jimpastorius wrote:
I wonder if we simplified it down, if we could run more events. Why can a local club run 12-16 events and we run 8? Do the gadgets and technologies give us more runs or more events?
Well, that's a good question. Reliable gadgets can help us get more runs, start on time, avoid timer delays, etc. so getting more runs is possible.
Incidentally, we have become so efficient these days that we need to consider if we should raise the entry limit to 130 or 140. This would generate revenue, help with the eternal worker shortage crisis, and we'd still get four runs in.
Jim, I will point out that there are 18 weekends on the autocross/rallycross calendar now and there are five more weekends on the track calendar. That's 23 weekends (including the Christmas party). That doesn't include the weekends we usually support the EV Challenge, or the Viper Club, etc. That adds at least a few more.
A few years ago, we had all that plus a monthly night series, but at least it didn't take up weekends....
There might be room for more events, but at some point I think we'd have to develop a different set of officers to manage them so we didn't burn out our current staff. For people with families, heavy work/travel schedules, and other obligations, we might be doing all we can handle.
Imagine for a moment that there was a Saturday series of autocrosses and a Sunday series of autocrosses. Some of them were on different weekends. Each would have its own set of officers and managers. Maybe, just maybe something like that could work.
I think the trick to adding more autox events would be to find a way to do it that does not add stress to the currently elected crew that's doing the job of handling those events.
Jim, if you added another 4 to 8 events a year, what would your proposal be? Would the same people continue to run them that do now? Or would it be different VPs, timing, etc. (kind of like a parallel organizational structure?) Would we worry about trying to avoid conflicts with other THSCC events, such as the rallyx and track programs?
I'd be interested in your vision for how something like that might take shape. After the night series died, there was some discussion about a Friday afternoon series at Sanford. There is still an effort underway to locate a site that could support another night series. So, it is possible that THSCC could support more autox events...... depending on the who, when, where, etc. of the details.
Of course some would say that if you want to autocross more than 8 weekends a year, just run with other clubs in the region. THSCC doesn't have to be the sole supplier to a persons autocross fun.
Thoughts?
Miles