THSCC Forums

We could offer a discounted membership on the card, for new members only. That actually increases club size and it's easy to track.

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Ahhhhh, this is good. Monetarily -$5 off one event is the same thing as offering $30 new memberships but the new membership is a no-brainer to track. I like this.

Thoughts?

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2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

Great idea espcially if the person wants to come back. However these potential new people we are talking about dont know if they want to keep coming back let alone coming the first time. This is why I suggested getting them there in the first place by making something that is halfway intersted to come back.

James, I agree it will deffiently be harder to track then the membership idea. however the membership idea wont nessesarraly get more new first time members to come.

Before my first event, I know I wouldent have cared about a discount on joining the club as much as I would have cared about getting money off my first event since jessie or I didnt really know if we would ever want to come back. this is just me... others might feel differently.

Very valid points Jason. Hmmm.

Are we thinking too hard into a seemingly simple thing ?

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2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

Yep. $5 isn't going to make it or break it. We need awareness not discounts IMO plus it needs to be novice friendly as Les mentioned.

We just need everyone on board and if you take the cards, don't waste them. Get 'em on the cool cars you see at the mall, work, or wherever. I can think of three cars in just my neighborhood I'd like to put one on: a three tone red Scirocco, a NA Miata with a Harddog bar and Kosei's, and a sweet '85ish white GTI.

Thanks again for doing this Les!

I saw a MSM last night that could have used a card...

To address some of the things brought up.

1. I think the monetary discount idea is good in concept, however probably too complicated in execution. Besides, I really don't think the monetary hurdle of entry/membership fees is a significant factor in discouragement. When I first started autocross I was going to college full time and working at Autozone making $8/hour and was thrilled to find out I could go "race" my car for $20.

2. I think I like Steven's suggestion and will change it to "Come on out and get hooked!" and add a Facebook page link.

3. As for logos, I was thinking to put the Tarheel logo as a watermark on the side with the schedule.

4. I struggled a bit with the concept of encouraging the "all cars" concept. One problem is we don't want people showing up in SUVs or other inappropriate "cars" and can't really rely on people reading that on the website before hand so we can't just say "all cars are welcome" since everyone doesn't understand the distinction. Of course we are not likely going to be putting these cards under the windshields of Escalades so maybe I'm over thinking this? I like the idea of putting a car image potentially as a background on the front side and agree a car that most people wouldn't think of as a "race car" is a good idea to make that point. No offense to Matt, but a picture of him rounding a cone in the grocery getter is probably a good example. On the other hand we probably don't want to put that card under the windshield wiper of a C6Z06 as that person might just think "oh yeah, I really wanna go hang out with a bunch of ricers" and toss the card, I know, likely case regardless since Corvette driver's are all douchebags. I'm thinking maybe we should make several versions instead and our current crop of officers might be a good mix. Mine for the douchebags, Rodney's car for the mullet wearers, Jame's old car for the Scoobaru fans, and Matt's for the less assuming cars? Once again, this may be over complicating things and raises the need for the membership carrying around more cards to cover all the bases, but may be worth it. Thoughts?

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'07, '08, '11 Autocross VP
'06, '10 Mike Dishman Cup
'21 MX5, '13 Corvette GS, '92 Corvette 383 c.i. 413whp/390wtq, '03 Expedition

What about 2 car images on opposite corners as watermarks? Civic 4dr / Vette? Info down the center of the card? How small could you reasonably make an image?

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One of those LeMonHeads...
91/95 Miata, 02 Focus SVT, 01 Ford F250, 09 Suzuki SV650SF
rusty 84 C4 Vette, tiny piece of the General Lei
Irish Sport Horse - 1hp NA!

If the idea is to increase attendance/membership/etc. (considering our events over the last few years haven't been even close to filling up), has the current leadership thought about opening up the website to non-members and have just a small subset for members only (like access to the monthly newsletter)?

I look at groups like Triad and I think their "inclusion" has helped them garner new members and participants at their events. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

I as well dont think 5 dollars will make a differnece in being able to afford it. then again most buisness that offer discounts sometimes do it at a loss. Take burgerking and the 99 cent orginal chicken sandwitch (from when I worked there at age 17). I know they were selling their 2-3 dollar sandwitch at a loss. but while they were coming in for that, they were also buying other things and ultimitly netting profit over all. Offering the discount is just a way of making it more intising for those setting on the fence. "oh gee, there is a discount, I have to take advantage of that now"

again, if the discount will monetarally kill the club, then it truly is a bad idea. This is why those with access to the books or marketing experience might be a better group to consider the idea. I think some form of discount will just make the card idea more affective in brining in first timers.

As Novice Co-ordinator I have to disagree. Maybe change the wording to say something like "No experience-No problem - we have instructors" I know that I was a bit intimidated when I first started.

+1 from me too on the $5 off. Can I take advantage of it if I get a card

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1990 Faded Reddish CSP Lite Miata
2002 Electron Blue Corvette Z06
2005 Mazda 6 Wagon
2003 Nissan Pathfinder DTV (Dog Transport Vehicle)

I really don't see the $5 as a problem. We should only allow it to get the "member" price ($20 VS $25), and so what if they use it a couple times? If you've shown up a few times and the registrar knows your face then we can take care of it that way.

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2001 Honda S2000 - SOLD
2012 Boss 302
2003 BMW 330i

Rob,
My point was that making the distinction of "we're novice friendly" can be mis-interpreted as "other groups are not novice friendly, but we are." Whether that may be true is not the goal of that statement--encouraging people to come out and join us is. I am sure we want to promote novice participation but think a non-adversarial approach such as your "No experience? No problem!" does a great job with that.

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Steve Carter
1972 Datsun 240Z-- resto pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/srcartermd
2007 GPW Honda S2000-- STR 86

Steven, didn't anyone tell you we are Elitist bastards? The card should specifically state "Yes, we are better than the other clubs"

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2001 Honda S2000 - SOLD
2012 Boss 302
2003 BMW 330i

Why stop there when we can just put a picture of a BMW on the front