Sad news about NG17

[curt_gendron]

Reading all of this has gotten my thinking cap on.... Why can't the NG piggyback off of the DSM/EVO/GTR shootout? I'm sure the Shootout would be willing to add a 3/S racing category. Or at the very least 3/Ses can be in the Mitsubishi powered class that they have for drag racing. And there is a autocross there already. Friday night before is a nice open house thing at Bushur's shop.

So for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we'd attend the shootout. Maybe have some meetup points before going to these events and cruise to them. Maybe a 3/S only car show could be squeezed in on Friday sometime. And then add one or two other 3/S only events on Wednesday or Thursday before that. It would require no insurance. So I just made your total insurance cost almost nothing because all insurance would be covered under the shootout event. You can have car shows, banquets and other social events without any kind of insurance. (or something just for liability. My big car show is whooping $50 for a $1m policy)

Heck, you could even still implement this idea for this year. Find a hotel 20-30 miles outside of Norwalk. Maybe a Cleveland suburb like Elyria. Get a group rate. Have everyone book there. Find a banquet room or even a park shelter to rent for a banquet and then a place for a car show near by. Your insurance is $0. Charge people who want a t-shirt $20 and use the extra money from that to fund any park shelter or trophy costs. Or charge a minimal amount for registration. ($20 or less).

Could be the NG17 at the Shootout.

later,
Curt

[familyMAN]

I already suggested that last year after the low turnout and iffy on a future event.....

Still could happen whether formally or informally. There are classes that 3Ss are welcomed in. You can basically park anywhere at the "car show".

[Alan92RTTT]

The 3S National Gathering is not a car show hanging on the coattails of the any other event.

If the NG as a concept can not stand on its own, there is no reason for it to exist.



You want to go to the shootout? Go have a great time.

[2fnloud]

Also, I have no desire to subject my 3S to the abuse of drag racing. beyond the bench marking my latest power adders time to time, drag racing is not my thing.

[familyMAN]

Also, I have no desire to subject my 3S to the abuse of drag racing. beyond the bench marking my latest power adders time to time, drag racing is not my thing.

You can go to watch. Same as NG. Shootout also has autocross, dyno, car show, hotel shens.

But I understand Alan's point too and is it really a "national gathering" then.

Regardless, I'll be there and approximately 10-11 other 3Sers also. Hanging out, autocrossing, drag racing and spectating.

[Maximal]

Just a few ideas now that I've read all these responses...

- What about condensing the event into a weekend? Drags Friday night (if we even need them, I believe that is the least popular event now), Autocross Saturday, Road Course Sunday, quick banquet Sunday night, go home Monday. I know this will work better for me and a few other have commented on weekend events. Sure, costs might be higher but the old supporters of this gathering now have a bit more money than time so it might not be a huge issue.

- I don't personally get why people bitch about pricing as I think it's a fairly affordable event but what about being completely open with pricing? Post the insurance bill, trophy costs, rental fees, etc and then post the math that goes into figuring out the actual event cost.

- Go bare minimum with what's included. Charge extra for the shirt, maybe even use one of those on demand printing services, and don't include food at a banquet...handing out the awards in the hotel parking lot as a BYOB event would probably be more fun now that I think about it. Basically your "participant" fee covers the insurance.

- I know this has been tough but find some volunteers, maybe with marketing experience, to push the event. You really need someone who knows how to work Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Snapchat to get the word out now. Hell, it might even be worth hiring someone.

- For a track suggestion, Nelson Ledges (near Youngstown, Ohio) is trying to revive itself and has recently undergone a repave that I've heard is decent. There's one group that handles track rentals so that may be easier to get a data scheduled further in advance and there would be less fighting for a weekend event. I see that they at least have a section on the website for track rentals as well so maybe that'll be an option again. There's a drag strip 45 minutes away but not sure about auto-x venues.

[Alan92RTTT]

The way I see the shootout for the average 3S owner.

An all day drag event where 3S will be in 1-2 groups and probably not have more then 1-2 winners.
An all day autocross were 3S will get lumped into existing groups and get out performed across the board. (with a few exceptions that prove the rule. )
A car show


For anyone that wonders why we picked MI for the event.
A road course close that we can partner with. Cost to NG: $0.00
US-131 lets us run during test and tune. Cost to NG: $25.00 per racer + trophies
Tirerack. Cost to NG: Track $0.00 + Insurance (est:$1100) + trophies

NO other place can we go and get fixed costs that low.

Had NG17 had turnout the same and NG16 it would have been fine financially.

[Endersum]

Just a few ideas now that I've read all these responses...

- What about condensing the event into a weekend? Drags Friday night (if we even need them, I believe that is the least popular event now), Autocross Saturday, Road Course Sunday, quick banquet Sunday night, go home Monday. I know this will work better for me and a few other have commented on weekend events. Sure, costs might be higher but the old supporters of this gathering now have a bit more money than time so it might not be a huge issue.

Perfect example, I just dropped $2500 for Jeep Jamboree this year. Two events. Both are Friday/Saturday. I'm working all day Thursday then flogging my Jeep all the way there overnight to be ready in the AM. I would have paid another $1000 just to have my two vaca days back. I also cannot bring my kids to the second one as they are in school, and that gives me sad face too. I cannot get these kids into this if they can't ever go. Missing a day's doable, missing a week is not.

Again, I've loved the NGs I've made it to. Lori and Alan do a hell of a job. I just thought a voice of "why am I not there?" was warranted.



Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

[stealthee]

As has been said, if you want to go to the Shootout, then go. No one is stopping you. I went last year, and have every intention of going this year. It will be a "national gathering" of sorts with a solid handful of 3ser's there, but it will not be, and will be THE National Gathering.

I hope to actually get to meet some of the 3ser's this year. Things were still new to me there last year and I never got to meet up with any of the ones there, other than Chase Hubbel (Can't remember what he posts as here) who actually ran into me in the pits. Its a great event, but it doesn't have that meet vibe, especially on a national level. Regardless I look forward to meeting people that I have not previous.

As to the NG, I am by no means an event organizer. At one time I had a few people looking to me to keep the 3spa thing going. I just don't have that ability, so I am of no real help for suggestions. There were a few things mentioned by others which likely hurt the numbers.

One thing that I am sure will continue to happen, no matter how successful an event may be put on in the future, is people will bitch. This is the internet and people always find a reason to bitch. Don't let the bitchiness fool you into thinking you guys are doing a bad job.

[Beau_Jester]

I am sorry all of your work to put the NG together this year was for naught. I enjoy these events and attend when I can. I hope it can be resurrected next year.

Some of my thoughts:

I think a survey of all 3sgto members is in order to see the demographics of the group and how an NG could fit into their summer plans. Some adjustments of the format of the event may be needed.

Promotion is everything.
Ideas: Videos on You tube of autocross, drag races, road course with links to videos in emails, 3sgto forum and Facebook. Testimonials of drivers on video after completing a run full of energy and emotion. Create rivalry and competition between drivers. Have an NG YouTube channel.

Timing of this years event is bad for drivers with families and school age kids. June and July are the best months.

Use Facebook to promote the NG and invite people to check out the forum.