Welcome Options

[seanery]

Thanks for coming.

It looks as though Craig and the PACNW folks are ready to roll. There are folks who will be willing to help you out. Don't hesitate to ask some for help. Jeroen and I are more than happy to help with Graphics, shirts, etc...

-sean

[Howard]

Hi all. I invited myself to the planning party, and while not local, will help in any way possible. Here’s a start; things I learned from attending 2004 and steering 2005.

I did a number of polls to figure out what was wanted and tried to balance the wishes. No matter what dates or venues you choose, someone won’t like it. No big thing.

It has to be at least a 3 day (4 wouldn’t hurt) event to attract out of towners. Provide food and drink each time you want to gather the folks. It’s not expensive. We had free breakfasts at the hotels, each provided their banquet facilities at no charge, the Burger lunch and Mexican Fiesta cost less than $10 per head. An especially nice touch from the Inn of Lancaster; they turned on their soda machine and let us use the plates and silverware gratis. Don’t be afraid to ask for freebies or discounts. Hampton knocked $20 off their room rates.

It’s been said before, but nail the dates and rooms ASAP. Any charity is OK, and it really helps loosen sponsor wallets and get deals. The National Park Service (Paramount Ranch) charges $1500 to rent that facility, and that was budgeted. Since it was for charity, when the bill came, it was $500. All the stuff in the goodie bags was donated. The shirts and hats were paid for by ‘914’ sponsors.

But with the notable exception of Camp914 (thanks Craig), the cash contributions came from outside the 914 community, and only because of the charity affiliation. Pick one and get them involved now. That’s what made 2005 a cash cow. Take a look at the P/L. I have no idea how 2004 did, but I guess it made some money.

2005 Events (for those who did not attend or were too hung over to remember). Friday night early bird pizza. Saturday breakfast welcome, tour/poker run/lunch party. Sunday breakfast, then meandered out to Lancaster with another tour, tech session/parking lot party/karaoke fiesta. Monday breakfast, track and lunch. Seven meals and 3 ½ days of partying for $150, bring a guest free. And some people still bitched about the cost. Oh well.

I’m not a fan of tagging on to other club’s events. The 2004 A/X was a bit painful at times, and the 2005 track day lunch was worse. Strongly advise you throw your own party. I’d rather spend the day at the legendary Camp 914 for a tech session/BBQ and buy a bunch of stuff I don’t really need than to sit in the grandstands and watch people I don’t know race.

If I had it to do over again. I would have tried a little harder not to piss off all the admins and make it a 914world.com event. The only cost to the club would be special event insurance, about $500 for a non racing 3 day event, and that could be paid from the entry fees. We could have gotten a ton of publicity with ‘the club’ donating the $$. Think giant sized check being handed to the charity. I just mailed them the money.