Beer hostage

[Greg Phillips]

Insert your Andy Rooney sound effects here:
I may be the only one, but I don't think the concept of holding the beer (and wine) hostage is working out.
At first it was until the track was picked up, then it was when all the cones were back to the trailer and at the most recent PDS they were not allowed to be consumed until the trailer was loaded. They were able to hand out the certificates and other housekeeping duties, but no adult beverages.
Of course by the time they brought it out, it was already time for last call as they needed to empty the coolers and get them on the trailer so the equipment and trailer could leave
I recognize there is a concern about getting the equipment loaded at the end of the day, but holding the beer hostage has not motivated people to suddenly start helping load the trailer instead of drinking.
And although it is probably true that if it takes 5 people an hour to load the trailer, 10 people could load it in a half an hour. But it does not mean that 100 people could load it in 3 minutes.
There is only so much space in the trailer and trucks to operate, If everyone was trying to help it would probably take an hour and a half to get done
If loading the trailer is the problem, that should be the focus of the solution, because holding the beer hostage is not working.
Do we need to have a designated team for trailer packing at the end and excuse them from corner working or other duties?

Greg

[Gary Burch]

My suggestion would be, put the beer IN the trailer. When you carry in a stack of cones you can carry out a beer.

[MTrotter]

BEER!

[Dan Chambers]

Of course by the time they brought it out, it was already time for last call as they needed to empty the coolers and get them on the trailer so the equipment and trailer could leave

Greg

The beer/wine tubs were out for 25 minutes. that should have been adaquate time for people to have one drink. The tubs are the last item to be loaded before the doors are locked.

Now, I love beer as much as the next guys ... maybe more. I also repsect the fact that more than 1 alcoholic beverage in 1 hour is risking a DUI. So, I had 25 minutes to have a beer. My beer lasted longer than the tub was out. For me, after a tough day in the heat, dehidrated and tired, a cold beer ... A cold beer, is plenty before I get in my Porsche and drive on the highway. But, that's just me.

We've always had problems with end-of-day trailer loading at PDS and DE events. To date, there is no easy solution. Obviously, witholding the "treats" didn't work. Instead of inspiring help, it only inspired griping and ... dare I say it ... whining (pun intended). Greg, you offer one idea about Trailer loading v. Corner-working duties. Not sure how to "credit" someone for work that hasn't happened on that day ... Anyone else have ideas?

When Carl, Gary and I were teamed up as AX Chairs, we seemed to have a bit more help at the end of the day. Why was that? We also made it a point to continually announce that the club events thrive on volunteerism from everyone. Maybe we need to re-emphasize the importance of "everyone pitching in at every event" more ardently? Ideas?

And while not required to volunteer, I think the attitude of entitlement is a notion that doesn't belong in a volunteer organization. Greg, you volunteer heaps, and it's much appreciated. It's why you've been recognized as Enthusiast of the Year in the past. You deserve that recognition.

However, I've heard comments in the pits from other people that "I'm not going to do 'that.' Let others do that. I've paid my dues, and helped out doing other stuff. Let someone else load the trailer." IMO, that doesn't work. A volunteer-based club is only as strong as it's weakest member. If everyone who worked in the morning felt entitled not to load the Trailer in the afternoon, two or three people would be there until after dark loading the Trailer ... while the "Entitled" members drank and watched. How does that work?

Burdening the Equipment Chairs with arriving early, unloading the Trailer, driving/Teaching all day, and then loading the Trailer and ensuring it's storage at the end of the day is a lot to ask from the entitled people standing around with a drink in their perfectly clean hands, IMHO. We all need to "grab the rope and pull" to win in the volunteer "tug of war."

Rant, Rant, Rant ......

Okay, I'm done.

[Mike]

Greg is this what you need?
btw your vintage race photos were outstanding!
thank you.

[LaLa661]

The beer was by no means meant to be kept "hostage" and i'm sorry you feel that way. The beer was situated behind the trailer, in the shade, so that the ice wouldn't be all melted by the time everyone was ready to drink. Secondarily, students new to the club don't always understand that the beer is for after the event, not just when your driving session is over.

As one half of the Equipment team, it's sometimes hard to remember all the small tasks that must take place every event -- and especially at a PDS where the main focus for Equipment is on trailer inventory, cleaning and stocking (that includes alcoholic beverages for you folks). So, my great apologies that I couldn't remember to drag the tubs out on one event for everyone else to enjoy.

And let me just point out that on Saturday, the beer was out and being consumed before ANY part of the track was picked up. So, if you're complaining about the beer being "hostage" on Sunday, where's your compliment for making it available so early the day before?

If you want a beer, go get it. You know where it is...just look for the blue tub. Not cold enough? Put a bag of ice in it. Maybe we need more volunteers in Equipment, any takers?

This club is made up of a lot of great people who bend over backwards to put on these AXs, DEs and PDS's. If you see that there's something that needs attention, remind the chair (because there's a good chance they got side tracked (ha ha) with something else) or better yet, fill the gap yourself.

Also, to everyone who helped with the Generator on Sunday -- a big thanks to you for getting everything back on track (ha ha). I think in my frustration caused by other tasks, I forgot to express my gratitude to you and maybe seemed a little er...ungrateful. Many thanks to all of you.

[LUCKY DAVE]

Has the time come for our resident Merlins (Mark, Steve, Phil) to cast their collective magic spells on the "new" generator?
It says Honda on it, but I'm starting to wonder if the Honda sticker was applied over a Lucas nameplate........

[MR LIPP]

If you did not get enough beer at the autocross, do the Oktoberfest tour.

[oregonduckman]

Beer and Wine after a driving event seems very odd to me since we all know that drinking and driving are a deadly combination. Would the club consider doing away with the tradition in light of the tragedies that have effected so many families in our community? Perhaps this should be a point of discussion at a board meeting?

[Kone Killer]

How about this thought to alleviate the Beer Hostage issue. Set aside say 2 or 3 six packs for the folks who help pick up the cones and put equipment away. I would donate a cooler for that purpose.

I have been to the last 4 AX's and it is a lot of fun to unwind with "A" beer and tell lies and make excuses as to why my old water buffalo wasn't quick enough to get a 3rd place in NS/S against all those Boxster S's and Cayman S's. To even think of doing away with a tradition that the club has had for years seems a bit draconian to me.



Just my .02 cents

[Mike]

An upright gesture, besides AX is there any occasion you think should include beer?

[oregonduckman]

Seems very odd to me that the end of an organized driving event is celebrated by drinking alcohol. I do drink but I do not drive after words because one never knows how even the smallest amount of alcohol can effect one's judgment.

As driving enthusiasts I think that we should be an example to our community of good judgment when driving and especially since young people attend the events and see the adults drinking then driving which is the worst example possible.

[Kone Killer]

An upright gesture, besides AX is there any occasion you think should include beer?

Hmmm, let see Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Cheers

[MTrotter]

This has gotten blown way out of proportion and I believe this thread has lost track of the intent of the original post. Scroll back up to the top and you will see its just Greg whining about the beer being hidden. I was there, i saw the beer. I decided to wait until it was brought out from behind the trailer. I noticed a lot of the volunteers on sunday were worn out and cranky, I was worn out and i was just an instructor! For the life of me I cant figure out why so many people volunteer for permanent positions, maybe its a control thing, maybe its for the "title" or the name tag. Who knows, but thank you for doing it. I know that I help out when I can although I often find myself in the way. I try to just lift heavy things and allow people that worry about it to organize everything.
With that being said, people always come forward out of the woodwork and help out. From the old guy i dont know his name, but at every autox I see him out there limping around shagging cones at the end of the day it looks painful but he does it, to my brother Ian who despite frustrated club members badgering him came and figured out the problem with the generator and got it on line to use for the rest of the day. He wasnt event part of the event! (by the way, it needs a larger gauge grounding wire for the battery, simple fix). Tim Comeau who makes his money off motorsports, will always leads a team in the packing the trailer when he is there! And the last of the behind the scenes volunteer of the year awards nominations goes to Joel Bowman, he has not driven an event in well over a year so that he can handle 2 students at each autox. Nice!
So, with that said, I think things run pretty smoothly, efficiently and painless for most part. Now the people that hold permanent positions... thanks for your time!
My advice to Greg... get over it, its just beer.
Duckman... lets not pull a military style knee jerk reaction to this.
One person complained and now you want to take it away completely? no no my friend, that not how fun works. Thats how work works!

So, to everyone reading this, keep doing what you are doing, keep drinking your beer or Mikes hard lemonade (chuck) and keep showing up to the SDR events! Bring a friend! Enjoy the beer because that beer cost you thousands of dollars!

Moderator please kill this thread!

[Mike]

Would it be too utopia for those that care not for the happy hour be relieved of corner working duties and instead be offered end of event trailer duties?
I’ve not seen any drinking behavior to be of concern.
I think the tradition relates to end of event champagne celebrations.
Some of you guys sound angry?