BoB wrote:Eric likes spaghettios especially if you open several cans and dump them in a plastic bag.
[Sigh]
Things that are always good bribes, generally in the order I enjoy receiving them:
- A meal during BS Inspection.
- Promise of a meal during the race, but you had better deliver on it and had better deliver it, too. Judges can't always up and leave so bring it to them.
- Regional non-alcoholic drinks that can be consumed during the race. The Sprecher Root Beer from Team Sucker Punch always goes over well, for example.
- Car parts for judges' project vehicles, assuming they can be shipped (at your expense) or taken in a checked bag. It's usually better to find out who's judging a given weekend and contact them ahead of time.
- Diecasts.
- Team shirts
- Cigars.
- Things that are personalized, either for your team/car or for the judges.Try not to be creepy.
- A six-pack of good local beer for consumption during the weekend. You can bring more, but it might get left behind
- A high-end bottle of good bourbon, rum, vodka, etc. It's usually only going to get taken in a checked bag if it's particularly good.
- Things to be used for penalties, although an alarming number of these end up being used on the team that brought them for some reason.
- I like getting something I can take home to my kid on occasion. Again, that's a check-before-the-race kind of thing, though.
Things that are always bad bribes
- Fireball and other "flavored" whiskeys. Please. Just stop.
- Porn. Maybe I'm alone in this, but it's kinda weird.
- Cheap beer, usually. Although sometimes the corner workers adopt a 30-brick of PBR or whatever.
Good Bribing Practices
- Be creative. That usually goes a lot farther and is more memorable than just buying booze.
- Don't ever expect your bribe to get you anywhere. It's mostly to foster goodwill with the judges and a reason to get a cool stencil. It probably won't improve your class/BS Laps.
- PUT YOUR CAR NUMBER AND/OR TEAM ON YOUR BRIBE.
- Not all judges drink so booze is a bit overrated.
Eric Rood
Everything Bagel, 24 Hours of Lemons
eric@24hoursoflemons.com