Attendance ...

[chuck schultz]

Here's the official logo for you -

[TouringBubble]

David, I know what you mean about the truck and you are right. It would be great to have the truck at an event every weekend for promotion. But, at this point, our members aren't event representing at these events. I don't think we can jump directly to 5-10 cars, a truck, table and videos right off the bat. Maybe we can ... I'm not sure.

My biggest concern with the truck is fuel. It's a V10 that's got some years under its belt and I'm sure isn't very efficient. We would really need to weigh that fuel cost, along with the wrap cost in to any decision about that.

About decals and such ... I've wanted to make a magnet for events with the red SCCA logo and "Alabama Region" under it. Simple and clean. I'll make the design and you guys can weigh in on it. We've got magnetic material in the truck and a member that can cut the vinyl (if he's willing). Maybe we can get these on a few cars ... sell them at events for a few bucks for two magnets. I'm thinking something 6' wide or so. Then, we can sport these at events we attend.

[Erv]

Well, the red flag and radio should be held by the same person, for safety reasons. For all I know, it might of been me, I don't really yell at people though.

Safety is one of those things you can't be lax on. I know I damn sure don't wanna have to fill out an incident report, I would assume the event chair would prefer not to as well.

That sounds like a hella fun ride, i wanna ride... speaking of which... Bill you still owe me a ride along.

[Augustus]

Hmmm. Maybe it has changed. I've only been out once in the last year. I'll come out sometime soon.

I remember being screamed at by some guy for not having the red flag in my hand when I was working the station the first time I came out in August 06. I almost never came back because of that. That is the strictness that I'm talking about. Thats only one example that I saw in 2006/2007.

Turbo Miata + All season tires + AutoX on crappy pavement = look out.
So I'll be in SSM. Heh. I get to be smashed by that black miata with the insane suspension and turbo setup. Yay.

[Focus]

Great ideas all around! I think the smallest investment and simplest step would be "business cards" to tag cars with, and fliers. I'd be happy use my own print cartridge and card stock if I had a flier ready to print and hand out. A half or quarter page ad and schedule could work as business cards, and save getting them professionally made.

[Demon_ni2]

hrmm..
my 2 cents.. i was pulled in by c,sara and matt, all from evoltionm forum, i had looked time and time again, and could never figure out if there was autocrossing in bham. my first experience at a alscca event is the reason why i come back, i enjoyed my time and i had plenty of people to talk to and ride with..
40$ for one days fun.. 6flags cost the same! but i get to run my car, and also grab a few rides with others.. 6 runs, i donno about everyone else, but i think i grab atleast 3 or 4 rides at eacht, and i give out almost as many.
you cant even compare autocrossing to a drag, you get 10x the seat time.. and people are friendly!

Flyers:
i go to shows all the time, steele, barbers, bama, and whatever else.. and i always see flyers being passed out for other car shows and car events happening.. but never any for an ALSCCA autocrossing event.
Advertisment:
i always see cars on the street that i have seen at the events, and most of our cars all create some attention, loud exhausts, rims, whatever else.. but no advertisements to say that we keep it legal!! i think some type of advertisment on our cars could bring alot of attention, and im not talking a whole wrap, but maybe a small decal, that's readable on how to look up ALSCCA events or times or whatever else.

my car gets looked at enough, just like everyone else, why not give people something to read? and i know some decals look stupid, but its an decent idea on how to get some advertising out there for the events.

and taking the truck wrap to the next step, get it done, and take the truck to local shows with a car or two, and set it up like a booth, flyers, and actually use the truck for advertising. the saturday travleing meets is a great place to start.. its every week, bring out 1 or 2 nice cars and turn some heads, sunday there is always a car show around also...

if people want a larger attendance, you have to advertise, and i think the first step is getting out there.. every friday saturday and sunday there is an event people could be promoting at, i think the timing trailor or the truck being wrapped with a good advertising is a good place to start, with 1 or 2 cars(or more). but then that means someone would have to coordinate that.

[DAB21]

[QUOTE=TouringBubble;7367]David, I see where you are going with the truck wrap, but unless we drastically change the way that truck travels, I don't see the immediate benefit. You example of the plumber truck works well because the truck is on the road every day. Our truck/trailer is parked for 3 weeks and moves one day ... to be parked at the event.

The point of the truck wrap suggestion was to get the truck wrapped and then parade it where ever we go; and then we should parade it to other events and shows every chance we get just for the exposure. If I lived in Bhm I would organize a monthly cruise-in some place for us, the ALSCCA, and bring the truck. Maybe Lowe's or someone in the I 459 / Hwy 11 area would let us park it on the outer edge of their lot the Saturday prior to a Sunday event. It would need a big changable sign advertising the event for the next day, which can be incorporated into the paint scheme.

Now, once attendance picks up and we can make some money front the events, it would be worth it to better our image by doing something with the truck and trailer. I just think it's a "down the road" idea.


I believe the attendance level we are experiencing is the report card on our operation. The grade we are receiving (40 car field-vs- say 100) is the direct result of all factors, internal and external. Externally, we cannot control the weather, the economy, the owners of large asphalt and/or degradation there of, the price of gasoline, etc. Internally, we can control schedule, classes, friendliness, pricing, equipment, and style of operation (I'm probably missing a few). I too have a problem with classing- no place to run a stock 1.6 Miata on street tires; my class contains a full-race Honda. Go figure! So I run for the entertainment, practice, chance to improve, competition with a few other 1.6's, and the camaraderie with the other members; all in all I have very few complaints. To the issue of growing the club, no entity succeeds without investment. There is a reason for the adage "you have to spend money to make money." We cannot have a club race without first paying a chunk of cash to the reserve the track, and then spend more money promoting it, hoping to ultimately make a profit. The greater the publicity reach, the more entrants respond, the greater the return. AutoX already has an investment in trucks, cones and timing gear, procedures, safety, but we have precious little investment in the promotion of our sport. If we "wait until attendance picks up" it likely will not happen on its own. AutoX needs to invest in promotion to succeed. Perhaps wrapping the truck should be a lower priority on our list of promotion ideas; I don't agree. The old adage “don’t care what you say about me, just spell my name correctly" is resoundingly true. We need (hopefully in a good way) our name out there every opportunity possible. Even some of our hard core members are finding the economy interfering with their passion. Now more than ever, we need a good, pro-active promotion scheme to overcome the shortfall.

[chuck schultz]

15$ for 2 . . . runs . . . is more expensive than 40$ for 6 minutes of runs

So you're saying that drag racing is for drivers who are bad at math?

[Erv]

15$ for 2 not 5 runs(unless your on a motorcycle) is more expensive than 40$ for 6 minutes of runs

[dr_phatcity]

hmmmm .... you stand no chance Yoder .... I won the last autox and I'll win the drag race .... bring it!!!!!

[Jedi1]

Don't make me get all 17 seconds on yer !@#! I'll do it!

[dr_phatcity]

the Mini is in for Steele .... can I get a push for the start ... how about a running start?

-Jamie

[TouringBubble]

Also, Augustus, you aren't a CSP car anymore. You'd be in SSM (used to be SM2). Not that there aren't well prepped cars and good drivers in that class ... but it's no where near as competitive as CSP in our region.

I will agree that working half the day is a big downside to getting new people. Most of the younger crowd id used to going to Steele and paying $15 and not having to do jack for their 5 runs down the 1/4. That's a mindset that we'll have to overcome with the approach that Sean has mentioned ... Autocross is much more than 6 minutes of seat time.

Honestly, in the South ... most people don't "get" autocross ... take a look over at Alabama Racing Scene to get an idea of the mindset of the general consensus. Most people are completely content with driving in a straight line for 10 (or 16) seconds.

That said ... maybe we need to all run to Steele one Friday night and represent.

[chuck schultz]

Now, once attendance picks up and we can make some money front the events, it would be worth it to better our image by doing something with the truck and trailer. I just think it's a "down the road" idea.

This kind of thinking is about to kill our PDX program, too.

Welcome to the Secret Car Club of America.

[Jedi1]

Do I really need to run down the list of current and previous Road race Champs that not only got their start in autocross, but attribute a LARGE part of their car control skill to our little corner of the motorsport landscape? If you are looking at Autocross as too little seat time for the money, then you are looking at it completely the wrong way. Come back out and have another go. While you are there let us know you are there and we will answer any and all questions you have about getting the most for your money and most importantly having a great day for not allot of money.

Sean