So... About the $2016 Challenge...

I demand an event in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories!

Looks like you can rent Woodburn Drag Strip for $1,500 including insurance. Cost is $2,000 if you want to run both lanes. http://www.woodburndragstrip.com/drag-racing/track-rental/

I sent an email to Pat's Acres to see if it is possible to rent the track for the day, and if so what is required.

Westside $2016, let's make this happen!

Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote:

alfadriver wrote: In reply to Stefan (Not Bruce): And all that time, the Challenge was reasonably well attended in Florida. Being the nature of the challenge, I can't really accept the excuse of "the economy"- this is "because economy" racing. So...

I believe in my previous reply, I stated rather clearly that it was their event and their rules so I can CHOOSE to participate or not which means getting my, apparently, lazy ass to Florida and back. It doesn't mean that I can't add my $0.02 to ask for an event slightly closer to the other half of the berkeleying continent. They don't have to do anything about that request.

But giving an excuse why only one car showed up for a budget challenge is not accepting the reason why GRM does not come out west.

I'm just pointing out the reason, and why I don't think your reason why only one car showed up is a valid reason.

bgkast wrote: Looks like you can rent Woodburn Drag Strip for $1,500 including insurance. Cost is $2,000 if you want to run both lanes. http://www.woodburndragstrip.com/drag-racing/track-rental/ I sent an email to Pat's Acres to see if it is possible to rent the track for the day, and if so what is required. Westside $2016, let's make this happen!

And there you have the genesis of the West Coast $2016 Challenge!

I am moving to Kissimmee/celebration. Yall move the challenge when I'm not 1500 miles from it, I'll riot.

May I be so bold as to inquire why Summit Point was ruled out?

Flight Service wrote: May I be so bold as to inquire why Summit Point was ruled out?

It just wasn't a good match for our event.

what we need is a Midwest and a West coast Challenge. Then we can have a playoff between all three and kick the NFL's ass.

stroker wrote: what we need is a Midwest and a West coast Challenge. Then we can have a playoff between all three and kick the NFL's ass.

I like the cut of your jib, sir.

"Can anyone win all three events? Who will reign supreme as All-Star Challenge Champion?

Find out tonight on Don't Be a Bob Costas."

In reply to alfadriver:

And I was trying to explain that there were extenuating circumstances, like how poorly run and advertised that event was. When Nashco showed up, the people running the show had no idea about the GRM challenge.

I think it was given up on too early after a poor start. I would have liked to have seen another attempt made with better organization and marketing just to verify that the West Coat really does or doesn't work. One result is not a valid premise for a theory, let alone a published finding.

In reply to bgkast:

interesting. We should get together and drink some beer while we discuss this idea....

Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote: I would have liked to have seen another attempt made with better organization and marketing just to verify that the West Coat really does or doesn't work.

Well that rules out my attempt at putting something together.

Here's the bottom line: Putting on an autocross and drag race with a bunch of $2000 cars is easy. Putting on a "GRM $20XX Challenge" is not.

Summit Point had a lot of strikes against it. Dirt paddock. No autocross spectating. Difficult on-site logistics. Distant drag strip. No hotels at the level of the Gateway Grand.

That said, even if we had a facility nearly identical to Gainesville (ZMax comes to mind), it's still an EXTREMELY staff-intensive event. Moving the show would increase costs dramatically, and force us into a learning curve of at least a year or two as we got used to a new site.

Not saying it'll never happen, just that you need to be careful about what you ask for, because it might not be what you think you want.

Look, the Rose Bowl is always in Pasadena, the Indy 500 is always at Indy and Burning Man is always in whatever god-forsaken dirt craphole Burning Man is in. I'd rather someone drive a little further and experience the best event we can put on than have an easier trip to a crappier event.

So what's wrong with Gateway?

JG Pasterjak wrote: Look, the Rose Bowl is always in Pasadena, the Indy 500 is always at Indy and Burning Man is always in whatever god-forsaken dirt craphole Burning Man is in. I'd rather someone drive a little further and experience the best event we can put on than have an easier trip to a crappier event.

I heard at least 20-30 people say that the Best Western Gateway is part of the Challenge. We are over 900 away and enjoy the trip there and back.....despite the traffic near Baltimore, DC and Richmond. I like that it stays in Gainesville.

I find this annual argument a little bit distasteful, and disrespectful of the staff and the monumental effort they put in to make the event what it is.

Armchair events planners are welcome to step up and put their money where their mouth is, but I strongly suggest you show up once in FL so you have a clue what they are dealing with.

The staff has made it clear- they have heard the request, and would like to step it up as soon as they are ready, but they are not. It's much more complicated than finding a place to rent.

(And yes, the Gateway Grand is part of the event. Anyone approach them yet about sponsorship?)

Thank you GRM staff for the efforts you put into this.

Hey, I was happy with your original answer! You guys work hard and I, like many on here, would love to see the event more centrally located, but this is your event. Have it where you want. I was genuinely curious as to why one place is better than the other.

Keep up the good work, it ain't easy. To put it in perspective, how would any of you like a couple hundred of yourselves descending on you for a competition. Maybe that will lend some perspective.

Wow, didn't expect all this when I started the thread.

I am perfectly fine with it being in Gainesville. We drive down from MA and it takes us roughly 30 hours and over 1000 miles each way. It's expensive and taxing to do, but we do it. Why? Because the event is great and the people are even better. We really missed it this year, and we want to come back.

There's an almost nostalgic familiarity of rolling into that parking lot and picking "our spot" in the rear lot of the hotel and getting to work on whatever vehicle we brought. Look, the hotel didn't shut us down in $2010 when we had a few too many beers around 11pm and decided it was a great time to slap a turbo on our Jeep. For that I commend them, and I don't see that happening anywhere else!

Not only that, but the logistics are great there. There are multiple parts stores within a few miles, decent places to eat, aND even a gas station at the end of the hotel drive within walking distance that sells beer. And making fun of Tim Tebow in the Gator's Den (the hotel bar) never gets old.

I was only asking because the team and I were talking about it over the weekend because we wanted to plan ahead a little. Definitely was not trying to stir the pot.

Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote: In reply to alfadriver: And I was trying to explain that there were extenuating circumstances, like how poorly run and advertised that event was. When Nashco showed up, the people running the show had no idea about the GRM challenge. I think it was given up on too early after a poor start. I would have liked to have seen another attempt made with better organization and marketing just to verify that the West Coat really does or doesn't work. One result is not a valid premise for a theory, let alone a published finding.

I'm confused by the thought about marketing. The first bunch of Challenges were marketed on THIS board. And that was it. Lots of people showed up. I was there between 2002-2004, and don't recall much in terms of advertising, except for word of mouth on this board.

Are you saying that the west coast needs some kind of special marketing to get people to participate, other than this board?

The organization part of the actual event is moot- one person showed up. Had it been 15, and it tool all day to run the autocross and all day to run a drag race, I can see how an that can be seen as unorganized.

But until the event, you sign up and show up. Other than sending in a payment, I don't remember getting any massive notification than maybe an e-mail. Do other places in this country require some kind of special pre-event organization?

I've RUN a lot of events in my time. No idea how many autocrosses, I organized a national convention that had 10x the amount of people vs. a challenge, and hosted a hockey game of college hockey posters from around the country. None of them required any special marketing, and the core part of being organized was the event, not the pre-event.

Had 15-20 people showed up with cars and the event was muddled through, I can see attempting again at a remote location. But one car showed up. And his trek was from Seattle- which is farther than we drove to Florida. Anyone from LA or San Diego could have just shown up. With that kind of reception, why bother trying again?

Few here seem to remember 1999, 2001, and 2002- the events were held at different locations. So we all had to pack up and move from a drag strip inland to a parking lot in Ocala (I think). Having it in ONE location really helped- especially in the lean years. And thankfully to the GRM staff- Gainesville is not that far.

I, too, love the idea of the challenge coming closer. But I know keeping it in Florida keeps the event great.

In reply to SilverFleet:

Gainesville for 2016. Tentative dates will be October 21-22, 2016

In reply to SVreX:

I have a call with them today. They love having us there for the event. Just waiting on UF football schedule.

I agree, keep it in FL. If someone invites you to their house for dinner, do you tell them you can't because it's too far and you think they should move so it's easier for you to come? Nope, you go because they were kind enough to invite you and it will be fun. FL is GRM's house, it's their event, and they have graciously invited us to it. This year was my first, and it sure won't be my last. Thank you to the GRM staff for putting on an awesome event and being great hosts!

Had a great talk with the hotel and they had no issues with us (except for the burnouts in the parking lot). Looks like December 1st is when we will have a firm date for the $2016 Challenge.

Stay tuned!

So is january to early to sign up for next year?

Rick Goolsby wrote: Had a great talk with the hotel and they had no issues with us (except for the burnouts in the parking lot). Looks like December 1st is when we will have a firm date for the $2016 Challenge. Stay tuned!

Woohoo! I can wear my winter shorts!