Ideas for local events and getting people to turn up

[thechuckster]

This has been copied from the Toyota Car Club forum as part of our efforts to get people to turn up to events and to organise things that people actually want to do.

We wanted to achieve a few things ... like having events that people actually turn up to, making it worthwhile having a local club, making it worthwhile organising things and letting folks know that there are PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO apart from driving a keyboard....

If you do have any suggestions or criticisms, please post them so we can all do this better. Qld gets a fairly low score for events and turnouts so if we could turn that around, it would a big step.

...

A lot of time was spent with all at the May '09 meeting making suggestions that might:
- get attendance rates for events above Zero
- motivate club members to help organise events
- get other Brisbane Toyota-related clubs to events

Suggestions
- very early notification of events dates and details
- amalgamate events with other clubs
- set dates early on in the year
- simplify topics on the forum to make it easier to find info
- member's ride thread template to make it easy to setup your own
- have one thread for member's rides instead of separate thread for each car or member
- more info on loading and displaying pictures in forum threads
- thread about classic rego on the forum
- volunteer at other car club events
- participate in other grass-roots-level motorkhana events (HSCCQ and IWMAC)
- organise a group to go to a sprint day (wednesday or saturday) at Qld Raceway or Lakeside
- attend a motorkhana with the NDSCC (July 12 in Gympie, future date TBA)
- put up more info about sprint day costs - PDF forms for Lakeside and Qld Raceway wednesday or saturday
- go to the IWMAC autocross track at Willowbank on a test-n-tune day (for just $40 for non-members)
- GOKART NIGHT! - the last suggestion back in February was the KIngston Park track for a change of scenery
- find out if there are endurance or regularity events run anywhere in Qld (that allow road cars)
- DRAG RACING!

Sprints
- last wednesday sprint was in April. One driver organised fellow mates to race in a group rather than with random entries on the day
- cost is high but not prohibitive
- day licence is $20 but a yearly AASA clubman licence is only $55.
- entry fee is $119 pre-paid or $149 if paying on the day
- no rego needed for wednesday
- usually 4 runs of 7 laps (1 out lap, 5 hot laps and 1 in lap)
- not as crowded as Saturday sprints but will often encounter race cars doing testing or shake-down
- if a team can be rounded up, drivers a can share section of the pits for tools/shade

Autocross
- yes. it's dirt
- yes, it's fun
- the IWMAC track is right next door to Qld Raceway
- the surface is compress deco (decomposed granite) and you have to use road tyres on it
- road rego is OK as long as you have a 3year old or less fire extinguisher and the throttle has two return springs on it

Drag Racing at Willowbank
- Adam was keen to go if there were a few club members to line up with
- State of Origin football nights were the best to go on as most folks would be home watching the game
- you need to meet up on time so folks can go thru the gates and scrutineering as a group
- sharing entry fees will make it a cheap night (e.g. if you want to compete and don't have any passengers, drive thru with a spectator and you share the entry fee for competitors which was $38/car with 2 people)
- put online the excuse list for: not attending, not racing or coming last in every race

SHOW EVENT!
- needs to be before October when it starts to get warm and might clash with Bathurst or Classic Jap
- July or August were suggested
- this needs and organiser!
- organiser could do some of the work (e.g. find a venue) and delagate other stuff like judging or signs to other volunteers
- it also needs a separate event thread on the forum
- location suggestions: a car park, a cinema car park. a car parts shop car park, an autobarn car park?

BBB (beer, bbq and bullshit)
- Sunday May 10 - Anthony's yard at Northern Lakes (note: no-one confirmed their attendance so this was a non-event)
-held every 2nd month at a club member's house on a saturday afternoon

[thechuckster]

so no ideas / thoughts / criticism from anyone?

[J0RD0]

haha this proves how slack qld'rs really are!!! i agree there needs to be more qld events, the last cruise i organised i think there was quite a few people missing on the day. Im all for more events. Where's Dana? when's this celica cruise happening? that seems to be the biggest qld toymods turnout.

I head down to willowbank at least once a month so i will start posting up to try and get a few people together.

Also a go-cart night sounds good, i havent been for ages

anyone else for idea's???

[J0RD0]

ooohh oooohh and i havent been on a track and would be really keen to get the celica going through some corners instead of just down a straight line (even though it doesnt have a front swaybar) anyone on here keen for a track day?

[RT40Corona4AGTE]

If there are any others that are around the benaraby area (I am in Rockhampton) then having a night at the drags there could prove successful? Also maybe a street cruise around the rockhampton, gladstone, whatever area maybe?

Just some thoughts...

[cdtoaster]

i'd come, but i still only have the commodore

[Gold28]

I just had a great day out with the toymods classic celica cruise, we had roughly 25 classic celicas attend and at least that many again other model toyotas. In the 12 months I've been in Qld, the only event that had a reasonable turnout was the cruise that Jordan organized a few months back. I have no idea why the slackers in Qld can't drag their asses out and attend these events.

I'm always keen to attend something, heck I even made a big effort to make sure I was in Sydney last weekend for the classic celica cruise. Unfortunately though, I'm moving back to Sydney in 6 weeks so I probably won't make another event here.

I mentioned the Mt cootha historic event which is on this weekend and so far there is no interest in even sitting around and watching other people enjoy their cars.

I hope things improve here. It's pretty sad that between two clubs we can't get even a modest turnout to an event.

[Kroozerdave]

Maybe take a leaf out of Ian's vic group get a project car going people can get involved in or not as they can find time. Gives those without something to run a reason to get more involved, maybe a chance of a try out without having to spend mega dollars.

I have a 76 corona mk 2 coupe with a pretty reasonable 4m thats had a passenger rear quarter hit I could donate if someone wants it.
Need to sort out get rid of parts collection so have ms112 crown as well that could donate disk brakes etc if wanted.

Unfortunately due to health issues, and lack of income couldn't donate a shed space to leave it in.

Any thoughts.

[sillycar chick]

Sorry guys I only just saw this thread! I'll admit of late I have totally been out of enthusiasm and motivation The main factor has been my car.... BUT this is picking up as im finally getting things fixed up that have been shitting me off for a while now.
I really want to organise another classic celica cruise but I didnt wanna take my car or Gerrards car as they have both had problems, which would make the long drive not so fun.
I know it sounds a bit lame but its just how its all happened.
Then theres the time weve been trying to spend on my car, gerrards car(s) and our bug that were trying to get ready to take a holiday on fraser island over chrissy.

Im hoping to organise another cruise when my car is back, and ive always wanted to do a cruise down to coffs or something, and the sydney celicas to drive up to coffs and have a massive celica meet up. But so far I havent seen much interest for that when ive mentioned it.

Somethign that might work is having working bees on weekends, a few people get together and work on 1 persons car, then the next avail weekend its someone elses car, so that everyone gets stuff done on their projects that are just sitting there waiting on time to get done.

I'd also like to get into some more track events when my car is back on the road, its just i still need to sort out some mechanical stuff on my car when its back, and im even a bit scared of smashing it

[Kroozerdave]

Working bee idea has promise, every project has bits where a couple of sets of hands are useful. Or where the person with experience may not want to do the hands on bit again, but could help someone or more have a go with someone to guide them.
Also a way to let people thinking of joining club etc get to meet people until they have a suitable car or experience to feel they really belong.

[sillycar chick]

Yeah.. what made me think of is was having Scott and Rosey come over to help strip out my car, we had it all done in one day, if that was just me doing it i would still be going!
And having a wider range of skills is a bonus, some people like me can do mechanical work fine but are hopeless when it comes to wiring, for example Scott is awesome with the celica chrome trim and interior, so since he did that I would be happy to help him put his engine back in his car or something that he's not so confident on.

[thechuckster]

slightly related - TCCQ is holding the next monthly meeting next tuesday night - see our website for details.

note: this might be the end of club if no-one steps up to take on committee positions at the AGM next month.

current committee exists in name only (was to get us thru the last AGM) and official membership is non-existant (no-one has kept reminders up to date nor paid their dues) so it really needs a new committee direction or winding up as per constitution.

[sillycar chick]

Charles I got the email about hte meeting and had actually marked it in my phone as a reminder to attend. I really should get off my bum and get more involved with the TCCQ club....

[thechuckster]

well this meeting and the next will certainly have some opportunities for participation!

[Kroozerdave]

I nominate Silycar chick for queen,