Rocked-IT Ltd, the motorsport and action sports-inspired supplier of luggage, merchandise, racewear and helmets will be supporting the Student Motorsport Challenge for rounds 13, 14 and 15 when the series visits Silverstone on the 28th and 29th of September. The company, based in Hampshire, is also currently reviewing its options for continuing its support into 2025, the fourth season of competition for the global leader in real-life motorsport experience for learners.
The germ of the idea for Rocked-IT was formed during the dark days of COVID 19. While the global pandemic was devastating to many, both physically and financially, for some the commercial challenges of 2020 through to 2022 forged a new breed of entrepreneur who sought to develop businesses with purpose.
Keith and Nick Underwood are two such businessmen. The father-and-son duo had long thought about starting a business together and the enforced down time of 2020 made them consider their options. Keith, with a background in IT consulting, and Nick, with experience in retailing, reviewed a number of ideas and while many of them could have led to commercial success, none sparked the degree of passion and enthusiasm that they wanted to bring to their new venture.
Speaking to EnduranceandGT, Nick Underwood explained how they arrived at the idea for Rocked-IT Luggage.
“My dad and I had always wanted to work on a business together and although we are motorsport enthusiasts, we are the first in our family to really have a passion for motor racing,” explained Nick.
“We looked at many business ideas that offered the potential for success and we got quite a long way down the road with some of them but we then realised that we weren’t going to enjoy them. Those ideas missed the point of us working together. We then decided to go into motorsport-related products and launched Rocked-IT luggage. We started with a single helmet bag which is still one of our best sellers and added the kit bag.”
The capacity to see beyond just offering their products on their website saw Nick develop a relationship with the UK’s largest retailer of motorsport products.
“We got a lucky break in that I managed to get us into Demon Tweeks so they now stock our products which has been absolutely fantastic for business. Demon Tweeks is a fantastic supporter of ours and that relationship has helped us consolidate and grow.”
Not content with just offering luggage and branded merchandise, successful though those products were, Keith and Nick listened to their customers to guide them as to how to expand their product range.
“I kept getting asked for racewear and helmets so we took the plunge and now we supply Torq Racewear which has enabled us to offer bespoke race suits and Nomex clothing, both of which have proved very popular with our customers,” said Nick.
“I’d also been using Zamp helmets for about five years as part of my work in supercar instructing and was always impressed with the quality of their products. Rocked-IT now stock Zamp helmets and again this addition to our product lines is proving popular with our customers.
“It’s incredible to think that the business has gone from my dad and I sitting at the kitchen table just over four years ago to where we are now; selling luggage, racewear and helmets and having Demon Tweeks as one of our retailers.”
Rocked-IT has had an association with the Challenge via QE Motorsports’ Haydn Payne, West Suffolk College’s Andrew Payne and Team Northbrook Racing’s Richard Payne for some time and the company is now looking broaden its relationship with the Student Motorsport Challenge as a whole, starting with their support for the Silverstone weekend.
“My dad and I love motorsport and you get that sense of the same love of the sport from series organiser JP Latham and all the Student Motorsport Challenge paddock and the people that are involved in it,” said Nick Underwood.
“The BRSCC Nankang Tyre CityCar Cup Championship is a great series to be involved in with a big grid and lots of competition up and down the field. You always feel very welcome in the paddock and you can’t say that for every series. It’s fantastic that so many students are involved, gaining valuable work experience that could help them gain that first foothold with a professional team. This is proper motorsport and you must get it right to compete and that is great to see.”
Rocked-IT is currently evaluating how it could continue its support of the Challenge as it its enters its 4th year of competition in 2025.
“Through our racewear range we can certainly help schools and colleges present that professional image that all teams need to attract sponsors and commercials. We are also evaluating how we can help with the costs of the various pieces of equipment that teams need. Currently we’re reviewing all our options.”
For Challenge organiser John Paul ‘JP’ Latham, the support of Rocked-IT Ltd demonstrates how attractive the series is becoming for companies looking to raise their profile within the motorsport industry.
“I am delighted that the Student Motorsport Challenge is welcoming Rocked-IT Ltd as a supporter for the penultimate weekend of the 2024 season,” said JP Latham.
“With Challenge grids averaging 13 cars or more during 2024 and with the promise of more to come in 2025, this series offers the perfect platform for companies such as Rocked-It to develop their presence within motorsport. Rocked-IT’s fantastic range of motorsport luggage, merchandise, racewear and helmets are the perfect fit for our rapidly expanding series.
“I look forward to welcoming the Rocked-IT team to our friendly paddock at the home of British motorsport and continuing discussions about how we can develop our relationship in 2025.”
Team Northbrook Racing 1 currently leads the Student Motorsport Challenge standings ahead of West Suffolk College ME as the Challenge meets for a triple-header weekend on the Silverstone National Circuit on the 28th and 29th of September.
