Currently we have 33 cars pre-registered for this years Track day event at Heartland Park in Topeka, KS. We need as many cars as possible to keep the cost-per-car down. Originally I had planned to have 60 cars at $100 per car to cover the track expense. The deadline for pre-registration ($30) was March 31st. We will not have enough cars to hold the track day at $100 however, to my surprise, the track has reduced their cost some and therefore we will need fewer cars at $100 each. But with the current number signed up we still have problems so here is what we will do:
1. I will extend the deadline until April 14th. We can afford to do this because the track has given us more time. 2. On April 15th, I will get with John Stricker and we will tally up the number of cars pre-registered. If we have enough to pay for the track with $100 per car, great! 3. If there are not enough cars signed up, I will email all of the pre-registered cars (or call if necessary) with a new price to hold the event. This number will be the minimum cost to rent out the track. For example: $5500 track cost with 45 pre-registered = $122 per car (minus $30) = new balance due of $92. I will give everyone 1 week to respond and then a decision must be made. Again, the fate of the track day will lie with the pre-registered people. 4. For this to work, we will need 100% agreement on the price. I don't want to be accused of the "bait and switch" gimmick. If the vast majority of the group wants to pay the new price, but 2 or 3 can't afford it, I'll see what we can do. I don't have any great ideas yet, but I have 2 weeks, right? : ) 5. If we agree on a price, the website will change and the registration due will be the balance. (like the example $92) There will also be a full registration for those who still want to join in on the fun.
We need to make a commitment to the track. If we cannot do this, we will forfeit Sunday the 27th and they will sell it to someone else. I would hate to see someone other than us running on OUR TRACK DAY!
Thanks for all your hard work Paul ... and John !!!! Here Ya go guys .... get off those wallets, take a brave pill and sign up to go racin' with the 33 of us who have already registered !!!
------------------ VP, Classic Fiero Owners Group - International www.cfogi.org
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11:14 PM
Mar 31st, 2004
FieroGT87 Member
Posts: 3195 From: St. Louis, Mo, USA Registered: Jul 2001
I know what they think and how we look to those other groups ... well ... this IS the type of thing that'll change opinions !
It's also the main reason I became involved in CFOGi to begin with !!! To try to shed a better light on our Fieros ! I think we're headed down the right road ! But we still need all the support we can get ....
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11:40 AM
CC Rider Member
Posts: 2037 From: Cameron Park, Ca Registered: May 2001
I race a karting league with a few sport-bike racers who were just down running a race at HPT this past weekend... they had a loptop with a bunch of pics on a slideshow last night. It looks like so much fun! I can hardly wait... they all said it's an awesome track (but not quite so much when it rains & storms heavily ).
2 more weeks for you late people! Come on and sign up already! The more people that sign up, the cheaper it will be! However, I have no problem paying extra if we don't get the 60 (or 55?) people needed. It's tons of fun for the money!
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07:40 PM
PFF
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R Runner Member
Posts: 3703 From: Scottsville, KY Registered: Feb 2003
Thats right! We can have the Track Day right now if we want to pay for it. But I still think it is too expensive for the group. The more we have sign up, the less it will cost all of us. I am okay with $200 myself only because that is what it would cost me here in St. Louis. The best part is that I will get to spend the day with my Fiero friends! (read that as you guys)
If we get about 45 cars, the price will be in the $125 range.......... TOTAL. So you tell me. How much is it worth to you guys to get more cars signed up?
PS: One correction... We actually only have 32 signed up right now.... sorry.
Paul WheatStock Track Day Coordinator
[This message has been edited by R Runner (edited 03-31-2004).]
How many are signed up for the show Total now? and Why couldnt you just mark up the price of the show a little and take it from that. I wouldnt mind paying a few dollars extra to enter the show if it means that a few others get the privlage to run on the track at that few dollars expence. That way The track could be used even by just the 32 signed up..... I dont think that would be unfair. As far as I see it now I may not even be able to make the show.... However If I dont make the show I still wont care if I get a refund or not... I see it as my money is going to support a Fiero event and I am glad that those who do get to go will make it and enjoy the show... With that said I still hope to make the show with my car but dont know if it will happin. It all depends on what happins between now and then. If I dont make it keep what I sent in as a donation to the cause. This is a good community and the cars are great. I hope to see you all at the show.... BTW if I cant afford the run at least I will bring a camera and get the action on tape.
------------------ Don Pottorff www.vmf323.com Red 88 2M4 Silver 86 2M4
[This message has been edited by 88_Fiero_2M4 (edited 04-01-2004).]
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12:30 AM
DanFiero Member
Posts: 2817 From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Registered: Jul 2002
That is why I enjoy this group so much. Thank you if you make a "donation". Thank you if you don't, just because you signed up. I agree completely and I did the same last year. I was not able to run at Waterford and just donated the money. Someone has to pay for the track either way.
Everyone........ Here we go.... April 14th will be here soon!
Paul
[This message has been edited by R Runner (edited 04-01-2004).]
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08:56 PM
Apr 2nd, 2004
FieroGT87 Member
Posts: 3195 From: St. Louis, Mo, USA Registered: Jul 2001
Sorry R Runner I wasnt able to sign up for the run. I mistook the show registeration as the Track day sign up. However I was saying if I dont make the show it will be as a donation. I dont know if I will be able to make the show at all. I have the time just not the cash to make it there. But you never know I may have by then but I am not holding my breath. Money seems to avoid me as I keep getting jobs that dont pay much. If I have the cash by the time of the show I will make a donation to the run so that those who want to run can. I however dont think my car would hold togather for the run. Its just using way to much oil to run on the track.
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03:51 PM
musicman_L7 Member
Posts: 1149 From: Defiance, Iowa 51527 Registered: Nov 2002
How many laps and how many times out on the track? and can we pit between laps? I'd be willing to maybe take those that dnate and showup but can run their fiero for a ride. Granted we can pit between laps, ( think pittings ok, but is swapping riders? ) and how long is a typical lap? L8
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05:12 PM
PFF
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Archie Member
Posts: 9436 From: Las Vegas, NV Registered: Dec 1999
DJ..... There will be 6 sessions at 18 minutes each (+ 2minutes to clear the track for the next session). The time really goes by quickly. You can pit if you like, but it may take a few minutes. I suggest you take a rider for the whole 20 minutes.
Archie....... At last count I saw about 60 signed up for the show. About half are signed up for the Track Day. The show will fill up as the deadline gets closer, of that I have no doubt. Were you considering the Track day this year?
Paul
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12:24 AM
jstricker Member
Posts: 12956 From: Russell, KS USA Registered: Apr 2002
You raise a valid question as to why we don't add on to the price of registrations to support the performance events.
This was discussed early on in the planning and we all (the Board of Directors) came to the decision that the performance events would have to pay their own way. The number of people that want to participate in the various performance events is much smaller than those that want to come to the show, show their cars, and enjoy the companionship of fellow enthusiasts.
We all know personally that this is not a cheap hobby and a show like this is a major committment to those that want to attend. People plan their family vacations around this and it's our hope that we can make it as affordable to as many people as possible.
We're all very much aware of what it costs for people in time and money to come to a show like this, that's one of the reasons we're having it in the central part of the country this year. The vast majority of the "big" annual shows are held in the eastern third of the US and that makes it VERY hard for people west of the Rockies to make any of the shows although they really do want to come. We knew that we were going to have a lot of people that really would like to come from the Eastern US not be able to make it, not because they didn't want to but because time, money, or both would simply not make it possible. We wish it were possible to make it so that everyone could attend and one of the ways we can make it more feasible is to keep the entry fees to the event as low as we possibly can. We're fairly certain that we're going to be OK with the entry fees we're charging based on the response we've gotten so far, but let me tell you for a while we were nervous.
We tried a lot of new things with this show. New location, a new payment plan that's worked very well, but none of us really knew how that was going to work, new people involved with the planning and execution (me, for instance) and a whole host of other things.
We're learning "on the job" and you can't even begin to imagine how many little headaches there are, but it's fun too and we're having a good time and hoping to really put on something special for the Fiero community. Our one and only goal is to make this a success for the participants and make it as affordable as we can in time and money to as many people as we can.
We're also open to any suggestions ANYONE has to make it better. It's not too late for even this show. If you don't want to put them out here in a public forum, then by all means go to our contact page and email any of us on the board privately, we're all committed to being accessible to our members and the entire Fiero community.
John Stricker Treasurer, CFOGi
PS: I'm writing this from one of the suites at our host hotel. I have personally been so impressed with Heartland Park and their facility, as well as the local volunteers here, that Chris and I have gone to Fire, Crash, Rescue school and are volunteering as corner workers for the road races here. The first race on the new track is tomorrow and corner meeting start at 8:00 am. We're looking to have a great time and maybe a little bit of new video for Paul to have of the new straight and corners.
This is now my 7th trip to Topeka either as a representative of CFOGi to work out details or for schools or working at the track. It's about 180 miles for me one-way, and I'm having the time of my life doing it!
quote
Originally posted by 88_Fiero_2M4:
How many are signed up for the show Total now? and Why couldnt you just mark up the price of the show a little and take it from that. I wouldnt mind paying a few dollars extra to enter the show if it means that a few others get the privlage to run on the track at that few dollars expence. That way The track could be used even by just the 32 signed up..... I dont think that would be unfair. As far as I see it now I may not even be able to make the show.... However If I dont make the show I still wont care if I get a refund or not... I see it as my money is going to support a Fiero event and I am glad that those who do get to go will make it and enjoy the show... With that said I still hope to make the show with my car but dont know if it will happin. It all depends on what happins between now and then. If I dont make it keep what I sent in as a donation to the cause. This is a good community and the cars are great. I hope to see you all at the show.... BTW if I cant afford the run at least I will bring a camera and get the action on tape.
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12:55 AM
DanFiero Member
Posts: 2817 From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Registered: Jul 2002
Not sure of the exact number pre-registered at this moment. No less than the 32 mentioned before. I suspect that John needs to get back home to find out for sure.
Paul
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08:18 AM
FieroGT87 Member
Posts: 3195 From: St. Louis, Mo, USA Registered: Jul 2001
John is on the road a lot I've noticed when E-mailing him a few times back and forth.
Well anyway a another bump to the top so we can get more enthusiast registered for this.
As I stated in another thread, to run you car, or do a driving school or Richard Petty type of thing would run hundreds into the thousands of dollars depending on what you wanted to do. So I consider this a very good deal on a nice track.
So come on people lets get signed up. The more that sign up the cheaper it will be for everyone.
------------------ Earl Rice 87 T-Top GT 5 Spd 3400 Gen III Turbo in progress
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11:59 PM
Apr 5th, 2004
CC Rider Member
Posts: 2037 From: Cameron Park, Ca Registered: May 2001
I'll give you a call tomorrow, and thanks (again) for your support. I'll email Paul to make sure he knows I'm calling you........
John Stricker Treasurer, CFOGi
PS: Just so people know, there are at least 3 other vendors that are signed up to run. Maybe we need a "vendors heat". (I'm not saying who they are since they didn't give me permission to do so, if they want to chime in that's great)
quote
Originally posted by Archie:
I don't know if I'll be able to drive myself, but yeah, I'll take 5 entries.
I'll assign 4 of those entries to V-8 conversion customers' of mine who are not already entered in this event.
You (or John) can call me tomorrow to make arraingements.
Let's see if there are any other Vendors out there that will help to fill out this field.
Archie
[This message has been edited by jstricker (edited 04-07-2004).]
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12:41 AM
musicman_L7 Member
Posts: 1149 From: Defiance, Iowa 51527 Registered: Nov 2002
Bump to the top, and a fair warning... I'm post whoring for the morning. Every thread that I find, which may be performance related, I'm adding a post to it, about how that problem could be levied by signing up for track day at Wheatstock... Be on the lookout! Some are creative, some are just to the point.
Nic
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03:30 AM
musicman_L7 Member
Posts: 1149 From: Defiance, Iowa 51527 Registered: Nov 2002
I know that I speak for everyone when I say we appriciate your support. As for the other venders, that is a really good idea. I'll get with John tonight to see who we can contact. Maybe we can get more support that way. I really want this event to take place and we have a lot riding on it! Future performance Track Days, other performance events, heck even interest in the club in general. Some have emailed me saying that they would not even bother coming to WheatStock without the track day!
Thank you again.... Maybe we will get a chance to talk some at the show this year.
Paul
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06:03 PM
2M4 Dale Member
Posts: 3461 From: Mansfield,Oh,U.S. Registered: Oct 1999
I see you have a new extended deadline of April 15th... is using tax day as a deadline a bad omen?
I wanted to let you know that a nice sized show (35+ cars) is happening April 17th in San Antonio. I think Chuck will be there and so will Loyde and I. Reason I am bringing this up is that the 3 of us will really push the event at that show. We might could get another couple of entries... but it is past your deadline by a few days. I could let you know on Sunday the 18th if there was any south Texas interest... if you can hold out a few more days.
Didn't we have a lot of "walk up" style interest/entries at Waterford? It seemed like there that we were fretting the event for a while and when it came "go" time that George was having to turn people away!
- side note - Archie, thanks for considering purchasing entry slots... I know it goes a long way in making this event happen. I apprecite it.
------------------ REMEMBER: stoplights synch'd for 35mph are also synch'd for 70mph. (and for 140mph, now that I think about it.)