|
New Limo Company RACES into Dover
Beyond The Track, Monday, September 20 - Sunday, September 26, 2004
By Kathy Willes
Bill Hickox of Dover, Del. and Danny Aguilar of Frederica, Del. became friends eight years ago while both were working at DART, the Delaware public transportation system. Several months ago, Bill saw an idea for a business franchise on the internet that he felt would be a perfect match for him and Danny to go into business together.
Bill invited Danny to lunch to review his proposal. When Danny saw the Racing Limos race-themed limousine services opportunity, he was excited. Being a NASCAR racing fan and having over 15 years of marketing experience, Danny knew that this business could be a success in Delaware with their location near Dover International Speedway.
The pair met with the president of Racing Limos, Bryan L.S. Pease in Orlando, Florida. Bryan had driven a stock car in the late 70’s on the dirt track circuit in Illinois and Missouri. Additionally, he had operated a major limousine/sedan service for 15 years before forming his own company.
Bryan’s idea is to grow the business nationwide and to be the first company to operate a themed limousine business. Besides having room for substantial growth, Bryan felt it would be a lot of fun melding two of his favorite loves—the passenger transportation business and motorsports racing.
Bryan says, “It’s a really fun business to be in—the race fans are so great. It has universal appeal no matter who their favorite driver is.” He also mentions that the main question people ask is “Do you actually race this limo?” Once, he did do hotlaps with his corporate limo around the quarter mile asphalt at Lanier Speedway in North Georgia. However, that is the exception. “Last year I signed more than 1,000 autographs for people who want to connect to the sport and uniqueness of the car,” says Pease.
Another one of Bryan Pease’s business purposes is to generate money for various charities. In particular he has chosen Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) and Victory Junction Gang Camp. Racing Limos’ fundraising goes beyond participating in specific events with these two charities. When the corporate car is in Bryan’s home county, Collier County of Florida, 100% of the proceeds generated by the limousine service are donated to either of these two racing charities.
The customer writes a designated minimum donation directly to one of the charities and often the checks are written for larger amounts. Bryan encourages his licensees to develop similar charity fundraising efforts in their markets.
The limousines are designed to look like racing stock cars. Chevy Monte Carlos, Pontiac Grand Prix, Ford Taurus, and Dodge Intrepid will all be utilized in the production of the limos. The Racing Limos feature racecar graphics that are painted, numbered and lettered by the same companies that do many of NASCAR’s top cars.
The interior features shelving for diecast cars that can be easily changed to accommodate a race fan’s favorite driver, a black and white interior and accent lighting representing the different race flag colors.
Racing Limos has a trademark for their name, a trade patent on their product, and a design patent for using race trim such as racecar graphics, wind rails, window clamps, aggressive rear spoiler, hood pins, etc. on a limo. Currently the company is working on Racing Limos Truck Series designs as well.
On July 21, 2004, Bryan Pease announced the newest member of the Racing Limo team, Racing Limos of Dover, LLC with two stockholders, Bill Hickox and Danny Aguilar. The company will be serving the Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware. They became the 14th licensee of the Racing Limo team.
Since their announcement there has been another team added in Atlanta, Ga. which gives the company a total of 17 racing limos, including their two corporate cars. Bryan says that he looks for people who are enthusiastic and astute business people and that he turns down many more requests for licenses than he accepts.
“Both Danny and Bill are so integrated into the area and warmly welcomed by the community that I have great expectations for them,” says Pease. “I get thrilled with the excitement that Danny and Bill have when I talk with them and their car isn’t even ready yet,” adds Bryan.
Racing Limos of Dover, LLC selected a Pontiac Grand Prix, purchased from Willis Chevrolet in Smyrna, Del., to become the first limo in their racing fleet. They chose a Grand Prix because this model had already been used by others in the racing limo team so the templates were already made and because they felt that since there were no Grand Prixs racing currently in the Nextel Cup Series, that it would be the most neutral car brand for those loyal Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge fans to ride in until they hope to have one limo in each of those brands available in the future.
Currently the car is being stretched at S & R Coach LLC of Springfield, Mo. and then sent on to a company in South Carolina for painting and decaling. This company currently does the same work on the Joe Gibbs racing #18 and #20 cars of Bobby Labonte and Tony Stewart.
Coming up with a car number was something that Racing Limos of Dover, LLC used some of their creativity with. Bill has two children, a five year old son, Jared and a two and half year old daughter, Riley. Danny also has two children, a six year old son Austin, and a three year old daughter, Grace. Danny’s son Austin’s favorite number is five, which is also the age of Bill’s son, so their first limo will have the number 55 on it.
Adding to the Dover Racing Limo team will be their wives. Danny’s spouse, Tammy, will handle the telephone, sales and reservations. Bill’s wife, Jennifer, will handle all of the accounting duties from the books to the taxes. This will enable the two stay-at-home moms to continue to play a key role in their families while participating in the business.
Danny currently is the Manager of Information and Education at Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) where he manages their public outreach campaign for the entire state, addressing recycling and educational programs. He is also the past president of the Murderkill Lions Club. With Danny’s marketing background, creativity and dedication as a race fan, he is very enthusiastic about this new business venture.
“We’re very excited to bring such a unique opportunity to Dover. We hope to bring the excitement that racing brings to its fans in Delaware,” says Aguilar.
Bill is the Director of Operations at Delaware Transit Corporation (DART), where he is in charge of all the buses, drivers, maintenance, etc. for the entire state of Delaware. In addition to that he is an adjunct professor of economics at Wilmington College at Dover campus several nights a week. Managing several area rental properties, being a member of the American Public Transportation Association, and current president of the Downtown Dover Rotary Club also add to Bill’s strong business sense of being able to manage and grow business as well as having people skills for building relationships.
Although he never followed racing that closely, Bill says he realizes what a big sport it is. “Everybody we’ve talked to about our new Racing Limo business has recognized the popularity of the sport, whether they are a race fan or not, and are excited for us,” says Hickox. “Perhaps our lawyer who handled our contract said it best, ‘I’m not a race fan but I certainly have to respect the popularity of NASCAR racing.’”
The new #55 Pontiac Grand Prix racing limo of Dover will hold up to ten people comfortably. Inside it will have two 15 inch televisions with SONY playstations. Initially, Danny and Bill will be the drivers. They feel their vehicle will have a WOW factor that can’t be achieved by a typical vehicle or billboard because it will be a rolling billboard for their sponsors that will attract lots of attention with its racy paint scheme.
The car can be used for unique weddings, birthday parties, nights out on the town, racing trips, business promotions, static displays, and other forms of sponsorship advertising.
The newly formed Racing Limos of Dover, LLC team should be ready to provide a fast and luxurious ride in their new limo by October 15. For more information check their website at www.racinglimosofdover.com or call (302)335-0800.
Racing Limos of Dover
44 Shinnecock Rd
Dover, DE 19904
(302) 335-0800
|