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grasshopper
Senior Member
1652 Posts |
 Posted - 15 August 2012 : 22:50:22
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Another fantastic evening weather-wise on Tuesday 14th, the 1/10th track is in fine fettle - the carpark bone dry.
Any reason why no-one seems to be turning up to enjoy the facilities?
It would be nice to find out why numbers are so low. If you're a member and NOT turning out on a Tuesday club night could you let us what it is that's keeping you away. If it's a personal reason then just say it is, no need to elaborate - if it's something within the club's power to change please let us know.
It's like so many things nowadays, if we don't maintain support we could lose the facility all together.. |
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hpi_guy
Junior Member
United Kingdom
401 Posts |
Posted - 16 August 2012 : 10:32:30
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Things that don't work is my issue  |
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sparks8
New Member
United Kingdom
67 Posts |
Posted - 16 August 2012 : 11:04:47
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Was thinking exactly the same thing...For 1/10th could it be that some of the better drivers that we saw especially through the winter have committed to other championships, regional/national races etc this summer and budgets are limited to those races? Electric is not as cheap as it maybe once was at club level. You look at some of the sct and buggies at the club now, with all the fancy electrics and flash hop-up bits most are £450+ bits of kit.
Or could it be simply that people don't know or have forgotten about the a1 club and the new track etc.. it was mentioned a while ago that oople was very quite on the a1 page..Maybe a few more posts there to generate some drivers? Looking at nitro iam as guilty as the next member who "used to run" nitro.. Maybe a bit more emphasis needs putting back into running nitro evenings opposed to trying to run both ? Either way numbers as you say need to increase and it would be interesting to see what others have to say.. |
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frecklychimp
Average Member
852 Posts |
Posted - 16 August 2012 : 12:22:35
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try putting in some EFFORT guys,
the venue is a nothing more than a disgrace, the tracks are in an awful condition, there is no promotion/marketing, there are no Sunday events being put on, no communication with customers etc etc
maybe if you concentrated on the service that is being provided rather than filling the bank then you would have a busy growing club like 12 months ago... the only thing that has changed is effort.
here are some quotes from BRCA Regional customers to consider:
"For me all good , except the 2wd Grantham meeting . Timing left a lot to be desired :( not good enough for a regional meeting ."
"loved the series, well run, and organised, great bunch of racers, the only issue i would have is that the timing at the last round at Grantham was shocking, i know we came away with a result but i really dont think it was a proper result, in my opinion the meeting was null and void from the moment the timing had failed, a regional series really should only have one laptop or one archive and maybe only one person dealing with the timing, i know thats not always possible, but i must admit i have seen better club races than the round at Grantham."
I am sick of hearing complaints about the venue/club this year... going to take some serious work to pull it back as the reputation has been hammered by both shocking Regionals hosted, its not time for excuses, just time to roll sleeves and start providing a quality service again.... Putting the 1/10th track back to a standard would be a start... rolling it has knackered it, removed all grip and wrecked the astro.... the 1/8th track is appalling... is it really too much work to lay hoses and tidy up?
As for racers committing to other championships/budget... they all need asmuch practice/set up time as possible and all other clubs are still thriving with the 1/10th boom!
And no i'm not smug about the club going to **** after leaving... it's pretty heart breaking tbh to see the state of the place after all the work i put in |
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skateboarding rabbit
New Member
Hungary
2 Posts |
Posted - 16 August 2012 : 13:30:05
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| Hi all went down to rhr last night and there was no one there so no where is "busy" this time of year and at least we had a few more then them! |
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frecklychimp
Average Member
852 Posts |
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skateboarding rabbit
New Member
Hungary
2 Posts |
Posted - 16 August 2012 : 14:00:18
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| Abit late writing that 30 minutes after gates opened.... |
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sparks8
New Member
United Kingdom
67 Posts |
Posted - 16 August 2012 : 14:48:23
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If they are direct quotes from driver to driver or via some forum some place, word will spread that quickly and damage any reputation that was built causing the instant lack of drivers turning up.. simple. Word of mouth and especially forums can be great whilst working for you but fatal if against...
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Edited by - sparks8 on 17 August 2012 08:26:27 |
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reg
Junior Member
Christmas Island
427 Posts |
Posted - 16 August 2012 : 17:39:31
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The track is the problem, I know its offroad but its to bumpy people want to go and be able to race others,side by side,try a different line,drive round slower drivers,do a jump and land it,rather than trying to just get the car round,
It cant be used as a test track (which..is why most club members that do nationls....regionals go to club nights)as it needs a totaly different setup to all the other tracks..just get a lap in,
If you run SCT its not such a problem,i ran the Durago on it and it was ace,
I know how hard it is to build a track,i was one of the few to get the first track up and running,if its time people cant commit to..why not just make the track totaly flat and smooth...put the astro on,then get the ramps made like we had indoors...they were amazing,then put them back into the container at the end of the night,
Eat a bit of humble pie on o0ple,tell your plans of the total revamp,lots of pics before and as its happeng,this will get people thinking...talking...advising....club members will come and keep coming...if you make enough money from happy club members coming everyweek,you dont need to rely on big event to get you out the poo.
Silverstone is a good example,an indoor club(flat)on astro with man made jumps,its full,with people on the reserve list every tuesday,
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Edited by - reg on 16 August 2012 17:45:30 |
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Lewis
New Member
9 Posts |
Posted - 17 August 2012 : 10:59:58
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Thanks for that Reg i agree the idea for a total flat track with removable jumps is great! easy to maintain and we already have some jumps made which we used last winter indoors at Allington. As Reg has pointed out we need to emulate other clubs and there tracks in our area to attract drivers. I believe this is a realistic and achievable goal for the club and with the help from Ian and some of his work toys could be done relatively quickly (if Ian is willing ?)Also i do recall Ian saying this was the way to go when we raised the track the first time round. Please bear in mind this will only resolve some of the club issues we still need people to come forth and volunteer to help run the evenings smoothly we cannot rely on Chris,Ian etc to turn up set the computer up sign racers in and then run the evenings racing on there own. After going to most of the East Midlands Regionals this year and seeing how other clubs run there meets i can see that our club lacks some of the support other clubs get from there members. So Please if you want to see the club grow and not pale into insignificance please step forward and be counted, the club needs your help before there is NO club!!!
Also does anyone know what the club is planning to do over winter? It only about 8 weeks till the clocks go back and the evening are already drawing in. |
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hpi_guy
Junior Member
United Kingdom
401 Posts |
Posted - 17 August 2012 : 11:31:13
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| I don't mind running club meetings and doing track work, only Issue for me is time, as has been demonstrated with my lack of aperences recently, just a thought but what about doing Sunday meeting every other week? |
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frecklychimp
Average Member
852 Posts |
Posted - 17 August 2012 : 12:39:55
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You need to decide what you want the club to be and then organise and run it properly, it takes a damn sight more work than putting in a couple of hours every tuesday evening when the wife says you are allowed!
the track being bumpy is a small issue compared to the support and ability to be able to run a meeting to a standard and being committed to keep the venue in a decent condition.
The club had grown massively,had a decent reputation and was heading for big things... because the work has not been taken up and continued this year it has died on its arse and got a bad reputation for the quality of meetings being run due to 2 appalling regionals.
you can't just open the gates to a field and expect the field to fill up with customers... you also can't expect the same customers to come back week after week unless you offer something good and exciting... i've had a lot of complaints from those regional drivers that have joined to get practice access and a big point was the fact that the same track layout sat there for months on end,the same layout that was used last year at SCT National in September!
Flat track idea is ok, bit lame tbh but if it keeps the club running then fair enough... just remember you need to do the whole site not just 1/10th track,the car park needs sorting so it is useable when its damp and you seriously need to look at how the timing system works and invest wisely.
The work doesn't stop when its 90% finished and a car can be run on it either,which tbh seems to be the attitude at the club, there are still a list of jobs that never get finished... painting 1/8th rostrum has been on the list for 3 years!
i've heard a rumour that new astro is on the cards... for christ sake make sure it is stuff that works for racing on and not any old crap like what was originally laid for 1/8th track... i would seriously get out to other tracks and see how its done, forget watching youtube vieos of american dirt tracks because it doesn't translate onto astroturf uk tracks... go look at RHR and Broxtowe and see how its done properly.
without a proper team or a few seriously committed members that have a clue and willput the time in then you are fighting a losing battle
I would love to see the club successful... it was on its way there to big things... quite simply those that were carrying it forward got ****ed off with the workload and the way it wasnt being organised or run to a matching standard so dropped it, that has been the case since the start.
you can only get out what you put in... sit back and rest your feet and the customers will soon disappear.
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reg
Junior Member
Christmas Island
427 Posts |
Posted - 17 August 2012 : 14:11:54
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If people say all they can give is " a couple of hours every tuesday evening when the wife says you are allowed!" then that is better than people saying "ill come all day"then not turn up, you have lost more time as you plan a big job that doesnt get done,"slowly slowly,catchy monkey"
If we had £10.000 in the bank and every member booked a week off work,lived at the track for a week,we would have the best in the east midlands,its unrealistic so it wont happen,
what can happen is what has been mentioned,forget big meetings and reginals,make a smooth,forgiving track for all club members,new members and members of other clubs,to come and put money in the bank,
We run a free practice night on a thursday,do people not turn because the carpark isnt very good or the timing doesnt work!
If any other club did this it would be impossible to get on the rostrum,that tells me its the track
The timing thing hasnt helped for hosting a big event,its not the only club to have this problems and im sure it wont be the last,im sure they have learnt from it,MOVE ON!
I would say,if we have enought money to pay the rent till we go back indoors,close the track and start the rebuild while the weather is ok,take some silly pics,sad people looking angry at the timing loop,loads of cars upside down after the jump,put them on o0ple with a heading "time for a new start"
Pics are really key to getting people interested,
Then hold a welcome back meeting,
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David Smeaton
New Member
United Kingdom
81 Posts |
Posted - 20 August 2012 : 21:07:26
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Simply put, the club offers a service for paying customers. To be sucessful the club needs to tender to the punters needs; if they want a smooth track then that is what needs delivering irrespective of individuals opinions assuming the wishes are not ridiculous and pie in the sky.
Relaxed timing of a meeting comes as numbers drop, but an important thing is the disipline of the meeting; starting on time, enforcing marshalling etc 'punters' don't like lots of waiting around and racing without marshalls. I did notice at the regional in the practice rounds there were less marshalls than racers.
The odd computer related issue is accepted and I suspect that if everything else had gone smoothly then on the regional day then the complaints would have not been made. It is very easy to walk away from something when you're not happy and bad mouth it, it takes more to stay and help put it right.
Reg has come up with a very good plan above and it's certainly worth a try if its possible to do. i have said in the past that these nice sundays over recent weeks should be used to run some Sunday club meetings, the main championships are over so people are about. More time in the day means more time to help beginers.
It does boil down to money at the end of the day too, as I've said before TRY not going in doors and run a winter series, cold if fine as long as it's not wet.
The most sucessful clubs over the years have been run as dictatorships not commitees, dictators always need help and support but an individual or very small team need to make the deccisions.
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ianholt
Average Member
United Kingdom
750 Posts |
Posted - 12 September 2012 : 06:21:45
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Another great night. Last night we were low on numbers but massive on fun again, the small alterations made over the weekend seem to have smoothed the lap out and made the track much more driveable.
Pizza delivery made a welcome return also, yum!
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ianholt
Average Member
United Kingdom
750 Posts |
Posted - 10 October 2012 : 06:11:48
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If we don't get the indoor venue organised for Tuesday night club racing how about moving it to Saturday afternoons?
I can't be the only one that thinks Sunday is a family day and some of us work Saturday mornings, We could run from 1pm to 4pm on the last Saturday of every month?
It wouldn't clash with any race days and we could even get a cheap bbq and people could bring there own burgers etc to cook?
Any thoughts???? |
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Tuesday evening racing
