well as local and on-site exposure occurs. Millions of spectators witnessed OPC powerboat racing in 2000. Moreover, drivers were contacted by the press and conducted personal interviews. Most of the powerboat regattas are held in major metropolitan areas in conjunction with a variety of other community functions such as fairs, festivals, parades, etc. Below we provide the schedule of racing activities for the 2001 season.
SST-60 OUTBOARD PERFORMANCE
CRAFT BOATS
The SST-60 boat is the class that we will be racing during the 2001 season. Every major club in the United States sponsors SST-60 boats and they represent one of the most popular classes within the APBA. These boats are typically 15-foot tunnel-design boats powered by a 3-cylinder Outboard Marine Corporation outboard motor. Drivers must possess considerable skill in handling these boats that run at approximately 90 miles per hour. The boat is transported to races on a trailer and provides easy access to community events for purposes of displaying sponsor logos or promoting products.
Profile of Thomas R. Kratochwill (Safety Chief)
Occupation: Psychologist and Professor,
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Tom has raced powerboats for nearly 30 years. His father, the late Rudy R. Kratochwill introduced him to the sport. Tom introduced the sport of powerboat racing to his son several years ago who has continued in the Kratochwill Racing Team tradition. Tom’s primary role is to manage the team’s safety equipment and handle all risk management through ensuring the technical integrity of equipment. Tom also coordinates travel plans and promotions for sponsors.
Profile of Dennis A. White (Crew Chief)
Occupation: Computer Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dennis has served as the Crew Chief of the Kratochwill Racing Team for several years. His major responsibility has been to serve as the primary communicator over a two-way radio system with the driver during actual racing events. Dennis is a highly sought-after Crew Chief and he is committed to working with the Kratochwill Racing Team during the 2001 racing season.
Profile of Kirby Pabst (Chief Engineer)
Occupation: Owner, Pabst Engineering, Onalaska, WI
Kirby is an engineer who developed and owns Pabst Engineering, a highly successful engineering firm in Onalaska, Wisconsin. Kirby provides technical assistance and engineering consultation to the racing team in some of their areas of racing activities. His firm is well known in racing circles as an innovative developer of high-technology racing equipment.
Profile of Carl Barrett (Electrical Engineer)
Occupation: Electrical engineer, Sauk City, WI
Carl is an electrical engineer and former owner of Sauk-Prairie Electric in Sauk City, Wisconsin. He provides engineering support to the racing team and is involved in technical assistance on all electrical engineering issues on the racing equipment.
Profile of John (“Sam”) Samelian (Safety Support)
Occupation: School Psychologist, St. Paul Public Schools, St. Paul, MN
Sam is a School Psychologist with the St. Paul Public Schools and has been involved in boating for over 20 years. He provides technical support in the area of safety in the racing equipment and in the pit area.
SPONSOR PROGRAM
Powerboat racing is an expensive sport and it takes considerable personal and financial commitment from the racing team to mount a successful racing season. The majority of racing products and technologies are already in place and has been supported by the Kratochwill Racing Team. For example, we currently have boat, motor, trailer, crew, safety equipment, as well as technical support for the season. We are looking for sponsor support that would help us cover costs associated with travel, meals, and lodging as well as additional product exposure and dissemination of sponsor merchandise. In this regard, we have created three categories that provide flexibility for potential sponsors to participate in the racing program. These categories are as follows:
Primary Sponsor
In the primary sponsor category, we’re looking for support in the $25,000 to $30,000 range. The primary sponsor of the racing team would have the sponsor name/logo on all equipment, tow vehicles, uniforms, etc. In addition, we will use sponsor colors if desired on all equipment and uniforms for the upcoming racing season. The Kratochwill Racing Team will endorse the sponsors’ name as the primary identification of the racing team. Finally, the sponsor logo/colors would be featured in all press and information released to the media. Other options for featuring the primary sponsor are negotiable.
Secondary Sponsorship
At the secondary sponsorship level we’re looking for support in the $10,000-$15,000 range. In this category we will include the sponsors’ logo on the boat, tow vehicle, and equipment that supports the racing effort. We will also engage in an aggressive product use and endorsement program related to the sponsor merchandise and products. In addition, the sponsor will be identified in all information released to the media.
Co-Sponsor
In the co-sponsor category, we’re looking for support in the $500-$1,000 range. The sponsor’s logo will be included on the boat and tow vehicle. In addition we will include the sponsors logo on all equipment and uniforms. Information pertaining to the sponsor will be identified on all team information and media releases.
SPONSOR ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM
An active powerboat team provides several mechanisms for exposure of the sponsor’s products. There are several dimensions of this program that we have found quite successful in providing considerable exposure of products to the media, race fans, and other individuals in various
communities.
Early Arrival Sponsorship Program
In most cases we can arrive ahead of the scheduled race event and feature the boat in local media such as TV, radio, and newspaper. We have also found it quite desirable to feature the race boat at local stores or businesses that sell your products. In this case, we take care of all set-up and contacts with regard to the community businesses.
Parade Program
Frequently on race day weekends, there are opportunities to participate in a parade which allows the powerboat to be towed through large numbers of race fans and individuals in the community. These individuals can observe your product and merchandise in the public domain. We are also available to meet community leaders and talk with fans about the sponsor products.
Race Fan Exposure
One of the most successful activities pertaining to exposure of your product and merchandise to the public involves providing samples to race fans that attend the various regattas throughout the region. In this regard we can reproduce photographs of the powerboat and autograph pictures for individuals to take home along with your product.
Media Program
We have found it very helpful to provide information to local newspapers pertaining to the upcoming regatta. In this regard, we have pursued local TV, radio, and newspapers to promote the race and provide exposure of our boat along with your product in the local media.
Apparel Program
With our linkage to a local business, we are able to market and/or disseminate high quality apparel that features your company’s name and/or logo. This apparel can be distributed at powerboat regattas, at various events off-season, and even through mail-order promotions.
Off-Season Program
The powerboat racing season typically extends for four to five months. During off-season a variety of activities are available to promote your product through powerboat racing. These include appearances at businesses that feature your product and participation in a variety of motor sport and sporting shows. These activities provide tremendous opportunity for exposure to the products and allow interaction between our racing team and a variety of individuals interested in boating activities.
PERSONAL PROMOTIONS
Personal Contact
One of the best features of our promotion program is personal contact with individuals who follow the sport of powerboat racing and who have an opportunity to come into contact with our racing team. We represent a professional and highly skilled interpersonal group who can effectively deal with a wide variety of individuals. Based on our background and experience we have in marketing and computer technology, we are able to effectively promote powerboat racing and your product.
On-Site Promotions
We can promote your company/product through signs and banners strategically placed in our pit area.
Hospitality/Client Entertainment
We will develop a hospitality tent, tickets, and pit passes for all sponsors. These activities promise to be an outstanding entertainment for the sponsor, friends, and family.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Thomas R. Kratochwill
Kratochwill Racing Team
4886 Foxfire Trail
Middleton, Wisconsin 53562
Phone: (608) 831-BOAT
E-mail: tomkat@education.wisc.edu
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
APPENDIX A:
Powerboat Racing Sponsors
(Source: Propeller Magazine)
