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| | | Supreme Being
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| While our events do pay for themselves and do make money, I think that higher attendance would make for better events. I don't want to return to the days when every instructor had students in 3 of 4 student run groups and the event was oversold on the first day. On the other hand, I'd like to see new faces and certainly many of the tracks we attend can hold a lot more cars than we put on the track. In addition, it is not uncommon for us to be worried about making money, and so we keep registration open until that last minute, much makes the event harder to organize. Here are some "sub-goals" that might increase attendance:- Decrease student cost. Our events have gotten a bit more expensive in the last 8 years or so since I've been attending. They seem to still be good values compared to other clubs (at least those that offer the same level of instruction and event format), but still, isn't cheaper better?
- Attract more Boston Chapter members to HPDEs. Of 3500-ish members, we attract less than 200 or so to each event.
- Attract non-BMWCCA members. We can gain new members by attracting new students (e.g. Import Tuner enthusiasts) and from other organizations (other chapters, other clubs).
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| | | | | I think reducing the cost of the event would increase attendance. With the exception of LCMT where everybody pays thru the nose, it seems as most PCA events at The Glen are less pricey than BMWCCA. I'm a member of both PCA and BMWCCA with 60+ days but I've yet to attend a BMW track event. I know that weekend dates are the most attracktive (pun and mispelling intended) and that there are only so many weekends during the season but midweek makes it hard for those of us with less than ideal work situations. My .02. |
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: 5/15/2008 1:40:19 PM
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| more boston bimmer articles probably would help. The bimmer is mostly about (yawn) clean car contests. I should probably get off my fundament and try to write another article, but we should be actively pulling.
maybe a track column. I get PCA magazines and newsletters and they have track oriented columns with names like track-out or whatever. The topic isn't track every month, but spirited driving with a focus on events is the idea.
As I think I mentioned in other rants, I'm not against making events cheaper.
The bmw quebec events have a less formal feel to them. They somehow spend less money and have more fun. They rent some 55 gallon drum BBQs and someone brings 50 pounds of sausages, a lot of buns, some green peppers and a bunch of mayo and mustard, and boom. Lunch, or a 6pm dinner at the track. Served by your friends at the track, people "volunteered" on the spot.
I find these informal events to be really a lot of fun. I find paying $17 to ride a gondola up to a restaurant I paid $50+ to eat not-great food in a semi-formal setting less fun. They both have my friends, but I'm happier eating practically free food at a picnic table outside.
-j |
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| | | | | The best way to increase attendance is to elimate the requirement of student flagging. Not only is it hard for students to do, learning to drive, processing the event, but it's potentially dangerous for cars on the track when students flag. Hiring professional flaggers is the best way to achieve this!!! They are trained to look for problems or problem drivers on the track and know how to respond in an emergency situation. One of the reasons why SCDA1 always fills up is that student don't have to flag. Anyone who says that it's the price is highly mistaken, SCDA1's prices are higher than Boston's so obviously there must be reason.
Edited: 2/5/2008 1:29:29 PM by Anonymous |
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| | | Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 4/10/2008 10:29:42 AM
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| johnmdanskin (2/5/2008)
more boston bimmer articles probably would help. The bimmer is mostly about (yawn) clean car contests. I should probably get off my fundament and try to write another article, but we should be actively pulling.
maybe a track column. I get PCA magazines and newsletters and they have track oriented columns with names like track-out or whatever. The topic isn't track every month, but spirited driving with a focus on events is the idea.
As I think I mentioned in other rants, I'm not against making events cheaper.
The bmw quebec events have a less formal feel to them. They somehow spend less money and have more fun. They rent some 55 gallon drum BBQs and someone brings 50 pounds of sausages, a lot of buns, some green peppers and a bunch of mayo and mustard, and boom. Lunch, or a 6pm dinner at the track. Served by your friends at the track, people "volunteered" on the spot.
I find these informal events to be really a lot of fun. I find paying $17 to ride a gondola up to a restaurant I paid $50+ to eat not-great food in a semi-formal setting less fun. They both have my friends, but I'm happier eating practically free food at a picnic table outside.
-j
I think a column in the newsletter might help. I suspect there are a few people that are interested in exploring their car's potential but are intimidated by the thoughts of taking it on a track. Reading a regular column about what the track is like might familiarize them with HPDEs and convince them to finally give it a go.
And an informal BBQ would be a nice thing to do as well. Heck, I use to work at a BBQ joint years ago; if someone brings the grille I'll bring the charcoal and wood! |
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| | | Forum Newbie
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| | I ran into a tech problem last year that will keep me from attending events, quite different from the earlier convertible discussion though. I race in SCCA/ITE and my car does not have a second seat which is required for a first run drive around with an instructor. I didn't realize I needed this and when I showed up at a BMWCCA event last year I was told I was pretty much SOL. As it turned I borrowed a car from a co-worker who happened to be there and did a couple of laps with an instructor and got let out for the rest of the day. I say my issue is quite different because this is a very, very safe car but still not allowed to run. I do mostly SCCA events but like to do a few DE's up at NHIS as well yet I can't see installing another race seat and harnesses just for that. If the BMWCCA is adament about an instructor ride on the first run then that's that. I just wonder if that is really necessary. Maybe there could be a way to get a "waiver" prior to the event? I don't want this to turn into a "Club racers don't belong at DE" thread. Saw that happen a bunch over on Rennlist. I'm just throwing out an issue that keeps me from attending events this year... |
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| | | | | The instructor signoff ride is, I believe, a BMW space CCA requirement. |
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| | | Supreme Being
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 5:01:15 PM
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| | Yes, alas, this came down from the national office. We used to allow someone to be signed off to solo and that was it. You were encouraged to take an instructor, but didn't have to. You still had to have a seat, though. We sometimes require an instructor in the event of really bad weather, just to make sure that everyone knows the rain line and has made appropriate adjustments to their driving. It might be possible to run a few laps in a street car or a borrowed car as a regular solution. E-mail me at dan899 at gmail dot com if you are interested in persuing this option and I'll ask for you. |
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