Banquets at NHIS

[brucesallen]

It seems to me that our banquets at the Red Blazer are not serving the function of a club social gathering recently. We only had 40 people including family and crew last Saturday night even though we had a record turnout for the Saturday event. So I think we ought to have a simple burger/dog cookout in a garage at the events at NHIS so everyone will come. Start with August. I talked to Mark Swinehart yesterday who lives in Concord and thinks he knows how to make this happen. I'll bet we could do it for $10 a head. BYOB. If people have already put in $25 for August then we could refund $15 or start a fund for starving racers.

What do you think?

[BrakeL8r]

I wasn't aware there was a banquet. Was there something about it on the registration page? If so, I missed it. Me and my brood would have been there, raising the count by 15%

[Mark Swinehart]

Yes, it was on the NHIS-2 registration page.

Both of you entered "No".

[Stynger]

It seems to me that our banquets at the Red Blazer are not serving the function of a club social gathering recently. We only had 40 people including family and crew last Saturday night even though we had a record turnout for the Saturday event. So I think we ought to have a simple burger/dog cookout in a garage at the events at NHIS so everyone will come. Start with August. I talked to Mark Swinehart yesterday who lives in Concord and thinks he knows how to make this happen. I'll bet we could do it for $10 a head. BYOB. If people have already put in $25 for August then we could refund $15 or start a fund for starving racers.

What do you think?

I personally think this is a great idea. Good bang for the buck and very social.

[StephanAlfa]

There is NOTHING better than staying in ONE location for the day. Drivers can grab a burger and still work on their cars, socialize, etc w/o having to relocate. Excellent idea!
Now I said "no" to the banquet...how do I "register" for the BBQ?

[mhiggins]

It seems to me that our banquets at the Red Blazer are not serving the function of a club social gathering recently. We only had 40 people including family and crew last Saturday night even though we had a record turnout for the Saturday event. So I think we ought to have a simple burger/dog cookout in a garage at the events at NHIS so everyone will come. Start with August. I talked to Mark Swinehart yesterday who lives in Concord and thinks he knows how to make this happen. I'll bet we could do it for $10 a head. BYOB. If people have already put in $25 for August then we could refund $15 or start a fund for starving racers.

What do you think?

Great idea. I’m usually at the track working on the car during the banquets.

Mike

[enjoythemusic]

There is NOTHING better than staying in ONE location for the day. Drivers can grab a burger and still work on their cars, socialize, etc w/o having to relocate. Excellent idea!

+1

[DanDarcy]

Bruce -- I think you were very generous in saying forty people attended it looked more like high 20s to me

I like the idea of the cookout. I bring a small grill and usually have a cookout for lunch. I think this past Saturday I had as many people at my trailer for lunch as showed up for the Red Blazer banquet.

I vote for a track cookout

[chaos4NH]

Bruce -- I think you were very generous in saying forty people attended it looked more like high 20s to me

I like the idea of the cookout. I bring a small grill and usually have a cookout for lunch. I think this past Saturday I had as many people at my trailer for lunch as showed up for the Red Blazer banquet.

I vote for a track cookout

+1

[jimalley]

I think for home events this is definatley a great idea. Will the track allow the club to do this?

I live close enough to easily go home at night, but would stay for a social event and still be able to commute.

[dinoracer]

+1

SCCA has done burgers and dogs recently enough, track shouldn't have a problem with it.

[brucesallen]

I think the track only minds if you bring in a caterer. We don't need no stinkin' caterer. We have friends that cook.

[peterfontana]

I only remember 3 tables of people - less than 25 total. Representing 3 of the people that actually attended last Saturday's Red Blazer dinner, let me register 3 votes for the trackside BBQ idea.

Brainstorming to make things simpler: make it $9 instead of $10 but make it a non-optional fee. This will eliminate the need to police participation to ensure only those that paid actually eat. Show it on the registration form separate from the track costs for clarity. Building it in for everyone will encourage the social aspect of the club.

After a few events we'd have a pretty good handle on the typical participation rates and costs, and we can tune the fee after that.

[WillM]

It would be great to finally get this done. We've talked about it for a season or two now. Each time this comes up, the report at the board meeting is that the track will not allow it, and that all food must be catered by the checkered flag. If I recall correctly, a few years back, all of our NHIS banquets were catered at the Checkered Flag. When the price kept climbing, we found the Red Blazer, which cost about the same and provided better bang-for-the-buck. Now the Red Blazer has priced us into the stratosphere for mediocre food/service.

A cookout at the track would be nice. Let's git 'er done.

[deimos]

Technically, we can do it, but we'll have to pay the track for the per person rate regardless. This is how the SCCA does it. They pay the track and do all of the work themselves.