Rediculous price, far too much IMO whatever is involved/included.
Is there somewhere with a bullet pointed list of what is happening on the day, so I can accurately judge value for money?
What about the people who don’t/can’t go on track? Do they pay the same?
I thought there was a mahoosive pot of money saved up from membership payments.
I heard that this event was being “professionally organised”, is this the reason for the entry fee being £30?
For me figures based on 2 people travelling to Mallory Park and staying 2 nights would be approx:-
Entrance Fee - £30
Cost of fuel based on round trip of approx 400 miles - £60 (at approx 30 mpg)
B&B for 2 nights for 2 people - £120
Meals/snacks during the day - £15 per day (based on 2 people spending about £3 +!!!!! each a day)
Equals approx £240 costs and that's before I find any money to spend on other things going on there.
Gentlemen, as I stated in my first post and subsequent posts this is an attempt to gather information and I have no idea why it has to become a series of personal attacks as it seems to be. If your agenda is general disenchantment with the club, then I am sure there are plenty of other forums for it.
Nothing has been approved or sanctioned yet, but the goal of the 15-20 committee was to provide an all encompassing event for the whole MX5 community. As a member, yes I would also like to get in for as little money as possible which is why the original question was asked so as to understand things.
So first up, yes you can hire Rockingham for one day for about £12,000 plus vat. However for this you get the track, some marshals and the pits. Nothing else. No outer car park, no skid pan, no stands, no suites, so again nothing else. When you add in all the extras it comes to around £25k for a single day.
The hire of Mallory for the bare track is around £6,500 + vat for one day. But again, everything else costs extra, right down to and including such things such as waste management and overnight first aid cover. The effective hire of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” /><st1:place w:st=“on”><st1:PlaceName w:st=“on”>Mallory</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st=“on”>Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for a single Saturday for a large scale event is around £13,000 for an empty site.
The Sunday is a race day, and no, we do not have to hire the track at that time, but still wish to use the other facilities. The general admission for a race day is £12 with under 16’s free. Mallory view this as an asset and how they make their revenue so are not prepared to give it up free places to the club. The club could compensate Mallory for the whole gate money on that day but would charge £15k for the OC to have control of the turn-styles. So instead we have a reduced rate of £10 per ticket. So £20 of that entrance goes straight to Mallory.
Why come on the Sunday?
Up to the individual, but we are attempting to get the 20th anniversary of the worlds most popular sports car covered by a prime time motoring program both for the world record attempt and to get the presenters to race in the Mazda race(s) on the Sunday as well as have a BBQ in the paddock. However, it is also an undefined number at present. If 2,000 members turn up for the Sunday then that is a £20,000 cost to the club.
Then there are the costs on the Saturday, which I am not going to attempt to itemise but marquees, band, fun fair rides, VIPs club house for all members with free refreshments. We want all the traders there, not just MX5 parts, plus other associated ones. We want a proper announcer on the tannoy, we want craft stalls and other traders, there’s even talk of a farmers market. There is an off road course, even a scramble area and fishing pond and we want fireworks. We want Mazda there and we want it to be something that they will actually ship the Furai for, we already have a dealer want to join in. We want it to be a proper car festival.
To me, and this is my view, do we want to be moaning that the club is always rubbish and can’t do anything, or do we want it to be something we look back on and say I was part of that? Now that is my view.
As I say initially there no approval for anything yet and no budget set so none of these things can be said to be happening and nothing specific can be confirmed or a price set until a decision is made, which is why the original question. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” /><o:p></o:p>
Nick, Thanks for the explanation. I only wanted to know what the proposed £30 entranced fee covered. Perhaps if you had explained the situation as well as you have just done in your earlier post it would have saved a lot of questions?
Ditto.
Quote from Artherdaily. "as for inviting other cars and clubs, love the idea, lets invite clubs to come from all over europe, then charge them camping fees and entrance, i hope some ones thought of that, oh and dont forget the saturday night entertainment which will also have to be paid for ontop of the entrance fee, and that will also have to be free to invited clubs
you invite someone, you have to accept they make the effort to attend and travel, so you CAN NOT charge them entrance fees and for food to evening events, which makes the £30 plus food even more outragous to members"
Every other car club I know of that has invited us to attend their events has made a charge. The MG club charged us £10.00 a car at one of their rallies, Another club charged £6.00.
When the Dutch MX-5 owners Club held their 5 day 5th Anniversary event they invited clubs from other countries we went to it as did 45 other cars from the UK and we all had to pay to go to it. From memory (it was over five years ago) the Dutch OC charged roughly £300 which included the evening meals and packed lunches, the ferry crossings and the hotel. Included in the trip was visits to various places of interest which had an entrance fee. The Dutch OC will have included those fees in the cost to us I’m sure. Other costs not included, was fuel and other food and drink on the visit.
Its costing the Maita O.C members in the 'States 200 quid each to attend their anniversary event!
Why is it outrageous to expect people to pay for their food? You have to eat wherever you are and that food has to be paid for, be it a bar meal from the pub down the road or a Silver Service do with table cloths and finger bowls.
The total cost for us to attend the last National Rally, factoring in the cost of fuel, hotel, food and drink came to £300 for the weekend.
NickD - I thinkyou need to be aware that locally there is not much in the way of B&B accomodation, there are a few small “hotels” around the area with 1 large hotel about 5 miles away in Hinckley (A5/M69 junction). Mallory circuit does have a caravan/camping field, and there is a large campsite 3 miles away in Market Bosworth.
Kirkby Mallory is a very small village with a race track - the nearest town is Hinckley, other than that it’s villages…
I live 1 mile from Mallory circuit, and organise events for our village (i.e. carnival, variety night, etc…) and have excellent local contacts - these include travelling fairground people (they are based 1 mile from Mallory) and I doubt they would charge anything for occupying a pitch (for the carnival they actually pay us!), I live 2 doors away from the Mallory catering manageress, I have in the past have even used Mallory circuit to tune my model race cars (there’s nowhere else with such an open long flat straight), I have done work for the local (Hinckley) Mazda dealership in the past (as well as the tuning company and their sister Land Rover dealership).
I have offered to assist in the past, but no-one took it any further. I’m now offering again.
Let me know if I can be of any use.
[^o)]
Nick, the planned events look fine to me. Its just that I wanted to know what else would be there for the £30 as I use the rallies as an excuse for getting my husband to take a short break and as he isnt into cars as much as me I need to keep him occupied otherwise its like having a sulky child[:)]. Dont get me wrong about the cost, I’m lucky to be able to use my wages to fund my car and club activities. I’ve allready booked accommodation and the time off for the spring rally, and thats a 700ish mile round trip, but then it is going back to the county where I was born[:D]
Agree with previous posts - this type of info should have been posted much earlier to help with questions and stop the attacks.
Answer to your original question…
Answer:
£30 per car (2 people) for both days admission to the event is an OK price.
£15 per car (Driver only) for both days admission to the event is an OK price.
At a National Rally - what is not OK any hidden costs.
Before posting any more you need to put together EXACTLY what the event entrance fee would/may covers if all is approved (or at least some rough ideas)
from above info in thread so far…
FULL WEEKEND EVENT with
Club National Rally is on Saturday which includes…
Max5 are keen to show you what a race MX-5 can do and would love to take you on “hot laps.”
to drive your own car
to drive cars with an instructor
to drive some of the current Mazda range with instructor.
There will be super cars present and the oportunity to drive one of these under instruction.
Maybe - Mazda will run their well known Hot Laps activity as at the recent Motorshow
The final round of the “Mazda on Track Sprint” series.
drifting demonstrations from those for whom sideways is the new straight.
All our usual competitions and prizes
What information is NEEDED:
Is Track time is FREE on Saturday to ALL OC club members who maybe interested ?
Crash helmets required ? - If yes limits the numbers as guessing 99% of all club owners dont have them. Does the Club have enough to cover numbers interested ?
Will there be enough time for Hot laps in Demo cars, Super Cars, Max5’s etc. for all OC members who are interested ? Note - I was at Scotlands track day - and they had I think 2 x RX8 doing hot laps all afternoon - the event wasn’t packed and I didn’t get the chance to go in the RX8.
Is booking required ? - If yes - needs to be done ‘On the day’ when you arrive and register.
More Extra Info - The National Rally held in Scotland had a track day which was at extra cost - IIRC they hired the track for afternoon exclusive and unlimited use.
Mazda Hot laps in a RX8 were free.
Sunday Race Meeting
Reduced entrance fee for Sunday’s race meeting included in Weekend admission price.
Watch Max5 race series other races on the official BARC program.
an attempt to set a new world record for the most one type car in procession. ?
BBQ in the Paddock ?
Off the track Both days
trade stand village
plus things for the not so petrol head - what would be included in this list ?.
VIPs club house for all members with free refreshments
extras to add as suggestions
Cars in the HOT MX-5 contest should have to do a HOT lap to prove they can perform and its not just for show… Result goes towards final judging mark.
FREE - overnight camping at the circuit for all Owners Club members who may be interested and have paid for a full weekend ticket.
What is planned for - if it rains ?
from the first post…
a tent in a field where people can come and moan. [;)]
Gives you a Catch 22 - WE as members need to know what is/isn’t included in the weekend/day price and what is ALL additional costs.
I like the idea of Mallory Park, as a location - Better than an empty field and plan to be there as I try to go to all National Events - but as I posted in the other discussion suggesting Silverstone - MX5 National should be MX-5 ONLY or make One day of the weekend MX5 ONLY
Invite other Mazdas etc… NOT ON THE SATURDAY. Saturday is the MX-5 Only Day.
with NON MX-5 OC owners they pay extra £10 for Full weekend ticket or have the option to join club on arrival and get in for £30
On Sunday invite other Mazdas ? - If you have to - it is a BARC public event.
If the event is £30 entry and everything else is Extra - then as people posted above Doesn’t grab me - but sill a good chance I would turn up as its the National Rally. 15/20 Celabration event needs that something EXTRA to get more people interested. High price entry and people know everything is £££££ when they get there you wont get a good turn out.
Only comment I have on this reply, is that I don’t think we can do this, unless you mean the owners must demonstrate the ability to drive around a track. If we were to introduce a competitive element, such as timing, we would need a Race Permit off the MSA.
I wasn’t aware the BARC weekend was actually only sunday. I was trying to work out where all this tracktime was going to come from for 500 drivers, wanting to drive MX5s, MAX5s, RX8s, 2, 5’s etc on the track. As well as sort out a world record attempt.
My thoughts are: To motorsport orientated, to much emphases to 20 years of the car and not enough on the 15 years of the club.
Sorry to the 15/20 committee, I know you have worked hard but I believe there is both a loss of focus and a vested interest here.
I also have very strong feelings regarding a £30 enterance fee to a club event, especially when non members pay the same, (yes I have read the bit about discounts) if I want to take part in the club side of things, e.g. the world record attempt it seems I have to pay for something I don’t want.
My belief is you will have trouble getting enough cars to turn up, it is a longish journey and I don’t think I will bother. Just my thoughts, you asked for them.
To add to MX-Drews comments on entrance fee - if the Sunday is a Mallory race day then entrance cost would normally be £10 (£12 on the gate) - based on 2008 prices.
For a solo MX5/Roadster this would effectively make the entrance cost for the Saturday OC event £20! (ok, £18 at “on-the-gate” prices).
Add to this any overnight costs - camping, b&b, hotel etc…
Is the OC renting the Mallory facilities for 1 day? - the Sunday is a normal race meet.
There’s not enough available track hours for every driver to experience every track option or event.
End of the day people will guage the realistic options of what is possible and actually available compared to the cost, this could limit attendance somewhat.
I’m happy to pay 30 quid for a weekend out - cheaper than going to the pub for a weekend. I don’t feel that the club owes me anything other than what I already get from it. Y’know, a forum, magazine, discounts on stuff, loads of free local events. I’m also happy to pay for my own petrol to get there, because there won’t be another 20th anniversary for the MX5, ever. I’m more than happy to pay for my own food because I do that every day and including it in the cost of travelling somewhere is utterly rediculous unless you have an allergy to eating food you brought from home.
Basing it at a motorsport event means we get to see the cars moving, and maybe actually drive them a bit. The car park will be full of MX5s sat still and arranged in colour order with loads of polished bit for those of you who find moving cars too stressful to look at, or whatever their problem with “motorsport” is.
I’m also not fussed if other cars are there, I like cars, I’m in a car club. It’d be a shame if we didn’t have all the MX5s in the same area (I’m sure we will), but I really couldn’t care less if other cars are near by. Actually it might be kind of fun to have some MGF/MR2/Elise/S2000 around for contrast. I also don’t care if they pay the same price - that is their money, plus they won’t be in an MX5 and surely deserve some kind of pity.
The event sounds great. I’ve not been to any of the national meetings yet, but I’ll go to this one.
Could we have a rule on this forum that for every post with a critical point we also have to provide a positive suggestion? That way we’ll end up with a huge bucket of brilliant ideas and the best possible event, rather than a depressingly moany forum.
well said sir.
[;)]
This should be the banner at the top of the forum. Well said Cap’n--------------
.i would like to congratulate and agree with Captain Muppet for the sentiment of his recent post.i agree with much of what he says regarding the costs and the fact that it doesnt surprise me that its based around motorsport as it is a car club.
I would however like to point out the irony in it. it sounds like you’ve spent most of your post moaning about people moaning and then as for a rule
‘that for every post with a critical point we also have to provide a positive suggestion’ so as we dont have a moany forum!!
so… your positive suggestion was that people make positive suggestions instead of moaning about people moaning…
well… i guess forums make the world go round eh!! see you at the event i hope
Best wishes to all
Ron
I don’t think my post was moany, apart from not understanding why some people hate motorsport when it’s just the cars we love moving around a bit.
There were serveral positive points buried inside my post too.
Speaking of positives I have some suggestions:
Will there be a t-shirt/sticker/windscreen banner? We could hold an on-line competition to propose the best design and hopefully liven the forum up a tad?
Can we propose some prizes for cars that ordinary members have a chance of winning, such as: funniest item in a glove box, most amusingly bodged repair, least transparent rear window (maybe with a prize of a new window), smallest bill from an official Mazda dealer, car most likely to crash on the way home, car most likely to be stopped by the police on the way home, dirtiest wheels, least modified car not in concours condition, most loved MX5. Stuff like that.
Can we set up a Mexican wave of headlights being popped up (mk1s only)? There has got to be a chance of setting a world record for that.
Can we set up a Mexican wave of soft tops going down? There has got to be a chance of setting a world record for that too.
Hiya Captain
sorry about my last point - i was just trying to say that we all have a different view and some of them can sound like moaning when all we are doing is putting that view.
your posts are refreshing in that they dont seem to have the political content that some do on here - you just sound like someone who is in the club to have a good time with other people with a similar interest. i am the same and i am not interested in the political manouverings of ‘players’ at the club. i just want to go to an event now and again and enjoy it. (whether its in a stately home or racetrack)
mexican wave eh?..sounds fun - wonder how that’ll go down lol
Ditto Ron’s jottings.
let’s just enjoy the events as they are organised. especially as some jolly fine folk are doing all the hard work & we are just going there to have a nice day.
[H]