Hell we can't get you to drive to Lansing



If you read old 3Si posts the people attending the NG's constantly asked for it to goto Memphis. Based on the responses we were getting we were expecting about 150 people. When we started planning for NG07 we had no way to know that gas would be hitting $4.00 per gallon during the time of the event. Last year we got 100 people to travel that far with gas at $4.00 per gallon. That says that we did something right.

This year we scaled back the event to make it fit to a 100. Then the economy tanked. Their are a ton of people that want to goto an NG but can't this year. These are the people that want to make sure NG09 breaks even so we can continue next year. That why people and local chapters are sponsoring they want a chance for an NG10. Which will be moving North and East from Memphis.

If it's North and East in 2010 you can bet I'll be there.

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www.rockauto.com

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.

Fine, next time you can sleep with her. Jeez!

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06 Blue EVO 9

I'm sure the gas prices and economy have something to do with it but in my experience if people have a will they will find a way. I'm jobless and broke and I'm still going to go to UMG, I wouldn't miss it, by far the best event I've ever attended and it only gets better every year. It's about a seven hour drive too after driving around f'ing Chicago.

I certainly don't wish the event to end and if it is improved and does move farther north I'll give it another chance. Also, the very next event you schedule on an off daddy day-care weekend, I will be there!

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San Marino Red - Honda 3KGT VR4 For the win!

I wouldn't have hit that with your disease-infested meat sword. That's the kinda girl you'd chew your arm off rather than wake up the next morning to escape.

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If Roger can bring his kid you can bring yours.

Interesting thread. I've been to 5 of the 7 NGs. When Jeremy and Tiff were running things the first five years, there was this huge frat party atmosphere and hotel rooms were trashed and tons of problems with unruly people. They were great promoters of the event and it became a huge success, but ultimately it reputation hurt its success in the end.

Alan and Lori have done the last two and this year's NG. They are doing a much better job at keeping the NG more family friendly and respectable. I went to the NG last year, and it was ran very well.

IMO the NG should always change cities every year. Its a huge pain to find a new city every year, but it keeps it interesting for people like me that want to see new places and don't mind driving hundreds of miles to do it. Even more importantly than that, the NG needs to be cheaper. I know the NG buys very large insurance policies that cost over $10k to get. Then when you add in track fees, merchandise, and other costs I'm sure there budget is over $20k. I'm just taking guesses here. Trying to spread these costs over to the attendees and sponsors is a huge burden, and I think its hurting the NG.

The NG needs to find a way to trim the budget big time. Maybe they can talk to a lawyer and figure out if they are really that at risk with liability for putting this on. Would it be just as effective to make everyone sign a liability wavier and leave it at that. Tracks have there own insurance and I know local events around here are not buying $10k policies to hold track events.

I try to keep the UMG as cheap as possible for people. I even played hard ball with the hotel this year to get a cheaper rate. The car show we go to is free, and I get group rates for the other events we attend. I guess I'm a cheap ass at heart, even if I have the money to spend. And I really don't like taking other people's money if I don't have to.

The NG is a great venue and I'm going to keep supporting it because I believe in it. But I know there are still tons of ways it can be improved. So Alan, don't take any of this as harsh criticism, because my comments are just thoughts that I have and thats it.

later,
Curt

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One of the reasons we did Memphis two years in a row is that is cheaper to run an event of this size that way. Each time you move you incur expenses specing the location out and getting things setup. Running the event in the same place twice makes the second year cheaper. We received this advice from several experienced event promoters. NG09 is costing us less then NG08 did.

Costs is a problem that we can't do much with.

Tracks/The car show location cost what they cost. They put the demands on the amount of insurance we carry.
T-Shirts
Banquet
Printing
various supplies.

We can trim a bit here and there but the reality is 80% of our costs for the event is the tracks, the insurance and the banquet. Compared to these the rest is minor.

Yes I could, but he loses it and breaks down screaming after just 20 minutes in the car, let alone 45, it would be a harried ride. I don't know if he gets motion sickness or just can't sit still that long, but it's stressfull taking him on the road. I'll make it out there one way or another though.

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San Marino Red - Honda 3KGT VR4 For the win!

OK, I can see where that migth not work

back when I was seven or eight I would get serious motion sickness. My father never "believed me" and so he would just keep on trucking down the highway and tell me to grow a pair.

Until one trip on the way back from florida in the family mini van when I blew chunks all over the side of the family ride, and about two cars behind us. I remember him stopping at the next rest area, and I was busy puking yet, and he had to spend the about half an hour washing the mini van with nothing but an empty McDonalds cup while my mother just SCREAMED at him for being a dick.

coincedentally, I never did grow a pair...

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Bad decisions make good stories.
Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!