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I've gotten a few e-mails and PM's since the convention but we'd like to pass on any feedback for future convention organizers. I'm sure JP would love to have some feedback to help him plan for next year. We're not looking for feedback like "the convention should be in my backyard" or "jughandles are gay" or "NJ roads suck with all the potholes" Constructive criticism please!
Criticisms from this year that we're aware of:
1. The directions to the picnic were screwed up. We know that and it's my personal fault. I checked and rechecked most of the directions for the weekend but that was one venue that I didn't double check (and I really should have!) My fault and I apologize.
2. The track announcements were a bit hard to hear unless you were right in the garage area. A loud speaker or someone going around with a bullhorn or something would've been helpful.
3. Personally, I think the instructor/beginner alignment was too unorganized. We should've had a list of all people needing instructors along with a list of all instructors and done something ahead of time. Joe probably should've done this ahead of time but it all worked out. May not be something anyone else noticed but, from an organizer standpoint, keep this in mind JP.
What else? What did you like, what didn't you like, what would you change?
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kieran
95 200SX SE-R track car, 02 Maxima SE, 08 FX45, 08 G37
Create a list of local auto parts stores/Home Depot/ Lowe's etc. and directions to them for emergency fixes and such. I missed one of my sessions looking for bolts.
If the track doesn't provide gasoline, tell folks upfront, so they can bring gas with them. It's a pain to have to leave the track to go get gas in between sessions.
Jersey jughandles are ghey. Jersey jugs on the otherhand..........
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I'm all out of eggs....
Last edited by Hammerin Hank : 05-23-2006 at 09:59 AM.
The rest of the directions were great, along with the list of things to do (NYC) or places to eat, places to wash car, etc. Very nicely done!
This was my first time instructing, and I liked being able to chose students the night before and talk to them about driving on the track. It was busy instructing 2 sessions and driving one session, so there was not a whole lot of time to talk to them outside of a car.
The t-shirts are cool
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1994 SE-R track car, VE, brakes, etc
2007 MazdaSpeed3
For the track day I would suggest matching up the Instructors with Students the night before and letting them talke and get comfortable with each other. This will also streamline the day following.
All I can think of for now... most everything else, from my perspective seemed to go rather well!
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1992 SE-R WHT - SOLD
1992 SE-R BLK - R.I.P.
2001 -Mazda MP3 #60 of 1500
1991 Integra LS -
Having the hotel closer to the track is nice, but I hate having to unload all my junk at the track, and load it back up after it's done. It never goes back in the same way it did at home.
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1996 200SX SE-R VE powered
1991 Sentra SE-R
2004 Subaru Forester turbo
2006 Mitsubishi Evolution IX
My directions back to my airport where off as well. Those are tough things. I would suggest reminding people that any directions are best checked thru Rand McNally or other sources before hand. Yours looked so good I just went with them and didn't even bring a better map besides my car rental map. My fault as well. Maybe a PDF of a MAP or something would be helpfull. I know this is all just more work but you asked.
Honestly, I thought you all did a great job.
The hotel we will be at is 20 mins from the airport, 60 mins to the tack, 60 mins to 3 different drag strips, 10 mins to the picnic area, 15 mins to Saturdays activities. 45 mins by car or train to downtown Chicago. Walking/cab distance to all the resturants, bars, shopping, car dealers, blah, blah, blah.
I don't think the free day was a waste either. We will do what has been done in the past for 07. We will have a planned event for the middle of the day, along with an option for going to a dyno. We will also have an option for the drag strips. Of course you can bypass all of this and go downtown.
Speaking as one of the original naysayers about the free day, I like having it.
1. You could sleep in if you wanted.
2. You could take your time doing whatever, whereever
3. It was nice to be able to just hang out and not feel the need to "be somewhere"
4. It gave us out-of-towners a chance to go and explore the native area, including the fabulous Jersey Jug Handles.
5. For those with broke cars it gave them a chance to track down parts and fix their cars.
I like the free day format now, especially if it is in a city I've never been to, like Chicago. I will downtown on Saturday looking for Bob Swerski's Sports Fans.
As an organizer from the 2006 convention to the organizer of the 2007 convention, believe me when I say you will definitely appreciate the break in between it all. I had no idea how much work is involved in helping to coordinate a convention, much being in charge of actually coordinating it all (kudos to Kieran and Ray!!).
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Chris '91 VVL-powered SE-RSOLD
VE! Koni/GC's, Apexi, Progress, Crown, Carbotech, ACT, GSpec, Fidanza, VDO, Nismo, and other goodies '04 G35 6MT '99 CBR600 F4
Be sure to free up AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE for yourself about 3 weeks ahead of the convention. I know on Ray's end, he has a very busy schedule, as did the rest of us, so alot of stuff unfortunatly happened in a rush and at the very last possible minute (white bags anyone?)
Ray, Kieren, Joe, and David (as well as some of their helpers) did a ton of work in a very short time, which made the entire weekend seemed like a nonstop rush. Just plan ahead to devote ALL of your time to setting up infopacks/baggies/directions/etc weeks if not months in advance. The last thing you want to feal after the weekend is over is that you didn't get a chance to enjoy yourself as much as you would have wished/wanted to.
I'm confident in your ability, but trust me, it seems like the convention will never come, and then when you're a week or 2 out, you're workload is going to double and your time is going to seemingly shrink in half.
1. The free day was nice, I got to visit family; but this was only because of the location. Had the convention been anywhere else, it wouldn't have mattered (to me). If the picnic had been Saturday I could have driven home Sunday and not needed to take Monday off, but whatever, it didn't really matter.
2. The picnic was nice but was there ever actually an announcement that the food had arrived? I didn't get there until 11:00 or so, maybe the food was ready and I just didn't notice... I felt that it was organized OK but in the execution the communication to the masses needed to be better.
3. Awards/raffle - organizers, GET A BULLHORN. Or a PA system, something, anything. Those of us sitting towards the back had a very, very hard time hearing you. I realize that it wasn't all your fault; I was amazed at how disrespectfully talkative the crowd was, it was freakin' obnoxious.
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2002 Mazda Protege ES, mildly-modded daily driver
1990 240SR - the DET has landed. Kent's Funkay Disco
Coming from both standpoints (organizer and attendee), I think the free day is a great idea. In LA in 2004, I couldn't have cared less about the dyno day. Yeah, dyno a 2000 Galant POS?! We went to Magic Mountain instead and had a great time. I really enjoy exploring the surrounding area. With a packed convention weekend, I'd show up at the last minute and leave as early as possible. With a free day, I'm forced to spend some time and relax and hang out. From an organizer standpoint, you really need that day to calm down, relax, and catch up (making nametags, getting people their bags and shirts, etc, etc, etc)
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