NG16 - Information and a chance for you to influence the location

[Lori]

As you probably have heard, the NG numbers were down considerably for this year, making it very difficult to pay the bills. We did, however, do it.

The concern comes with whether or not to take the risk and sign contracts for next year, and where to move the event. We don’t have our regular amount of “seed money” to help us scout new locations or to put deposits down on contracts, so we need to go back to a location we’ve already been to. That doesn’t mean there can’t be some changes.

One of our very enthusiastic NG regulars came up with a brilliant idea for NG16. I hope you’ll read this all the way through…. Here’s how it works:

We’re going to put up a poll on the NG website for NG16 locations. For each vote you wish to cast, you’ll pay $25. You can cast as few as one vote, or as many votes as you want. This money is RISK-FREE, so please keep reading.

If the location you voted for takes first place, your voting money plus 10% rounded to the nearest dollar goes toward your registration for NG16 and is non-refundable. If your location does NOT take first place, you have a choice – your voting money can be applied (plus 10%, rounded to the nearest dollar) to your registration fee, or you can take a refund.

Let’s give an example. For example, say you want to vote 4 times for Pittsburgh. You’d pay $100. If Pittsburgh wins, we’ll apply $110 toward your NG16 registration. As long as the event happens in Pittsburgh, the money is non-refundable. If we don’t hold the event, it’s completely refunded. If you want to vote 4 times for Indy and Pittsburgh wins, you’d either be refunded $100 or you could apply $110, non-refundable, to your NG16 registration. So you win if you decide not to take the refund, but either way there’s no risk.

We all know things happen in life and plans change. If you’ve decided to take the non-refundable option then suddenly find yourself unable to attend NG16, you still retain the right to sell your registration. A small transfer fee will apply (usually 10-15%).

If, for whatever reason, we decide not to hold NG16, we’ll refund all voting money. If we hold it, then we have the seed money to put down on contracts. We all win. Please keep in mind… There are never guarantees. This is just the best way for us to gauge interest in next year’s event. We still retain the right to say there won’t be an NG16. This is just intended to remove some of the risk while affording you a way to influence our decision without that dreaded “let’s move it to…” thread that we KNOW I hate.  Oh… And in case you’re wanting to ask, Hawaii is not an option. No dates can be guaranteed, of course, but we’re planning to stay around the same general timeframe, hopefully between June 21st and July 16th.

The potential locations are:
Michigan – there are three potential road courses in Michigan. This one is obviously the easiest to secure and scout, since Alan and I live here and Bob isn’t too far.
Indy – there are two potential road courses. We’d be aiming to get the one we haven’t done yet, but there are never guarantees. It’s also the 25th anniversary of the year the Stealth should have been the pace car, so we’d aim to do another pace lap at Indy.
Pittsburgh – Pitt Race has built a new addition to the road course, so there are new possibilities here. Drags would NOT be at the same location (I PROMISE!), and the track offers some cool new options for events. The opportunity would be there to really make some positive changes to the NG.

The poll will stay open until July 31. A decision about NG 16 will be made by August 25.

On a personal note, I really hope you’ll consider doing this. The member who came up with the idea worked really hard to make it feasible and beneficial to everyone. He wanted the NG to have seed money for contracts, potential sponsors to see enthusiasm and interest, and the community to have a risk-free way to help AND a vote in where it goes (we heard lots of votes at NG15, but it’s hard to keep track of them there). Your payment for votes is to show that you’re really committed. Each year, people say “I’m coming to the next one for sure!” and they don’t. So this will just show us how many people are really serious. Honestly… I think it’s the best idea I’ve ever heard. If the interest is there, I’m willing to take the risk. You take the risk by trusting me with voting money, and I’ll take the risk on the contracts. Deal?

To vote, please visit the NG website before the end of the day on July 31st (midnight, EDT).

[DK77]

I think this is a great idea. What if I vote for multiple places? I'm ok with any of the locations, but I would like to vote to raise some seed money.

[CoopKill]

Most excellent! I will vote whether I show or not...

[93STLTH]

Hmm, there's a couple of other locations that I thought would be options, all of these are pretty far north. Gonna be tough to try and get any other Florida people interested.

[Lori]

You can vote as many times as you want, for as many locations as you want. Whatever makes you happy.

Tom, what other locations were you hoping for? There may be reasons why they're not on the list, or they may not have been considered properly. I'm not unopposed to adding another if it would help. If I do that, anyone who voted could change their votes.

Thanks for the positive response!! I know the person who came up with this idea will be SO happy!

[mannavr4]

I just placed my votes, so happy to hear that there maybe a ng16.

[TBoxdorfer]

Voted!

[green-lantern]

I haven't been to a NG in Michigan so I'm tempted to vote that but the drive would be much further than Indy. I have no desire to go back to Pittsburg, long drive, toll roads, strange ass beer laws lol.

I'll vote next week, I'm going to have to vote for Indy I believe. It seems like a good center location for most people.

[mannavr4]

I voted Pittsburg, track was literally down the street (except for drags) and I thought the road course was one of the best. Aswome go-kart track if possible to do again, closest site to me but still an 9.5 hour drive.

But I have made it clear that I will go wherever the NG goes. I've never been to Michigan and I loved indi.

[Maximal]

I'm assuming there is no way to know the dates until the location is decided and you talk with the tracks? Biggest issue for us are the dates, not so much the location even though Pittsburgh would be best due to only being 4.5 hours away but also the work they're doing on the track is going to make it amazing.