29 replies to this topic

[MCS]

In the early nineties Guy Edwards put together a book on motor racing sponsorship.

I've never seen a copy, but I'm curious as to how good the book was and if anybody here has it, or has a view that they could share.

I apologise for starting a new thread for this - I simply thought it might stand a better chance of getting a response if it was separate from the book thread.

Thanks
Mark

[MoMurray]

I have it and enjoyed it. It is big (and expensive). The first half is a biography which is quite good and entertaining and the second half is a how to on putting together sponsorship proposals. Fairly basic stuff in the seciond part and unfortunately it does not tell you that the success of GEs sponsorhip exploits have a great deal more to do with his personality and "connectedness" than any proposal document he put together. If you are looking for a good book on racing in the 70s and 80s with lots of pictures, then it is great. If you are looking for a tutorial on how to land that seven figures that will get you a GP2 drive...not so much.

In my opinion...

Mo

Edited by MoMurray, 27 July 2009 - 16:50.

[alansart]

A copy of the book appeared at a Northern England & Wales TNF meeting a few months ago. A huge thing but very interesting. I can't remember who's it was, but I think he brought it in New York.

[Alan Cox]

Indeed, as Alan says, a copy appeared at a TNF northern meeting - I think it belongs to Ray Grimes.

There are 2 copies available via the Abebooks website. http://www.abebooks....e...tby=3&sts=t
The copy in Canada looks to be something of a bargain judging by the prices I have seen. I do recall that Ray's copy seemed to have had a fairly hard life, or it may be that the binding was not particularly good.

More copies here, at even higher prices http://www.books-by-...05138-95-3.html

Edited by Alan Cox, 27 July 2009 - 17:28.

[alansart]

I think it belongs to Ray Grimes.

Yes it was - thanks Ray

[MCS]

Indeed, as Alan says, a copy appeared at a TNF northern meeting - I think it belongs to Ray Grimes.

There are 2 copies available via the Abebooks website. http://www.abebooks....e...tby=3&sts=t
The copy in Canada looks to be something of a bargain judging by the prices I have seen. I do recall that Ray's copy seemed to have had a fairly hard life, or it may be that the binding was not particularly good.

More copies here, at even higher prices http://www.books-by-...05138-95-3.html

Yikes! How much?!

A decent investment then. How much did it retail for when it was first published?

[alansart]

Yikes! How much?!

A decent investment then. How much did it retail for when it was first published?

I think Ray said he paid about £100ish which at the time was a good deal!

[Twin Window]

I think Ray said he paid about £100ish which at the time was a good deal!

It was £100 new from memory - I shall check. Bugger, I can't find it - but I'm pretty sure I'm right in remembering that.

Yes, Mark, it's an excellent book especially if you're interested in the relatively early days of the commercial side of the sport when it still enjoyed a human face...

[zoff2005]

I do recall that Ray's copy seemed to have had a fairly hard life, or it may be that the binding was not particularly good.

Yes the binding was lousy, my copy has also fallen to bits! Makes it easier to photocopy...

[Giraffe]

Yes the binding was lousy, my copy has also fallen to bits! Makes it easier to photocopy...

A mate of mine was at Dental School at Uni with Guy in Liverpool; all his teeth fell out too in time.........

[ghinzani]

A re working and re-publishing of just the biog bit would be a good read, and a good seller I would imagine. Have read that things are'nt going great for Guy these days. Real shame, given what he brought to the industry over the years.

Edited by ghinzani, 08 August 2010 - 21:40.

[f1steveuk]

A re working and re-publishing of just the biog bit would be a good read, and a good seller I would imagine. Have read that things are going great for Guy these days. Real shame, given what he brought to the industry over the years.

I think I know what you meant, Guy is apparently far from a good place, although without reliable confirmation as to the cause, I shan't say any more.

[ghinzani]

???

Typoing at 5am or whatever, should have are'nt - have edited it now.

[mfd]

Typoing at 5am or whatever, should have are'nt - have edited it now.

My post deleted now Ghinz

[ghinzani]

My post deleted now Ghinz

No worries, my 2nd reply was even more badly written! Must try to post when I am not half asleep.

[Giraffe]

I think I know what you meant, Guy is apparently far from a good place, although without reliable confirmation as to the cause, I shan't say any more.

I can confirm that Guy is still having issues. He was invited down to the Silverstone GP3 tests last week by some of his many friends, but in the event didn't feel he was able to make it, which was a shame.

[fbarrett]

Friends:

Being a bookseller and a book collector simultaneously often presents conflicts--wanting to keep books that I really should sell. I have a copy of the book for sale now on Amazon, as has my fellow bookseller Tom Warth. I read and enjoyed it tremendously, especially the first part, which told of his efforts to gain sponsorship for himself then for Jaguar. Yes, the binding was poorly done, but it's easy to have a professional bookbinder repair it, which I have done. Too bad that the print media that was the key to his success no longer has the money to do likewise for others.

Frank

[mfd]

Friends:
Too bad that the print media that was the key to his success no longer has the money to do likewise for others.

Would you like to expand Frank? I think I'm with you...

[Giraffe]

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

 

Good to see Guy at Silverstone this weekend, in considerably better form than this time last year, and able to engage in some light-hearted banter with fellow wheelchair pilot, Sid Taylor!

[Mallory Dan]

Blimey......

[Richard Jenkins]

Guy Edwards interview here;http://www.oldracing...ew/Guy-Edwards/

Guy is still in poor health but as you can see remains mentally sharp.

[MCS]

Pity the interview wasn't longer and more detailed, but not complaining. I am sure there are reasons.

 

Incidentally, the url link on the oldracingcars website isn't working when I last checked.

[Tim Murray]

Many thanks Richard. Guy's memory lets him down a couple of times, I think. John (not George) and Angela Webb were the couple who ran Brands Hatch, and the wife of Juan Perón who he met in 1974 was Isabel Martínez de Perón, not Eva, who had died in July 1952. Isabel succeeded her husband as President of Argentina following Juan's death later in 1974.

[Richard Jenkins]

Pity the interview wasn't longer and more detailed, but not complaining. I am sure there are reasons.

Incidentally, the url link on the oldracingcars website isn't working when I last checked.

Allen has fixed the link.

Guy's health isnt up to the comprehensive answers he might've given, say, ten years ago. This was a real effort for him.

[Richard Jenkins]

Many thanks Richard. Guy's memory lets him down a couple of times, I think. John (not George) and Angela Webb were the couple who ran Brands Hatch, and the wife of Juan Perón who he met in 1974 was Isabel Martínez de Perón, not Eva, who had died in July 1952. Isabel succeeded her husband as President of Argentina following Juan's death later in 1974.

I can amend it but I thought it better to leave it in his words. What do you think?

[ensign14]

Just leave it as Peron and his wife?  And replace George with [John]?

[opplock]

Richard, I sympathise having copped some flak a couple of years ago for pointing out errors in driver reminiscences in the Tasman book. 

 

Is there anything wrong with leaving it in his words and adding a footnote correcting the minor factual errors?   

[Richard Jenkins]

Hi all, I've made the very subtle changes as above. I've just changed the names as I felt putting a footnote just looked a bit like "this guy can't remember this or that" so people might think "Well is he remembering all the other stuff right?"

[F1matt]

I wonder if any drivers or teams benefitted from reading this book and gained additional sponsorship? it would be nice to know and would certainly be an endorsement. A few years ago I went along to an evening with Perry McCarthy, his technique was to impersonate James Hunt on the phone to directors of large companies telling them of his young protégé and asking for a meeting to which they agreed as they though they would be meeting James Hunt, when Perry attended alone and told the director James wasn't able to attend the meeting they usually kicked him out. 10/10 for effort though.....

[Charlieman]

I wonder if any drivers or teams benefitted from reading this book and gained additional sponsorship? it would be nice to know and would certainly be an endorsement. 

I've only learned of this book in recent years and have never seen a copy of it. The publisher was Hazleton, a motor sport specialist. If I knew nothing about sports sponsorship and I wanted to buy or sell sports sponsorship, I'd look for a relevant book from a business publisher. My competitors as a racing driver, say, aren't necessarily racing drivers.

 

Belated thanks to MoMurray at post #2 for his review of the book. I wonder how Guy Edwards would have worked his deals in the era of social media and other tautologies. I reckon he'd have written a race report for a promotional website just like a press release. New media would have been treated the same way as old media, with a relevant twist for the time.

 

Enzo Ferrari published a fanzine in the 1930s for the benefit of the gentlemen drivers on his cars and for his commercial sponsors. Ettore Bugatti bought full page adverts in motoring magazines proclaiming success for his voitures in the 1920s. Raymond Mays smooth talked Ettore for British Bugattis and smooth talked UK commercial sponsors to buy him a van with their names on the side. They all knew that you couldn't go racing without selling images and ideas.