April minutes posted...

[gtfour77]

Thought I'd post here also to let our members know that April's meeting minutes have been posted in the "Meeting Minutes" forums.

[administerturbo]

thanks for helping me out martin and naomi!

[johnnytavo]

since you are raising the price to 30 dollars, can there be a 5 dollar college student discount?

[SeanB]

Just get an SCCA membership... $70 for a year, you'll make it up in 7 events.

[ShortysTRM]

Holy crap, I didn't even see that!!!! It'll cost me $40-60 an event for April and I!? That sucks. Just when I thought I couldn't afford to autocross, it got more expensive. Oh well, it sure was fun while it lasted. With the price of gas through the roof, this is last thing I needed.

[SeanB]

Most other clubs charge $25 for members and $35 for non members, I've paid as much as $35 as a member. The club needs to increase the cost, things don't come for free you know.

[camry3sfe]

perhaps surprising, but I understand it is necessary. It is notable also what Sean said, it still is five dollars cheaper than other close by regions. My only problem is that Riverside doesnt seem to be a 30 dollar venue. The two laps concept can be somewhat repetitive, although necessary to make a long enough course. I'm more than happy to pay that amount to run at a place like P-burg airport though. I suppose I shall be joining soon, because 20 dollars does sound reasonable to me. I guess that was another purpose of the price increase being steeper for non-members, is to encourage people to join.

[SeanB]

For members its a $3 increase... how can one complain about $3... that won't even get you a happy meal.

[ShortysTRM]

The club needs to increase the cost

Did something happen to increase our cost of operation or something?

BTW, Sean, as I pointed out before, I'm paying for 2 people. That's at least $6 more per event, and that's if I pay for both of us to remain members. That's about $78 more per year, assuming we do about 13 events. I'm glad you've got money that you don't need, but I don't. We've always struggled to pay our admission, and this sure as hell doesn't make life any easier for me. It may seem like a small price to pay to you, but for some people, or at least for myself, it just makes life that much more difficult.

I've been to two of our surrounding regions, and neither one cost $35..?

I'm not trying to start any kind of argument, nor do I want any unnecessary, condescending remarks about my opinion. If you have something constructive to say in response, feel free, otherwise, I'm done. My opinion is out there. If I show up and don't run, you know why.

[camry3sfe]

non-members its 8 dollars. and thats like a value meal super sized twice....

besides, three dollars, thats like, three double cheese burgers, or like three days worth of saturated fat. I think that my arteries will be dealing with withdrawl symptoms from not having three double cheese burgers.

hey, what can I say? I'm a dollar menu guy.

[ShortysTRM]

I know the two cheeseburger value meal used to be $2.99...lol

[SeanB]

Troy... why don't you two start running one car. You can take the fuel/wear and tear savings and put it towards your entry fees.

[johnnytavo]

i talked to sean today and i understand why the price is going up, hopefully i become a member soon

[wvphoto]

i'm sure the national fees to us and the BIG insurance policy isn't cheap..

several million in coverage with cars probably is costly..
just my guess

[JazzGTI]

Troy I agree with what you are saying. Some people just don't have the money to make it with the cost of gas going so high. I don't undestand what is so expensive for club operations. Maybe someone needs to explain this to us. If we were paying for lots or renting them I could see the increase.So sound like a club as small as ours needs to pench pennies. We are supposed to be a non-profit organization. I guess when everyone quits autocrossing due to high prices. Maybe they will take a membership vote to change these kind of things. We don't always have to have the best of everything. When I was on the board ages ago we pinched pennies just have a decent timer. I agree it would be nice to have the best but you have to look at what a club our size can afford. We also want to make sure someone wanting to try autocrossing isn't scared off by having to pay thirty dollars for a couple of events. I could see a couple of dollars maybe.

[Jason V]

i'm sure the national fees to us and the BIG insurance policy isn't cheap..

several million in coverage with cars probably is costly..
just my guess


ding ding ding... we have a winner!!

[MountaineerSTi]

I was unable to attend the meeting and didnt get to hear the reasons for the increase in entry fees. I'm sure the board would be willing to provide it's members with the numbers that were used to make the decision. Right?

[ShortysTRM]

I'm blown away that the discussion has gone this long, with all kinds of input from board members, and we still have no idea what necessitates a fee hike. Is there a new reason for us to encourage membership? Don't we only make $15 maximum for each new member from our region? I'm to the point already where I don't even care, but apparently the reasons are legit, since JohnnyTavo says that he was appeased by hearing them. I'll still be autocrossing, but I don't expect to see a lot of newbies showing up. The events start earlier and cost more, so I'd say that the crowds will increasingly dwindle to just the dedicated few. What sounds like a great idea tot hose of us who live and breathe autocross, may not to someone who is just thinking about trying it. Maybe we could even offer a discount for first-timers? I have no idea. I'll let things transpire as they may.

As for us driving one car, we've been driving one car. Then we help, then leave again. We've not had the money to put towards autocross lately because we have one car still jacked up in the garage with the engine strewn across the floor, two cars that need inspected, and only one left to drive. Running two cars is not even an option for us right now.

[gtfour77]

Troy, we as the BOD are trying to improve the club and the higher fee is not to discourage the newcomers or offend some of our existing members. It is to help the club become better and bigger by using the extra money towards new equipment and new sites. What happens if we lose Riverside? What if we actually have to pay "rent" for a location? We need more cones, we need new T&S equipment...just to name a few. Our club is not big enough to support all of this now but with the added cost and better organization we can do so much better. Let me just say that the BOD and Autocross Committee is working very hard at improving the club and we ALL would not raise the price if we thought it was unnecessary. If anyone has any concerns or suggestions about any of these issues I highly encourage you to come to the next membership meeting. It is always posted for everyone to see and everyone is welcome. Please come and talk to us in person. Any of us will be very happy to explain this in better detail.
(Troy I am sorry you can't make it to the meetings due to work...)

[Kurt_W]

Well, I had a longwinded diatribe about how I didn’t think the increase in cost fair toward non-SCCA members but when I started looking at the numbers I determined that the admission cost for members versus nonmembers was about $3.64 per event. (based on $20 and $30 admission fees, a $70 membership fee and an 11 standard event season.) So based on 11 events that’s only $40 a year more for non-SCCA members assuming all events are attended. At $40 that comes to an issue of dedication because if you can’t skimp $4 worth on something else during the month you probably shouldn’t be autocrossing anyway.

So basically you save $40 bucks by becoming a SCCA member and all you get to show for is a crappy magazine.

Now, the earlier start time, that’s not fair for travelers but that’s for another argument ;)

[gtfour77]

Now, the earlier start time, that’s not fair for travelers but that’s for another argument ;)

I know what you mean Kurt but it had to be done. Events used to start so late we were lucky to get 3 or 4 runs in. Last year was particularly bad as I can't remember last time we had fun runs... This just adds to the "fun" factor...;)

[ShortysTRM]

Thanks Martin. At least we have a few reasons now. If we can still bring in newbies, I guess I'm all for it. It concerns me that the most common excuses for people not coming out to run were usually that we start too early or that it costs too much. Like I said before, I'll still be there, even if I can't run, but I hope we don't lose the less dedicated.

On that note, I should include that we won't be doing registration for the mid-June event. It's on the US Grand Prix weekend, and we'll be in Indy.

[gtfour77]

That's no problem Troy, hope you guys have fun!!! ;)

[sts 50]

You guys who are complaining about the early start time must never have been golfers, or fisherman! In order to be on the water (New River) at first light, you have to leave Charleston REALLY early!

[ShortysTRM]

My Dad bought a house up there instead lol





**To clarify, I'm not bragging about my father's "camp." It's a house they bought for very little on the Greenbrier River. Not an estate by any means.

[Wes]

ahhh I wish I had $70 so that I could be a member. I had to not buy groceries so I could go to the last event... ~_~ Being a poor college student sucks....

[Jason V]

ahhh I wish I had $70 so that I could be a member. I had to not buy groceries so I could go to the last event... ~_~ Being a poor college student sucks....


There is a discounted membership program for those under 24... called First Gear, I belive the price for a year is 45 instead of 70!!!

[Nathan]

There is a discounted membership program for those under 24... called First Gear, I belive the price for a year is 45 instead of 70!!!
When I signed up it was under 22. I made it by a month.

[ShortysTRM]

You know, I had forgotten about that, but I think Jason's right. The age for First Gear were increased this year to 24.

[gtfour77]

It used to be 26 for speed freaks about 4 years ago...hmmm...

[NaomiUC]

You guys know that memberships could be delivered by Santa Claus or the birthday fairy. I would much rather recieve something like that rather than my aunt buying me a shirt that I'll be using as a shop rag. Just a thought for wish lists...