Expo 11 - Possible Event Location

[smiko0124]

Excellent!!!! Thanks for keeping us up to date!!

[White Dragon]

West Coast folks - the event's success heavily falls on the shoulders of the folks within a day's drive of the track. For arguement's sake, we would essentially need to get 60 paid drivers + 20 or so instructors to make this a reality, and all within a very short amount of time. Do those west-coasters think it is realistic to get that on a Monday/Tuesday?

Wes

[itrsteez]

West Coast folks - the event's success heavily falls on the shoulders of the folks within a day's drive of the track. For arguement's sake, we would essentially need to get 60 paid drivers + 20 or so instructors to make this a reality, and all within a very short amount of time. Do those west-coasters think it is realistic to get that on a Monday/Tuesday?

Wes

While I'd really like to see E11 somewhere else, in all fairness this message should be relayed on the NWP forums so they can get prepared.

[White Dragon]

Can you shoot me a link to it?

[itrsteez]

Of course,

http://forums.nwp4life.com/zerothread?id=12533

Edit: looks like Scott already handled it.

[TAG]

My biggest fear with having expo on the west coast is the potential of theft. That's not to say there isn't going to be theft anywhere else in the country, but let's be real here: the west coast (namely California) has the highest theft rate of Hondas. And having 100s of Type Rs (the most sought after Honda by thieves) in the area that is the capital of Honda theft will raise flags in that shady group. I'm sure the last thing we R owners all want is a bunch of sketchy people in their DAs, EGs, EFs, DCs, EKs, etc. following us around for the duration of expo, even if they don't have ill intentions and just want to check out our cars.

That's just my take.

The nearest city to Buttonwillow is Bakersfield. I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bakersfield the last time I participated in a track event with the ITR at Buttonwillow; but there are other motels closer to the track. The reason I mention Bakersfield, is that auto theft is a concern, but perhaps no more than the Chicago area as someone stated earlier. Proper planning and preventative measures will ensure that no one's car will be stolen while it's parked at the designated hotel. When not at the track or the designated hotel, don't let the car out of your sight. I'm so used to this; it's almost an automatic response as opposed to an imposition. Proper planning means our own parking area at the hotel monitored by private contract security 24/7, supplemented by volunteers from our group. On the lighter side, hopefully registration will open soon!

[KOALA YUMMIES]

Do those west-coasters think it is realistic to get that on a Monday/Tuesday?

Wes

This would be one of my biggest concerns. When track events happen out here, most of the guys all go on Sundays. I go on Saturdays sometimes, but the crowd always seems to prefer the Sunday event. I would hope that with an announcement with enough time, people could get the time free, but it is worth serious discussion.

but there are other motels closer to the track.

We would do those hotels. We choose hotels with very close proximity to the track, usually in places just like near Buttonwillow raceway, small little stops with fast food restaurants, motels and not much else. The two spots right off the I5 aren't very close to Bakersfield city proper and are just like that. It would be the same with Willow Springs.

Proper planning means our own parking area at the hotel monitored by private contract security 24/7, supplemented by volunteers from our group.

This is unnecessary, and we've never needed it before. We roll in and take the section of the parking lot that we want. And we're all volunteer ITR security.

[TAG]

As long as there are enough security volunteers, that should work fine.

[TAG]

West Coast folks - the event's success heavily falls on the shoulders of the folks within a day's drive of the track. For arguement's sake, we would essentially need to get 60 paid drivers + 20 or so instructors to make this a reality, and all within a very short amount of time. Do those west-coasters think it is realistic to get that on a Monday/Tuesday?

Wes

I would like to think that people who attend ITR Expo see it as something more than just a couple of track-days. The ITR people will certainly not hesitate to use vacation time for this event; I'm not sure about those just attending for the track time only. We will need to fill out the event with non-ITR owners who regularly track their cars, i.e. SpeedVentures event attendees, etc. For instructors (other than those from previous ITR Expos) you may want to put the word out to the regional PCA and BMWCA clubs. Maybe you could post a list of driving instructor qualifications, and also the names and contact information for your chief driving instructor, track steward, and event coordinator/s.

[BLacK FirE]

My post from NWP:

I'm probably in a minority here, but coming from the east coast, I almost prefer Monday/Tuesday dates. I can take off the friday b4 and spend friday - sun driving cross country. Then Mon, tues = expo then I have Wed - Sunday too get home at a more leisurely pace and thats only taking 6 days off from work.

If the event is on a weekend and I try to stay to just taking 6 days off I'm forced to drive home in just as short of a time span as I spent getting out there.

[andyjt]

My post from NWP:

I'm probably in a minority here, but coming from the east coast, I almost prefer Monday/Tuesday dates. I can take off the friday b4 and spend friday - sun driving cross country. Then Mon, tues = expo then I have Wed - Sunday too get home at a more leisurely pace and thats only taking 6 days off from work.

If the event is on a weekend and I try to stay to just taking 6 days off I'm forced to drive home in just as short of a time span as I spent getting out there.

Agree Completly. Mon/Tues event helps me a lot. Based on the same reasons you stated!

Cant wait to register!

[elambz]

My post from NWP:

I'm probably in a minority here, but coming from the east coast, I almost prefer Monday/Tuesday dates. I can take off the friday b4 and spend friday - sun driving cross country. Then Mon, tues = expo then I have Wed - Sunday too get home at a more leisurely pace and thats only taking 6 days off from work.

If the event is on a weekend and I try to stay to just taking 6 days off I'm forced to drive home in just as short of a time span as I spent getting out there.

I'm with Keith here. If I'm gonna drive across the country, this would definitely be the better way for me. I know its not gonna work for everyone, but neither way really will work for everyone.

[cheezthis]

To counter the weekday idea, what would be better for the local majority? Most likely the weekend if we base that off of our data from this past year's event. The regional contingent, especially Chicago area, really showed up compared to E9 (Mon Tues).

We're still awaiting word on the availability of a couple particular dates, so nothing is ready to go just yet. Once it is, we will have it on here. Registration will need to be swift though.

[TAG]

To counter the weekday idea, what would be better for the local majority? Most likely the weekend if we base that off of our data from this past year's event. The regional contingent, especially Chicago area, really showed up compared to E9 (Mon Tues).

We're still awaiting word on the availability of a couple particular dates, so nothing is ready to go just yet. Once it is, we will have it on here. Registration will need to be swift though.

For those within a day’s drive of Buttonwillow, the weekend would probably be the best. The weekend schedule would also help "sell" the event to local/regional track day enthusiasts.

[Wai]

Honda Challenge would also be a part of the event where they would have qualifying and an actual points race incorporated into the event.

Regardless of the location, I would be very hesitant about this idea. I don't mind seeing a fun race, but having an actual point race requires a lot of other things such as tech inspection, impound, scale, teardown, race officials/flagman, or even dyno, etc. It would also mean that the ITR organizers would loose a lot of control over the whole event.

In a point race, racers would be going 10/10 and there are a lot more chances of contacts, accidents, breakdowns, etc. It would take away track time from the other participants. It's a very frequent occurrence during my HC weekends.

Just a thought.

[TAG]

Honda Challenge would also be a part of the event where they would have qualifying and an actual points race incorporated into the event.

Regardless of the location, I would be very hesitant about this idea. I don't mind seeing a fun race, but having an actual point race requires a lot of other things such as tech inspection, impound, scale, teardown, race officials/flagman, or even dyno, etc. It would also mean that the ITR organizers would loose a lot of control over the whole event.

In a point race, racers would be going 10/10 and there are a lot more chances of contacts, accidents, breakdowns, etc. It would take away track time from the other participants. It's a very frequent occurrence during my HC weekends.

Just a thought.

Agreed.

The added complexity of the event with HC, plus the added cost of a track steward, starter, corner workers, and grid personnel, all with sanctioned race event experience would financially burden the ITR Expo general event.

[Doespike]

The Honda Challenge idea has been scrapped.

[cheezthis]

Yep, no Honda Challenge. That was removed a few months ago.

[Wai]

Yep, no Honda Challenge. That was removed a few months ago.

Sorry I'm a few months late.

[cheezthis]

No problem

It was for a variety of reasons including ones that you mentioned.

[Jerzey908]

Bring It to Altanta

[integrab18c5]

i would love to bring my R to a itr expo but its got to be in the northeast.

[Comp97GSR]

i would love to bring my R to a itr expo but its got to be in the northeast.

You sound like the Cali guys.

[Dil.]

Most likely the weekend if we base that off of our data from this past year's event. The regional contingent, especially Chicago area, really showed up compared to E9 (Mon Tues).

A weekend event would definitely boost attendance. I am assuming Mid Ohio out of the picture?

[redzcstandardhatch]

i'm pretty sure you guys know the event will sell out if it is on a weekend, and might barely cover itself if its weekdays.

thats just what happens.

WMHM will probably always be weekends now. NO problem filling up a weekend event.

when we did it on weekdays, the hardcores came out, obviously, but we had almost no specators, an the events barely filled, like, chris only broke even because of T shirt sales.