by Aavitt on Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:01 am
I am fine with X-cars participating in our AX events. It has added a much needed boost to our budget and made board meetings much less stressful. I am in favor of charging "non-members" in X-cars and P-cars $10 extra and also limiting the # of X-cars per event. Members in X-cars are not an issue. They pay their dues, and 99% of them also work a chair position or volunteer. No increase in AX fees for "members" in X-cars! Seems like once a member always a member whether you have a P- car or not. Monte, I will not out you to National since I like you, but I think you should consider taking a chair position next year. Coming in second TTOD automatically qualifies you to be AX Chair. We can talk to Jerry next AX. And also letting me beat you occassionally will keep you my good graces.
The optimum number of drivers at an AX is 100. Does anyone really want to see 120 to140 drivers at an event. Be honest. 100 drivers makes money and meets the corner working needs and puts less strain on the instructor core. Even though I personally hold 4 chair positions, I am still willing to work a corner if I have to. All of us want the most bang for our buck and I would not be content to see the AX reduced to a 3-3-3 event. A parade lap and 4-4-4 is acceptable and a parade lap and 5-5-4 is even better.
When member P-car pre-registrations reaches 90, we should limit the X-cars to 10. When member P-car pre-registrations reaches 100, we can still allow 10 X-cars, at the discretion of the AX chair, if they feel that the Instructor core can handle it. It seems inevitable that X-car drivers have to become Instructors. That is for the CDI's to decide.
I know that this is not the popular opinion, but if we can make money and meet the corner working needs at 100-110, why should members lose laps just to accommodate more X-car drivers?
The DE/TT program is definitely picking up steam and making money this year. Yeah! Robert has allowed X-cars for sometime now and do not believe they have to pay any extra to participate. (Robert you can confirm or correct that)
Due to the budget constraints on last year's board and chairs, we have all learned how to plan an event that breaks even or makes money. We are all actively looking for sponsors and plan to continue operating on a tight budget. In that vein, I do NOT agree with providing alcohol to tired, hungry drivers at the end of the AX event. I know this is also not the popular opinion, but if it has to be, get a sponsor to provide the booze. Water, ice and gatorade should still be provided.
I do have an issue with adding X-cars drivers as an "Affiliate" member. The intent of the affiliate is for a husband or wife, a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a cousin or a good friend with a P-car. Although National puts no constraints on this process and the $46 annual fee does cover two people, and we do have the freedom to choose that person, it doesnt make it right in my book. The X-car driver added as an affiliate brings in no additional income to the AX event. This is still the Porsche Club and members should own a Porsche. As a 17 year member I would love to take the purist attitude and say P-cars only, but it is just unrealistic in this economy.
As far as non-members on the forum, I think they should be able to post, but again that is a member benefit and we are paying our dues as members, so why not charge them a "one-time" annual fee of $10.00. I do sympathize with X-car drivers because they do not have the ability to become a member of our club without the ownership of a P-car, unless a member adds them as an affiliate, but we are still the PORSCHE Club, not the SCCA and those are the current rules.
Angela Avitt, Membership Chair
E-master, Social Chair, TT Co-safety Chair
Car #425
2004 996 GT3
1999 996
2011 Z06
2008 BMW