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CASTLE RACING’S POST TT PARTY & FUNDRAISER. 19.6.04
Due to the costs involved in competing on the Isle of Man and the continuing disappointment on the sponsorship hunting front, a local shop keeper very kindly volunteered her services to help organise a fund-raising evening at Congleton Town Hall, in order to raise the profile of my racing exploits and also to bring in some much needed cash.
Between us we managed to secure five local bands that were prepared to play for us for nothing, the Town Hall was booked for the first Saturday after the TT and by the end of April 300 tickets were printed and dished out for selling, and local papers were contacted about running articles and adverts. Disappointingly though pre ticket sales were very slow and by the time I returned from the TT, with less than a week to go before the party, we could account for only about 10 sold!!!!! We decided to go for it anyway and hope that we would at least break even. Lots of flyers were distributed and posters put up around the local towns in a bid to grab some last minute attention.
We were able to get in the Town Hall at 3pm on Saturday afternoon so I went to Oulton Park with brothers Mike and Gareth in the morning to assist Brian Wyles who was racing his RVF 400 at the New Era club meeting. We dashed back for about 1pm to load my van and set off into Congleton to organise the hall and bands and to put Brian Wyles’ Yamaha R6 on display in the Town Hall foyer. It certainly got some amazed looks whilst pushing it down Congleton High Street, adorned with slick tyres and Fortuna paint job!! I rushed home at about 6pm, and just had time for a shower and some tea before rushing back to the hall for 7:30.
People were already arriving when I got there which was very reassuring, including my sponsor Kev Spurr of S&S Tuning who had come all the way from Nottingham for the evening. By the time the first band came on at about 8pm we probably had about 100+ people in. Son of the Aardvark played first followed by M.U.G, Steller, Sugarlust and finally Fast Lady. During the evening we ran a Raffle and Tombola with some excellent prizes kindly donated. Every one who attended had a great night, all the bands were brilliant and the evening was deemed a huge success, with around £700 being raised in total. Out goings including hiring the hall, bouncers and advertising have brought the figure down to around £480, which will help to pay for some made to measure leathers which are so desperately needed.
Plans are in process to organise another party for the autumn when the racing season is over and I can dedicate more of my own time to the organisation. I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons with this event and the potential is great if the formula is right, so fingers crossed the next one will be bigger and better.
Thanks to:
Chris & Brian Finney for all the behind the scenes organisation.
Mark Tunnicliffe at Tunnicliffe Signs in Macclesfield for printing the tickets.
Mike at Motorsport Memorabilia in Middlewich for the Hodgson Ducati Model.
Rob Stanley at MACC Clothing in Macclesfield for the Segura Jacket.
Russ Henley at www.manxnewcomers.com for the Signed Hodgson shirt.
Brian Wyles at Rampisham Garage in Dorset for the Trolley Jack.
Derek & Kath Grimes for the Joey Dunlop & Phillip McCallen prints.
Kev & Ali Spurr of S&S Tuning, for making the journey from Nottingham.
M.U.G, Steller, Sugarlust, Son of the Aardvark & Fast Lady for their commitment.
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