How To Write A Race Report

If you find this of interest, please make sure to pass it along, Thanks Chilly

The 2012 offroad race season is getting started with a bang. There has already been some great race action and related stories to tell. As a media guy with a website, I find myself at times inundated with race reports. Amazingly, I also find myself wondering where other race reports are. Mostly I spend way too much time getting everything organized into a format that is usable for me to publish.

I am amazed at the wide variety and quality of the things people send me in hopes of being published. Clearly, no one has taken the time to educate riders, teams and PR agents on the basics of getting a story published. Therefore, here are a few guidelines.

First of all, if your name is not Caselli, Baylor or Whibley, chances are you did not win the race. Don’t be offended if you do not get published. Keep at it. I learned a long time ago that if you can’t be the fastest racer, then make yourself useful and of value to people. In relation to a race report, make it something of value that will encourage someone like me to publish it. That value can be in the form of a great story, photos, results, or anything that gives me information that I do not already have and that I think other people will be interested in.

Race Report Guidelines:

• It should to be in a Word document, but plain text in the body of an email is also suitable
• It has to include photos from the event. No stock pictures
• You will send it as an email with four attachments: 1) Story, 2) race photo, 3) podium photo, 4) candid photo of you
• All photos will be in JPEG format
• It will include results, minimum top 5 places, top 10 is even better
• It will state: the race, date, series, club and location
• Make sure you have permission to use all photos, and include photo credit
• Feel free to include sponsors, upcoming race information, team information, links etc, but understand that I may choose not to include them
• Write something Interesting, something that will make people want to read about you and follow your racing
• Average reports should be between 250 and 500 words. If longer, it had better be interesting or it might get edited
• Make sure somebody else proofreads it. I typically don’t, so everyone will see your grammar mistakes
• Use photos that include your face so people will know who you are
• Photos do not have to be professional, just give the camera to somebody; they are bound to get a couple of usable shots. Whenever possible include photos of the finish and race winners, that might just help you get published.
• Make it timely, the clock starts ticking as soon as the race finishes, your report only has value for a couple of days. I need it Monday morning, by Wednesday it is old news. The sooner you send it, the higher the chance of being published. KTM sends reports out on Sunday night.
• Be consistent about your reports. Write them for every race, not just the ones you did well in.

Do Not Send Me:

• Anything in a PDF, Zip file or any other file format
• Preformatted fancy E-mails, save those for your website and social media
• I really prefer not to have follow a link to find your information

These guidelines apply to everyone, even the top teams. I am amazed at how much poorly designed and written stuff shows up in my inbox. If you can do this, you are already composing a better product than many of the professional teams out there.