Jim Clarke - Clarke Motorsports Communications

Although I’m not as serious about it as some of the people who call themselves ‘track chasers’, I enjoy racing.  Dirt, pavement...it doesn’t matter.  I’m a race fan first and a track chaser second.  I enjoy talking to the drivers and teams in the pits and learning about where they’re from, where they’ve raced and how their seasons are going.  That doesn’t mean I know anything about cars.  In fact, it’s just the opposite.  If I get in my personal vehicle and it starts, I drive it.  If it doesn’t, I either call a mechanic or take the bus...depending on what’s in my wallet.

My first exposure to racing was with my father and brother at the old Kingston Speedway.  I loved that place and thought the drivers who raced there were superstars.  It would be great to see a track there again.

For about 10 years, I hosted a weekly radio show called ‘The Finish Line’ on CJBQ-AM in Belleville , Ontario .  That forum got me access to many different tracks and allowed me to attend NASCAR events at Watkins Glen, Dover , New Hampshire and Bristol Motor Speedway.  It also allowed me to develop a friendship with Derek Lynch, who hired me as one of the track announcers at Kawartha Speedway in April of 2007.

From there, I started to do weekly press releases and media work for Bryan Mercer – a driver in Kawartha’s late model division in 2008 – and the same year, added Brockville Speedway racers Bobby Herrington, Todd Stewart and Chris Raabe to my ‘client’ list.  For 2009, I’ll be working with Mercer, Brandon Watson and Willie Reyns at Kawartha.  At Brockville , I’ll be regularly sending-out releases for DIRTcar sportsman modified driver Adam Turner as well as occasional material for small block drivers Todd Stewart and Bobby Herrington.  I also file public relations material and photos to Kendrick Racing’s web-site on behalf of 8 time Brockville track champion Danny O’Brien.  I write occasional freelance motorsports material for a variety of print and internet sources.  My stories and photographs will be featured in Kawartha Speedway’s 2009 track magazine.

In a perfect world, I’d love to work full-time in the motorsports field and do PR/media work for a variety of drivers.  I think teams need to have a better understanding of what they need to give back to their sponsors.  It’s more than just asking for a cheque and putting a decal or some graphics on the side of the car.  The week-to-week support and exposure that comes with a good PR program will generate more sponsorship backing in years to come.

Any teams looking to have me prepare media material can contact me at via clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com or call 613.968.6410.

I’m 49 years old and after growing-up in Kingston and moving across Canada to work in a variety of radio stations I settled in Belleville , Ontario in the late 1980’s.  I have 2 children...my daughter Allisen just turned 14 and my son Travis will be 18 in September.

13.968.6410  /  613.922.0654

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