Help me become the first e30 driver to break into professional drifting!!!
I am currently facing preparations for an upcoming NOPI qualifier this April 8th. If I can manage to attain the 12 points from the judging stands, I will be given a Professional Drift license by NOPI, who hosts the major drifting competitions in the east coast. This is a HUGE step. If I can pull this off, I can open many other doors to greater levels of competition and sponsors.
Why am I posting? Because I'd like your help. Costs for each event are coming close to $600, and as I work on my estimated costs, I'm already well beyond that average for this event.
I understand many here are just as, if not even more broke than I am, but if every active member help by donating a dollar, I would have more than enough help to cover my estimates and be fully prepared for this event. And trust me when I say that every dollar counts. Anyone willing to donate anything will be greatly appreciated. For those who really want something in return, I have a bunch of stuff for sale in a thread on the F/S section. I am negociable on prices since I'm on that "do or die" phase for this event. The point is not to skimp off and spend just enough to make it to the event, but to have a car performing at it's very best to show all those japanese imports what the euros can do.
So you guys get an idea, here are some of my incurring expenses:
- Event Registration
- Transportation (Gas, hotel, food is optional at this point)
- Tires (6 pairs)
- Maintenance (Full tune-up down to timing belt, valve adjustments and even a new clutch)
- Repairs (Damaged body panels and trim must be replaced from prior events... professional drifting is all about appearance, and my car has taken a beating in the previous two events)
- Upgrades (A clutch like previously mentioned, a stud kit, a handful of bushings, etc)
I hope none of you think I'm taking the easy way out by begging fellow community members for help instead of working my ass off to afford this. This dedication takes a lot more money, and I am struggling hard to keep this going. I am an international student working as a math tutor (only part time on-campus employment allowed). I make $7.26/hr, and even not being a citizen, I still get taxed on my paycheck. I am also a full-time student taking 15 credits, 6 of which are honors.
I have also worked on a partnership proposal for other companies to help me. Early this year it earned me my first sponsorship with Corbeau. T.J. has also been sponsoring me by providing all the media I need to keep the proposal fresh with constant media to any potential partner/sponsor. He also hooked up with a great video footage guy who is making a DVD to add to my proposal package at a bargain of a price. I have been wrapping it up the last two weeks and sending it out the last couple of days to many tire and aftermarket companies, but even if the outcome is positive, chances are they wont be able to help on time for this event.
Some of my recent driving background:
Qualified 6th place out of 40 drivers in a recent qualifier. Almost all of the top drifters at the grassroots level were in attendance. In that same event I was invited to participate in a drift demo.
The same drift demo I was invited to participate was a huge success, drifting to crowds in excess of 3,000. We were invited to once again attend another demo on the 30th/31st (although for budget reasons, I will have to pass on that and focus mainly on this qualifier)
Here's some media:
To anyone interested in making that donation, my paypal address is brazilguy86@yahoo.com. Anyone that donates a few bucks is eligible to recieve a FullOpp sticker... :) The highest donator might even get a 10" white Nurburgring sticker :D
Thanks for taking the time to read the whole story. I appreciate even those who support by giving positive comments in my achievements. Support is everything... an achievement is nothing if we dont have others to share them with.
- Erick Mahle
PS: I understand some here do not appreciate what drifting is about (some don't even consider a sport), and that's understandable, however I'd ask for your respect in keeping this thread clean.
I am currently facing preparations for an upcoming NOPI qualifier this April 8th. If I can manage to attain the 12 points from the judging stands, I will be given a Professional Drift license by NOPI, who hosts the major drifting competitions in the east coast. This is a HUGE step. If I can pull this off, I can open many other doors to greater levels of competition and sponsors.
Why am I posting? Because I'd like your help. Costs for each event are coming close to $600, and as I work on my estimated costs, I'm already well beyond that average for this event.
I understand many here are just as, if not even more broke than I am, but if every active member help by donating a dollar, I would have more than enough help to cover my estimates and be fully prepared for this event. And trust me when I say that every dollar counts. Anyone willing to donate anything will be greatly appreciated. For those who really want something in return, I have a bunch of stuff for sale in a thread on the F/S section. I am negociable on prices since I'm on that "do or die" phase for this event. The point is not to skimp off and spend just enough to make it to the event, but to have a car performing at it's very best to show all those japanese imports what the euros can do.
So you guys get an idea, here are some of my incurring expenses:
- Event Registration
- Transportation (Gas, hotel, food is optional at this point)
- Tires (6 pairs)
- Maintenance (Full tune-up down to timing belt, valve adjustments and even a new clutch)
- Repairs (Damaged body panels and trim must be replaced from prior events... professional drifting is all about appearance, and my car has taken a beating in the previous two events)
- Upgrades (A clutch like previously mentioned, a stud kit, a handful of bushings, etc)
I hope none of you think I'm taking the easy way out by begging fellow community members for help instead of working my ass off to afford this. This dedication takes a lot more money, and I am struggling hard to keep this going. I am an international student working as a math tutor (only part time on-campus employment allowed). I make $7.26/hr, and even not being a citizen, I still get taxed on my paycheck. I am also a full-time student taking 15 credits, 6 of which are honors.
I have also worked on a partnership proposal for other companies to help me. Early this year it earned me my first sponsorship with Corbeau. T.J. has also been sponsoring me by providing all the media I need to keep the proposal fresh with constant media to any potential partner/sponsor. He also hooked up with a great video footage guy who is making a DVD to add to my proposal package at a bargain of a price. I have been wrapping it up the last two weeks and sending it out the last couple of days to many tire and aftermarket companies, but even if the outcome is positive, chances are they wont be able to help on time for this event.
Some of my recent driving background:
Qualified 6th place out of 40 drivers in a recent qualifier. Almost all of the top drifters at the grassroots level were in attendance. In that same event I was invited to participate in a drift demo.
The same drift demo I was invited to participate was a huge success, drifting to crowds in excess of 3,000. We were invited to once again attend another demo on the 30th/31st (although for budget reasons, I will have to pass on that and focus mainly on this qualifier)
Here's some media:
To anyone interested in making that donation, my paypal address is brazilguy86@yahoo.com. Anyone that donates a few bucks is eligible to recieve a FullOpp sticker... :) The highest donator might even get a 10" white Nurburgring sticker :D
Thanks for taking the time to read the whole story. I appreciate even those who support by giving positive comments in my achievements. Support is everything... an achievement is nothing if we dont have others to share them with.
- Erick Mahle
PS: I understand some here do not appreciate what drifting is about (some don't even consider a sport), and that's understandable, however I'd ask for your respect in keeping this thread clean.
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