Mosport, COM Board of Directors meeting last night

[lou m]

I attended com's BOD meeting last night.
I was very impressed with Will Martins acting as our new President. He got right down to business and ran the meeting smoothly.
As a long time member, I would encourage everyone to attend a meeting if you can. It will help members understand what is involved to keep the club running.

About Mosport. At this time it seems like we probably won't be going back there next year. Bruce Allen put it best when he said that the membership has already voted by the lack of interest in the event.

So if you are interested in learning a great track, sign up. If you want to see Mosport on our schedule in the future, sign up!
As a side note, Mosport is also one of the tracks you see on TV. So it makes racing much more interesting to watch when you've actually run the track!!!

[StephanAlfa]

Lou:
Great to hear that about Will.
On Mosport I wonder if this is a timing issue or time between away events.
Last year - if I recall - Mosport was within 2 weeks following either Calabogie or Mont Tremblant. And unfortunately Mosport's attendance was low.
I think if we could better distribute our events (I am sure scheduling tracks is NO easy task) perhaps we can get better particpation.

I for one am not complaining but if you ask around as to some of the reasons why Mosport this year poses conflict in the schedule you will soon conlcude the reason for the lower attendance.

Mosport is a complete blast and legendary track - like Mont Tremblant and Watkins Glen - we should NOT relinquish this track.

I submit to every COM member to :
a) Consider attending this event
b) Continue posting this event to your other car clubs, etc because it is indeed a great experience and an opportunity to do tons of track time.

[offcamber09]

I get a certain number of enthusiasts in my shop and I have been pushing this event hard. I just can't go to any away events because of the stage of our business lifecycle that we are in. I would miss this track as it is my second favorite behind the Glen.

[JayBay]

I for one would love to go to Mosport, but I really can't justify taking any more time off.

This seems pretty obvious, and I'm sure it's been discussed in other posts already, but having all of these big away events midweek must have a huge (negative) impact on attendance.

I know there are financial and logistical reasons why we've been doing a lot of midweek events, and sometimes we have to take what we can get for dates. But for many of us it's hard to make more than one or two of these big trips per year (and stay married!).

[chaos4NH]

Our #1 push for future events is for weekends. Second is teaming with other clubs that would also have low attendance, thus minimizing or eliminating losses. Our plans include combining time trials with the partnering clubs and carrying forth those points to the COM championships. We recognize mid-week as a very limiting factor. Now, add in the costs to attend, and we have a losing situation.
That said, our last two events are WEEK ENDS at NHMS. Yes, one week apart, but (weather cooperating and broken cars at a minimum!) we hope to draw well.
As Lou put it so well, everyone should try to attend one of our board meeetings. Or, at least read fully the minutes of our meetings posted in the Drift. Believe me, the board is pushing hard to keep COM in the fore front of the sport!

[nhsilversti]

as many others have said, i agree we need more weekend events. i have 4 weeks vaca available and have used 2 1/2 weeks so far this year on away events.

the old saying of "you have to spend money to make money" comes into play if you ask me. spend more for weekend days rental at a track and it will draw more people.

[jadams]

I would love to go to Mosport, but for me the problem is:

1) Timing since Mt. tremblant
2) Weekday event

If it were a weekend event, I would probably sign up. If it were a weekend event, and spread further from Mt tremblant in the schedule, I would definately attend.

Just my 2 cents.

[TroyV]

This really bums me out. I have been planning all year to run at Mosport.

My car currently has the engine and tranny out.....with the heads ripped off and to the machine shop for planing. Chasing Joel's lap times at Tremblant came with a cost.

[lou m]

The board is working hard on all of these issues. I mentioned every one of these comments at the board meeting. The BOD is well aware of them too. With every question came what appropriate action has been taken and what the next steps would be. Unfortunately it seems like the next step for Mosport may be to leave it off of the schedule.

Mark Swinehart looked up the dates and attendance at Mosport over the last 5 years and it has been the same story every year. Whether MT Tremblant or Mosport is scheduled first, Mosport is always lightly attended.

I wanted to do one away event this year and I picked Mosport. I wouldn't be going to Mosport either if I just ran MT Tremblant. I started a new job in October and had to wait for my vacation time to kick in, so I certainly understand that too. Every comment made is an important valid point.

It seems that the club can not support both events. MT Tremblant is successful, Mosport is not. That's the fact.

Attend a Board meeting, the buffet was good!

[ctkag]

Well, I'm not sure it makes a huge difference one way or another for the Canada events for most people. Even if the event was on Saturday & Sunday, with it being about a ten-hour drive, I'd still need to take the Friday & Monday off. I know some folks make the banzai run home after the event - for me, I feel that's just pushing my luck. Maybe if I had a co-driver for the trip home.

I'm one of those blessed with a plethora of vacation time, that's not the issue. Right now, I'd have to say it's primarily the fuel cost - we're talking close to $500 round trip considering the cost of fuel in Canada. I've skipped both Calabogie & Mt. Tremblant this year - I skipped Mosport last year, so I'll be there this time.

Two $1,000+ repair bills for broken transmissions in the last year have also affected my track-time budget. It's gotten to the point where I've even considered going to the dark (and slow) side!

The club has the right idea, look for ways to increase attendance - combining events with other clubs is a great idea and I fully support it.

[mr2sc]

In my case, I feel awful about missing Mosport with COM this year. For me, it was far better when it was held mid-June.

I'm already there 3 x year during holiday long-weekends, so its hard justifying yet another long trip (still 5hrs each way from here), just one week after I'm there on Labor Day.

At least when the fall Mosport event was held right after my Labor Day event, I was already there...

just my .03

[WillM]

Lou, thanks for the compliment, but credit belongs to our dedicated and insightful officers and directors. They keep us legit!

Lou, Sam, and everyone else have hit on all of our financial issues with the Canadian/"away" events. Nine times out of ten, tracks give us zero flexibility for booking dates. They offer us a date that works for them, and our options are take-it or leave-it. For that ten percent of events where we do have a choice, weekends are not usually one of the options presented. If they are, WE TAKE THEM!

I have heard from several members who can not attend Mosport due to a conflict with a regional SCCA event at NHMS. There is nothing we can do about this, but it is a factor directly affecting participation.

[rajito]

Other than Tremblant, has the club ever made money on events that are further than a 6 hour haul (i.e., Watkins Glen)?

From what I recall, Summit Point, Mosport, and Calabogie always have been losing propositions, but were run because (a) the local events made money to make up for it and (b) COM had a wad of cash they were trying to burn through.

Given that (a) and (b) aren't true any more, why not, for next year, stick with the tracks that make money, that are closer to home? i.e., NHMS, Mont Tremblant, WGI, and maybe the new track in NJ?

Raj

[Shawn624]

For me this is just a really tough time of year to get away. Everyone seems to have been relaxing over the summer and making up for it by scheduling everything at the beginning of September. I've registered and paid for Mosport, but may not be able to get there if I can't get some work covered while I'm away.

It's worth the effort though. It's a fun track with lots of track time.

[chaos4NH]

Other than Tremblant, has the club ever made money on events that are further than a 6 hour haul (i.e., Watkins Glen)?

From what I recall, Summit Point, Mosport, and Calabogie always have been losing propositions, but were run because (a) the local events made money to make up for it and (b) COM had a wad of cash they were trying to burn through.

Given that (a) and (b) aren't true any more, why not, for next year, stick with the tracks that make money, that are closer to home? i.e., NHMS, Mont Tremblant, WGI, and maybe the new track in NJ?

Raj

You are right on Raj. That is our direction at this time.
And, you are also correct (even if not financially a plus for you and I!!) that Tremblant is the one make money or break even Canadian event.

[

Keith, I am going to try that "dark side" at Mosport!