RBC Event!!

MilesBeam · **Joined:** Fri Aug 15, 2003 1:57 pm **Posts:** 427

Well, yes, it is an RBC event, but it is not a THSCC autocross. I got this thing in the mail today about what is basically a ride and drive program offered by GM. The flyer that came in the mail says "over 150 vehicles" to drive, including the Corvette, Hummer and SSR.

It wil be held at the RBC Center May 5-9.

It's free to attend and you can register online at:

www.autoshowinmotion.com

Tarheelers, please behave yourself just in case we get a chance to get back in the door at RBC. Or, if you choose to misbehave, don't mention THSCC!

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Wed Apr 21, 2004 11:54 pm

We had a discussion about the Autoshow Inmotion on my site. Several members from FLA went to the one in Orlando last weekend as well as the one they had there last year. Go to http://www.autocrossforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=151 to read all about it.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2004 7:43 am

Yeah...get to drive some more Chevrolets! I am signed up for 9 o'clock Sunday morning.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:21 am

[Cynic mode on]
So why would they allow something like this but not a THSCC autocross? Let see, allow people to show up and drive high performance vehicles that they may have never been in before? Is someone just going to give me the keys to a new Corvette and let me loose? Or allow experienced people to drive their own vehicles at speed with most likely more safety gear than stock?
[Cynic mode off]

Maybe after this is all over it would be something to ask those that manage the RBC center about.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2004 9:28 am

Richard Casto wrote:

[Cynic mode on]
So why would they allow something like this but not a THSCC autocross? Let see, allow people to show up and drive high performance vehicles that they may have never been in before? Is someone just going to give me the keys to a new Corvette and let me loose? Or allow experienced people to drive their own vehicles at speed with most likely more safety gear than stock?
[Cynic mode off]

Maybe after this is all over it would be something to ask those that manage the RBC center about.

You aren't being serious are you? You are trying to compare apples and oranges.

MilesBeam · **Joined:** Fri Aug 15, 2003 1:57 pm **Posts:** 427

Quote:

So why would they allow something like this but not a THSCC autocross? Let see, allow people to show up and drive high performance vehicles that they may have never been in before? Is someone just going to give me the keys to a new Corvette and let me loose? Or allow experienced people to drive their own vehicles at speed with most likely more safety gear than stock?

Before there is any temptation to bash the RBC Center, not that Richard was, but I know how some of you guys think

, let me say a few things....

The RBC management was very gracious to us for the approximately four years that we ran there. The night series deal was really just too good to be true and I am amazed they let us run that series. Those folks did take a risk for us to be there, and they did not get much back in return. They let us use the facility, increase the wear on their parking lot, made sure the lots were clear of cars before hand etc. And they let us play on their best lots, the big ones right in front that everybody first sees when they go there. I met with the RBC staff several times over the years and they could not have been more supportive.

In every business there is a risk vs benefit analysis factor that determines what decisions they make. In the case of the AutoShowInMotion event, I would be willing to bet there are more zeros in the check they wrote for the use of the facility than the small sum we contributed for our events.
And if you've ever been to one of these events, virtually all of the runs are people who drive the cars very sanely.

The greatest risk they probably take is when people with some performance driving experience show up and try to prove that they know how to drive a Z06 at the limit for the first 15 seconds they are in it.

The RBC folks probably do not view the AutoShow event as a big risk because there is not an aspect of competition involved, at least as far as I know. Though I did see something on Todd's forum about what sounded like a timed autox course. But in the literature I got, there are msgs that discourage "unsafe" driving.

Even so, that was their management's decision to make. And it doesn't change what they've done for us in the past.

FYI, we have not yet given up completely on the idea that we can return to RBC, so there is every reason to continue to view and treat them with respect.

The RBC folks were very good to us. Let's be sure that as a club we maintain an attitude of gratitude towards them, even if we can't ever run there again.

Miles Beam
Site Coordinator for many years now.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Wednesday at 4:30 for me. I want the fresh tires. :twisted:

But I'll probably get the minivan since I'll show up in a Blue Oval.

Richard Casto · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:21 am

MilesBeam wrote:

Before there is any temptation to bash the RBC Center, not that Richard was...

...In every business there is a risk vs benefit analysis factor that determines what decisions they make. In the case of the AutoShowInMotion event, I would be willing to bet there are more zeros in the check they wrote for the use of the facility than the small sum we contributed for our events.

No, no, not trying to bash the RBC center. I am TOTALLY against burning any bridges with prospective sites.

I probably should have thrown in a few of these in my post.. :wink:

I figured the "cynic on/off" stuff was enough.

I realize it probably was more zeros on the check that made this happen. I figure for the right amount of money they would let Evil Knievel (his son, grandson, or whoever is holding up the family name these days) try to jump the entire building.

I totally understand the risk vs. benefit part. I just wonder what their perception is on the risk side. Also how much of this (no more THSCC at RBC) was a cost thing? Did RBC offer to allow us to run event just a single event per year for X dollars? Or was it mostly the perceived risk to them to have us on site doing what we do? Not that we want to pay a lot of money just to have RBC as a site.

jimpastorius wrote:

You aren't being serious are you? You are trying to compare apples and oranges.

Well, to a small degree I am serious. I don't think it is totally apples to oranges. I was mostly talking about the "risk" factor and trying to take the money part out of the equation. I have no idea if the AutoShowInMotion stuff is more risky than ours. Someone at the RBC Center has thought about it and made a thumb up/down decision. My gut feeling is that RBC's overall "risk" is larger for a single night of hockey, etc. with a full crowd, etc. and all of the crazy things that could happen with such a large group of people than a single THSCC event. But then again, what they take in for that single event (money) is much more than we can or would be willing to offer.

Basically this is all part of the "loosing sites due to perceived risk" thing. I know some places around the US (national events) loose sites due to larger paychecks, but I also think that there are probably many places that have empty parking lots on Sunday's that remain that way only due to fear of something "bad" happening. This is not about giving RBC grief but about how bad our sport is perceived by some.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

Oh bummer. I thought I was the only one in Raleigh that got one of these

I'm signed up for Thu@1pm. They only have 1 car I want to drive. Anything else will just be filler to shut them up.

Funny that Miles said his literature came discouraging unsafe driving. Mine just says wanna drive the wheels off a Z06? Or at least that's all I read

Kevin Hoff · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:02 pm

To give an idea of the _huge_ difference in $$$ and how piddly our fees were:

My group at work had an outing at the RBC center last month -- the building manager gave us a tour and showed off the fancy dressing rooms among other things. In the course of the tour he mentioned that the center charges the parking company something like $10,000! This is per game/event, not per month!

--Kevin H.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:46 pm

If there were going to be problems, who would you want backing the event? General Motors or some little local club?

The night series was a nice to have. Maybe we got too greedy with it. The biggest shame was losing the regular series event there. That was by far the best event and the most anticipated event of the year.

I feel RBC eyes turned towards us due in part becuase of the crowd that started to come and spectate. Over the last few events there were more and more "ricers" and cops visiting. That is just my feelings.

Maybe as a club we should only look to the RBC Center for one or two regular series events?

MilesBeam · **Joined:** Fri Aug 15, 2003 1:57 pm **Posts:** 427

Richard, I know you weren't bashing them. I was more concerned about the posts that might follow.

As for the future... everyone should just stay tuned and be patient. If something worthwhile happens, I'm sure an announcement will be made.

Miles

Rob Keehner · **Posted:** Fri Apr 23, 2004 1:32 am

GM is the biggest company in the world I guess they really can do whatever they want.

Except put decent springs and rear swaybars on the J-bodys.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

jimpastorius wrote:

The night series was a nice to have. Maybe we got too greedy with it.

Greedy? Well, maybe only in hindsight. At the time it just felt like we were being lucky.

Certainly, if we realized that we were jeapordizing the regular event there, we would have thought twice. RBC Center really dropped a bomb on us - we had no idea what was coming.

While it may have been greedy, would we do it again? (ie run a night series at the potential risk of a site getting "sick" of seeing us). Yup, probably. Night events are just too much fun while they last

Hmm, night autocrossing sounds like drug use, doesn't it? Willing to do anything to get it, aware of the negative consequences, willing to do it anyways for the rush, cops don't like it, sensible adults frown down on you, you "look like" an irresponsible dangerous person even if you do it in a responsible, controlled way.

jimpastorius · **Posted:** Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:40 am

Yes, in hindsight and hindsight is always 20/20

If I would have known that the night series would risk the regular series event, I would have been in favor of dropping the night series. The regular series at the RBC was the best event of the year. Actually it was our best sight too. Family and friends could come out and watch and we would be home at a decent hour.

No use crying over spilled milk. It would be nice to have a site a little closer than an hour away from 80% of the members.

With Belk's pulling out of Northgate Mall...maybe someone should touch base with Northgate.

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