So do we think mexican waving the soft tops could be a go-er? How hard can it be?
Sonds like fun to me and can’t see why not… them there tin tops might slow the whole thing down though… maybe we should put them in the corner out of the way or latch them onto the end. No… better still… they can start it… they can start 2 secs apart so it’s a flowing display then it’s the manuals turn to go around a couple or three times missing out the tintops until they do there staggered thing at the very end. Could all go pear shapped but would be fun trying to do it, so who cares [:)]
Just read on a few of the Area Monthly Newsletters the date for the National is 5th & 6th September not the 12th & 13th ?
What is going to be the correct date ?
[8o|]Let's get to the real issue, cost/dosh, etc. £30.00 seems to be a lot for a basic entry fee - or does it include track action? However, budgeting your weekend - cups of tea, snacks etc. - £30 turns into £60. Adding fuel costs turns £60 into £120+ and if you're overnighting £120 turns into £200+. When I spoke to a 15/20 committee member during the Silverstone Classic 08 and aired my view on holding the 15/20 event during the 09 Silverstone Classic meet (if you are a petrolhead - this is the one) his reply was "Past experience tells us that most club members don't enjoy motor sport/track/petrolhead things at national events" - okay so far - I don't think so!This time the committee has decided on the wrong date and wrong race track! Finally the £30 entry fee is still the main issue. Most club members will attend for one day, view the cars, shop a little, have a chat with old friends, compare MX's against others and go home - so why charge people £30 to meet and chat with fellow clubbers (and they don't give a hoot about the ongoing track events)
£30 is per car for the weekend, so 1 car, 2 people = £7.50 each. per day. Any track time is extra.
To be fair, about on a par with the Silverstone Classic, I think? (You won’t get the opportunity for track time there though.)
Why the angry face?
One of the biggest complaints on the forum over the last few years was that “the committee” or “they” don’t respond to posts. So not wishing to be charged with that crime I try give you what I understand from reading your post.
I have read your post several times now and I’m not actually clear what you are trying to say. What I see is that you want to go to the Silverstone Classic, and event where you turn up, pay money, go in, look at cars and buy stuff if you feel so inclined. Very much how you describe a traditional national rally but on a larger scale.
You feel offended that someone has told you that OC members don’t like Petrolheadedness, but when the OC suggests holding such an event you feel that as it is not the Silverstone Classic it will be no good and therefore it must be costing too much.
A big issue seems to be that you feel that an entrance fee is going to make any event financially untenable, but from your calculations the £30 is actually quite minor since you are already over £200.
What I don’t understand is how all these costs disappear if you go to the Silverstone Classic, are there no additional costs to this? What would be your cost calculation if an event was held at the SC and how is this different to Mallory Park? Last year prices were £30 on the gate per person per day.
If the OC could hold an event at the SC do you not think people would turn up, park, wander off and not return until they wanted to drive away? What would be your plan for actual club activities? In all honesty do you think people are going to flock to see some MX5’s when there are so many more exciting marques around? What is stopping you going to the SC anyway?
I think what you are trying to say is that traditionally OC national events run down the lines you describe so why bother, lets just go to the Silverstone Classic? That is one of the reasons this is not planned to be a traditional OC event.
I, for one, am delighted that Mallory has been chosen.
first & most selfishly, it is my local track so it’s very convenient.
secondly, if 15/20 had been hung on the back of Silverstone, I would not have bothered. Why? Because i want to go to an exclusive MX5 event. some might say that’s a boring attitude but i go to many other really good, non 5, events in the year & i like the idea of exclusivity occasionally.
third & last reason is that Mallory, for those who do not know it, is a small, cosy, old fashioned sort of place to go & it has a great “club” feeling about it, so well done to the organisers; you’ve got my vote.
Last but not least; don’t forget the fantastic breakfast in the Lakeside Diner.
Not replying to posts - but there are still plenty of unanswered questions in this thread…[;)]
When is the Event planned to be held - here it says 12/13th but a few Area newsletters have it as 5th/6th September ?
Was the Survey I received (posted in the other thread) issued to all area coordinators ?
The survey was emailed 2 weeks ago which means the committee already had an idea of extra costs (if correct) for track time etc… but nobody from the committee has bothered to post anything to help [:(]
Who exactly is on the 15/20 committee and are they registered on this forum ?
[quote] A big issue seems to be that you feel that an entrance fee is going to make any event financially untenable [/quote]
If you have read all the above posts - its not really the entrance fee which is the problem - its not knowing what is and isn’t included in the cost of it.
An idea of what ALL the extras will or may cost would have been helpful and reduced all the bad karma from being posted.
How accurate are the prices quoted in the survey ?
£30 entrance fee (2 entrants + car) for 2 days
Pay £15 for 10 min hot laps with professional driver
Pay £100 to be driven round track for 10 min supercar (Ferrari etc)
Pay £25 for 15 min track time in own car, with tuition
To help it maybe an idea to start a new thread for 2009 with better info and more idea of possible costs ?
Agree, if at SC its very unlikely I would bother either, I have been loads of times. But have never been to Mallory Park for an event.
As posted earlier an MX5 National Event is and should be exclusively MX-5’s for at least one of the days and be organised by the MX-5 Owners Club FOR the MX-5 OC members/owners.
I can see absolutly no reaon why the MX-5 OC could not use the Silverstone Classic Weekend as the bases for a national Rally .The Stowe circuit of the track is not used .We could very easly use that area for what we need .Members could then enjoy all tha the Classic has to offer which is considerable to say yhe least .Peter Jakeways is already well advanced with the club particapation in the Classic so all it would need is reving up a bit .
Mallory is a great circuit but it is very small . Chris .BRDC.
'Fraid that was suggested - and dismissed - very early on. Funnily enough for many of the reasons people aren’t keen on Mallory - cost and not being interested in the motor racing that would be going on.
I think attendance at the Nats is going to be split by these two events and the differing opinions over them. Some people will do one or the other - but not both.
In my view there will not be a lot of difference in cost between the two by the time people take into account travel, food, possible accommodation etc.
It comes down to whether you want to see Mazdas exclusively, or your tastes are more catholic.
Me? I think I’ll do the Spring Nats at Elvington - reasonably close, never been there before and it’ll be mainly Mazdas. Then I’ll do the Silverstone Classic, where I can see a wide variety of cars, various trade stands, fly-pasts, motor racing and all from a Mazda Club area within the grounds.
If we did major on Silverstone we dont have to fabricate thing for members to do .I went last year for three days and didnt watch one single race .I spent the time talking to other members and looking rounf the trade area and car exibits …Chris
You’re playing an old tune. A number of us made these points months ago - to no avail.
Hi Alan, my apologies that your previous posts have not been answered, however as I am not the only member of the 15-20 team I am trying not to hog all the lime light, also apologies if this post seems curt, I am just trying to be factual.
At the first 15-20 meeting it was decide that the anniversary event next year was special and demanded more that the usual visit to an old house. That there was a substantial demographic within the OC and beyond that was being overlooked and that is why a traditional event is only attended by an average 500 people and despite being one of the largest owners clubs in the world it was well and truly put to shame by much smaller clubs. Why, because fields and old houses have limited appeal and it doesn’t take much looking through the forums and even letters to STHT to see that.
As one of the goals of the owners is promote enjoyment of the car and as the website says, “be the heart of the MX-5 community” it was decided that this special event must be open to all MX-5 owners and again I quote directly from the OC front page “open to all owners of MX-5s, Roadsters and Miatas, but also to enthusiasts of the car who have yet to acquire one” and therefore not be closed to none members or none owners of the car.
From that point, as cars are primarily designed to move and travel it was felt that a venue that allowed that to happen, rather than just polishing a static object, was actually a good idea. And after that, that there should be many activities and events to appeal to as wide a range of people as there could be and so a large venue was chosen, which was Mallory Park. For those that don’t know it this is the aerial view.
It was also decided that as this is one of the largest owners clubs in the world, that we should be able to have a fair crack at setting a world record and that it would actually be something to be proud of. And that has been the plan going forward, unfortunately slower than hoped but the plan none the less. There is also an alternative plan to go to an old house if this first plan is not accepted. And there in lies the question, why does this, one of the largest owners clubs in the world, only get 400 to 500 people to an event even when it is free? It can’t be because it costs too much, maybe it’s because it does not appeal to the 4,000 odd other members and the tens of thousands of other MX-5 members out there.
So, to the questions. The original date was 5th and 6th September, however then the race day was changed to the following week and a significant effort was made to secure that weekend including getting the group that already had that day booked to move. Currently both the 6th September and 12th are provisionally booked. The decision will likely be 12th 13th September.
I don’t know about a survey, it did not come from me.
The 15-20 group was published in STHT a while back, I believe most are registered on this forum.
The original entrance fee was calculated based of the historical information that 800 attendees could be expected. I personally I think this is way too few and figures are being looked at to reduce this. I can’t tell you what this figure will be as that is not my decision. What I can tell you is it costs me £6 just to park at Wickstead Park, anything up to £5 in a shoppers car park and even £1 just to drop someone of at Birmingham airport, £10 to park at Old Trafford and £46 to watch a game. It cost’s £9.50 to go to a local steam rally and £70 for 4 people to watch the fireworks at Drayton Manor and therefore in my personal opinion the original proposal of £7.50 per person per day was good value when there is to be plenty to see and do, complete with exclusive OC area with free refreshments.
No the entrance fee does not include free track time but the costs are quoted are generally correct. Although there is an error, it would be to drive the Ferrari or other super car, not to be driven.
Also to put the costs into perspective, if you were to go to a track day it would generally cost £25 for tuition on top of the cost of the track day that would already have to have been paid. And 10 minutes hot laps for £15 is less than the car will use in fuel, tyres, brakes and wear and tear and so both of these events are being provided at cost or less and so are very good value.
Finally to answer some of the other posts. Sorry but I find your petulance amusing. The Silverstone Classic is a public event and anyone, including those posting here is free to go. PJ is is organising participation at this event, nobody is stopping you going or do you need permission from the OC first?
Before we all go off on diffrent tangents shoud we not deceide exactly what dates to are going to celebrate as the two anniversaries .Un like the Queen to cant have two .The whole thing i believe is going to get watered down ahd will melt away .If you are going to have a celebration we need to get on with it and stop pratting about … Simple WHAT are the TWO DATES ??.Chris
getting bored now
yep me too…
See you all at Silverstone !
No. see you at Mallory
[:D]Me as well, see you at Spring Rally and ‘brum, brum’ Silverstone, just me and my little tent plus red 5.
Chris,
Please expand on your question over dates, what exactly are you asking when you say "…Simple WHAT are the TWO DATES ??.
sorry for anyone getting bored waiting for an answer but some people work on a Saturday and work without internet access to boot 