The dilemma…

Malaysia has come a long way in the motor sports industry. The way I see the country’s growth and development can be considered quite ‘express’. At the rate of development we are moving today, we should be grateful as a nation that has been independent for 52 years, so many things had been developed compared to some other countries around the world.

I spent my end of the year holiday in Turkey in December 2007 . A whole month there spending time holiday and looking for opportunities despite the fact I’m also observing the growth and development of that country. It was a wonderful place and end of the year getaway for me there.

As I spent my holidays there, I was thinking to myself, ‘Is this country has an outstanding growth of development in terms of automotive and motorsports?’ I went to the bookstore and newsstand there looking for a car modifications magazine, and bought one. As I flip through the pages and comparing to the local magazine’s we have here, I can say that we are 10 times ahead of them. In terms of the modification’s product, the owners club there, the motor sports club there, and the modified’s car there, we, are still ahead of them. Even we are ahead in terms of having a Formula 1 circuit compared to them on which they only had it so far for less than 5 years now.(Sepang International Circuit was officially opened in the year 1998)

Malaysian has big potential for the motor sports industry with having a vast numbers of automotive products distributors, modifications products retailers, motor sports enthusiast and the level of motor sports events and exposure from the various types of motor sports events the media.

As I’m actively involved in the motor sports industry’s development and growth, I can see that , the dilemma facing by the industry are the sponsorship. We have and outstanding sports man in the industry, to name a few are Karamjit Singh, Fairuz Fauzy, Alex Yoong, Shahrul Yuzy, Tengku Djan Ley, and many more (we have so many outstanding sportmans guys). Not only looking at these stars, we also have the outstanding performers in such sports as drifting, GRA, mini bike, go-kart, dirt bike, drag racing and many more to name. But the level of exposure and the hardship will be the sponsors. How can a true and outstanding star expands his talents and skills when there is no sponsors coming in to consider the talent of that such person has and that he can and might be a world champion some day. I really think that companies out there should take part in helping all these outstanding and promising stars to grow to the next higher level such as to the international level and the domestic level. Definitely they should start off with the domestic market. As the domestic is the base for every growth before entering the international levels.

I know a quite number of promising and outstanding sportsman which their performance come to a part, is static, due to financial cost involves to upgrade the race machine. Drifting, for example, can be said, dominated by most of the tire companies, and there are only 10-15 distributor companies out there, but I got to know from an insider from a tire company, that there was a time, about 50-100 profiles of racers sending their proposal requesting for sponsorship. I ..was very shocked, as I got to know, wow, our sportsman out there knows, and has efforts to help themselves improves in their field of motor sports. But , lets face the reality, there are hundreds or more over thousand s of motor sports enthusiast (racer’s and race team) but then there are less than 20 tire companies in Malaysia. So, who gets the sponsors then? Only a few definitely, out of the thousands. What happens then to the racers who didn’t manage to close any sponsorship? Will their performance be static? (This is only of the drift segments, what about other segments of Malaysian motor sports such as drag racing, track racing, dirt bike, minibike, rally, etc?) I could say yes, as I believe comes to a level, the techniques are all the same, but what differentiates them is the machine’s capability and that my friend, is all cost. Unless you are a rich kid’s son or someone earning a high salary and capable of sponsoring yourself and preparing a very god race machine, and that could be it, to compete with other racer’s with sponsor’s on which they have more supplies of tires let say and more financial assistance to upgrade their race machines.

It is a waste al large to the country for having outstanding talents but their performance is limited due to the funding and sponsorship. It is also a waste to the companies, as to with If they do not come forward to give a helping hand in form of sponsor to the outstanding talents out there as the cost of sponsoring can be considered reasonable to other form of advertising on which they could focus on efficiency and effectiveness of the products branding

As this matter came in mind, I was thinking that the media, organizers and promoter, should do their part to give recognition to all these sports man even if the sports segment could be considered minor. Such recognition should come in terms mostly from the media, and also from the ministry. (This is just a suggestion and opinion).

Something like, an award for the outstanding and promising talents for that particular year in a particular motor sports segments.

Another thing is that, I strongly believe the medias, such as giant organization should come forward in a way more exposure will create better awareness of the sports, and newcomer’s in that particular sport indirectly will attract more sponsors to help the promising talents out there.

Again, as I’m writing this, I believe there are development’s in the industry that are coming in the way to make a greater growth and development and that the future of motor sports in the country will be at its peak soon in coming years to come.

Lets put an end to all these dilemma’s. Yeah!!! We will. Let us all work towards a better future!!

Malaysian’s Boleh!!! Malaysia Boleh!!!