Attendance ...

[TouringBubble]

It's been mentioned that solo attendance is on a decline ... we've all seen it. I remember days of 100+ entrants early in the year and I haven't been doing this long at all. So, what can we do to get back to that level or beyond?

Yeah, the economy sucks ... that's exactly why I'm not running. Things will likely not get better until that changes. But, we can still plan for next season ...

You guys might hate me for saying this ... but we should have representation at the local car shows. I know for a fact there is at least one car show every weekend in our region. there is one specific one that rotates sites every week ... I'm sure I could find the information if I tried. There are many others as well.

We should also have a presence at events like the Muscle v. Hustle that was this past weekend. This stuff goes down all the time.

When I say presence, I mean PRESENCE. We need a few cars to show up in full auto-x trim (minus Hoosiers maybe) with an ALSCCA banner/sign, business cards, photos, videos (someone has a iPod at least) ... anything, everything. You'd be surprised how many of these people have never seen a "race car" before and have no idea we exist or our events exist.

I used to do car shows all the time back in Atlanta and I had no idea what autocross was. I would have surely attended ATL events if I had knows they existed then.

Also, I think we'll find that many of the ALSCCA members already attend some of these events. We as members should step up and represent the club at these functions. But, we also need the means to represent properly, else there is no impact.

Please, lets have this discussion and make things better for next year.

[claym]

You could also put up flyers with our website at High Schools, colleges, street racing websites (for a LEGAL place to run their car) or other places such as Craigslist. Have a link to a good autocross video so they can see what an event is like before they come. Give a one time $10 discount to the first autocross they attend. Also, give members a $10 discount for each new person that they bring to an event (that pay and drive for the first time). Just a few suggestions...

[Erv]

great idea's both of you, only problem I can see is schedule conflicts.

[EvoLady]

i have a pdf for our business cards, i'll try to get them printed and at the next event for people to grab some. C and I are always putting them on sports cars that we see with our contact information on the back. I also have a flyer I will try to attach that has some info about autox and our schedule.

but great ideas Matt. time would be the issue for sure but i'm sure if a bunch of people made an effort to attend these events then it would hurt just a few.

[EvoLady]

this was done in color but it looks fine when printed out in black and white.

[TouringBubble]

Understand that I'm not suggesting that 15 people need to show at these events ... 2 or 3 would be plenty. I'm certain that such a small group would be available for nearly every event.

[JohnW8]

I'm thinking 5-10 would be great! Would anyone be up for a roadtrip. Like the bikers do. Get up, group up and drive somewhere through twisty roads to someplace for lunch then scatter, or meet back up at the Rod Run traveling car show. Might be a fun way to spend a day in cars with friends. Being part of the SCCA doesn't just mean competitive events. We can do other stuff.

[DAB21]

And,

flyers posted in auto parts stores (a standard flyer with space for the next event date),

yard signs all the way out to hwy 11 and up and down hwy 11,

a "more inviting" looking Registration table & pop-up perched on top of the rise with windproof checkerboard tablecloth and windproof ALSCCA banner, etc.,

ALSCCA logo (vertical) magnetic decals for everyone's car (particulary when at some other event),

and Free Pizza!!! What ever happened to our pizza man?

[engled]

That is true John, we could do a lot of different things. Cookout, cruise in, day at the pool, wet t-shirt contest etc...

[Mike#18]

The main reason why i dont run every event and why a lot of my friends dont run but once or twice a year is it cost so much. Its $40 for non members and that approximatly 6 minutes of runtime. Im not complaining but i just dont have that kind of money. I remember when entry fee was $25 which was not that bad.

[rodhx]

I assume location availability is what drives the ALSCCA sunday-only schedule. I've said it before, but this is what keeps me from participating much more often. Sunday events always limit potential attendance. Case in point...I'll be driving to Huntsville on the 16th to do a Satuday event. Sure would be nice to only have to drive across town on a Saturday.

[zukitek]

We have tried time and time again to score a site we could do Saturday events at and it has always fallen out of our reach.BRC is a Sunday only site .They are open monday through Saturday so that means we have to do Sunday only .Its a Bummer but that is all that site can offer.We visited the Hoover Met but after 1 test event ...Hoover city council said no thankyou.

If you really start looking for lots like BRC and Hoover met ...lots of wideopen spaces,limited light poles,no or sparse curbs.....the possibilities get very small.

I agree and am absolutely not apposed to car shows.I used to show my truck all the time .I dont do it so much anymore because its a little scuffed up because I drive and enjoy it.I think what we should target are cruise ins rather than car shows ...this might be what you guys are talking about .

RR

[TouringBubble]

Cruise ins, car shows, whatever. Just exposure to other groups of enthusiasts.

[TouringBubble]

http://alabamaracingscene.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46618

This is a perfect example of they type of things we could attend. This is a cruise up to Little River Canyon. There are 3 ALSCCA members already planning to attend. We at least need cards or something to promote and more drivers are always welcome!

[Cholewa]

I see the VW guys do it somewhat frequently on the vortex, they make cool little magnets/vinyls for some of their events so people who are coming in from far away can spot each other on the way and have someone they can talk to at a rest stop.


Just something catchy/trendy looking with the SCCA logo on it and a website address. Maybe numbers.