Sixth Gear

Big score today for the team effort, which was great news as the market took another header. Week 8 of

Nonnamaker Car 43 - Rolex 24 at Daytona 2008

market antics is getting old and incredibly wearing. In past corrections, we’d been able to play both sides of the swings (up and down) for clients netting GREAT profits and lots of loyalty, but this time is different. I’m not sure if it’s overall confidence in the market or what, but we’re only minimally able to capitalize on the swings and it’s quite frustrating.

So great news today was several fold:

1. The hospital’s website is finally LIVE! This is a big score as we can finally take in all the HUGELY generous donations people have pledged. With less than 12 weeks to the race, it’s high time. Hospital representatives Chris Troyanos, Carola Cadley, Chris Sherrill, Amy Webster, Wendy & Patrick just to name a few have been busting cookies to make this happen and are preparing to spin up the PR machine to help get the word out there.

Farnbacher car #87 - Rolex 24hr at Daytona 2008

2. I was getting up from my desk to return home tonight and an email came in from the co-president of Morgan Stanley’s Global Wealth Management Unit (my division). The email talked about the need for us to give to charity as employees this year despite the market meltdown. It commented on how the impact of the current economy has had a severe impact on charities with many expecting to close or cut services at a time when they’re need most.

The memo announced that all employee contributions to Morgan Stanley Foundation will be matched 100 percent and other charities 25 percent….but here’s the best part, “…A gift to the Morgan Stanley Foundation will help children through our expanding network of pediatric hospital partners…” Additionally, “…For those who give their time, we recognize and support employee volunteer efforts with Volunteer Incentive Program grants from the Morgan Stanley Foundation…”

Now we’re talking!

Guardian Angel Dan Watkins

The slight problem is that when I replied with my empassioned plea to the author of the memo (Chammah, Walid), remember, co-president of the small, $9bn revenue unit, I addressed it to Chammah…only to learn 38 seconds later from my boss (also cc’d)….that it’s Walid Chammah or Mr. Chammah or Walid to rank and file like myself. Nice. Open mouth, insert driver boot. It’s never easy is it?

3. So as I slunk (?) home in despair, in the rain, in the traffic…really bummed out. This whole thing started as a way to sell the race to Linda and has since become, pardon the pun, my religion. I’ve got myself so dialed in mentally that I feel this is solely about Colin and his being safe at lunch in at school. I’ll do pretty much anything to make it work. Well, almost.

As I got home and logged in to check home emails I got a reply from the New England Porsche club of which I’m a member and annual advertiser. We’d inquired if they would share some of our stories and experiences in the newsletter as we as amateurs prepped for America’s ONLY 24hr professional road race. The presidential reply was, “…As for the Nor’easter, with regrets I have to turn you down. We get many, many requests from members wanting to promo their favorite charities, many with car related programs. We simply can not open Pandora’s Box here. The advertising rates are very low if you decide to take that track….” Charitable issues aside, I guess I’m speechless. That doesn’t happen very often.

So I delete and flip to the next email in the inbox and Voila! GREAT NEWS! Our press release made the home page of the Grand-Am Rolex website!!!! We’re the 2nd scrolling press item of three. HMM, HMM, HHMM!…that feels good! The press release reads pretty well, it’s a total score. Neat pix too (see below).

Grand Am Press Release Photo

The joke of it all is that all season long we’ve been paying photographers to take professional shots of the car ontrack for just this purpose. Promoting the Guardian Angel Motorsports effort. Each outing there are some super cool shots of the car in traffic, wheels in the air, tire smoke, everything. TO THE ONE, it’s always Quinlan’s red gloves on the wheel. Once again, hat’s off to Q - nice photo. Not once this season has yours truly had a ‘money shot’ in the car. I keep telling myself that I’m too fast, that’s why the camera misses me…..LOL! a guy’s gotta have hope.

So we officially begin the hunt for corporate donations as it’s really the only way we’re going to be able to achieve our goal. Thru TRG we’ve connected with a GREAT guy that’s deep in the fund raising groove. His name is Sean Heckman and he at an outfit called The Media Barons and is working with us to create packages of benefits that the sponsors will receive. Things like golf carts, team radios, apparel, pit passes, vip lounge passes, etc. which is pretty exciting actually.

It actually feels like we’re getting somewhere with this.