Join the Mirage Racing Team

[Ben Cosgrove]

Hi Darren

(personal comments - not views of my employer)
I understand your point and agree with you but once one distributor who shall remain nameless opened up their 'ranks' and then offered everybody direct with B+, B, C, D drives...not through shops....direct with them went down that path....they set presedence for every one else!

People do not seem to question them though? Maybe they just have underhand tactics about selling direct?

I will point out though Darren that to quote

"The new system from Mirage basically opens up sponsorship to the masses (for the reasons I believe that I have already put) and by sponsoring almost "anyone who applies" (so it seems) really puts down those who have had to "earn" their drives and get to where they are today through hard work, determination and of course good skills"

We will be pushing those drivers back to the model shops and maybe give you some more customers by offering our guidance. We are trying to help them develop their skills through the SDP. Details of the SDP are available to all shops who have a Trade account with Mirage.

To all drivers - I would suggest asking your local shop about the Mirage SDP, they will be able to find out about it from the office if they have not already got the details.

[niggs98]

yeah xtreme did and it has worked in the long term for them, they have a strong team going into 09 and are still actively building it. i see that since shumacher have come back with a very large team along with x fac growing that other importers are actively searching for drivers as well but maybe not quite so publically as mirage are. i know that i for one cant shout high enough for the support mirage have and continue to give me and other team members. as previously said by ben and others they offer a variety of deals so that you can get the package to suit you rather than a you must run xxxxxxx product like others do which i personally feel is a good thing and really makes it easy for the driver who can then promote the products in the best way possible which in turn gives mirage better PR and good feed back on their products

personally i think its a good thing to do as they are helping more levels of driver like xtreme do. they also have a program to promote more juniors as they are the life blood of our sport so i will continue to promote their products as well as the other ones im sponsered to do, and look forward to doing so for as long as possible

[DCM]

I see this as a talent nurturing excercise, so those who don't do the BIG meetings, but are competent drivers, could be given the tools and access to the information, to bring them on further, bettering their skills and knowledge. Now, I can't see Mirage sponsoring loads of drivers, directly, as it would be an administrational nightmare, let alone a logistical one. But, through shop drives, a driver might be spotted and brought up.

To be honest, no matter what the motive, if they are willing to support drivers at a time where lots of companies are looking at reducing expenditure, good on them.

[GRIFF55]

Mirage have supported me with their products since i started back racing and were, have been and are a verry helpful company and team to be on.
They won't just sell you any old product to make sales but sell you what is the better for you/needed. If you get stuck with setups or any other problem, give them a ring or aproach another team driver and your sorted

Always nice to be part of a team, its what racings about!! Oh, and FUN!!!

[Neil Skull]

Originally Posted by niggs98

yeah xtreme did and it has worked in the long term for them, they have a strong team going into 09 and are still actively building it. i see that since shumacher have come back with a very large team along with x fac growing that other importers are actively searching for drivers as well but maybe not quite so publically as mirage are. i know

Hi Nathan,
What you have just told me is a big surprise.
Have you spoken to Xtreme lately about racing and profit?

[MHeadling]

This is making intersting reading!!

Glad I'm out of the game now, I was Mirage rep for 5 years you know!!

[Neil Skull]

The Point that Darren made is a valid one.

Ben and the team may be very helpful knowledgable and have some great products.

But What we know is that model shops especially ones that support racing are considering giving up completely with this market due to low sales.

We know competition from overseas has in the past before the exchange rates went pete tong, killed a lot of turnover for these guys.
We also know they rely on the good racers to support the shop and the products.

My concern in this is if you support direct all the drivers of a certain caliber that are the bread and butter of the race shops. what will happen to those shops that have had there customers taken away?

This has happened before. and ultimately both of those brands are nearly dead. and the race classes involved have suffered huge decline in numbers.

We have 2 strong classes still touring car (although declining) and rallycross.

Dont forget a lot of the race shops are the ones who created the race classes and manage the tracks and facilities.

I am really worried for our hobby today but even more so tommorow!!!!!!

[millzy]

All good, but im done with sending CVs all i get is no ta replys

[Neil Skull]

Originally Posted by Mark Headling

This is making intersting reading!!

Glad I'm out of the game now, I was Mirage rep for 5 years you know!!

Hi Mark,

Hope are doing ok.

Yes you are well out of the game!!!!
What is your view as a now outsider? you have visited the shops you know the hobby. what do you think is the way forward?

[niggs98]

Originally Posted by Neil Skull

Hi Nathan,
What you have just told me is a big surprise.
Have you spoken to Xtreme lately about racing and profit?

im sponsered by both companies for the products i use as in my signature line so promote those products ie the pred x11-08, tekin speedos then from mirage is grp, edit etc etc so is there a need to speak to xtreme about racing and profit

the point you raise about the support problem is a valid one but mirage isnt the one who offers over 3-5 different levels of team drive like other companies do, i already know of friends who are direct with another sponser who have C and D team drives and know they do shop deals as well. from a drivers perspective it is nice to be able to order direct or through a model shop, i still buy my tyres (apart from grp) from my local model shop to suport the trade and without a doubt that is the biggest outlay of my racing full stop. the problem for shops is more that you can get most stuff from flee bay, the states etc for less than a lot of b team deals so is the problem because people are getting deals or because people are going abroad. i know that companies like kyosho, xtreme and shumacher are no cheaper no matter where you go and that is how i think things should be across the board but again that wont happen for what ever reason. is it mirage that started to offer to sell direct to the public first.... no....... as i heard about this a long time ago from others, so why is everyone having a go just as they try to increase the suport given to drivers and have openly said that most deals will be through a shop and so are still supporting the trade ?????

and its 3 strong classes, off road is enjoying ever increasing popularity at all levels, especially regional and club

[Darren Boyle]

see that since shumacher have come back with a very large team along with x fac growing that other importers are actively searching for drivers as well but maybe not quite so publically as mirage are

To clarify, we have 4 factory direct drivers and 5 distributor backed drivers only through X-Factory UK, thats nine drivers in total...........

We are NOT looking to expand our race team at X-Factory we believe the guys we have are more than good enough and spread evenly enough around the UK to do the job we want from them.

We certianly dont want a small army of direct sponsored customers otherwise known as team drivers unlike "some" others.

[blitzboy]

thought this thread was for pepe s to reply too , why oh why all the banter guys discount , sponsorship ,freebies , company names in logos , if mirage is looking then give em supports and respect plenty of us unknown guys would chew our legs off to get a sponsor, i know i ve worked hard and struggled to get sponsorship until now and i will always support my sponsors in everyway cause i appreciate the oppurtunity god knows 16 months ago who new me and custom blitz answer : no one and im proud to be a painter of all my sponsors so big up mirage and keep up the good work guys
ya never know they could find a new super star some where

[niggs98]

Originally Posted by DMS Racing

To clarify, we have 4 factory direct drivers and 5 distributor backed drivers only through X-Factory UK, thats nine drivers in total...........

We are NOT looking to expand our race team at X-Factory we believe the guys we have are more than good enough and spread evenly enough around the UK to do the job we want from them.

We certianly dont want a small army of direct sponsored customers otherwise known as team drivers unlike "some" others.

lol not as i ment darren. you have nearly trippled your team size from last year as have xtreme, these drivers have obviously come from other teams so where do you now go as a distributor to get drivers to replce the team you have lost or do you just fade into obscurity ?

[Neil Skull]

the point you raise about the support problem is a valid one but mirage isnt the one who offers over 3-5 different levels of team drive like other companies do, i already know of friends who are direct with another sponser who have C and D team drives and know they do shop deals as well. from a drivers perspective it is nice to be able to order direct or through a model shop, i still buy my tyres (apart from grp) from my local model shop to suport the trade and without a doubt that is the biggest outlay of my racing full stop. the problem for shops is more that you can get most stuff from flee bay, the states etc for less than a lot of b team deals so is the problem because people are getting deals or because people are going abroad. i know that companies like kyosho, xtreme and shumacher are no cheaper no matter where you go and that is how i think things should be across the board but again that wont happen for what ever reason. is it mirage that started to offer to sell direct to the public first.... no....... as i heard about this a long time ago from others, so why is everyone having a go just as they try to increase the suport given to drivers and have openly said that most deals will be through a shop and so are still supporting the trade ?????

and its 3 strong classes, off road is enjoying ever increasing popularity at all levels, especially regional and club [/quote]

"im sponsered by both companies for the products i use as in my signature line so promote those products ie the pred x11-08, tekin speedos then from mirage is grp, edit etc etc so is there a need to speak to xtreme about racing and profit " Yes you must ask them the truth about how much money a race shop can make you will be surprised.

"and its 3 strong classes, off road is enjoying ever increasing popularity at all levels, especially regional and club [/quote]" That is good news i have seen a mini revival but lets not see it killed by the sam tactics you was complaining about earlier.

I am gald you buy your tires from a shop but this is one of the smallest margins for them.

I have never heard of anyone on such a deal do you know anyone or even how many get this?

[Neil Skull]

Originally Posted by blitzboy

thought this thread was for pepe s to reply too , why oh why all the banter guys discount , sponsorship ,freebies , company names in logos , if mirage is looking then give em supports and respect plenty of us unknown guys would chew our legs off to get a sponsor, i know i ve worked hard and struggled to get sponsorship until now and i will always support my sponsors in everyway cause i appreciate the oppurtunity god knows 16 months ago who new me and custom blitz answer : no one and im proud to be a painter of all my sponsors so big up mirage and keep up the good work guys
ya never know they could find a new super star some where

You have to understand we are trying to find out the difference between a sponsorship.
And direct sales.

We are trying to get some clarification as to what is being offered to how many and at what price.

From the original post it seems to be open to any racer.

It is very important as it affects the model business and therefore your hobby.

[jim76]

As i'm sure Ben will clarify, it will be open for anyone to apply, that doesn't mean they will automatically be accepted!

It is free for any racer to approach any manufacturer for support by sending them a CV etc, it doesn't mean they will receive an offer!

I also can't help but feel if Kyosho had supported a UK team a few years ago when the ZX5 was lauched they would be in a much stronger postion now, as has been widely discussed on here before. I ran the ZX5 in it's early days with great success but ultimately the lack of support made me look elsewhere. I received a great deal of help last year from fellow Mirage drivers that will hopefully put me in a stronger postion for next year.

[Neil Skull]

Hi Jim?

That is what i want Ben to clarify.

The lazer was a good car. There was no sponsored drivers simply because the level of sales in this class then and now do not justify a full supported driver in the UK for this class only.

What i belive is a popular mis-conception is the difference between a sponsored driver and one who is supported directly by a distributor/manufacturer.
Just because you get your parts direct does not mean you are a sponsored driver it means you have a direct account.
It does not mean that you will get help or advice from Andy Moore.

Ben to Clarify please

[jim76]

Originally Posted by Neil Skull

Just because you get your parts direct does not mean you are a sponsored driver it means you have a direct account.
It does not mean that you will get help or advice from Andy Moore.

That's where you are wrong then as i received help from all the "A" team drivers at nationals last year.

[savageracer1]

i think its a great idea, i've send a email in im only 14 and i am strugling to keep up with the rising costs of RC and with a little help from mirage i can keep on racing and doing the hobby i love
Jake

[millzy]

Originally Posted by Neil Skull

Hi Jim?

That is what i want Ben to clarify.

The lazer was a good car. There was no sponsored drivers simply because the level of sales in this class then and now do not justify a full supported driver in the UK for this class only.

What i belive is a popular mis-conception is the difference between a sponsored driver and one who is supported directly by a distributor/manufacturer.
Just because you get your parts direct does not mean you are a sponsored driver it means you have a direct account.
It does not mean that you will get help or advice from Andy Moore.

Ben to Clarify please

but if you get your parts direct at a cheaper price then that must count as a sponsored driver. and if the acocunt is in your name and they had asked you to wear the race gear and asked what races your attending.

and why do you need help from Andy More if your not a team driver? shouldnt he be giving help out any way as a team driver >>