Latest / The Racer on Demand Show / Episode 21 | Myth Busting
Transcript
- Megan: I will not be surprised in the next year or two that your follower account gets taken off of your profile because it won't be relevant Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: anymore. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I agree with you that like the number of followers you have really makes no difference. Megan: Hello and welcome back everybody to the racer on demand show. I am Megan with my lovely cohost Amanda and Amanda Van Den Elzen: Hi. Megan: we are going to go over some myth busting today in the motorsports sponsorship world. But first we're going to catch up a little bit. So I want to bring up, you got some pretty cool new trophies behind you. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I do. Megan: Yeah, those are awesome. When I saw like the pictures of them, and I really liked Chris's reel where it was like, what's better than one ERX trophy, two of them. And I was like, that's so cool. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes, it was so cool like going out there and Chris swept the weekend. So we did it at ERX last year too. So nobody Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: else has won a pro spec race at ERX since twenty twenty four. which is Megan: wow. Amanda Van Den Elzen: really kinda weird to think about. Megan: That's cool. Amanda Van Den Elzen: But yeah, I first off, I love that Champ is doing these big trophies this year. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Like I did tell Chris I was like, I'm not really sure where we're gonna put 'cause like you can see stacked behind me. Like there's they're everywhere at Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: this point. And I mean it it's not like yes, Megan: That's a good problem to have. Amanda Van Den Elzen: it's it's a great problem to have, but I think we're gonna have to put up shelves in like Chris has an office downstairs, so I think we're gonna have to put up some shelves there and maybe keep Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: just a select couple in our loft area here. But like Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I I typically hang up all of our medals in here just because they look cool on the wall, you know? And Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I have I have three more years worth of medals I haven't put up yet either. So Megan: really? Wow. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I've got like probably Probably 30 metals sitting on the table over here that I have not put up yet. So I don't know where I'm gonna put all this. I have a fairly blank wall Megan: Wow. is. Amanda Van Den Elzen: here, and then like up behind like this. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: it's a loft, so it goes up really high. I've got some more room up above and and over that Megan: Okay Amanda Van Den Elzen: way a little, but yeah, we're running out of space. Megan: Yeah. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, no, but ERX was crazy. It was like ninety degrees the whole time. And the heat I think got to people. There was drama. There was a lot of on Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: and off the track drama. And I'm just glad we kept our heads cool. We kept our racetruck in one piece. Chris already has it ready to go for our next race and we've Megan: Good. Amanda Van Den Elzen: been home for less than a week, so Megan: Yeah, that's good. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes, yes. And you guys okay, so you went out for the Ultra Four race, right? Megan: We did. Yeah. So we went out for the one that was in Davis, Oklahoma. So it's the clash at crossbar ranch and have never been there. but it's, it was a good drive for us, even though it was in Oklahoma, cause it's close to the Texas border. So I think it was like an eight hour drive, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: to get all the way down there. And so Adam was kind of planning to go down there before, cause it is, it's just, yeah, like an open park. And so he wanted to go practice, but the car wasn't done in time. And then it was trying to get schedules aligned with the guy that's his co-driver and just like, couldn't get a day that worked out for both of them. So they, did end up practicing, somewhere else that was, you know, had some rocks and stuff. Cause Adams only had this machine for like two months and has never really like pushed it. And so. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: You know, he did the best that he could to try to bulletproof it based off what we've already learned being an ultra four, which is like, like there's so much damage that happens, like when you're driving through the trails Amanda Van Den Elzen: Hehehehe Megan: and all the rocks and mud and everything. so we get there, they do, you know, practice and qualifying and it was, it was hot also, but thankfully there was wind, but it was dry. there's just like. dust blowing everywhere like reminded me kind of like how Hammers was where it's just like the dust is just like in the air. It's just all over everything. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: So, but they did have a couple of really big mud pits to go through. was one guy that said it like came all the way up to his chest, like driving through the water. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Ho Megan: So I think on actual race day, they made that like specific hole. made like a go around because I think too many people complained about that specific one. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: But so yeah, Adam did really well. qualified sixth. He's in the UTV stock class and I think there was like 13 to 15 total. and then race day started off good, but got a flat tire within, would, I don't know, the first like 20 minutes of the race. So that held him back. you know, just having to get out and change that unfortunately. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: And then he was just playing catch up from there. And then. I don't know exactly what had happened, but somehow the, like, maybe he hit something that smashed the radiator or, it came loose or something, but something went wrong with the radiator and then the engine was starting to overheat. And so he didn't want to try to blow up a new motor and you're not new, but you know, new to us. Yeah. So he Amanda Van Den Elzen: New to you, yeah. Megan: decided to pull off they, so they didn't finish the race. but they got like, 3 quarters of the way done with it, I think. So learning experience for sure, they are gonna move the radiator to the back now, so that way that doesn't happen again. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: But I think that's the only damage, only thing they have to really change to get ready for the next race, which I don't know which one will be his next race, because there's the one in Sturgis, which is in three weeks, so Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: he might do that one. Or the one that's in Kentucky, which is in like September or October or something like that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Sure. Yeah. Megan: Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, next weekend we've got short course coming up. So yes, finally. So yeah, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Ooh, finally. Megan: we've had a slow start to the year only have had two short course races so far. but then we've got August. Yeah. We then we've got like one each month. So August, September, October, November, and December. will be racing short course. So a couple more races left. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. And okay, so IHRA pulled all of the rest of your drag races, right? Megan: Mm-hmm. Yes. yes. So, totally came out of nowhere. Like, did not know this was gonna happen. So, in June, we did the first of the three Triple Crown races, had a great time. Like, there was no rumors at the track that, like, the series was gonna cancel or change the schedule or anything. And Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: then... The next race after that was, so that was like middle of June. The next race was going to be like end of June. So like two or three weeks later, something like that. And that was a points race. That was when I originally was not going to do, but then I signed up for it. And the week of they canceled it and canceled most of the rest of the season. So they only left three races. for the rest of the year and that included, the Triple Crown was gonna be a double weekend. So there's two points races and then the Triple Crown race left. So then that was a bummer and such a hassle to try to cancel everybody's flights and rental cars and Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: having to give them refunds because we can't get refunds back from the airlines and all that type of stuff. So we lost money on that. And then, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Oof. Megan: A week later, then they put out something. So, oh, actually, so the day before, then all these rumors start going on on Facebook of like, oh my gosh, IHRA is done for, IHRA is for sale. They're canceling the rest of the season. And it's just like, these are also people that will, you know, post anything. They get the click bait, right? Yeah. So it's Amanda Van Den Elzen: Stir the pot. Yeah. Megan: like, okay, take it with a grain of salt. Like hadn't heard anything official from IHRA. So it's like, You know, just going to wait. And then the next Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: morning I HRA does a post that they've canceled the rest of the entire drag racing series. except for the smaller events that are already planned and happening at the tracks because they, they own, I think every track now that we would go to. So those tracks Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: still have other events and smaller bracket races plans. So those are still happening, but anything that was. for the points or triple crown is canceled. So again, having to. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Ugh, so basically anything with like decent payout. Megan: Yes. Yes. Do you say payout? Yeah. And Amanda Van Den Elzen: Okay. Yeah. Megan: there's also a bunch of rumors because they have not paid out from that last race, the triple crown. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: And we have not received our payout yet either. so that's $20,000 between me and Rachel that we're supposed to receive that we have not. um, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: so, I mean, we're, not going to be pushing. know a lot of people are making a lot of fuss about that. know. logistics and stuff. So I'm not going to like be pushing it, but, I mean, yeah, it's been a month now since that race. So. Amanda Van Den Elzen: no. Megan: We'll just, yeah, kind of see what happens, but I don't know. There's been so many different rumors of why this happens, you know, what's going on behind the scenes. But also like, nobody knows if it's going to stay for next year, which that's like, for me is the hardest thing because it's like, I mean, just like you guys, like we need to start talking about renewals with sponsors and. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: It's going to be hard to be like, Hey, like, let's still, you know, sponsor the dragster. by the way, we don't know if the dragster is racing next year though. So Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: it's just, puts us in a really weird situation for those that are, you know, that need sponsorships and, the funding to go racing. And so then it's like, I mean, we can't wait till it's January one. And be like, okay, we are racing next year. Now we need to go out and find the funding, but it's already going to be taken Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: by then. So it just, it, yeah, it just puts us in a really weird situation. And then also, you know, for me, I've kind of been semi retired from drag racing the last four or five years. And it's like, you know, should I just, you know, hang the helmet up the, the fire suit away? Like, should I just be done with it and stop? stressing out about it and just focus on short course or should I keep trying to chase that? So I guess I need to make a decision too. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Yeah, and it might make the decision for you if you can't get funding because you don't know what's happening. Megan: Yeah. Right. Yeah. So it is. I did do a video on YouTube, which has blown up. And I just it was just me talking to a camera and not edited, just sharing my thoughts, how this affects me personally and professionally. But I said in there is like, at least my little sister will have bragging rights that she has been the last person to beat me. So she will Amanda Van Den Elzen: Ha ha ha. Megan: probably, you know, hold that over my head for the rest of our lives. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Probably. Megan: But yeah, because I I've beat her quite a bit more times, but she got the last one. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. She got that last word and that's great. I love that. how wild though. How wild. Megan: Yeah. So yeah. Yeah. So I'm not, I'm trying not to think too much about it because I really have no control over this. Like there's nothing I can do to help the situation. So Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Megan: I just, I mean, I don't know. I'm just like in limbo mode, I guess for drag racing. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. The only thing that you have control over is where you point your program. Like yeah. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Oof would you Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: ever see yourself stepping back into like NHRA events? that was quick. Megan: No, no, that was quick. know I will. And I get asked this question a lot. So the answer is always no. for me, like, to me, it's not worth it just to do a part time schedule with NHRA. Like there are no benefits to that. It's either you got to Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: be full time to try to chase the championship or not at all. And because there's the payout. is very little. So there's, it's not like you're making money. Like we lose money, drag racing, like it's, it's insane how much like money you spend to go drag racing and then how little a payout you get in return. So Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: that's not worth it. Only the points for championship would be worth it. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: and even still that doesn't cover your other, like all your costs for the year. So Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: it's more just like bragging rights. So Financially doesn't make sense time commitment. It's so many races you would have to go to and For me like being a mom and just work right now. Like I just can't do that but Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: also like I just I lost the passion for it and I know like that'll make people upset and they're like, my gosh Like how could you cuz like some people that's like their dream and they never get to do Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: it and I'm just like I totally understand like I did have an advantage because my dad is already established in there, but it wasn't as great as I thought it would be. It's just so stressful. There's so much drama and politics that goes on and I just got burnt Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: out on it. So I had fun Amanda Van Den Elzen: I feel like sometimes Megan: the five years that I did it full time, but that was enough for me. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I feel like sometimes too, like having a pre-established like family in a sport kind of makes it like less, I don't know how how to put this, but like it's not just like you chasing your dream to go do it. Like you're passionate about it, yes, because it's something that like your family does together, but it's Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: not necessarily As passionate as you would be if you were chasing something that was just your idea that you wanted to go out and do like from the ground up and grow it yourself, either, you Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: know. Megan: Yeah, yeah, I totally get that. That makes sense. Well, that's kind of how I feel about Short Course. We are starting from ground zero, have no idea what we're doing. But the passion is there. We always say, we just want to go have fun with this. And so. you know, as long as the car still runs good, we're going to have fun with it. So Amanda Van Den Elzen: He's Megan: we just got, yeah, I mean, we're just still learning things as we go and it is a challenge. we're very committed to it and we're really enjoying short course. Adam does, you know, also love the ultra for side of it as well, because that's kind of more Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: his background. But yeah, I mean, it's I don't know. I love it. But also the NHRA stuff, that's a full on business and it's just not as fun. It's just work. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: So yeah, it's just like, I mean, I don't know if that makes sense. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I do know. I do know. Yes. Yeah, because I mean I've watched our program go from something that was, you know, this grassroots, we're out here having campfires with our friends every night, Megan: Yeah Amanda Van Den Elzen: to like our friends I don't want to say they're not welcome there, but they're not getting the fulfillment that they want to just like come and hang out because we're at work. And you know, Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: like our our job is to show up. make a great impression, reach fans, Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you know, collaborate with our partners and and the series and the tracks and and make sure that things are growing. It's not to go there and hang out and have drinks Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: and, you know. So yeah, no, I 100% get that. And I think, Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: there's a certain level of On our program of we need to make sure that this stays fun, because we recognize that if it's Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: not fun, then it's not sustainable. And Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I think that's where Chris is at on his championship chase right now, too. Like he is second in points. He's behind by three points right now. And like that's that's so, so tight for us to be like halfway through the year and literally one place different could you know, make or break a championship at this point. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And he keeps saying he's like, you know, it'd be really cool to win the points championship, but I can't look at just that because then I won't be having fun anymore. And he's like, if I go out there and I have fun, I'll be fast and I'll, you know, the points will come. But like that can't be what I'm Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: chasing primarily. It has to be that I'm out there having fun first. And I think he's right. Megan: Yeah, yeah, no, I love that. I love that. Yeah, he's got that perspective because I feel like that's where I messed up when I was in NHRE because it was just all about the points and winning the championship. And then I got Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: it. then it was like. OK, what's next? Like Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: the school, but. I sacrificed all this other stuff to get this, and I got it and it's like, yeah, it's just, you know. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Cool trophy. Megan: not as yeah like I don't know if all those sacrifices were worth it in the end because then it's like I don't have those good memories to look back on you know if that makes Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: sense Amanda Van Den Elzen: It does. It does. Yeah, like did you did you really go into it for that experience? Right? Yeah. Yeah. Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I think that's something that a lot of people could take a step back and think about, you know, are they having fun? Why are we doing this? Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah. And I think like I'm trying to take that, like have that different perspective going into short course because I don't want it to turn into that. And I don't want to be in that position again. And I think that's where like Adam and I like contrast so much because he is like. total like just hobby racer, like doesn't care about Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: if there's fans or putting on a good show. Like he wants to have fun and be fast. And if you know, which he is a great driver, like he is so naturally talented at everything he does. So for him, like he just gets to go ride and have fun. And then I'm like total opposite of him. And I'm like, Oh no, like we need to go do a display. Like we need to go do this. We need to go get some tickets. We need to go give out Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: some samples. And he's just like, I want nothing to do with that. I'm like, okay, you're right. Like we need, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Ha ha ha. Megan: we need to focus on just keeping it fun. And, and yeah, like not turning it into this huge operation because then yeah, I don't know if it'll be worth it, but we'll see Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: where it goes. Like we're, we're just trying to take it one step at a time, but Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: We'll see where it goes, but we are buying Henry a side by side, a little 170 for his birthday, which is in two weeks. So it's not a race one, just something that he can have to ride here at the farm and on the trails. So, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: but we'll see if maybe that, you know, peaks his interest if he wants to get into short course racing, because right now he's still like. shows zero interest. So which we're like not gonna push it on him. But it's just it's so funny because like, you see other kids out there that are like, you know, so obsessed with it or my nephew. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: Like my sister's little boy, which he's a year younger than Henry, he is just obsessed with drag racing. And like he'll just want to watch like live stream of races all the time. And like Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: play with the Hot Wheels cars like doing drag races and like, Henry does not act like that. So we'll see if Henry wants to get into racing or not. Yeah. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Whether that's really in his interests, yeah. Megan: We'll just see. Or maybe me and him will just start like a cat foster shelter. Right? Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: You know, I don't think that would be a bad thing either. I am like reflecting back to at Wheatland when my little nephew Barrett was out and he was hanging out with Henry. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And I remember so Barrett's on the autism spectrum and so he gets a little overwhelmed and so I didn't want him to miss Chris's race, but I didn't Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: want him To like feel like he had to watch it either if he wasn't interested, Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: because he was coloring with Henry in the grandstands. And I remember I told him, like, Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Uncle Chrissy's race is up next. If you want to watch it, you can. And I remember he like stepped aside from all of the coloring stuff. He sat down next to me and he's yelling top of his lungs, Go Chrissy, go, Chrissy, like the whole time. And then Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: down at the podium, he was like, Aunt Amanda, I changed my mind. I was like, You did? And he's like, Yeah, when I grow up, I'm gonna be a race car driver like Uncle Chrissy. Megan: Aww. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And like it is really interesting to just like see even just the contrast between him and Henry. Like that was the first time Barrett had as Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: as a sentient child, like he was an infant, I think, the last time he went to a race, but you know Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Like the first time that he's old enough to like realize, hey, I could do that. Like he's already like, I'm gonna do this. You know. Megan: Yeah, that's cool. Yeah, I know, I think some kids it's just right away and then some are delayed. I mean, we'll find out. We'll see what happens. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yep. Yeah, you will. You will. Okay. So today we are talking about beliefs that racers have. Maybe true, maybe not, right? We're gonna do some myth busting. You could just call us Jamie and Adam from Mythbusters. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I want the mustache though. Like I think yeah. like the beret? Yeah. Yeah. Megan: Okay, yeah, yeah, and he had the hat all the time. Yeah, yep Amanda Van Den Elzen: maybe we'll just like AI some Mythbuster thumbnail for this. Yeah. Megan: There we go. We can do that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: think there are a lot of things that racers believe like pretty strongly without necessarily having a basis for that truth. Maybe it's things they've heard, maybe it's experiences they've had that have kind of shaped these beliefs. But I think that there are a lot of them that may be grounded in truth and may not be. Megan: Mm-hmm Amanda Van Den Elzen: Why don't we dive into some of these beliefs and talk about what's true, what's not true, and you know, kind of what racers can take away from them to really build their programs. Megan: Mm hmm. Yeah, I think this will be helpful, especially for those that are like the grassroots racers or the beginners because yeah, they might just have these beliefs like just already like naturally ingrained in them just based on what they think or what they observe. And there's probably some yeah, truths behind the curtain that they don't see. And usually people don't talk about it either. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Yeah. Or if they do talk about it, it's just more deeply ingraining these beliefs the way that they've been formed, not necessarily thinking Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: critically about them. Megan: Yeah, that's true. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. So I'm gonna start with one. I think this is one that I hear a lot and I see a lot, and that is if I win races, I'll get sponsors. What do you think about that one? Megan: So I feel like it could go either way, but more modern view, I guess, of it is your results don't always equal a sponsorship. I understand Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: in the past how that could be true, but nowadays, because there's kind of less media coverage, I would say, but social media. So you can share your results instantly. For example, drag racing site, you used to have to wait till you'd get the, if you didn't attend the race, you'd have to wait till you get the magazine that shared the results or wait a Amanda Van Den Elzen: yeah. Megan: week later when the broadcast. would be on TV, but now like the others live stream so you can instantly see it. There's social media so you can just share your results at that moment. So I feel like the actual results, the way how it's shared is kind of worth more than the actual position. If that makes sense, what do you think? Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Sure. Yeah, like the story you're telling, right? Yeah. As you're talking, I'm thinking a lot about like it it didn't used to be that every single series, every single race was broadcast out either, right? Like I think that companies probably did look at who was winning races because Those were the people that were getting mentioned in these news outlets and on TV and things like that. And the way that media has changed, like you could be racing, I don't know, like a a kid's go-kart and have a live stream of it, right? There's there's Megan: Yeah. Uh huh. Amanda Van Den Elzen: an audience for every single motorsport out there now at every single level, which means Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: That the attention is so divided across everything. A sponsor isn't gonna notice you unless you're winning NASCAR races. You know, like you Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you already have to be famous in order for a sponsor to notice you. And and I think that that's where racers really get tripped up on this is like, if I go win every single champ race, then I'm gonna get all the sponsors. Well, guess what? Most companies don't know that champ off-road exists. Half of our listeners probably don't know that champ off-road exists. You know? Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: So what is the value there for them to be watching every motorspray see who is winning? Like Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: the value is in how you present those results and and the influence that you get from those results. So I Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: would be lying if I said that. the most winning racers in our series are not also the ones that have the biggest partnerships, but it's oftentimes because of the stories that they're telling about those wins or the people that they're Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: bringing with them through the story of those wins, not because of the wins themselves. Megan: Mm Yeah, I agree. Well, I mean, so when Chris won ERX, like, did you get any new sponsors because of that? So I yeah. Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: No. No. No, we not even a little even the ones that we work with, we had to reach out and tell them that we won, you know? Megan: Yeah. Well, and like, I think sometimes people may think like, there could be a Like you could have a contract where there could be like a performance clause where you could get like a bonus if you want to race. Like I've definitely heard of that, but I've never included Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: that in our sponsorships because I feel like then you're not guaranteed that funding. Then that's more stress on you to make sure you win the race. And then Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: sometimes when you're overthinking it and then you end up doing worse. So I Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: feel like you're better off if you, you know, can have a contract where you're doing X, Y, Z, you're, you're doing these other deliverables and getting the funding in return for that. And then your performance and winning is just, you know, extra exposure and storytelling that you can do to enhance it and be on top of it. But I wouldn't recommend to do like a bonus. incentive in there. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: mean, I guess it's you could if you really wanted to, but then what if you never win? So then you'll never get that extra money. And I think that the Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. And winning Megan: same could also be said. We had a driver on our team who thought not to do with sponsorships, but they thought that if they want a championship that they would then automatically get a top fuel ride, which is like the next step up. And So then they won the championship and then no phone calls, nothing ever happens. And they thought like, you know, they were just that good of a driver that another team would want to pick them up and it didn't Amanda Van Den Elzen: wow. Megan: happen. So I feel like, you know, kind of the same thing with working with brands could also be said about working with other teams. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, that's so true. That's so true. And I think, you know, we get we get kind of this thing in our head, like, if I can be the best, then that's going to be valuable to other people. When oftentimes, like winning these championships, winning races, like that strokes our own egos. And we do that Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: for our own good. And, you know, what we do with that after the fact is what could really make or break that story for other people. Like Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I I would say that like we're even not capitalizing enough on the fact that we just swept, you know, both ERX races. We have three wins in a row right now, but what kind of a story are we telling with that? You know, I don't know that we're doing a great job of it. And and I think most racers don't do a great job of it. Like you could tie that into a sponsorship campaign, right? Like Hey, we won three races in a row. That means we're doing a buy three, get one free tire sale, you know, with Nexon or something. You know, like Nexon doesn't Megan: Yeah. That would be cool. Amanda Van Den Elzen: sell directly, so that's a terrible example. But you know what I mean? Like Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: But but you know, like maybe maybe that's how if you're thinking of wins, like, yeah, it does matter. It it does matter. And and I'll tell you too, you know, we just put together a renewal contract for Nexon and Not the contract, the proposal, I should say. so we just put together like basically a proof of product, you know. For the last five years we've been working with Nexon, and the first two pages of our proposal were talking about how our partnership has grown in that time frame, how our influence has grown in that time frame. And I will tell you big bold letters I put in there, Chris's number of professional wins and podiums and all the accolades that he's gotten in those five years as well. Because it it Does matter how you present this stuff, but it doesn't mean the com Yes, no. And that was like Megan: but that's not all of it. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that was like snapshot, but if you read Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: through it, all of the data that we're collecting was in there, right? All of the influence, the growth of our social media reach, the fact that we just had one of our videos, I think I told you it was like going viral. I think last time we talked. Megan: Yeah, I saw in your stories, it's like two million now, right? Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes, we hit two million views on just this little snippet from Crandon. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And, you know, like those are the things that are actually gonna translate into dollar signs for our sponsors is people doing stuff because we tell them to. Megan: Yeah, yeah, yeah. think like, and even looking back at like decks that I've reviewed for other racers, usually, you know, the second page or third page is like, here's all my biography. Here's my passion and my dream about racing. And here's a list of all of my accomplishments. And I feel like, I mean, first off, don't have like paragraphs and like 20 bullet points. Like, yeah, you just need to like, three like call out boxes, right? Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: Cause I mean, it does help if you have championships or wins, it helps to have that for I mean, to establish like your authority in the sport, but Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: at the same time, it's like, if you are sending this deck or proposal to a company that has never been to a race, they are not gonna know at all what that means. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: like you gotta also think like from their perspective. like, you know, if I have, I won this, you know, this bracket race at this track, but then I won this race or I finished to my finals here at this race. it's like, cause I just, I, and I used to do this too, like list out, okay, for Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: the year prior, here's results from every single one of the races I did. And I'd send it to people that like, have never heard of this track. They don't know what bracket racing is, right? So Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: it just goes over their head. So even though I could have like, you know, the best results out of everybody else that I raced with, it still doesn't mean a whole lot. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes, yes. what I'm thinking about this is this might sound a little bit crass, but like who cares? Right. And and I'm not asking that Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: in saying that no one cares, 'cause I think people do care. But I think if you can identify like who cares about what you're putting out there, then you'll know better how to tell the story, right? Like Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I think fans care. if you win races, right? And so Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: if you instead of saying I win races, you say, I have fans that, you know, look like this. This is their demographic, that care that I win these races and look at all of the races that I've won. You know, or you Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: think about it, I was just looking back at our episodes 'cause I thought we did one on this, but apparently we have not, about what's in it for me. And and this Megan: Ooh. Amanda Van Den Elzen: is really big in like the corporate and business world is W I I F What's in it for me? And it's basically that every communication you put out is tailored to the audience. So as you're talking to potential partners, you're asking what's in it for them and you're thinking about, okay, when I say that I won this championship or I ran this race with this result, what's in it for them? About that? Like, why would they care about Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: this? And if you can frame it that way, then yes, sponsors care about wins. Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's so well said. I love that. Yeah, we Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: should do an episode about that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, yeah, I thought we did. I was literally scrolling back because I was like, wasn't that one of our first one? No, we have not done a what's in it for me episode, but I totally think we should we should. I'm yeah. Megan: Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Okay. So I think on that one, the if I win races, I'll get more sponsors. I think we're gonna maybe mark that one as not completely false. Megan: Yeah, well, yeah, what would be in the middle? Possible, okay, yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Pla plausible Dependent. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: What do you think, Megan? What is another belief that racers have? Megan: Okay, how about that? Every brand wants their logo on the car or truck or machine or boat or Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: bike, whatever you want to call it, that they want to Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: have their logo. I mean, I guess size. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Yeah. That size Megan: Would you say that's? Amanda Van Den Elzen: matters, right? Like they just want a sticker on the car so they can get some exposure. Megan: Yes, myth or facts? Amanda Van Den Elzen: This one I think is also nuanced. I Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I think this is mostly false. and I I will talk about why I think there might be some truth into it, but I think that in general, partnerships are not. anything to do with the sticker, the location of the sticker, the size of the sticker, anything to do with a sticker. If you completely forgot to put a sticker on your car for one of your partners, even though they're giving you $300,000, I don't think that the best partnerships, they would even notice that the sticker wasn't there. I think the best partnerships are built on deliverables, not on exposure. And exposure can be a deliverable if you tie it to a business outcome. And what I mean by that is when you're running a business, you're looking for certain measures to say that you are successful. Sometimes that is sales, sometimes that is conversions, sometimes that's brand awareness. you know, that might even just be brand preference or trust in a product, right? Those are all Objectives that a business would have. And a racer's job is to deliver on one of those objectives, depending on what the business is really looking for out of the partnership. So instead of every business wanting a sticker on the car because whatever racers think because they want that exposure. I think that realistically, a sticker on a vehicle is representative of what is actually happening behind the scenes, what that racer is delivering to that partner to make meaningful impact on those objectives. So a sticker can be valuable if it relates to the optics of one of those objectives. And so this is where I think that nuance comes in. That makes it only mostly false. Is I will tell you, I have partners that care very much that they are aligned with our brand so strongly that they are the biggest sticker on our car. that is not because of the sticker. That is because they want us to be focusing our time on their deliverables more than anybody else's. And they want our brand to be so synonymous with their brand. That they don't want somebody else's sticker to come in and crowd them out. So I think that is where I see the value in the sticker. Megan: Mm-hmm. That, yeah, you nailed it. Yeah, I was going to say the same thing, that it, I would say it is mostly myth also because, I mean, going back to like what... Alex always says that you're an extension of the, their marketing department or like what Jackie had mentioned about, you know, they love the customer experiences. Like sometimes they don't need the sticker on the car at all, or maybe they just want it as like a contingency size, like just to have something on there. But usually, yeah, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: sometimes the deliverables that they care more about would be like hospitality or B2B. relationships that you can cultivate for them or just like those experiences that they can have, you know, at the track. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: And so, you know, if those are your main deliverables, then your car can kind of look whatever you want it to look like. You don't have to have all these stickers on there. And I know some people, you know, like they'll just do an application to sign up for a discount and the discount will be like, well you have to have a six inch size decal on the car and so then it's like you know okay in exchange for that but I mean but really like I guess you don't have to have many deliverables when you're just agreeing to a discount like you know you're not getting a whole lot from them you don't have to deliver a whole lot in return but then I don't know. I guess it's where like you need to have a conversation with someone at that company to see if there is something that you could actually provide for them that could maybe turn a discount into a product or into funding if Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: you want to go that route. But I think Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: some people are okay with just getting a discount and having 50 contingencies stickers on their car and that's it. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. And you know what? I think that some marketing teams aren't really clear on what they're looking for out of partnerships either. And I I Megan: Yeah, that's true. Amanda Van Den Elzen: see that a lot with those programs where it's like, we'll Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: give you a discount and you'll, you know, have to put a sticker on our car. Well, they're not really most of the time, they're not really looking for any kind of return because they already got your sale. They're just trying to build sales. You Megan: Yeah. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: know, it's not You're not sponsored. You're just getting a discount so that they'll sell their stuff. You know, they're not expecting you to have influence. Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, they're still making money even though they're giving you a discount, right? Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Yes. Ooh, your 10% discount. Guess what? They had 50 to 70% markup on that product. So Yeah. And I'm not Megan: Right? Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. So. Amanda Van Den Elzen: saying that those programs don't have a place. I mean, they do. You know, if it's a product you're gonna use anyway, get the discount. Put the sticker on. Who cares? But as long as you're not undervaluing your program and I I have seen, I've actually been on the receiving end of contracts where I've said no to because the deliverables they were asking for in return did not match the value that we were getting out of it either. So I think kind of keep in mind that that needs to be an equation, you know, and sometimes Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: A does not equal B. one of the things I was thinking about as you were talking to is that partnerships don't always have a sticker. I've talked to a racer that had Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: a very, very good partnership behind the scenes and they explicitly said, let's not put a sticker on there. I don't need this to be public that we're working together. but Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: behind the scenes, they had an incredibly lucrative B2B like partnership that they were able to facilitate and they got a a pretty decent cut out of that. So it wasn't something that even came through as like the motorsports partnership. It was more so a behind the scenes connection that they were able to make that did not result in a sticker on the car at all, but Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: resulted in a very big paycheck for that racer. Megan: Yeah. Yeah. And that happens. I mean, yeah, if you can set up one of those deals and that's great because then that kind of leaves you a bigger space on the car that you could use. You know, if someone was interested of, of if someone, you know, added company was like, yeah, like we focus more on the exposure, like say it's more of a younger company and like, they just want to get their brand name Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: out there more. They want more mentions, they want to be more visible. And so then that could give you an opportunity to lean more on that with another company, but then still, yeah, behind the scenes, your actual primary sponsor would be one that's not on the car. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Yeah. I I really like what you just said about like maybe it's a younger brand. Like I think that there are definitely companies and brands that care about those stickers for for big reasons, right? And you just mentioned a younger company might be one that you target and say, Hey, I've got this big space on my car. Let's do something about it. You know, I also think about we have an injury law firm. That we've been targeting. And when we think about companies that really care about optics and big logos and consistent visibility, think about all of the injury law firm billboards you see when you're driving down the road, right? The number Megan: Yeah, yeah, that's true. Amanda Van Den Elzen: one thing that that company cares about is having a rolling billboard. And when we're talking to them, they're saying, Well, if we do something, we want it really big and what's what's it gonna cost for that, you know? Megan: Yeah, that reminds me there is one here in town. And they always like, you know, immediately without even reading what's on the billboard, you know who it is, because he does this Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: whole like Tarzan theme. And it's name his name is like jungle gym, I think. And he actually did sponsor a NASCAR team last year or two years ago when they came to the Kansas Speedway. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: And yeah, like did this, this whole scheme on it and like all these commercials where he's like swinging from a vine and all this stuff. And yeah, I mean, they, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: they went all out with it, but yeah, he has billboards all over Kansas city. And, I think like radio commercials too, which I don't listen to the radio that much, but like it's memorable. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Yeah. And you gotta think about like why would a brand do that? What is their marketing campaign really aimed towards? And it's the fact that they have a very small percentage of the population that will ever actually need their services, but they don't have a target demographic, right? It's not like, well, you know, only white Megan: Yeah, that's true. Amanda Van Den Elzen: males, blue collar workers aged forty five to fifty five that you know, participate in I don't know, they vote Yeah, exactly. Those are the only people that I need to advertise to, right? No, they need to advertise to everybody. And they need Megan: Skydiving. Yeah. Yeah. Everybody. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: to be memorable enough that when something happens, they're gonna be the ones that people think of. And so they their goal is to get in front of as many people as often as possible to become memorable. And and Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that's not every brand, right? Like I don't know, like Skechers Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: doesn't care about that. Skechers wants, you know, middle aged white women who wanna feel healthy, you know, so like they're gonna meet them where they are. And Megan: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Exactly. Well, that's so funny. You know, I've actually never thought about approaching, yeah, like injury law for sponsorship. But now it's like, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: my gosh, that's so obvious. Like, yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Right. Yes. Yes. Not not everybody should just go flood an injury law firm, but Yeah. There's gonna be calls Megan: Right? No, look what we started. Amanda Van Den Elzen: out to like Habish Habish and Row Tears gonna be like, what the fuck, where did all these calls come from? Megan: Yeah. man. That's good. Okay. I think it's your turn. What is a Amanda Van Den Elzen: yeah, okay. Megan: myth or fact that you think? Amanda Van Den Elzen: Ooh, okay. So this one came up this week. I was talking to one of the tracks that we work with, and they also held this belief. And I don't know if I believe it entirely. so Megan: Hey. Amanda Van Den Elzen: this one is not only racer specific, but I think a lot of entities in motorsports kind of think of it this way. And this is if I race. more events, I will grow my program. Or if I have more events, then my program will grow. Megan: I mean, I could see like. both sides to that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: I mean, yeah, like it will help you get more experience, like as a driver or as someone putting on an event, but I don't know if that will necessarily help you grow. Like if you're just still putting on like mediocre events, then you're still gonna get mediocre results, right? What do you think? Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Yeah. I okay, so in talking to the track about this, basically this person said, Well, racers are at an advantage to get more sponsors because they go to more events and we just have one a year. And I think about two I've had racers reach out that say Well, I'm running a limited series. Is it really even worth trying to get sponsorships for? Or like I'm only running two events this year. Should I really go after sponsors? Like, are they even gonna think there's something worth it there? And the answer is yeah. Yeah, there's something there. Right. Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And I think about like the different scale of events or or What is again, this is gonna come back to what we already talked about. What is the story that we're telling around these events? What kind of influence are we getting while we're at these events? And I think about like Crandon is a huge event for us, right? We have a ton of foot traffic. you've seen where our pits are. You literally walk in Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: the main gates and the first tent you see is Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: ours, right? So we have so many people that don't know. us or our program that come through and meet us and we have the opportunity at that point to then make it count. It doesn't automatically count just because we're there. but we have the opportunity to bring people in, make those meaningful connections with them, put our products from our partners in front of them or in their hands or give them samples or, you know, fun freebies and stuff, right? We have the real opportunity at that point to really make it count. versus we were just at ERX and for the last five years we've had a pit space on the main row and this year we did not get our old spot back and we were way out of the way, which meant we had next to no foot traffic and we were still at the same event. We still swept the weekend the exact same way we did last year. Megan: Right? Yeah, exactly. Amanda Van Den Elzen: But we had a lot smaller impact for our team, for activating ourselves, our own brand, as well as that of our partners. So I think that it's not necessarily the number of events that you have. It's the impact that you have at those events, the way you tell the story about what's happening at those events and the value Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that you can provide, not just by being there, but by Again, linking your actions to the objectives of your partners. Like that's where the real value is. That's how you grow your program. I do think also there's value in a variety of events. So if I race a whole bunch of events that are in the same demographic, in the same region, I'm gonna see a lot of the same people. Sometimes that's good, right? If I'm trying to build brand trust and they keep seeing me and my partner's products over and over again consistently delivering on the brand promise that we're trying to put out there, then consistency is good. But I'm still only just talking to this small pool of people. Now, if I can race events that are across the US and I'm talking to new people every time, it's it's kind of like reaching larger numbers on social media. Right. I have a much better opportunity to grow my following by reaching new people than I do by kind of in the same pool over and over again. So I think there there's Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: truth to it, but I don't think it's a guarantee. Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, exactly. I mean, just think about myself, like, when, you know, I like I said, the last couple of years, I've jog raced less and less and less, but... I'm still able to bring in the sponsorship funding because I'm using other assets. It's not just the races that I attend or I'm kind of going back to the first one. It's not based on my results or my participation. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: It's based on the other deliverables that I can do and you can have one amazing event that people are going to remember for the rest of their lives and only do it once a year or only be Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes, Megan: sponsored for one race and like I think of the drag racing world there is one race that like no matter what series in within drag racing that you compete in or no matter if like you're a fan or a team, like there's one that everybody always talks about and it's the night of under fire, which is at Norwalk. And I don't know how long they've been doing it. I know it's been like decades, but it's one race a year. Their biggest event. It's not a points race. It is just. an exhibition deal and they bring in the best of the best. do huge fireworks shows. Like they make it the most memorable experience, the funnest race ever, but it's technically not a race. Like you're just making laps down the track and Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: every, but it's invite only. like every race team wants to get that invite to come to the show and like the stands are absolutely packed like more full than what a typical NHRA race like more people show up to this event and it's like but that track only puts it on once a year but they so they don't have to rely on doing multiple events all year they just do that one and make it really Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: really good that's where I think is if they had a split like the same time and energy and funding to put on that one event, I think if they had a split that up to put on, let's say a dozen events, that they're not going to have as well of a turnout as Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: or as much excitement as just that one really big one could. So, yeah, I mean, I see how If you can get more experience and more skill by going to more events, I get that side of it, but I don't think that will always then have the return on investment versus if you... I don't know, for me, I've just focused on doing less the last couple of years and have been able to give each one 100 % and focus on... having better deliverables and better like outcomes from those Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Yeah. Megan: and like offering to do more shows than events because that gives me more time to actually talk to people and, and attendees or spectators. Whereas yeah, like if I'm at a race, like I have a limited time between when I'm running or having to work on the car to be able to interact with the fans. So I Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: mean, yeah, yeah, I see both sides of it, but I love what you said. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Okay. What you just said about the one huge event at Norwalk and like what if they had to spread that out across multiple events and really dilute it. It really got me thinking about like if I was a sponsor, like I hope all of our listeners are just kind of taking a step back and thinking, like, if I was a sponsor, where would I put my money? Would I put my money at this one huge event? that has people really engaged. Like, would I want to be present at that event or would I rather be at four meh events? Right. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And so like, okay, if you were Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: running a business and you wanted people to buy your products, where would you show up? You'd show up at the one huge event, right? Like that's a no brainer. And I yeah, that is such a cool way to think about it. That I like that. Thank you. Ha ha ha. Megan: Yeah, all right. All right, my turn. OK, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: myth or fact, you need a deck before contacting any brands. Amanda Van Den Elzen: mm so Megan: you Amanda Van Den Elzen: I don't think this is true. And I know I'm gonna catch flack. I know our last guest still strongly believes in decks because I have attended that PRI Megan: you Amanda Van Den Elzen: event. I don't think you need a deck. I think that a deck is something that you put together based on a request. But in my experience, and this will definitely vary depending on other people's experiences, but in my experience It is far more valuable to find a connection and have a conversation than it is to have a deck because a deck is really meant to be an introduction to who you are, your brand, your assets, the things that make you different than the other racers that you compete against. Like it's your way to try and stand out. But I have never, not a single time, had a partner bite on a deck. I have had many partners bite off of a conversation between two people talking about strategy though. So Megan: Yes, I love that. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I've had I've had companies ask for decks and and this, like I said, this might just be our experience. in my experience, they have not been a fit for our brand because they're just not personal enough. Megan: Yeah, I agree. I feel like when someone asks for a deck, it's because they don't know how to say no. And they're trying Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: to be polite. And then you send it to them. And then, you know, you're following up with them a few days later, and then they end up just ghosting you or then just sending you an email of like, thank you so much, but it's just not a good fit. And so Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: I think Yeah. If you go into it, having a conversation first, like, especially if it is one where you don't know much about the brand or they don't know much about your type of motor sports, then I understand where then they could, like you said, like on request, because maybe they just don't know. Maybe they're just, you know, in a different industry. But I feel Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: like if you've got a website, if you've got like a really good promo video, that could be something that you could send to them as well. Like, I don't think you always need a deck. feel like decks, like, just because I've reviewed so many from racers, they just make it all about their biography and their accomplishments and what their race schedule is. Maybe they'll have attendance numbers if they can get that from the series. but they're usually always vague. They always have the same like structure. They always have packages. They always have the gold, silver, and bronze tiers. And then it's like, Amanda Van Den Elzen: No. Megan: so yeah, a deck would be more of an introduction and that's not when you send them an offer. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Okay. And I'm just thinking too about like what is the purpose of the deck? The deck is really to try and get people to like get to know you, right? And I I feel like decks in general are just outdated. I I am pretty firmly Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: on the like decks are dying if not dead kind of bandwagon. Megan: Yeah, I agree. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And and the thing is, okay, like if you're talking to a company and you need to show them who you are and what you do, you don't send them a deck. You send them to your social media. And your social media should be Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: robust enough to show them, not tell them, because a deck tells somebody who you are, but a social media page should show them who you are, which is way more powerful. Right. So Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you send them to your social media and if they want to see business outcomes or like proof of product, then have a website set up for that instead. Like our website, when you log on, the first thing you see is a big banner that says motorsports that moves product. Like that's what we have at the top of our page. And Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: then we've got quotes from our partners and we've got case studies about things that we've done that have moved the needle for our partners and lists of like the kinds of things that we can do for our partners, right? That is not anything I will ever put on social media because social media is for fans. Megan: Right? Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: So like it's important to have that information that I think used to live in decks. And it's important to know enough about yourself and your program to know who you are, what makes you different, what you're selling, the ways that you've won. And I don't mean races, I mean with your other partners, right? Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: It's so important to know that stuff. And have it in your back pocket and have places that you could send people to to show them that. But it no. I I don't think you need a deck at all anymore. and and if somebody wants one, then it should be tailored to the conversation you're having with them and it should just be the information that you're talking about anyway, not something that you're gonna pull out of Canva from a year ago. Megan: Yeah. yes, I agree. So we, we've worked with the driver on our team who needs some help finding some funding so they can stay on the team. Right. And Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: so they, they've asked me multiple times if I've got a deck that I can send to them that they can use to try to send out to companies or if I can make them something and I've I like every single time I've asked him, was like, who have you contacted and what are their business goals? And they're like, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: no, we haven't reached out to anyone, but we think we need to send them the deck first. And I'm like, no, no, no, no, It does not work like that. You first, you need to like just make a first impression, like reach out to someone, like have a conversation with someone. And then Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: from there, yeah, like try to strategize, like see if there is an opening where we could be a good fit for him. And yeah, like I can work with you to strategize and figure out like, know, like let's put the puzzle together, but you can't like, I don't know, send them a puzzle piece and then expect them to know where it goes. Like, I don't know if my analogy is making any sense, but. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. I love the analogy. I love it so much. Megan: Okay. Like was just, yeah, I don't know. But I mean, yeah, it's like, yes, it's very outdated. I agree. Decks are dead. Like I don't think we need them. I am sick of designing them. I don't do that anymore because I used to like offer that as a service to racers and especially November, October, my schedule would be full because that's just when racers would come Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: to me and be like, Hey, I need a deck presentation built. but it's gonna be generic, like it's not for a specific company or I'd really like try to like nail it in that like it needs to be for a specific company. Like what are they looking Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: for? And so I would still make them something. And honestly, like I would, mean, I'd charge over a thousand dollars to design a deck because I know I'm gonna have to put so many hours into it to make it like look Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: visually good and look pretty and. A lot of times I have to go and find the information that, cause like they don't, you know, they just send me, yeah, like something that chat GPT wrote or like this Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: biography that they've had for the last 10 years. And it's like, no, like we need to actually tailor this and make it Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: shorter. Um, so yeah, I would spend so much time like writing up the whole thing, designing everything. And then honestly, maybe, maybe 10 % of them moved on to a further conversation, maybe 1 % of those had actually signed a deal. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Okay. So imagine even if you just had like 10 people, right? No, I mean, honestly, if you're talking percentage, you'd need a a hundred people, right? So a hundred people are paying a thousand dollars each. So a hundred thousand dollars of investment, and you're saying that only one thousand dollars of that actually came to fruition. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: That's terrible. That that is that is Megan: It was terrible. Amanda Van Den Elzen: a Dead a sunk cost that is not worth investing Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: in. Megan: yeah. I know it's like I, that's like, I didn't, I knew they weren't working. So I was like, I'm not doing this anymore, because it's not Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: going to help you out. And yes, it is a waste of your money. And Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: that's where like, I hope the people listening, like, they understand that and realize Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: that they just need to start with a conversation and go from there. Amanda Van Den Elzen: You know what I think people need to have on them and with them when they're having these conversations is a business card. That's all you need. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: And and it should be memorable. It should have maybe like a your picture on it, a picture of what Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you do on it, right? Or let me maybe a little quote about how you've delivered in the past or like your your offer that you have, right? But mostly like you just need a business card because the conversation that you have should be footing the bill for, you know, Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that heavy lift that you are trying to achieve in connecting with a brand. And all they should need to know when they walk away is how to talk to you more. Yeah. Megan: Mm-hmm. I agree. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. All right. So that Megan: Yep. Amanda Van Den Elzen: one we're gonna say is resoundingly false, but make sure that you know the information that would go on it. Megan: Yes, myth. Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Okay. the next belief that I think a lot of people hold true is the more followers I have, the more valuable I am. Megan: Not true. mean, Amanda Van Den Elzen: What do you think? Megan: and especially like now with social media, if you've noticed like Instagram or Facebook will have the thing at the bottom of a post that says, are you interested in this? Yes or no. And you might think like not think anything about that, but that's how the algorithms now are filling up your feed. It's not who you follow. So I'm, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: I will not be surprised in the next year or two that your follower account gets taken off of your profile because it won't be relevant Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: anymore. Like it's more about the views that you get on your videos not if it's someone that's followed you, which I hate that because like for me personally, like I follow certain people for a reason and like I'm seeing less of their content. It's like, I like Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: what happened to this person. Oh no, like I'll go to their profile, like, oh, they they've posted every single day for the past year, but I don't see any of their posts because the algorithm wants to show me people that I've never met before. And it's like, even on Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: my like personal Facebook feed, like it's, it's Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: showing me content for people that I have like zero mutual friends with like it's not like their viral post because it'll be it'll have like three likes on it or something. But it's like, I don't know this person. Why are you showing me their post? Like, like Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: I want to just see the post for my friends and family because like that's why I'm friends with them on social media. So yeah, I don't think it matters anymore. Amanda Van Den Elzen: No, I wholeheartedly agree with you. So on our last episode, I had said something, I don't even remember what, but Alex was like, I should have clarified. This is for people who like are not well known and who aren't famous, right? Like and I was kind of giggling to myself. It was yeah, Megan: Oh yeah, yeah. I remember that. I don't remember what you said. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I don't even remember. It's not really that important, but but I was thinking to myself, like Alex thinks that we're famous or at least well known. And Chris has 1800 followers on Instagram. Like 1800 followers on Instagram. And I'm not Megan: Right? Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: saying that like that's a terrible thing because I agree with you that like the number of followers you have really makes no difference. And And what you're talking about where the algorithms are now just showing you things that they think that you're interested in, I think is such a huge opportunity for us to shift like what our social media content is. Cause while we were posting to our followers, we were posting updates and things as if people already know us. Now Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: We have the opportunity to meet new people and inform them and introduce ourselves for the first time. And that's really different content. Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: So I think that followers can be an indication of the influence that you have. I think a growing follower count. is a really strong indication that you're resonating with your audience and that they're willing to take action because of what you're talking about or like how you're making them feel, right? So I do think that there is some merit in people taking action because of your content. I think the value really comes from what's in your content though and how it's positioned and how it's resonating with people, which is how the algorithm favors content. now is because it's resonating with people, not because people are liking it or whatever, right? Like when you're seeing those posts that are popping up with three likes from somebody that you don't follow, it's not because people are liking it or commenting on it. It's because people are clicking Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: read more, right? Read more. It's because people are spending Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: the time on it to want to know more about it. So I think Like building curiosity towards the direction of your partners creates value on social media now. Megan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. That's, yeah, well said. And I feel like, I think brands also don't quite understand that either. And sometimes Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: they do focus more on like, okay, well, what's your overall number? And so I think we need to maybe educate the brands as well. Like, hey, social media is shifting. it's not the same as it was 10, 15 years ago where it Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm. Megan: was all about how many followers you had. And I remember on Instagram, like if you got 10,000 followers, then you could do the swipe up in your stories. And like that used to be like everyone's goal. It's like, I need 10,000 followers so I can put a link on my stories. And then Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: I feel like when that shifted to where then they let everybody have a link and then it just became the button instead of the swipe up. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: I feel like that's when everything really started to change on social media and then the algorithms became more like interest-based like they are now and it's so heavily interest-based. So yes, you need to focus more on the story, the quality of your content. And can you keep someone's interest to watch an entire video, even if it Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: is only 20, 30 seconds, which doesn't seem like that long, but that's like long compared to like in social media world. But if Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: you can get like that longer watch time, then that is where the algorithms would be like, okay, well, this person watched this whole video, they thought it was very interesting. So we are going to spread it to more people. And I've also noticed Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: that content that does have the longer time. does also have then a longer shelf life because like I'm still getting videos Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: from like May and June because Instagram was like, hey, other people liked this content, we think you will like it too, even though Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: it is like a month or two old. don't know if Quantity matters as much as quality does. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Agree. Megan: so, yeah, so I think I'm going to also be testing out a different strategy with our socials too, because yeah, we're as far like our race team is in kind of a shift right now with a lot of different logistics. And so I feel like it'd be a good time to kind of test the waters with some new stuff Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: and see what happens. I gotta figure that out. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. You had talked about like content coming up from a couple of months ago on your newsfeed because like Instagram or Facebook thinks that you would be interested in it and I think that's another shift that racers really need to be aware of because how much of what we post is only applicable at the moment that we post it versus being evergreen content that's valuable beyond more Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: than a couple of days, right? So I'm thinking about and again, maybe maybe this ends up in a what's in it for me episode, but I'm thinking about what does our audience actually want? From the content, like what causes them to stay and spend time and watch. And most commonly I see success in education. And it doesn't have to be like, Megan: same. Amanda Van Den Elzen: here's how you do, blah, blah, blah. But like people have questions about what we do. We live in a space where very few people really get the opportunity to do what we're doing. And being able to educate them on the ins and outs, the very fine details of what happens in our lives and on the racetrack and in our race vehicles and things like that. You know, like that's evergreen content. I posted something on our on Chris's page the other day that was like three things that make prospec racing impossible to ignore. And Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: right, like I touched on The qualities of the class and those qualities of that class, they're true now. They were true two years ago and they'll be true two years from now. But if I post, you know, we were just at ERX and Chris swept the weekend, it was great. Here's our trophies. That's only valid and true right now. And next week Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: it's gonna be old news. So, you Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: know, the The content that's gonna perform well is the stuff that's evergreen. Megan: I agree. Yeah. And I've noticed that too on like, yeah, the Ask Randy segment that we do like consistently is like one of our highest performing every single week. Cause the Ask Randy ones are just him talking to camera. I usually don't have any B roll or anything. It's just him talking to the camera with captions. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: But then also videos where it shows like, so say like our highest performing, our most asked question that we get all the time, because it is something that is controversial, is how Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: we put the oil into the motor or the engine. People get very... Amanda Van Den Elzen: Who wait, that's controversial? Megan: very upset when we say motor and my dad like my dad does not have a good education like he can he cannot spell he can barely write like like so he always says you know this is what we do with the motor and people get correct every single time they're like it's an engine not a motor so i don't know if you know but there is a difference it's so man Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, but I don't know that I would be nitpicky about it. Megan: people get so but yeah so the way how we pour the oil into the engine is so controversial for us. So I take advantage of that because I know for the last four years, this has always been our top performing piece of content, like over everything else is how to pour oil in. And so I will take advantage of that. And I know every single time I post a video about it, it's gonna go viral. It's gonna get millions of views. And so I mean, I will do that. because like people just don't get it. And it's just so funny because, okay, the way how we do it is we pour it into our oil pan and then put that on the car. But it's, very heavy. So you need two people to hold it up and then they'll put the Amanda Van Den Elzen: Okay. Megan: nuts on. We cannot pour it in from the top. If we do, we have to take them the engine. I always want to say motor, the engine all apart. in order to put the oil like actually into the block. so it's so controversial. But anyways, so that is something that is evergreen. I have repurposed Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: the exact same video for three years and every single time it pops off. And so it's like that. So I know that's always something that is it is kind of like educational. It's evergreen. It's you know, it's valuable because it's promoting our sponsor, which is our Maxima Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: oil. And people, you know, also ask them, why do you use that oil? Like, why do only change it after three runs and stuff like that? So, Amanda Van Den Elzen: what I absolutely love is that that is such a hook, right? I think that's the one thing Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: that 99% of content is missing. The stuff that we see has it because it catches our attention. But a hook oftentimes just introduces curiosity. And the curiosity behind that, the whole reason that that video is taking off, is because people are going, well, why the f- Fuck don't you just do this the normal way, right? Like Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: it feels like a rage bait. Megan: Yeah, oh yeah. Yeah, the last one I did, because usually I just, don't remember it like what I usually do for the hook, but this last one I did it as I said, this is what we do. after three runs or like this is what we change after three runs and then so that people are like, okay, well, what is it? And then they see us pouring the oil in and then they're like, my gosh, why do you do it that way? Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Yes. And okay, if we could get people's attention with a why do you do it that way on every single piece of content we post, like Megan: Mmm, yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: and and when we say hook, you don't just have a hook on the front end, right? You had the hook that got people in and then you had the hook that got people to watch the rest of it in the why are you doing it that way, right? Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Like you should have a hook in your content every three seconds or you're gonna lose people. Which is crazy to think about, but like you need to introduce new or continued curiosity every three seconds. And Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: if you can do that and like to your point, also show your partner's products and talk about that, like there is the value right there. Megan: Yes, yes. Yeah, which I mean, it makes it like, okay, it seems simple. But then when you're actually filming the content or like trying to piece it together, like it's hard to make sure that, yeah, like this is going to be something that will keep people's attention. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: And sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. I mean, social media is just hard because there's so Amanda Van Den Elzen: It is. Megan: much noise. There's so much content out there that you're battling with every account that's online. It makes it hard. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: Not every post is going to go viral, but I think as a whole in motorsports, we do need to shift instead of it just being like... Here's our qualifying results. Here's my race Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: one results. Here's my, you know, everything else. Yeah, I think, I mean like Amanda Van Den Elzen: Again, who cares, right? Megan: save that for your newsletter for your fans. Like, and then yeah, think of something that could be more. evergreen that you could create from the weekend. And that's where I think if we Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: maybe focus less on like thinking, my gosh, I have to have a post every single day. And it just be like, here's what I did today. I think Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: it could be, you know, maybe less posts that you're publishing, but then more value that you are providing when you do post something. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: I love that. Yeah. And I think you're right on. Like consistency doesn't mean continuous, right? Like consistent is important. It's important that you post when people expect you to post, but it's not important that you post every single day. Or it used to be people were saying like three times a day, you know, Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you need to post. And if you're putting out consistently, Megan: That's a lot. Amanda Van Den Elzen: yes. If you're putting out consistently valuable content and you're posting three times a day, your account is going to explode. There's there's no two ways around it, right? But the realistic like outlook for most racers is that that would be a full-time job and you wouldn't get anything else done. So including racing. Megan: Mm-hmm. Yes, yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: So like that's just not realistic. And if you can post three times a week, but it's fantastic, value add, great hooks. educational content that's evergreen and reaches out to a new audience, not just your own followers, you're gonna do great. Megan: Yeah, yeah, you just have to actually put some intention, like plan it out. Like, so think, okay, so like for us, our next race is next weekend. So it's like, okay, what are some pieces of content that I could film while I'm at the track, you know, before? We start practice or, you know, once we're done with our runs for the day. And so, yeah, so I'll be, you know, have like a shot list of like, okay, this is what I want to get. And it's not like, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: it's not always like, here's the latest trend. So I need to get a dancing video doing this or a Amanda Van Den Elzen: No Megan: swipe, swipe transition, which like, I mean, those can be cool, but. But yeah, they don't, they're not evergreen. Um, Amanda Van Den Elzen: No. Megan: it might, it might go viral for like 24 hours, but then. those like the trending videos drop off really fast. And I think like we're past, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: we're past that, you know, TikTok era. And I think people realize that like, like, I mean, when you go to social media, you want to be entertained. You want to maybe learn something. And so just think about what's something that like you as a viewer would want to actually watch from a racer that you Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: follow. Like what's something that you're curious about? Like when you and Chris did the one about like the point structure, like that was like, oh, okay, like I had no idea that's how you do it. And it Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: got a lot of engagement from what I saw. So Amanda Van Den Elzen: Mm-hmm. Megan: yeah, I mean, kind of something like that. and also I love his like fireside chats. Like Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: I really like those. Amanda Van Den Elzen: We've been having so much fun with that. So for our listeners, after Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: every race, Chris sits down in front of a campfire and just talks about the weekend. And what what you guys don't see, because we post, you know, 15 second clips, is that we're sitting for 45 minutes and we record all of it and we throw out 40 minutes of it. And we grab, you know, Megan: Yeah. Right. Amanda Van Den Elzen: 15 seconds here, 15 seconds there of stuff. that is educational and maybe introduces curiosity or answers a question that our fans might have, you know, or or that our future fans might have, or, you know, brings allure in some way. So yeah, those Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: those are a ton of fun, but it's really hard to edit that down into something valuable. Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: My favorite one is Chris goes, Tell me what other motorsport where Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: somebody could roll their vehicle, land on their tires and keep going? He's like, That happens in circle track. They get out the jaws of life and the track is closed for five days. And it was just controversial Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: enough. And people were putting in the comments like, What about rally racing? You know, what about motocross? Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: You know? Yeah. Megan: Yes, yeah, I saw that. Yeah, that's good. you want to, Amanda Van Den Elzen: my gosh, we're at an hour and a half. Megan: yeah, do you wanna keep going or do you wanna close it down? Amanda Van Den Elzen: I think we have gone over so much and just I think we hit what, like Megan: Yeah, okay, I agree. Amanda Van Den Elzen: five or six beliefs, but Megan: Yeah. Yeah, I think we did three each. Maybe. I don't remember. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, I think so. Something. I don't remember either. But I do think that we have put a lot out into the world for people to think about. So Megan: Yes, I agree. Amanda Van Den Elzen: what what do we have going on? What what's coming up? We've got another race we're going out to. the Alex Stryler episode goes live this week, which I'm really excited about. What do you have going on? Megan: just getting ready for short course next week. And then, yeah, don't have any drag races to prepare for, so my schedule has opened up. Yeah, man. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah, no kidding. No kidding. and then who's our next guest? We have is it Marty? Is Marty our next guest? Okay, that'll be awesome. So we've got Marty Megan: Yeah, I think Marty's the next one. Yes. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Fioca lined up to come and talk about activations right before we go to Crandon. So Marty Fioka is the promoter Megan: Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: for Crandon. And that's gonna be a really interesting conversation. So I'm looking forward to that Megan: Mm-hmm. Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: one. Megan: I'm excited for that. Yeah, it was cool. I've met him a couple of times at PRI. He seems, yeah, just down to earth. Pretty cool guy. And yeah, Crandon has been like, yeah, it's like that, like the biggest race of the year. So I'm excited for that. We've got our camping spot booked. So we are super excited to come up there. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Woohoo Megan: And I saw your that you tagged me in that one about like the biggest inflatable. And so I think that Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Megan: might be on the way up to Crandon. So if it is, we'll definitely stop by. So Henry, can see that? Amanda Van Den Elzen: If it's still there. So that was set up at the mall. Like that was just like in our mall parking lot. So no, maybe not. Megan: Yeah, it might not be there. I'll have to look at the page, see if they have a schedule. Maybe, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yes. Yes. All right. Megan: dude, we need to get them in touch with Marty and bring it to Crandon. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Just the entire parking area is just a bouncy house. Megan: Yes, yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: my gosh. I okay. I died when we were at Wheatland and there was a bouncy house there because I all I could hear was you talking about how every track needs a bouncy house. Megan: Yeah. Yes, I do. I'm serious. Like that. It put put a coffee truck next to it and you'll get all the parents buying coffee. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: You did. Yeah, you did. You had the coffee truck and the bouncy house man. Wheeland was lit. Megan: Yes, seriously. yeah. mean, bouncy houses don't cost that much to buy. Like they're, pretty affordable. Yeah. Yeah. Or you can rent them too. Yeah. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Or to rent. I think they're thousand dollars a weekend or something. Yeah. Megan: Cause we've, we've rented them for Henry's birthday party, the ones that have the water. Cause those are a pain to clean. So not buying one of those. I'll buy a regular inflatable. But yeah, even, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Ha ha. Megan: his, so where he goes to like a pre-K at They have, Amanda Van Den Elzen: Yeah. Megan: it's at someone else's house and she has an inflatable like castle bouncy house in her basement. So unlike rainy days and they can't go play outside, she'll air it up and that's what they do. Yeah. Anyways. Yeah. Amanda Van Den Elzen: That's fantastic. That is so good. But yeah. So I we're gonna talk to Marty about bouncy houses in two weeks. All right, listeners. Thank you so much for riding along with us for this episode. Hopefully we challenged your beliefs a little bit and got Megan: Yes. Amanda Van Den Elzen: you thinking a little bit differently about how to build value in your program. But we will Megan: Mm-hmm. Amanda Van Den Elzen: see you in two more weeks. We'll be on with Marty Fioca. And until then, we love you. Bye. Megan: Bye everybody.