NG Needs Committee Members

[D.I.P.]

The trick with social media is to post unique things not the same post every day. Once a post is made to the NG page that post is shared over the next few days to the 3S groups which spreads the word without getting annoying by posting the same thing every day.

That is not to say that we do not need more posts. That is why the 1st post in this thread asks for someone to be responsible to helping spread the word on social media platforms.

Now we just need someone with a working knowledge of what needs to be done to step up and offer to help us do it.

Agreed posting the same thing over and over is pointless, original content is everything but to think that posting everyday even multiple times per day is annoying is inaccurate. When it comes to social media the more active you are the better. Obviously knowing that this is a once per year event i know its hard to have fresh content to push out on a daily basis but something is better than nothing...

The page needs to find a way to stay much more active throughout the year and not just the 2 months before the event and the week after. This is why i mentioned things like setting up a Youtube channel where Videos can be posted of the NG and other events maybe even allow people to submit their own car videos Racing/Tutorials/local meets etc... I envision the NG page being like the Central hub of all things 3/S meets. Just as you say the posts are shared to the other 3/S pages, i think the NG page should be actively sharing and promoting all the other big regional 3/S meets throughout the country. This gives you additional content throughout the year and can be used to push forward the idea that the NG is meant to be the Biggest & Greatest 3/S meet of the year.

Personally i think the racing is what sets this meet apart and it should be kept, specifically the drag racing. I honestly don't know what all would need to be done to get people excited about actually racing again. I am also not sure how to have people get over their fear of breaking something. I think the draw here would always be to have representation from some of the more well known shops or individuals in the 3/S world (i.e. Pampena, Matt Monnett (sp?), 3SX etc... The potential to have 3/S records broken at the event i think would always be a great thing.

In my opinion i think maybe having 3 different racing events (Drag, Road Course and Auto Cross) is a bit much. How much money is spent on getting time on a Road Course and setting up and Autocross event? Would it make sense to instead use that money to offer cash prizes in the Drag Race? I focus on the Drag racing because IMHO this platform was always Drag racing centric. Drag racing is what pushed this platform forward to where it is today. People on the forums talk about 1/4 mile times, not their fastest lap around Mid-Ohio.

Why not have a Dyno competition? Those are always popular and there is less risk of breaking stuff.

Thinking even further out of the box, how about 1/2 mile roll racing? Its the latest craze and easier on everybody's Transmission and T-Case...

A combination of these things?

Friday Night - Dyno Competition
Saturday Morning - Car Show
Saturday Afternoon - 1/2 Mile Roll Racing
Sunday - Drag Racing

Just throwing out ideas here.

[familyMAN]

I'm going to DSM/EVO/GTR Shootout again. Good autocross, great drag racing and unbelievable Mitsubishi car porn. The pits is one of the best car shows I've been to. With or without an NG, I highly recommend making it a part of a 3S owner's annual events.

If you are into nice cruising, gather a group to tour up to cedar point one of the days.

And if you are into the old days of NG 3S drag racing, there will be a couple 3S's gunning for the top10 list at this year's Shootout.

Considering it's practically free to just show up, I'd suggest any considering signing up to be a committee member attend this August to scope it out. Maybe to adopt it as NG or to just steal some ideas from an event that drives thousands of attendees.

Edit: forgot there is a dyno day and an informal car show as well.

[Alan92RTTT]

I see a recurring thought in several of the post in this thread. The need to do a better job getting the work out.

We know that. We need help with that. If you want to help "Great" let us know. If your just going to tell us what we already know and not offering to help, you're not really helping.

Road Course as long as we do it they way we did this year costs the NG nothing. As long as we can that is what we will continue to do.

Drag Race was not an option this year. As long as its an option we will have one.

Autox is the race event with the highest % of participation its not going anywhere.

Dyno days have been done when an AWD Dyno was in the area.

[Lori]

I think Alan said it pretty well... I'm feeling a little beaten up here, but it's not because of criticism. Here's the thing.. I came right out and said I SUCK at the marketing part. I failed you. I fully admit that. My life was literally a living hell (it's finally almost over now), and I couldn't do it. It's that simple. It was like that for two years. I don't think constantly repeating that I did a horrible job is going to help, but if it makes you feel better, then so be it. All I'm saying is that I already know it, and it isn't necessary to kick me while I'm down. I stood up at the banquet and I had a really serious conversation with people there. I admitted everything I'd done wrong, and I owned all my failings. Can we please leave it at that?

As for the races, Alan is absolutely right. Road course and AutoX are our two highest participation events. Drags have been waning for quite some time, but we still try to do them every year. This year, the vote was to go to Indy. I felt I needed to honor that vote, which meant we couldn't have drags. It just wasn't an option. It was NOT a choice.

Everyone is making a lot of great suggestions for changes for next year. We're already planning a "fresh start" for the NG, with huge changes across the board. We'll offer new events (as well as the old ones), new pricing structures, new marketing ideas, and new ways of doing things. We know things need to change. I think what people often forget is that we do this for YOU. I sure don't do it for me... We don't make any money (most years we spend a few thousand dollars just so we can be there), I don't have a love for these cars, and while I had a blast tracking my car a couple of times, I'll never make that mistake again because I took so much crap for it. I've taken crap if I drink with everyone so I don't go out and hang out, I stand in the sun all day long making sure the events run smoothly, and I sit here and read a ton of criticism. It's really gotten to the point where people no longer appreciate what we do, they only criticize what they don't like or what we're unable to do. That's why we need new blood. But have you noticed that we haven't had a single person step up to help?

The criticism is part of why the NG numbers are down. Each year, we hear (publicly) about the things we need to change. We hear less and less about the races, the numbers, the fun, the excitement, the major breakages, etc. So while I own the pre-event marketing issues, I don't really think criticizing non-stop is helping, either. I'm happy to hear your suggestions, but we end up starting disputes. Maybe suggestions could be emailed to me, as a couple of people have done. But do you really think that negativity is helping?

As I said, I'm doing this for you. And I'm happy to step down if you don't think I'm doing a good enough job. But as of right now, it's only Alan and I that are willing to commit to it, so we may be limited in the suggestions we're able to actually execute. He works full time, and I own a retail business. WE NEED HELP.

[familyMAN]

On a quick review of this thread, I see suggestions and constructive criticism from people that are passionate about the platform and hope to make the event better. I don't see negativity.

[Lori]

I don't mean "negativity" in the direct sense that I think you're thinking of. I'm not saying that people are saying, "You suck" or anything like that. But rather than talking about the fun, the excitement, the great friends, stuff like that, people are talking about the things that need to change. Needing to change means something wasn't quite right. That's all I mean. I love the suggestions. They're helping us. I just think they should be more balanced, and that maybe all the people telling us we need to change every year is helping to take a toll on the event. It focuses attention on those things rather than the fun and positive.

[donniekak]

I think the most economical racing solution would be a weekend airstrip rental. 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile roll race, and a nice auto cross course could all be setup at the same location.

[Alan92RTTT]

I think the most economical racing solution would be a weekend airstrip rental. 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile roll race, and a nice auto cross course could all be setup at the same location.

Having never done such a thing, Do you have any clue on pricing or who could be contacted to set it up?

[anyonebutme]

Looking at the entry fees of the local airstrip attack series, I think it's out of budget for the NG. It's the equivalent of renting a roadcourse track for the weekend. I know my local airstrip would probably not close on the weekend for any price, and it has to be set up way in advance for the NOTAMs to be approved and posted for airstrip closing, talking year+ in advance. Also my local small strip doesn't have a pad large enough for autoX without moving aircraft, which it would be a cold day in hell to organize.

The more remote the strip, the better chance of happening. I guess that's OK since roadcourses are usually pretty remote.

Would be easy enough to get a fast yes or no, call the strip manager.

My local strip: http://www.crevecoeurairport.com/contactus.html

[Lori]

The original issue remains... We really need people who are willing to commit to helping us in order for everything to happen.