Private track days, any interest? Options

[Trekkor]

Investigating what it takes to get the track for the day.

20-40 drivers 4 hours+ track time.
1-2 run groups or on/off priveledges all day.

Experienced drivers only.

Any interest?

[grantsfo]

Trek, You know I'm there, but isnt this a big undertaking? Insurance, coordination, etc?

[DanT]

Trek, You know I'm there, but isnt this a big undertaking? Insurance, coordination, etc?

Yes, yes and......yes.

[Trekkor]

A private group is forming and we are doing all the research before we leap.


KT

[Trekkor]

Very likely we will persue several track dates and it will be by invite only.

KT

[Mueller]

sounds like fun....

a friend of a friend rented ThunderHill a couple of years ago...5 cars had been schedualed to run, only 2 showed up, a Formula Renault and a friends 914.

Between the owner of the 914 and myself, we put over 300 miles on his car that day on the track, that included taking time off for lunch and BS sessions....we had the track until 5pm but called it a day before 4pm due to being too tired (IMG:style_emoticons/default/MDB2.gif) ...we took 30 minute to 45 minutes sessions..oh yea, the Formula Renault was only on the track for 20 minutes tops the entire day....

[McMark]

it will be by invite only.

Ooooh, how exclusive....

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[Trekkor]

Yes...

[nine14cats]

oh...oh...pick me Mr. Kottair....pick me!

I'm in...

Bill P.

[DanT]

who says any of us will get invites? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

They may know our history (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Trekkor]

We are in the planning stages. There are about 12-20 of us who are LPR/GGR/RR PCA a/x and track regulars.

We all know each other well on track and are out to have fun, not drive aggresively and play racer. Fast, yes. Safe, yes. Crazy, no.

Mandatory point-by passing ONLY.

We all know several track enthusiasts who fit this description.
Not for profit, so costs will be low with max track time.

Possible time trial at the end of the day is being discussed as well.

We're pretty excited as this looks very doable.
FYI: to rent Thill for the day is about $8k. Includes insurance, workers, towing, ambulance, security etc. ( everything )

KT

[nine14cats]

Is that rental fee for a weekday or a weekend?

I would be more interested in weekends than weekends. I probably wouldn't make many weekday events if any.....

Bill P.

[DanT]

Is that rental fee for a weekday or a weekend?

I would be more interested in weekends than weekends. I probably wouldn't make many weekday events if any.....

Bill P.

Bill if you look at the TH online schedule.....there is nothing open on weekends until December for 2006. And only a few during the week until December. This is a great idea but remember there are Numerous (a whole bunch) of track clubs, car clubs, proffessional teams, motorcycle clubs, SCCA, NASA blah blah blah, all vying for the weekend dates throughout the year.
Remember GGR gets 3 guaranteed dates per year due to GGR putting in ~$40,000 over a 20 year period besides the track rental fees we pay.

Is this something to be looked into for next year?

Track rental will probably be more like $9k+ for a Friday or weekend date.

I dealt with some of this stuff indirectly when I was GGR competition director and the costs mount up quickly besides just the asphalt rental.
Corner workers $112/day, ambulance $100/hr, tow truck $100/day
starter $150/day on and on and on.
What about insurance if we start a fire or wreck some track equipment/property.

Not trying to rain on your parade but there is a lot of stuff to be considered.

[race914]

Is that rental fee for a weekday or a weekend?

I would be more interested in weekends than weekends. I probably wouldn't make many weekday events if any.....

Bill P.

Bill if you look at the TH online schedule.....there is nothing open on weekends until December for 2006. And only a few during the week until December. This is a great idea but remember there are Numerous (a whole bunch) of track clubs, car clubs, proffessional teams, motorcycle clubs, SCCA, NASA blah blah blah, all vying for the weekend dates throughout the year.
Remember GGR gets 3 guaranteed dates per year due to GGR putting in ~$40,000 over a 20 year period besides the track rental fees we pay.

Is this something to be looked into for next year?

Track rental will probably be more like $9k+ for a Friday or weekend date.

I dealt with some of this stuff indirectly when I was GGR competition director and the costs mount up quickly besides just the asphalt rental.
Corner workers $112/day, ambulance $100/hr, tow truck $100/day
starter $150/day on and on and on.
What about insurance if we start a fire or wreck some track equipment/property.

Not trying to rain on your parade but there is a lot of stuff to be considered.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Before I get a barrage of arrows in my back for making this comment, let me state that I'm only trying to keep anyone in the club from losing money. I love running track days and would be glad to run a 914club only track event!

I've organized PCA CCCR Autocross & DE events, and as an entire PCA Region, we can't fill events and lost money on all occasions. We teamed up with Santa Barbara Region and Golden Gate Region and even so BARELY got enough entrants to hold the event....

Some past statistics on West Coast events. We had four 914club members at the June Infineon event, three 914 members at the June PCA Buttonwillow event, and four at the August Leadfoot Adventures event. The hosting orgs did not fill the event even with inviting numerous clubs.... Besides infineon, the other events lost money. Don't think we could do it on our own at this point.

Here is something to consider. Recruit the 914club contingent to attend available track events. When it gets to a point we have so much attendance, we have members that get turned away, that is a signal we may have enough critical mass to hold our own event.

I like this concept, but I don't want anyone in the club to invest the $$$ to rent a track day, and then have only a handful of people show up... ($9K+ is alot to gamble!!)

With that said, holding our own event is something to strive for! Let's see more turnout at the current events to prove we could fill our own event!

[Trekkor]

No, I appreciate the feedback from someone with real world experience.

From what I can see our $8K quote includes *everything*.

Item Amount
Track rent: $4,000.00
Insurance: $1,200.00
Ambulance: $850.00
Track supervisor: $225.00
Security: $160.00
Communication line:
Public address system: $300.00
Radios:
Emergency/Fire support:$375 if unit rolls $100.00
Luxury restroom:
Portajohns
Deluxe showers:
Camping service:
Electrical $100.00
Corner workers: $672.00
Control: $150.00
Food service:
Worker Lunches
Catering Fee T.B.D.
Miscellaneous:
Restroom /Portajohn Cleaning
Paddock Restroom
Damages
Tow Stanby: $375 if unit rolls $100.00
New Building 1st-2nd Floor $120.00
New Building 3rd-4th Floor

Subtotal: $7,977.00

Deposit: Required To Secure Date $2,500.00

Total due: $5,477.00

KT

[Trekkor]

One thing to remember here, this is NOT a "914Club" sponsored event in any way.

Of course we want our experienced 914 friends to come out and have a good time.

I'm odd 914 man out in a group of 12-20 911 track guys. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)
They all have friends that would come out of the various PCA regions.

Remember, safe, sane and fun. So only drivers we can trust and feel comfortable with.

My list has about 10 of you on it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

All we need is 40 people to keep the cost low.

"Our group" has already agreed we'd pay the $300+ to have our own small attended track day.

We won't do this unless it's right and we cover all the bases.


KT

[DanT]

Trekkor,
The quote you recieved was for a week day I presume?

That in in itself may cut, dramaticly, the numbers of folks that would consider coming out to play in this manner.

I am still interested since I can schedule myself on or off any day I choose. I just need enough lead time to get it done...

[Trekkor]

I don't know if that was weekday or weekend pricing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Likely weekday, and that is ok as most of us can take days off as you said (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)


KT

[Vezna31]

My partner and I posted regularly on 42 forums, got smacked down and banned on 7, and warned on numerous others because we weren't sponsors to their site. Of the 39 paid attendants, 22 of them signed up in the last week. Our break even point was about 46 cars. I don't have final numbers yet.

Also, Bonnie, who runs the Miata board held an event at Streets of Willow last weekend and got 12...yes, 12 cars signed up and took a bath on the event.

That being said, Leadfoot wouldn't mind selling you a run group at a future event/s. Then you would only have to come up with 20 cars or however many you want on the track at once.

[DanT]

My partner and I posted regularly on 42 forums, got smacked down and banned on 7, and warned on numerous others because we weren't sponsors to their site. Of the 39 paid attendants, 22 of them signed up in the last week. Our break even point was about 46 cars. I don't have final numbers yet.

Also, Bonnie, who runs the Miata board held an event at Streets of Willow last weekend and got 12...yes, 12 cars signed up and took a bath on the event.

That being said, Leadfoot wouldn't mind selling you a run group at a future event/s. Then you would only have to come up with 20 cars or however many you want on the track at once.

That would be my suggestion, try to find a track group that is having trouble filling it's events, and offer to fill one of their run sessions. That way all the leg work and what not is done and all you would need to do is round up 18-20 folks to fill a run group...
at least is would be a start to see what kind of response you would get.