35 replies to this topic

[luckymiata76]

 

Communicate whatever is decided at the beginning of the year and throughout the year until it is drilled in to peoples heads.  If we want to race and have successful events registering early is the least we as racers can do to contribute.

Matt,

 

I plan on introducing this very concept to all the regions in GLDIV at our scheduling meeting, are you in posiiton to do the same for CENDIV?

 

Jeff

[Caveman-kwebb99]

I think all the regions in CENDIV/GLDIV should agree on a STANDARD late fee date. That way every driver is "used to" the practice. I agree, it is very hard for regions to plan meals and trophies when racers wait until the last day or two to register. I think 7-10 days is very fair. Late fees could also be standardized($25?).Most of the racers know exactly what races they are going to months ahead of time.

 

These are my opinions as a racer and race organizer.

 

Jeff Luckritz

#76 SM

SBR RE

 

And on average how many entrants actually sign up late on average?  and how many that sign up early cancel out?

 

This is just my OPINION as a racer, I go to races that I actually want to go to.  I have zero concern for scoring points so I am going to pick tracks and events that suit my goals, either super convienent to my schedule and ease or travel, or a large field.

 

Many have no idea you can sign up and then skip the payment on Motorsportsreg.com  I go back and pay a day or two before the event or cancel if i am not going.

 

typically I see as an example 20 entrants pre registered, that tells me there will be 17 or less actually there to race.  Which tells me that there are more cancellations in the sm field then late entries.  

 

If my math is correct how in the world is charging $25 for being late going to help your cause???

 

putting on races at great tracks and durring the right time of year for people are the two most important things for an organizer again MY OPINION.

 

Kettle moraine is held at a great track, but there have already been several well attended races there this year and it is now school time making it harder for most to travel to race.

 

Anyone going to runoffs isnt interested to much in risking their car to go race anywhere other then the venue.  Anyone not going to runoffs is not that concerned with next years runoffs at this time.  I actually am thinking about next years runoffs thus I am making a trip to Dayton to see if I really want to do next years event.  I am one who may have attended the kettle...  but I am going to daytona instead. 

 

$25 for a weekend of racing is chump change even gas for the day costs more then that, make your late fee $double and then its a real penalty, either way I dont beleive it will help the problem we have.  "two damn many races and two many groups competing for dollars".  Now cut registration in half for paying 30 days ahead and you may just attract many who are on the fence.  

 

NASA has a gratuated fee structure for the championships, if you watched those numbers they fell as we neared the event they did not grow.  so did their penalties work?  you may say yes, but in reality people just pulled out so all the chicken dinners that got ordered for ex. 50 entrants is now a real number of 35 you just lost your ass on paying for more food then you need.

 

I personally would be fine with lower fees, and no stupid poster that I imediatly throw away, or a tshirt I already have to many of, and a dinner that I didnt come to the track for, dont get me wrong I get it that we have to keep doing all those things because we have always done them, and if people know they dont get a tshirt of course they will sign up for the race next week where they get a tshirt.  

 

Control costs, pick great venues, work on the registration process to make it seamless, bring the best competition and now you are on track to having one of those long standing events that people put on their calendar over and over year over year!

 

A regional race here in Ohio called the IT-SPECTACULAR gets a huge field every year, as good as if not better then the majors in June.  While Drago may not be there most of the other area majors racers show up for that race because of the heritage and competition that will be present.  

[FTodaro]

As a person who works on committees to put on both regional and Major SCCA race and also PCA racing, the late fee issue has always haunted me. As a promoter you want early sign up and commitment, as a racer you want to be able to back out without penalty.  Its risky for clubs to pay the huge rental fees the track charges and then get stuck.

 

As Kyle said the best way to make an event better is to attract bigger fields. Having some history and know some good drivers are coming to compete feeds into itself.

 

At the end of the Day I like the regions that encourage you to sign up and only ding your credit card if you take the track. so if you can't make it, the truck blows up whatever your not out. I think this makes me sign up for and event i want to go to without risk or caution about the "What IF's" in my life. If I am signed up i am somewhat committed.

 

If a region has a cancellation fee or penalty, i will be a little more cautious about singing up an may never do it.

 

a 25.00 late fee does not work, it does not motivate behavior. We have tried this with some PCA events and if the event is not sold out, increasing the fees does not seem to be productive to getting those last minute signers.

 

This is my long winded way of saying the best way to promote early sign up is to

1) open registration early

2) have no cancellation fee, just charge the card if they attend

3) no late fee or penalty

4) work hard on getting the registration numbers up early, it generates more interest and more sign up.

5) promote the point series, Racers chasing points will not want to miss an opportunity

 

Our SCCA region used to be under attended compared to the Local NASA chapter, that appears to now be reversed. Regional SCCA events appear to be better attended than the local NASA events. Part of it is people what to race with their friends and where their friends race.

 

 

That is my two cents. .

[Tom Sager]

Getting people to enter early enough so that hosting regions can best plan an event is a real issue.  Maybe some other reward should be offered such as better (or choice of) grid position for practice session or qualifying session based on the entry order.  

[luckymiata76]

Looking for answers for getting racers to register ahead of time...

 

Jeff

[Bench Racer]

Looking for answers for getting racers to register ahead of time...

 

Jeff

Jeff, this is simply blue skying.

 

Reducing the event burden should reduce entry costs. (Look at the event line cost, is it all required or are things the same because of the good old word historical.)

 

When the event burden/profit is met, have a % event fee return in place.

 

Do a Divison survey, looking for answers for getting more racers to enter and to enter eariler. Solid data over guess.

[David S.]

Have you made it a point to those who would enter that you'd appreciate it to get done early? Maybe send out an email or post on Facebook (the DC region SSM class has a Facebook group but I don't know about other classes/regions). It may be common knowledge for people that have been doing this awhile but it never really occurred to me how helpful it would be to register early. After reading this thread I'm now registered for an event a month away that I would have typically waited to register for.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Jeff, this is simply blue skying.

 

Reducing the event burden should reduce entry costs. (Look at the event line cost, is it all required or are things the same because of the good old word historical.)

 

When the event burden/profit is met, have a % event fee return in place.

 

Do a Divison survey, looking for answers for getting more racers to enter and to enter eariler. Solid data over guess.

 

Surveys are not worth IMO youwill get so few returned surveys the data will be meaningless.  Offer free lunch to 3 racers from each class for a 30 minute focus group at the next regional race and have your questions ready.  easier to get it done that way, I served on the BOD for 2 years of a large national organization, we couldnt get survey info that was worth 2cents but could get a focus group to openly discuss how to solve problems on a white board together.  

 

this needs to be done at a well attended majors event as well as at a very well attended regional race. this way you get the prospective from both the majors racers as well as those running regionals almost exclusivly.  each will have their own set of ideas...

 

You could even have a company like hoosier or someone facilitate these groups so they get some exposure as well.  even better if you can get them to have a giveway at the focus group in order to gain better attendance to the focus group meeting.

 

once you get racers who sign up early and some that sign up late into this group you will only then gain understanding on what is really happening and why, is it a PITA yeah probably but if you dont do soomething like this your just waisting your time playing pin the tail on the donkey.

 

have multiple race dirrectors there and group several racers at seperate tables along with one director per table to discuss then directors get up and present their tables findings and put it on the white board, then you have plenty of info to take away from the event.

 

Jeff I would be happy to assist with this at Mid Ohio in October if you would like, I have been involved in these many times over the last 10 years of committee and BOD efforts.

[davew]

Cen-Div has talked about doing this since last year. getting the prep shop principles (open wheel, SRF as well as SM) along with a handful of individual racers and having a pow-wow to hash out a direction. Except for Jeff, the majority of event organizers do not race. Since the racers are the customers, we need their input. Not the beaurocrates from Topeka.

 

Butch had an interesting fact at the Grattan Majors party, maybe he can give the details. IIRC there where only 6 drivers in the Eastern and Western Conferences, and 7 from the Northern Conference that attended all the events in their particular conference. Assuming the 4th conference was similar (they still had a race to go). It appears chasing conference championships is not really that important.

 

Another 2 cents

Dave

[Kevin Coulter]

I don't think anyone from CenDiv would object to a plan for consistency. At least one for Majors, one for divisionals.   

 

On the exact dates, our customers have asked that given the online registration, we make it as late as possible so they can decide at the last minute without penalty.  We have for 2 or 3 years (I forget) not charged the credit card until after the late date (or the event itself).  Yet when we talk to drivers about why they don't sign up earlier, we frequently hear "I want to wait until the last minute to make sure the car is ready", along with other reasons. 

 

Would a "tiered" system be better? Something like the entry fee is $350. If you register within the first week, its $325 (possibly in the form of a $25 coupon for a future race). If you register after X (standard date), its $375. If you cancel before the credit cards are run during the weekend, no cost to you.

 

Kevin

[Kevin Coulter]

And speaking of which, there are only a few more days until the first event of the 2015 racing season! The Kettle, complete with the event's Chicken dinner, is this coming weekend, Sept 20-21.

 

The late fee will not kick in now until Thursday night at midnight, but don't wait that long. Register now at http://msreg.us/kettle2014!

 

There are no excuses:

- There are no other club races in the COUNTRY this weekend.

- All CenDiv NFL teams are on the road.

- Last chance to race at Road America for about 9 months.

 

Any questions, just holler.

 

Kevin

[mvzante]

Fun time at Road America minus the wet qualifying both days and taking the grass after the carousel        Seemed like great racing at front, middle, and even the back of the pack where I was hanging out.  This is my first year of racing and first time at RA.  Can't wait to go back next year and improve on my times!

 

David Tesch, John Raymond, Colt Roberts, & Nicholas John - if you are on here and see this it was a lot of fun swapping positions with you guys in Sunday's race.  Below is a video of some of the highlights, you guys make appearances throughout the entire video.

 

[NPiekarski]

Saturday I was in the same group, was fun and good clean racing.

[Dave Cox]

Hope I didn't get anyone frustrated on Saturday with the crank angle sensor coming in and out I could race my way forward some and then fall back, typically on the front stretch, until finally it go bad enough everyone ran away from me and I parked it. After getting the car fixed, Sunday ended up a no-go due to non-racing related things that happened.

[forestdweller37]

What a fun weekend!  I got schooled on the rain line in qualifying, but tried to learn a wet corner or two.  The races in the dry were great.  After Saturday's race, I was thinking that I had more close, dicing, racing action than I've had the rest of the season combined.

 

I have video of both races posted if anyone is interested in the view from the bottom half of the field:

 

Starting here:

 

-Chris

#37

[D Tesch]

Thanks for posting the videos.  A lot of clean fun racing. That's what regionals are all about.