Player of the Series prizes

by mynah Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:02 pm

What really happen to those cars that are up for grabs in many series? Do the top players have huge garages in which they store them, like a trophy collection? (And most probably drive sponsors' cars, anyway...) How do visiting winners take them home?

One reason for asking this is because a rather sad tale comes to mind. A couple of years ago, a South African runner with a somewhat modest income won a top US marathon. The prize was a luxury car (a Merc, I think) - but when he was about to return home, he was told he had to arrange to ship the car home himself. With shipping and taxes paid, the cost would come almost to the price of the car. IMO the logical solution would have been to arrange for a dealer near his hometown to provide him with an identical model, but the sponsor was not willing to do that either.

by Chivalry Augustus Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:52 pm

The logical solution would have been to sell the car and then bundle the cash home/into the bank.

by mynah Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:18 pm

Augustus wrote:The logical solution would have been to sell the car and then bundle the cash home/into the bank.

Managed to trace the story: That's what he did, though - because the car had to be considered second-hand and he had to hand over 30 percent to the US - he got less than half its original value. Never realised it happened so long ago (1993), so it is to be hoped that sponsorship has become less ham-fisted since!

by bliksem Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:29 pm

It's my understanding that the sponsors in cricket tournaments also offer a cash alternative. I think I read that in an autobiography somewhere.

by MidnightCowboy Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:23 am

I still can't get over Ntini's MOM award in Ireland some years ago which was a lawn mower. Smile

by taipan Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:25 am

MidnightCowboy wrote:I still can't get over Ntini's MOM award in Ireland some years ago which was a lawn mower.

Lawnmowers are a luxury item in Ireland.

by mynah Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:30 am

MidnightCowboy wrote:I still can't get over Ntini's MOM award in Ireland some years ago which was a lawn mower.

Irish Ferrari?

by LeFromage Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:52 am

taipan wrote:
MidnightCowboy wrote:I still can't get over Ntini's MOM award in Ireland some years ago which was a lawn mower.

Lawnmowers are a luxury item in Ireland.

As are teeth.