2008.10.16, 06:19 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 279
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Opening Our Doors
That's right, we are trying to figure out a way to let others come in and race. Too many people were asking about it but I wanted to make sure it wasn't the halo affect of the ALS Race.
We want your input so please let me know your thoughts.
Things to consider:
1. What day of the week? Honestly many of us race 1/10th scale so Saturdays are going to be tough as I am sure some of you also race other cars. We're thinking either Thursday or Friday nights.
2. What time? I would love to make it so you NoVa guys can make it up here. We're thinking 5pm, races at 6pm.
3. How frequent? We all live busy lives so we were thinking no more than twice a month or once a month.
4. Entry fee? We will need some "capital improvements" to the new facility but we want it to be affordable (i.e. more people in the door). Is $10 good for the first car and $5 for all others?
5. Could we just put the feeler out there the week before to make sure we aren't hanging around waiting for others to show?
6. Finally, points series with prizes???
How many of you would be interested?
Right now we are thinking of less than 10 people on any given week (month), and that might not make it viable.
What are your experiences?
Russ
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2008.10.16, 08:18 PM
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#2
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Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 35,480
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glad to hear you may be making the next step.
weekdays are impossible for me. i don't get home from work till almost 8pm.
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2008.10.17, 07:40 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Reading Pa.
Posts: 4,124
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I'm sure we'd be good for 2 or 3 trips down a year, on top of the usual event trips we make down to race with you guys. If anything, would be nice to have some relaxed racing time to meet up and have some time to share setup info. and such. It actually wasn't that bad getting down to you guys last time, I think it was only 2.5hrs and that's well within decent trip range.
We're planning to get around a bit more this winter and sample the East Coast buffet of MiniZ racing, good to hear there might be a new item on the menu.
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2008.10.17, 08:18 AM
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#4
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Curmudgeon & Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kannapolis, NC
Posts: 2,549
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I am sorry that I didn't get up to the event but two of our guy's did and they are quite pleased for having done so.
As for opening things up. Good for you. Capital improvements. Gather your people and have a work day or 12. It gives your group an additional rallying point and sense of group involvement. For needed materials check with your local Habitat for Humanities chapter. They often have an outlet store for good used building materials, appliances and fixtures. Sometimes even furniture. Huge savings. Go to your local Auto dealers. Sell them a sign to be posted at the track. By the time you hit all the available makes in your area for a fifty dollar a year sign with a guarantee of no other same make you will have a tidy sum to work with. Offer to hold a small event at the Dealership for their advertising use. Right now they need all the traffic builders they can find. Works with building supply stores also. Birthday parties with free rides for the kiddies. You pretty much have the charity aspect nailed down but don't forget that with a charity gig comes access to public service advertising. TV, radio and print. Send out press relaeses whenever you are going to do anything at the track. You never know when it will be a slow news day. and finally, entry fees. Times are tough so keep it soft. No more than $10 total. Five for the first, three for the second and two more for the rest. If you hit on some of the above the money generated from entry fees will be profit for your group. With profit comes independence and so on. Not only that but it gives a Junior Achievement type economics lesson to your younger members so that they are better able to keep thing going as time goes by.
Been there done that. It's work but it works.
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2008.10.17, 11:12 AM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mleemor60
I am sorry that I didn't get up to the event but two of our guy's did and they are quite pleased for having done so.
As for opening things up. Good for you. Capital improvements. Gather your people and have a work day or 12. It gives your group an additional rallying point and sense of group involvement. For needed materials check with your local Habitat for Humanities chapter. They often have an outlet store for good used building materials, appliances and fixtures. Sometimes even furniture. Huge savings. Go to your local Auto dealers. Sell them a sign to be posted at the track. By the time you hit all the available makes in your area for a fifty dollar a year sign with a guarantee of no other same make you will have a tidy sum to work with. Offer to hold a small event at the Dealership for their advertising use. Right now they need all the traffic builders they can find. Works with building supply stores also. Birthday parties with free rides for the kiddies. You pretty much have the charity aspect nailed down but don't forget that with a charity gig comes access to public service advertising. TV, radio and print. Send out press relaeses whenever you are going to do anything at the track. You never know when it will be a slow news day. and finally, entry fees. Times are tough so keep it soft. No more than $10 total. Five for the first, three for the second and two more for the rest. If you hit on some of the above the money generated from entry fees will be profit for your group. With profit comes independence and so on. Not only that but it gives a Junior Achievement type economics lesson to your younger members so that they are better able to keep thing going as time goes by.
Been there done that. It's work but it works.
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Thanks. I think we are in good shape and have a solid plan. Capital (or Leasehold) improvements will be at a minimum cost. I don't even think we need to go the Habitat route, it is more demolish than build.
I am very excited but grounded in reality. I have already had a failed business, but present one is surviving, so I have now seen both sides of the coin. The advantage is that we also have CNC machines at our disposal so very quickly I see us being able to offer NCRC branded upgrades.
At the moment we are just looking at breaking even and getting a base of driver interest.
Watch this space.
Russ
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2008.10.17, 12:30 PM
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#6
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Curmudgeon & Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kannapolis, NC
Posts: 2,549
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A plan is never a bad thing to have. When it comes to the racing side of it just keep the whole group involved to minimize the whole doing everything by myself scenario. It doesn't take any time at all before you start hearing when are you going to have this or that.
Having access to machinery is great. I have a MAXNC-15CL 4 axis here at the house. So far all I know how to do is home it. I have a master programmer at my disposal and there are things in the works. I don't want to get into production work but the idea of prototyping or small runs is appealing.
If I can help let me know. Hopefully we will see you and yours at the NEKOCON.
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2008.10.17, 07:38 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 279
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Good, good, good.
If things keep moving along as they have been then we should be ready to lay down track before the end of the month in the new place.
Keep your fingers crossed that we can open the doors before Thanksgiving - MAYBE DURING THANKSGIVING BREAK. How about that idea? We can dub it the Turkey Race and had out Turkeys to the winners.:lol:
Russ
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2008.10.17, 10:00 PM
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#8
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The Mad Mexican
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 645
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Sounds good!
I probably couldn't make it weekly or monthly. I think quarterly would be more realistic for me. It only took us 4 1/2 hours coming home and I know the area now. Just wondering are you going to be running at the same facility? Anyway good luck!
Jay Vasquez
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2008.10.20, 11:54 AM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cosmicsoul
I probably couldn't make it weekly or monthly. I think quarterly would be more realistic for me. It only took us 4 1/2 hours coming home and I know the area now. Just wondering are you going to be running at the same facility? Anyway good luck!
Jay Vasquez
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Jay,
Different facility for the club races, but the big races (e.g. ALS Charity and possibly Endurance) will be in the original facility.
Still a little torn on weekday vs. weekend and frequency.
Russ
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2008.10.20, 03:08 PM
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#10
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Dreamcrusher
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 675
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ncrcracing
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Keep your fingers crossed that we can open the doors before Thanksgiving - MAYBE DURING THANKSGIVING BREAK. How about that idea? We can dub it the Turkey Race and had out Turkeys to the winners.:lol:
Russ
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Russ, if you guys had a race over the Thanksgiving holiday that would be a fantastic idea.. As far as racing once a month, that would work for me and probably a few other local racers as well.. Either way it's good to see you opening up you're doors for more racing opportunities.
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2008.11.15, 10:17 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,356
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Any word on a opening date?
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2008.12.04, 11:06 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,929
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Here I thought there's nothing around MD, and viola. Where are you planning on holding these, a hobby shop or someplace else that can't have the track laid out that much? For that matter, do we have any hobby shops that have 1/28 races frequently and/or have a track laid out a good deal of the time for practice? I'm tryin to upgrade from my house now that I own a Z, but I don't really know any 1/28 places and other scales can and are raced outside as far as I know.
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2009.02.25, 05:55 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skv012a
Here I thought there's nothing around MD, and viola. Where are you planning on holding these, a hobby shop or someplace else that can't have the track laid out that much? For that matter, do we have any hobby shops that have 1/28 races frequently and/or have a track laid out a good deal of the time for practice? I'm tryin to upgrade from my house now that I own a Z, but I don't really know any 1/28 places and other scales can and are raced outside as far as I know.
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We're not a hobby shop, just a racing club. I'll post a pic of our current layout and our new area; soon.
Located in Columbia, MD
Russ
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2009.02.25, 05:53 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Columbia, Maryland
Posts: 279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Keely
Any word on a opening date?
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Mike,
No formal date for opening. As Arch2b mentioned we have been hit hard by the economy. 80% of our business is automotive and those guys ain't buying anything right now.
The track is setup, the pit area is 95% complete, but the bathroom needs to be cleaned.
I'll keep you posted but we should be looking at possibly the DC Endurance Race as the kickoff.
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2009.02.25, 07:28 PM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,356
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ncrcracing
Mike,
No formal date for opening. As Arch2b mentioned we have been hit hard by the economy. 80% of our business is automotive and those guys ain't buying anything right now.
The track is setup, the pit area is 95% complete, but the bathroom needs to be cleaned.
I'll keep you posted but we should be looking at possibly the DC Endurance Race as the kickoff.
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If in any way possible to have this race when we are not running nitro at 301. I know of a few guys that want to come and make a couple of extra teams for this race. Thanks MK
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