Join the Mirage Racing Team

[Ben Cosgrove]

Are you interested in joining a growing, dynamic and fun racing team?
Would you like to be part of one of the most successful racing dynasties ever?

Do you want to be teammates with some of the most successful racers the UK has ever seen?

We are actively recruiting the best racers across Britain to expand our already amazing racing team. Join us, and you can be part of the history!

Mirage has been offering racers around Great Britain the top RC racing equipment for over 15 years, providing top of the range kits, parts, service and support for the best racers in the UK.

http://www.mirageracing.com/jointeam.php

[blitzboy]

good bunch of guys too

[mobile chicane]

I'm realy quick honest, can I have some free stuff now ?

[Neil Skull]

Are these team drives through a shop so you get a discount or direct with Mirage?

[ben]

Originally Posted by Neil Skull

Are these team drives through a shop so you get a discount or direct with Mirage?

I would say mirage direct

[Neil Skull]

Do how do you qualify?

Is for anyone who races or just national top ten?

I was always told that sponsers approach you direct and there are very few sponsored drives.

[jim76]

It is direct through mirage. Drop Ben a CV of your racing results along with a covering letter about you and your plans for the next year. Let him know what you can offer HIM, not just the other way round.

Or just use the link he has provided to an application form!!

[Darren Boyle]

I doubt very much that Neil is interested in a drive since he is the Internal Sales Manager (not sure if that is your job title mate?) for Kyosho UK, he is probably more interested in the fact that Mirage are "advertising" for more "direct sales straight to the public" (oops sorry I meant "team drivers")

Most R/C companies who are sponsoring people are turning people away since their teams are already bulging or the standard of driver that is applying is not that of what they are looking for, Mirage obviously see it differantly (£££'s I suspect) after all the average "team driver" paying trade price for his goods (or therabouts) would spend more on his/her racing in a season than a small model shop would and at "trade price" Mirage are still making money........

[Lee]

So synical Mr Boyle, but actually spot on
Also when you sign up to them you HAVE to use the full package, so you buy everything from them, from the car right down to the battery bars for the cells you have just bought from them. You are also tied in effectively and what you run might not be the best on the market. It’s the same with schuey and horizon etc.
Luckily I ran the products I am sponsored to use now so I was made up when I was offered it, and I would continue to use them if I became a normo again

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by Lee

So synical Mr Boyle, but actually spot on
Also when you sign up to them you HAVE to use the full package, so you buy everything from them, from the car right down to the battery bars for the cells you have just bought from them. You are also tied in effectively and what you run might not be the best on the market. It’s the same with schuey and horizon etc.
Luckily I ran the products I am sponsored to use now so I was made up when I was offered it, and I would continue to use them if I became a normo again

ah so Mr Lee

mirage are a good team to be in, lots of help and hidden benifits too. they are also understanding to each individual, all you have to do is talk to them, there perfectly fair!

[Neil Skull]

I am trying to understand what mirage are offering as it could to be as Darren says bypassing the shops.

We do run a scheme to support drivers through shops but they have to be of a good standard and it is limited numbers. But most importantly the shops keep the spares and support the racers in general.

Maybe Ben can confirm how many drivers can get this deal and what you need to qualify?

I just want to make sure that we have a level playing field. and a fair deal for those guys who enjoy their racing.

I dont want to see what has happened to gas on road where every one had a supported drive with serpent or whoever and end up with no shops supplying parts and therfore no sales and then a a big brand getting into the situation Serpent are in.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by mark christopher

ah so Mr Lee

mirage are a good team to be in, lots of help and hidden benifits too. they are also understanding to each individual, all you have to do is talk to them, there perfectly fair!

I never said they weren't, i used to run orion motors and cells through them when i was a pup, Syd was always very helpful along with Karl

[Richard Lowe]

Originally Posted by Lee

So Also when you sign up to them you HAVE to use the full package, so you buy everything from them, from the car right down to the battery bars for the cells you have just bought from them.

Not quite Lee, I don't run a D4...

Mirage is a great team to be part of

[James]

Originally Posted by Lee

So synical Mr Boyle, but actually spot on
Also when you sign up to them you HAVE to use the full package, so you buy everything from them, from the car right down to the battery bars for the cells you have just bought from them. You are also tied in effectively and what you run might not be the best on the market. It’s the same with schuey and horizon etc.
Luckily I ran the products I am sponsored to use now so I was made up when I was offered it, and I would continue to use them if I became a normo again

Not so regarding the whole package, not in mine or rich's case anyway they support me but just in a few of their brands, not their full product range..

[Teddy truman]

always had awsome support :-) great team to race for

[Northy]

Originally Posted by Lee

It’s the same with schuey and horizon etc.

That's not true Edward

G

[Ben Cosgrove]

Mirage offer various "team drives" to all enthusiasts. We have the SDP Shop Driver Programme which has been running for a couple of years now and is very successful in helping the shops support the drivers.

The 'aim' of the join the mirage racing team advert is to do some market research in to the racing segment of the hobby. I want to then encourage people to use the SDP through their local model shop.

Mirage only sponsor drivers directly when we feel that we can actively help the driver develop, there is no point in just saying there you go you have a team drive. I have been in this hobby now 15 years and have seen both sides of the industry and know that when I started out I would have loved some guidance in the early stages.

That is what Mirage are offering - guidance and support for racers out there who enjoy the hobby and choose to spend all of their hard earned cash to do something they enjoy. If I can help one driver become more confident, enthusiastic, committed then I feel very proud of that.

Model shops are KEY to this industry. I know how important it is to have advice and support in your area. It is a shame that some shops do not support clubs better as that is a trend I have seen over the past 10 years, fewer shops at meetings. Because of this people have to make sure they have enough stuff and this is where the internet fast turn around shops come in as they can help out drivers at last minute.com to get that part they just broke or forgot to order.

If you send in the completed request then you will be either recommended to join the SDP or if your results are worthy then you may be considered for a 'direct' drive. If Neil Cragg emailed (not saying he would) then I would not push him through the SDP as no other distributer/sponsor would do I'm sure!

So basically guys we are trying to encourage drivers to go through the shops, but we need the shops to support racers!!!!

[Darren Boyle]

Just to reinforce my earlier post, my comment was in no way suggesting that the "Mirage" team is a bad one to be in, it is quite possibly the very opposite.

It is also not anything against the likes of Ben and Adam who work at Mirage and deal with the team, after all they are only doing as their boss (or their new boss) has asked them too.

My point is that for years the countries top drivers like Neil Cragg, Darren Bloomfield, Lee Martin and Ellis Stafford etc etc have all come up through the ranks and had always dreamed of one day becoming a "top" team driver with full factory support etc. Over the years it has always been the "elite" who get sponsored and you had to work hard and race well to get it. 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. Pherhaps this is not the case anymore...........

[iank55]

I think it was Schumacher who started the trend of sponsoring every Tom, Dick and Harry in the early 90's with there b, c, d, e.... teams. Prior to that only the 'Elite' were sponsored.

[jim76]

Just because you apply doesn't mean they will say yes? Ben will obviously select those with the most potential for results and trackside exposure.

Didn't T-tech do a similar thing a while back, offering for anyone to buy a slightly cheaper X11 along with a spares pack to boost their numbers? Obviously those with an X10 who wanted to apply couldn't as they would have to buy a whole X11 instead of just the upgrade parts!