Old School
- Updated: March 30, 2007
By David Porter
Relationships are tough in day-to-day-life. Friends, people you work with, home life, business, marriage, racing sponsors — you name it – life is full of relationships each one equally challenging. Let’s face it there are a million reasons why it’s very hard to make one work for any period of time. Just the stress and strain of day-to-day-life can wreck a relationship. And in now day’s hurry up lifestyle, it seems a lot worse than even ten years ago. People seem to be under a lot more pressure now days. Just look at someone the wrong way and you end up getting flipped off, but whenever that happens to me, I take that as them telling me I’m number one. Add all the time, money and effort it takes to race ATVs competitively to this everyday hectic lifestyle and you have even more stress, but try not to take this out on fellow riders and sponsors at the track – which is pretty much my message for this column.
My stuff sure has gotten better since I hooked up with K&K. It’s downright tough to make an average week happy and hassle free, that’s for sure. Sometimes our stressful moods can get carried all the way to the track on the weekend. Yes, I know we all have a ton of friends at the races, but it can be very tough at times to stay friends with the guys you are fighting for position with on the track. Shit can happen. I don’t need to tell anyone how hard it is at times to race against your friends.
Another tough relationship is with sponsors. Here are the facts; riders always want more, they always want the better deal and regardless of what they already have they always seem to want more. After reading that statement you can understand how it is hard to have a long lasting relationship between riders and sponsors.
Now I may be able to understand the all too important rider / sponsor relationship more than most of you. You see I sponsor riders with my small business (PRP Racing) and I’m also a sponsored rider myself. This gives me a different kind of a view than most. Believe me sometimes it can be a great relationship and sometimes it can down right suck! I guess that last statement brings me to the point of my article this month.
K&K Rocks!
K&K remembers.For the past seven years, and 2007 being the eighth, it’s no secret that I’ve been sponsored by K&K ATV. I proudly let it be known every chance I get, including right here on the Scene.
It started in 1999 when Shawn Kirby was vending at the GNCs. We met, got along great and things have worked out well ever since. Our relationship has always been excellent. K&K stuck with me and I stuck with them, simple as that. Unfortunately that’s something you don’t see too much, whether it’s in a personal relationship, professional sports and yes unfortunately even ATV racing.
Let me tell you now more than ever I’m glad I didn’t jump on the band wagon of the here-today-gone-tomorrow aftermarket sponsorship swap. There have been a lot of them over the past seven years. I’ve seen a lot of guys jump on someone else’s band wagon only to see the wheels fall off of it shortly after, (sometimes literally).
K&K ATV sure has come along way. There first store was a old service station If I can give some “Old School” advise, try to establish long lasting relationships and stick with them. For me personally, doing this with K&K has really paid off for both sides of the relationship over the years. Every year Shawn has always respected my accomplishments and stepped up when my son started racing as well. Our long lasting commitment to one another has been very rewarding, and more so this year than any. He and his K&K ATV business have really stepped up bigger than I ever expected for 2007.
This year K&K ATV went off the scale in a big way. For the 2007 race season, WPSA Series, a few ATV Nationals, and the NE ATV MX Series, my son and I will be racing out of the new K&K truck and trailer. This is the biggest opportunity that has ever come our way. I’m stoked!
K&K has it all new and used. My son will be ridding in the Pro-Am class and I’ll be wrenching for him and Jake Hackla. Now I don’t know Jake very well to tell you the truth, but I’ve heard some very good things about him from a lot of good people. They tell me he’s very fast and a really good kid and that’s good enough for me. Hopefully some of my 27 years of ATV racing experiences and seven national championships can turn youth and talent into a winning and successful program for all of us. The moral of my story is — thanks to my long lasting relationship with K&K, Matt, Jake and myself really have a great opportunity and we’re loving every minute of it.
One of the best things to come of this is that I’ll be spending another summer with my son and doing something we both love. So throughout the 2007 race season I’ll be giving you that old school perspective on what’s going on behind the scenes at the races and on the road. It should be very cool. Stay tuned for fun times and good relations. And always try your best to be good to your riders and especially your sponsors.
