Event Entry Limits

[Loren]

Okay, I like where this is going. If you have an opinion on this (everyone should), please weigh in. I'll post a poll on it if I feel the need, but if there is clearly strong support for a particular idea here (so far, we seem to be headed in a direction), Steve and I will discuss and try to make it happen. Need more input.

Doug, I get notified whenever there's a cancellation. So, "the standby list" would be to email me and say "hey, Loren, let me know if there's a cancellation". I'm not going to publish that anywhere, or make it "official", because I don't need a dozen potential first-timers emailing me to get on a stand-by list. But, for "regulars" who miss registration, I'm happy to oblige.

[Native]

^^^
Even if you email someone about a cancellation, there's no guarantee that spot will still be available later - anyone lurking MAE could grab it...

My opinion on B'ville is to give up guest spots to drivers. Increasing the 75 number doesn't seem realistic, as discussed above. Keep SPC capped as it is - even if we go 75, that's not going to be 3 groups of 25. It'll be 3 groups of ABOUT 25 - gridding with 28 or 30 is just too crowded there.

[Loren]

^^^
Even if you email someone about a cancellation, there's no guarantee that spot will still be available later - anyone lurking MAE could grab it...

Yes, of course, notification of a cancellation would be just that, a notification. If you didn't act on it before it was taken, you'd still be out in the cold. (Unless you perhaps had an event credit and asked me to manually REGISTER you if an opening came up... if you asked nicely, I could do that... but don't expect me to do it for you more than once! We all know what it takes to get registered these days.)

My opinion on B'ville is to give up guest spots to drivers. Increasing the 75 number doesn't seem realistic, as discussed above. Keep SPC capped as it is - even if we go 75, that's not going to be 3 groups of 25. It'll be 3 groups of ABOUT 25 - gridding with 28 or 30 is just too crowded there.

True. 75 registered drivers would rarely mean a full 75 drivers. We'd likely have about what we had yesterday. 70-72. Grids in the 23-24 car range. Manageable... but just.

Speaking of such, it occurred to me that it would help Grid space if we were careful to park the trailer a little more to the West, dropping the tongue right on the edge of the pavement at the grass. Any extra 10-20 feet we can get will make that grid easier to manage.

[Gerry]

I vote for up to 75 drivers at B'ville with no guests and 75 drivers at SPC with unlimited guests. Rational: B'ville is the money maker and SPC is spectator friendly.

^^ I completely agree with this and is my "vote," if it comes to that.

[nc4me]

Cool, it seems most people feel 75 at SPC is good and 70 drivers and 5 guests at B-ville. I concur.

[Loren]

I'd have to count (and I will in a few days unless I decide to do a poll), but it looks more like the majority are saying "75 drivers at Brooksville" with some pretty rational arguments as to why.

[rojeho]

It could probably be done, but we've been resisting the hassle involved and we already barely break even on SPC events. Brooksville events are what allows the club to have a healthy budget to afford all the fancy equipment that everyone expects us to have.

This is a really important comment here and one that I didn't know before now. Based on this I would lean toward 75/0. Guests would need to pay like a driver. Stinks but it's the constraint of the site. I don't like just 5 total guests because that seems like it would end up becoming the biggest race of the weekend (to get a guest in).

[snookwheel]

Having some slots for non driving guests is not a bad thing. I can't tell you how many times I hear people say I wish my wife, girlfriend etc.. would Autox with them. Being able to have them come to the event and watch vs. excluding them can get the interest up. Also, there are some regulars that have a history of always bringing their spouse / significant other.

It's not uncommon for someone who is considering joining in the fun to want to come watch an event, why close down the best venue in our area to that opportunity?

My vote is keep at least 5 slots open for guests.

[Loren]

Having some slots for non driving guests is not a bad thing. I can't tell you how many times I hear people say I wish my wife, girlfriend etc.. would Autox with them. Being able to have them come to the event and watch vs. excluding them can get the interest up. Also, there are some regulars that have a history of always bringing their spouse / significant other.

Those folks are free to come to SPC events for a taste. Just sayin'.

It's not uncommon for someone who is considering joining in the fun to want to come watch an event, why close down the best venue in our area to that opportunity?

Because the alternative is to turn away people who are ready to drive TODAY.

My vote is keep at least 5 slots open for guests.

Noted.

Guys, also remember that though we may sometime think we want to be (we don't), we're not the only game in town. Our club is not the only opportunity that people have to experience or watch an autocross. If they can't get into our event, they can always go watch an SCCA, Porsche, BMW or Corvette club autocross. Those guys need love, too! We don't have to bend over backwards to get every newb who finds out about autocross into OUR events. The entire problem that we're having (a little too much growth) is caused by us being extremely novice-friendly.

Don't get me wrong, we need to be novice-friendly... but we don't have to bend over backwards so much. (and I know as autocrossers, it's hard for us not to want to... it's in our nature)

[Gregbj8]

As an almost regular I will vote for a Brooksville limit of 70/5. Brooksville is not fan friendly due to lack of shade, any place to sit, and bathrooms.

[twistedwankel]

About 1/2 the time I 'buy an extra guest lunch' for SPC and when the time comes wife has valid reason to kiss me off at the door.

She NEVER wants to go to the barren land of Brooksville Sahara with no shade, heat, wind and the dreaded 'blue' room.

SOoooo. I have no problem normally paying $35 for SPC to make the lunch cost 'go away' there. I'll probably continue paying the guest $5 too just in case. Sometimes I take 'her' famous meal home to get extra points.

The laugh is: I normally spend $28 for gas just to get to SPC and back + $6 in tolls oneway to save time going and probably burn up another $12 over 6 runs. That's way more than the cost of entry + extra world famous lunch @ SPC. I make out like a bandit at Brooksville being nearby and can even sleep in.

It's the Law of Averages. Pay now or pay later.

I vote to raise SPC entry $5 and keep some cap. That is 'the only' facility my wife will ever attend with me other than the 'clone' event in Tavares which is another shady, plumbed, police training lot + firing range and about the same distance away. (They don't provide a free Famous lunch and charge $30 for non-members.)

[Loren]

I vote to raise SPC entry $5 and keep some cap. That is 'the only' facility my wife will ever attend with me other than the 'clone' event in Tavares which is another shady, plumbed, police training lot + firing range and about the same distance away. (They don't provide a free Famous lunch and charge $30 for non-members.)

Lova ya, Doug... but budget is not the issue at hand. We have that under control. Your vote does not address the question of this thread, which is mainly whether we should eliminate some or all of the "guest" positions at Brooksville in favor of allowing more drivers.

(we're gonna hold off on raising entry fees for as long as we can... 15 extra entries at SPC adds up to well over $1500 net income at the end of the year, budget is not a problem at present)

[BigBlue]

I support the 75/0 at Brooksville. Just considering the sites themselves, Brooksville doesn't fit the comfort level I think you'd be wanting to introduce some one new to the sport with. I can't even imagine trying to get my spouse to come spend all day on the tarmac with no shade, not that great a view of the action (unless she was willing to walk down the grass/weeds for a better view) and the thrill of waiting in line for the pentalty box in 90 degree heat. That would put me on the naughty list for sure.

IMHO,The place to bring guests is SPC. The place to drive is Brooksville.

[twistedwankel]

ALL RIGHTY THEN:

I give this Primary vote to whatever Steve, Loren and Jamie decide is best for FAST.

Doug

[Rawkkrawler]

My vote is 70/5 for this venue.

I've had several guests here over the last couple of years and most have not found it to be very accommodating. Lack of shade, seating, plumbing, and the visibility is limmited to how far down the side you want to walk. St Pete is a good spectator event for those showing some interest in getting involved.

Just my .02 cents.

[Jamie]

I give this Primary vote to whatever Steve, Loren and Jamie decide is best for FAST.

Not me...I handed in my keys and returned to the decision-free environment.

You can make Tavares inside of an hour (I'm not too far south of you)? Hmmm....

Brooksville is not fan friendly due to lack of shade, any place to sit, and bathrooms.

In other words, it's a traditional autocross site, like at 90% of the events across the country. SPC does have us all spoiled.

[snookwheel]

Hi guys, this is Mary on Scott's account. I vote for leaving some spectator spots at Brooksville. I was a 'watcher' for a while before joining in on the fun. I appreciated being able to be a part of things before even becoming a competitor. Being able to bring an interested party is part of the experience and a good way to hook in new members! Btw, even without facilities, I always found being a spectator at Brooksvilli more fun, longer runs etc..

Mary

[Jeremy]

I vote we have 74 spectators and they can watch me do laps by myself all day.

[Loren]

Quick tally of feelings so far:

SPC: Everyone seems to be okay with bumping the pre-registration limit to 75 and dealing with 70-75 entries. Good enough.

Brooksville: How many drivers/guests on our total count of 75 people?

70/5 -
Chris M
Eva
Scott W
Doug
Greg R
Mike D
Mary W

75/0 -
Loren
Joe V
Jamie
Steve F
Gerry
Ron R

And then there's Jeremy's hyperbolic 1/74.

Only 14 opinions, but a good cross-section, I guess. Anybody else want to chime in?

[impalanut]

I vote for 75/0. The more drivers we have the more likely we will have enough workers for the stations.