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ARE WE RACING NEXT YEAR?ITS UP TO YOU

Started by Paul Robertson, July 11, 2006, 17:30:39

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Trevor Williams

Richard
We are considering using some of the club's money, the problem is what is the most cost-effective use.

A few ideas to date:

Tyres: If we can get the F560s made again, bulk buy 100+ for members to use. Could cost upwards of £7,000.00

Entry Fees: Subsidise entry fees for the first few rounds to the first 15-20 members who enter an event. Could cost £1500+ per round

New Equipment: Scales etc £1,000+

Entries: Guarantee BARC costs for each round. £3,500 per round minimum

24 Hr Race: Block book entire Friday Test Day. £?????

All this plus other ideas soon takes a significant bite out of the bank balance.

Cheers
Trevor
Some days, it's REALLY difficult being me!

Nick Grant

I am new to the Club and new to racing this year, after helping at the previous two 24Hr races. I have really enjoyed it so far and am planning to do as many races as possible (only missed Cadwell so far due to broken Car after 24Hr race). I certainly plan to continue next year not least to get Paul Taylor out of the house occasionally.

I would though certainly vote for any ways to cut or keep costs down, particularly if this gets more cars out (I might not be so near the back then !!!)

Nick.

Richard hollis

yes that all sounds good, what i was suggesting was some form of promotion of the club as well so new people get to know about. I still think we don't have enough regularly new members. Maybe we should speak to Simon at Stringray?

Trevor Williams

Richard
I agree, but advertising / promotion still costs money.

As stated above anything would need to be cost-effective. If wee spend thousands and still only attract one or two new members is that cost effective?

When we did the Autosport show we used to get one new member if we were lucky. If we have to pay to do the show that works out at the entire racing membership fees at the start of the season just to attract one more person. Not costs effective. We have enough racing members and cars out there to fill most grids we do, surely the question is how to get them out? I know many people who have said that the recing and the craic this year are as good as any previous year, so why aren't more coming out for the fun???

Cheers

Trevor
Some days, it's REALLY difficult being me!

Pete Sparrow

Rich
strangely enough I had this conversation with Simon last night.
We all know we need to get off of our arses and do something but we need more cars out to keep it in profit,otherwise,no club.
We hope to be having a meeting soon on how best to move forward for next year.This will include advertising and various other bits.I think Simon is the man for this as he has a vested interest in the club and it's his specialist area.
I think that anyone with any idea's on how to make things happen should e-mail trev so that any idea's can be promoted at the meeting.This is what i'll be doing.
One thing that i think we should have is a club hire charter that can be down loaded from the website,this should help people to feel happier about renting cars giving agreed conditions.We could also do with someone to co-ordinate the cars that are for hire,keep a data base of results,contacts and costs making it easier to rent stuff out and keep owners happy.I vote Catherine for this job, what do you think?
Get something put on the front page of the website and make a big thing about it.May be this can be used by Simon as part of the promotion.
The older I get, the more rubbish I talk
(and the more pills I take)

Catherine Noble

Did someone call??

What am I getting roped into?? Will happily tackle anything (though apparently I'm bossy) as long as there are clear guidelines to keep everyone happy!

I had a thought about a tech issue but will email someone about it when I find the piece of paper I scribbled on ... probably with my blue book ... mutter ... must tidy up ...

C x

Nigel Hollis

It has always struck me how few spectators there usually are(aren't) at a race meeting.Presumably the amount of local advertising by the circuit owners/promoters is very limited or non-existant. We live fairly close to Mallory, Silverstone &  Rockingham and rarely do you ever see an advert in a local paper promoting a forthcoming event. The entrance money is usually pretty low compared with other sports/entertainments and I would have thought the numbers coming to watch would be increased significantly if the public knew what was going on. My point being that one source of new racing members is from spectators as we often get curious visitors at meetings asking questions etc. having come to watch the racing in general and not  knowing about the 2cv championship. Would it not be worth considering placing our own advert in the appropriate local rags and having some kind of leaflet available at the track giving basic details, contacts , costs etc?   as quite often we seem to be under the cars trying to get out in time & not able to converse with interested onlookers as much as we would like!

Catherine Noble

That's a darn good point. It wouldn't take much to run off a few posters and put them in strategic venues; i.e. petrol stations, supermarket, community noticeboard.

It might take a while to attract numbers but every little helps? There has been some info placed with 2cvGB, I hope to finish articles for the mag this week ... inbetween car dismantle, thesis rewrite and NVQ assesments, never mind finding that blue book ... A lot of the forum users have expressed interest in at least attending meets, but weren't sure where to find info. They've been directed to this site, but I also stick as much up-to-date info on the forum too. Is it worth putting this sort of info onto other car forums? A relatively cheap way of drawing attention to an event ...?

BTW when is the dinner dance because I can't find any of this year's copies of pace ... having an off week on the organised front! May need to try and get time off work.

C x

Ben Allan

Trev,

If you can supply me with:
- A car we can rent (Tim's?)
- An apporpriate banner
- Some nice handouts
- Permission from BARC (They owe us the bastards)

I will give up 3 Saturdays, park in the paddock of any English circuit and sell 2CV racing to anyone who passes by.

Ben

Pete Sparrow

well done ben, sounds like a plan
The older I get, the more rubbish I talk
(and the more pills I take)

Catherine Noble

On the idea of advertising things and seeing the season is now a race short ... 3rd Sept is "Run What You Bring" day at Santa Pod. 2cvGB have quite a few members taking their own cars along. How about using it as an advertising type event for the club? If any wants further info I have links etc and will happily email you the details, or if the club wants to attend as a club I'll email the details to whoever wishes to be deemed organiser!

C x

Ainslie Bousfield

Oh as a club dont we love moan.

Commentating.

For those who have made their opinions felt on the subject without the benefit of the background information please let me enlighten you.

A few years ago Christian, with his club PR head on. took it upon himself to get in the commentary box. This was a result of him hearing one uninformed, sarcastic commentary too many. His presence worked and when he had a rest from the club I took over. I have done it ever since and ony missed 3 meets in 3 years (better than most racers). I add this because although I haven't been racing much I have still been about.

The BARC and track 'liase' to get a commentator for the day who gets expenses. Traditionally they do all the races all through the day. We are usually the ONLY championship at that meeting to offer any form of commentary help. Some commentators resent this 'help' and very begrugingly use it. Sometimes there is only one mike in the box so my input it restricted to pointing! Sometimes they let me talk.

There are many restrictions on what you can say during a race. Basically you can not comment on anything which may be presented in writing to the clerk of the course. Cars make contact (A did not hit B). Cars make exceptional starts, not jump starts.(been caught out on that on myself)

I also have a full file on around 150 2cv racers so we can add colour to the picture we are trying to paint, describe the drivers characters etc. Christine sent out a commentary sheet with your club membership. Of which I recieved 3 back.  Sheets were also sent round by my able assistant at the 24 hour so we had a complete car list. This took all day and resulted in information like: best result - won lots: occupation - chicken pluckers son: Hobbies - Deep sea tadpole wrestling. And these are the printable ones. While you would think this is wildly entertaining, it cant be used and is a waste of time.

As for the Legends commentator. Yes he is brilliant. He is allowed to have the mike purely to himself and that makes a big difference as he can react immediately to whats happening rather than wait to get a word in. He also has  2 assistants in the box, one to make notes of times and positions and the other to act as a spotter.

Anyone who listened to the commentaries at Croft and Snetterton should have been happy with what can be done. Cadwell was a bit odd as it the Comentators first ever commentary!

I would be delighted to carry on and be the club commentator. I could also look a being the sole commentator for the 2CV races when I think I could do a better job than the current incumbent. But it would be pointless without the help and support of the club.

I appreciate the support from Dick but as he is busy taking pictures and making notes, he can only do so much. We are looking at getting downloadable audio features on the website (a 24 hour interview review is available) although there seems to be licence issues with the commentaries.

I have no ego about this so If someone else wants to do it no problem but it really does need to be 1 person to commit to it. If the club wants me to do it fine, but give me some support.

Constructive comments appreciated.

Francis Rottenburg

A reply to Trevor's post about using club funds to get more members racing - sort of....

One of the great things about the club rules is that people like Geoff and Paul can do what they love doing which is making engines more torquey and more powerful.  Enthusiasts for the technology and the club.  The paradox of that is large disparities in performance for a club that prides itself on four abreast racing and cheap(ish) motorsport.  

Pete mentions in a separate post that there is a test day at Mallory.  More cost to those that want to run at the front and a further disparity in performance.

I like all the people I have mentioned and they have all given me for free data they have learned expensively from years of testing and experimentation so this is not a winge against individuals.  I just wonder aloud (sort of) what the guys at the front want from their racing because there is a real paradox if you want to preserve cheap, close racing.  And let's face it even the slowest of us want to race!

Might be worth asking Mad Pete or Mick why they aren't out much at present, I suspect they will give a fair reflection of what is stopping cars appearing.  My reason is lack of money, I would come out if I could run, even to race where I normally am - at the back!

Catherine Noble

Fair point Ainslie. The commentary where Christian or yourself has been involved has been good, that's not what is at fault or, I would hope, being discredited.  :oops:

What's irritating is when the commentator for the circuit does a lovely job of providing info/commentary of the action for one race, then the 2cv's come on and you get silence for an hour! That is what gets my back-up! No, granted, not every commentator likes having their box invaded, but, if they aren't going to attempt to commentate for a race or decide that they'll go for a tea break during the 2cv race as in their view nobody would come to watch such slow vehicles, then something has to be done.

And shame on teams for not completing forms properly! Ainslie's right, if you haven't pertinent information in front of you what are you supposed to say! I think that grants Christian and himself (or whoever steps into the commentary box) to make-up the history for that team and tough luck if you hear that you're ex-convicts for armed robbery! Yes, it's fun to have a laugh and write down a pile of nonsense, but for goodness sake boys and girls there's a time and place!

Perhaps when membership is being sent out a form should be issued with it to update team/individual info. Oh, wait ... that's been tried ... so why on earth aren't they returned? Does a stamp/email really cost so much? Do so few people actually care about trying to keep the club going?

C x

Nathan Pasho

Sorry to hear that you are having trouble.  Nigel's idea about adverts in the papers sounds good to me.

If someone claims they are a tadpole wrestler, go ahead and announce it.  Maybe they will get the point.  :P