Why does your PCA region host a club race?
12-09-2005, 09:33 AM
#1
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Why does your PCA region host a club race?
A simple question that I hope will evoke lots of commentary. I have some thoughts I'm holding back for now as to not influence the direction this thread might go - yet.
12-09-2005, 10:34 AM
#4
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Originally Posted by DJF1
Never thought of that... why that would be abnormal? Do you mean that PCA National should host the races?
To kick start the conversation a bit more, consider this additional question: why a race and not another DE?
12-09-2005, 10:56 AM
#5
Charlie - since no one else seems to want to respond ... it's maybe not the right time of day .... I'll start.
1. Regions can make money hosting a club race. The money can do back to the region to be spent wherever. Whether a region makes more on a race than a DE probably depends on the particular venue, date etc.
2. Some regions have a "deep track tradition". I'm thinking of a region like Potomac. They do tons of DEs, have lots of racers, have a very active membership, great leadership etc.
3. Gets members involved in things like flagging that might not otherwise even go to the track. They get an introduction to an activity other members find real enjoyment doing.
What happened to the Pocono race?
1. Regions can make money hosting a club race. The money can do back to the region to be spent wherever. Whether a region makes more on a race than a DE probably depends on the particular venue, date etc.
2. Some regions have a "deep track tradition". I'm thinking of a region like Potomac. They do tons of DEs, have lots of racers, have a very active membership, great leadership etc.
3. Gets members involved in things like flagging that might not otherwise even go to the track. They get an introduction to an activity other members find real enjoyment doing.
What happened to the Pocono race?
12-09-2005, 12:19 PM
#6
I'm hoping that making money is not the top priority for hosting a club race.
I believe PCA is a not for profit organization. As long as the event don't lose money a region that is interested in racing and have the resources to do so should host a club race event.
After all, to me Porsche is racing and racing is Porsche. (I might be wrong on this one these days).
It has to do with the people who manage the region just like Porsche management to decide whether to race or not.
I personally is very disappointed by my local region who used to host club races and has stopped for the past couple of years.
I am also disappointed by Porsche for not participating in motor racing in the top category for the past couple of years.
However, I appreciate both my local region and Porsche for providing me with a well made car and driving events that I enjoy tremendously.
I believe PCA is a not for profit organization. As long as the event don't lose money a region that is interested in racing and have the resources to do so should host a club race event.
After all, to me Porsche is racing and racing is Porsche. (I might be wrong on this one these days).
It has to do with the people who manage the region just like Porsche management to decide whether to race or not.
I personally is very disappointed by my local region who used to host club races and has stopped for the past couple of years.
I am also disappointed by Porsche for not participating in motor racing in the top category for the past couple of years.
However, I appreciate both my local region and Porsche for providing me with a well made car and driving events that I enjoy tremendously.
12-09-2005, 12:43 PM
#7
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This is a great question.
My .02 comes from being an active member in the club and have being an event chair. Although I don't race yet(Don't tell the wife), I love volunteering at these events so that the racers have a safe and fun time on the track.
I know our region does it because its a way to get the members who do race out on the track. But it is very expensive to host a race and we have come close to loosing money before. I believe the main desire for a region to host these event, Race and DE's, is to be attractive to exiting and new Porsche owners. Shows them the avenues that are possible for enjoying thier cars. And this helps to bring more members into the club, that only makes the family bigger(Hope that didn't sound weird).
David
My .02 comes from being an active member in the club and have being an event chair. Although I don't race yet(Don't tell the wife), I love volunteering at these events so that the racers have a safe and fun time on the track.
I know our region does it because its a way to get the members who do race out on the track. But it is very expensive to host a race and we have come close to loosing money before. I believe the main desire for a region to host these event, Race and DE's, is to be attractive to exiting and new Porsche owners. Shows them the avenues that are possible for enjoying thier cars. And this helps to bring more members into the club, that only makes the family bigger(Hope that didn't sound weird).
David
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12-09-2005, 12:43 PM
#8
Kam - Didn't say profitability is the top priority, but I suspect if the sponsor of the idea to host a club race started his presentation at the board meeting saying that he had a great idea for an event for the club that would probably lose money ... or maybe if we're lucky, breakeven ... I doubt the other members of the board would find that very persuasive.
12-09-2005, 12:51 PM
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and as a side bar.....
Why do some regions seem to have a large contingent of volunteer workers for things like a club race while others seem to struggle to get folks to come out to help run an event?
Why do some regions seem to have a large contingent of volunteer workers for things like a club race while others seem to struggle to get folks to come out to help run an event?
12-09-2005, 01:07 PM
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We don't host a club race.
We have 5-6 DE/time trials per year but no races. When I asked, I was told it's simply due to expense - flying out 3-4 people from national and putting them up for a few days is not a trivial expense. We get plenty of race weekends from the clubs not affiliated with PCNA like PRC and POC, so we don't suffer from the lack of PCA races. There are generally two PCA races out here each year, I'm not sure who actually sponsors them (I'm guessing So Cal folk because it isn't Zone 7).
Our club is a non-profit. Most the money comes in from the time trial series, but the folk who participate in time trials are loathe (and rightfully so) to pay extra to support other club activities for other club members.
We have 5-6 DE/time trials per year but no races. When I asked, I was told it's simply due to expense - flying out 3-4 people from national and putting them up for a few days is not a trivial expense. We get plenty of race weekends from the clubs not affiliated with PCNA like PRC and POC, so we don't suffer from the lack of PCA races. There are generally two PCA races out here each year, I'm not sure who actually sponsors them (I'm guessing So Cal folk because it isn't Zone 7).
Our club is a non-profit. Most the money comes in from the time trial series, but the folk who participate in time trials are loathe (and rightfully so) to pay extra to support other club activities for other club members.
12-09-2005, 01:23 PM
#11
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Because they can.
I am in the previously mentioned Potomac (Thanks for the kind words Dave!) and I think we hold it for many reasons that are all tied to the members and not to a profit. If there is a profit it is a windfall that is used to promote other activities for the members and not intent. I think e have had years where it was a negative cash flow event and most are close to break even overall. Last year ours was a 3 day event with many other events coupled with the races themselves. There was a concours and a rally to the track as well as other fun stuff for non racing PCA members to do as well.
As to volunteers numbers. Much can be said for having a large region to start with as there is a LOT involved in hosting a race. I also think that having seasoned capable folks at the top during planning and execution makes all the difference to the volunteers. When you think you are part of a class act you feel better about doing you part and don't feel that you wasted a weekend or get frustrated just trying to do you part.
I am in the previously mentioned Potomac (Thanks for the kind words Dave!) and I think we hold it for many reasons that are all tied to the members and not to a profit. If there is a profit it is a windfall that is used to promote other activities for the members and not intent. I think e have had years where it was a negative cash flow event and most are close to break even overall. Last year ours was a 3 day event with many other events coupled with the races themselves. There was a concours and a rally to the track as well as other fun stuff for non racing PCA members to do as well.
As to volunteers numbers. Much can be said for having a large region to start with as there is a LOT involved in hosting a race. I also think that having seasoned capable folks at the top during planning and execution makes all the difference to the volunteers. When you think you are part of a class act you feel better about doing you part and don't feel that you wasted a weekend or get frustrated just trying to do you part.
12-09-2005, 02:07 PM
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I would like to think that our region and it's predecessors do it because we have a place where members can use their cars as they we intentionally bred to be used. It is a wonderful opportunity for any PCA member to get to know their car and what it is capable of at the limits. a facility like we have should not be wasted!
12-09-2005, 02:08 PM
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NNJR lost the date for the club race several years ago and we have not been able to get it back . . . I tried to add a day to our September Porscherama event but I was unsuccessful.
Originally Posted by dave morris
Charlie - since no one else seems to want to respond ... it's maybe not the right time of day .... I'll start.
1. Regions can make money hosting a club race. The money can do back to the region to be spent wherever. Whether a region makes more on a race than a DE probably depends on the particular venue, date etc.
2. Some regions have a "deep track tradition". I'm thinking of a region like Potomac. They do tons of DEs, have lots of racers, have a very active membership, great leadership etc.
3. Gets members involved in things like flagging that might not otherwise even go to the track. They get an introduction to an activity other members find real enjoyment doing.
What happened to the Pocono race?
1. Regions can make money hosting a club race. The money can do back to the region to be spent wherever. Whether a region makes more on a race than a DE probably depends on the particular venue, date etc.
2. Some regions have a "deep track tradition". I'm thinking of a region like Potomac. They do tons of DEs, have lots of racers, have a very active membership, great leadership etc.
3. Gets members involved in things like flagging that might not otherwise even go to the track. They get an introduction to an activity other members find real enjoyment doing.
What happened to the Pocono race?
12-09-2005, 03:41 PM
#14
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Originally Posted by DrJupeman
I'm not trying to suggest any abnormality or that PCA National should host the races, just wondering what motivates one region to host a race while others choose not to.
To kick start the conversation a bit more, consider this additional question: why a race and not another DE?
To kick start the conversation a bit more, consider this additional question: why a race and not another DE?
12-09-2005, 04:14 PM
#15
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Just to continue the thread, hosting a successful club race without significant sponsorship is hard versus running a successful DE. The volunteer level is atleast a factor of 5 or so higher for a club race. It takes about 30-40 hard working volunteers in registration and stagging as well as other jobs to run the race at Wakins Glen..The corresponding DE with the same number of entrants needs a volunteer base of about ten. The profit margins per entrant are about the same , we just charge more for the race to pick up the extra costs of track rental ( 2X vs DE), shirts, programs, National expenses, awards, etc..
We put on the club race to compliment the other Zone events. We host a tech weekend in Tech Tactics, Zone Concours and Rally, Zone DE, Zone two day autocross and a Club Race..so we cover all of the arenas of the club, but we have a large and very dedicated volunteer base, without which none of these events could occur.
Pete
We put on the club race to compliment the other Zone events. We host a tech weekend in Tech Tactics, Zone Concours and Rally, Zone DE, Zone two day autocross and a Club Race..so we cover all of the arenas of the club, but we have a large and very dedicated volunteer base, without which none of these events could occur.
Pete