August 30. In the Diary we talk most about Wade Cunningham, as we
should. But no driver flies on his or her own. Auto racing
has always been an expensive sport, which has something to do with why
it is so exciting – because of the costly high technology and
dangerously high speeds. As a driver goes higher up the racing
pyramid in the quest to reach the top the sport becomes more and more
expensive. The Menards Infiniti Pro Series, of course, is the
level just under the top. The same goes for the cost.
We’d like to acknowledge the sponsors and partners who are putting
their $$$$$$$, time and/or energy behind Wade, because they believe in
him and his potential to become a great driver at the top level
of open wheel racing.
First off, we have to mention Wade’s parents, Lyndsay and Bob
Cunningham. We wrote about his father in an earlier story.
[June 9. Rookie Diary: Dad’s Surprise Visit to
Indianapolis.] Robert Cunningham Construction Ltd. is one of his
sponsors, and you will see their RCC logo on Wade’s red and black,
Brian Stewart Racing, number 33 car.
Second, there is Ron Dixon, who is Wade’s mentor, personal manager and
promoter. You met Ron before [July 21. Ron Dixon: NZ’s
Talent Scout and Promoter Extraordinaire.] and have seen him
interviewed on several of the ESPN2 Pro race delayed broadcasts.
You will see Ron, who is the father of Target Chip Ganassi Racing’s
2003 IndyCar Series Champion Scott Dixon, in the garage and pit areas
at all of Wade’s races.
Third in line comes Brian Stewart and his great Canadian based Brian
Stewart Racing team. You’ve met Brian already [May 3. The
Brian Stewart Story.], as well as his Team Manager, Doug Hoy [August
1. Doug Hoy: BSR Team Manager and Master Juggler.] You will
meet some of the other team members in a forthcoming story, but we will
do some name dropping now: Doug Zister, mechanical engineer; Dave
Metcalf, chief mechanic; Harv Sweezie, mechanic; and Mo Larsen, chief
mechanic; Teena Larsen, mechanic.
Behind Wade, based back home in Auckland, New Zealand, is his
outstanding auto racing public relations agent, Ross MacKay, and his
firm, Fast Company. Ross has been constantly active building a
high media profile at home and abroad for Wade. Ross works with
all of the major media, and we can tell you that he works with fromthetrack.com
and has been very helpful to us. From our experience, we only
have good things to say about Ross. [MacKay also represents
Wade’s younger brother, Mitchell, who, following Wade’s footsteps or
kart tracks, in now racing karts in Europe.]
Another very important partner that is invisible in the background, but
key, is Jim Leo. Jim is one of the top motor sports trainers in
the country, and train Wade he does! When Wade races at 188 mph
for the lead at the 24 degree high banked Texas Motor Speedway and
undergoes those huge G forces, or at The Milwaukee Mile doing 130 mph
when the air temperature is 100 and the track temperature over 130
degrees, he had better be in better physical condition than you or I
will ever think about being, or ever need to be! Jim, who’s
organization is PitFit Training LLC, makes sure that Wade has the body,
endurance and reflexes necessary to drive a safe and complete race, and
become a Pro champion. In addition to inside workouts, he has
Wade doing about 40 miles a day riding his bicycle around
Indianapolis. Wade does not have a personal car.
On Wade’s 33 car you will see the names of sponsors and suppliers of
Brian Stewart Racing, as well as those who are sponsors and partners of
Wade persaonally.
Backing the Stewart team you will find: Segway [at every race
Brian loves to ride their revolutionary human transporter all around
the track area.], Istore4u.com [a hosting, computer and
telecommunications company], Skip Barber Racing School [from
introductory to advanced classes], MultiMatic [automotive components,
systems and services], Firestone [tires], Lincoln Welders [arc welding
equipment], Sunoco [gasoline], Bosch [auto parts] and Menards [Infiniti
engines], Infiniti and the IRL Menards Infiniti Pro Series.
And then, you will see other names who are directly behind Wade.
His sponsors are PlaceMakers Mt. Wellington, Sniper New Zealand, Sniper
Precision Technologies (Australia), and ice TECH. And again, Robert Cunningham Construction – RCC.
PlaceMakers Mt. Wellington is in the building materials business in New
Zealand. They have been a sponsor of Wade’s racing career going
back to 1998.
Sniper New Zealand and Sniper Precision Technologies (Australia) –
Sniper is the world’s leader in kart laser alignment systems.
They recognized Wade when he was winning kart races in NZ, Australia
and Italy. To young karters in New Zealand Wade is a legend, who
had his kart well aligned when he won the CIK-FIA World Karting
Championship, and now stands first in the Pro Series points standing in
his rookie year.
ice TECH is into advanced polarized sunglasses. Check out what Wade wears!
Robert Cunningham Construction Limited is in the commercial
construction business in New Zealand. They do jobs as big as
building football [soccer] stadiums which seat 55,000 fans.
Lastly, but equally important, there are the partners, Turbo Traders
New Zealand/Cockpit 88, Kartsport New Zealand and Windward Properties
Limited.
Turbo Traders New Zealand is a supplier of auto racing equipment.
Kartsport is involved in karting projects in New Zealand.
Windward Properties Limited, a New Zealand organization, is in the business of investment properties.
Regardless of how good a driver Wade is and how much talent he has,
just remember, he wouldn’t be here today in the Pro Series if it
weren’t for these partners and sponsors. It is something Wade
always remembers!
Besides keeping up with Wade on his official web site: www.cunninghammotorsport.com
you can find out more about some of his above partners and sponsors by going to:
IPS Archive 
