Cal Club Autocross Forums

The most important thing that is being missed (IMO) is that when one does a marketing survey (why are you not buying my product), the worst thing you can do is answer "that is a dumb reason." It does not matter if it is a dumb reason. It is THEIR reason.

If a couple people say "because it costs too much" and then we get a bunch or replies saying "it is a good value" or worse... "you should not be autocrossing!"... then I doubt you will get many more people willing to admit that this is their reason too. And if it is their reason, it is good to know. If nothing else, one can determine we as a region or as a club need to do a better job of informing our market why this a good value. But that would not be in the same thread asking why people were not signing up.

OK... taking my marketing hat off and now going back to engineering some new cool ChaseCam products for SEMA.

What I think is odd is that we don't advertise in other auto-centric message boards. Do we expect enough new people to just stumble upon these events ?

The Novice school isn't really a "come try autox for the first time" event. Not that a first timer would be excluded.

Seems like it could be the Best Introduction to Auto Crossing. Having more then one Instructor per Intermediary student seems a waste.

I've been passing on the word to our newer drivers that don't frequent the boards ... Kat the Rally Gal, Tanis, some of the occasional Miata drivers ... and have been getting a good response. I think for these type of events we should do mass emailings to everyone that has ever run with us in the past few years. We should be harvesting email address and putting them to good use. A lot of people don't frequent the boards.

It would be interesting to see statistics on who checks in on the boards, besides Steve and myself, etc. and how often ...

Mako Koiwai wrote:What I think is odd is that we don't advertise in other auto-centric message boards. Do we expect enough new people to just stumble upon these events ?

I agree.

Steve Ekstrand wrote:The Novice school isn't really a "come try autox for the first time" event. Not that a first timer would be excluded.

It absolutely should be. This should be autox 101, and be used as a recruiting tool.

If its a "hey come try autox" event, then I think the reality is it gets watered down substantially. The school takes a ton of resources and work to pull off. And first timers are far more likely to behave like demanding customers. With lawyers when their cars die or their expectations for Nordstorm's service aren't met.

What Jason said.

The staff and instructors are experienced enough to know how to treat a first time novice. IMO they are who we should be recruiting. Husbands / wives. Wives / husbands, children of the experienced folks, etc. Make it work for them.

Besides...I'll only look like a good instructor (read autcocross god) to the newest of newbs.

Sebastian Rios wrote:Besides...I'll only look like a good instructor (read autcocross god) to the newest of newbs.

Steve Ekstrand wrote:If its a "hey come try autox" event, then I think the reality is it gets watered down substantially. The school takes a ton of resources and work to pull off. And first timers are far more likely to behave like demanding customers. With lawyers when their cars die or their expectations for Nordstorm's service aren't met.

As apposed to the "experienced" students who might just be using it as a practice day, and complain they did no get enough runs because other people were slowing the event down by learning.

This is not Bondurant/Evo/Etc, it is a local Region Solo school put on by local drivers. If this is not about newbies, something has gone horribly astray.

Besides...I'll only look like a good instructor (read autcocross god) to the newest of newbs.

+1

Sebastian Rios wrote:Besides...I'll only look like a good instructor (read autcocross god) to the newest of newbs.

Where is that Vixen shirt pic when you need it.

Sebastian Rios wrote:Besides...I'll only look like a good instructor (read autcocross god) to the newest of newbs.

I think that best describes me, actually.

Leonard Cachola wrote:

Sebastian Rios wrote:Besides...I'll only look like a good instructor (read autcocross god) to the newest of newbs.

I think that best describes me, actually.

Sometimes showing people what not to do is an effective tool.

Jason Isley BS RX8 wrote:
This is not Bondurant/Evo/Etc, it is a local Region Solo school put on by local drivers. If this is not about newbies, something has gone horribly astray.

You being overly dramatic there?. Of course, its about newbies. But when you're talking about 40 slots or so, I think they are best giving to somebody whose seen a cone other than a CalTrans project. I'm just talking about somebody totally cold that's never even seen an autocross before--not sure if that should be the target. But whatever. We seemed to have no shortage in instructor volunteers so maybe we have the resources to pull it off without burnout. Its a lot of work though.

Jason Isley BS RX8 wrote:

Leonard Cachola wrote:

Sebastian Rios wrote:Besides...I'll only look like a good instructor (read autcocross god) to the newest of newbs.

I think that best describes me, actually.

Sometimes showing people what not to do is an effective tool.

Well heck... Let me instruct then. :unimpressed:

Jason Isley BS RX8 wrote:

Leonard Cachola wrote:

Sebastian Rios wrote:Besides...I'll only look like a good instructor (read autcocross god) to the newest of newbs.

I think that best describes me, actually.

Sometimes showing people what not to do is an effective tool.

Seems to be working OK so far...

I'm can TELL the right way to go, but don't expect me to drive it.

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:I'm can TELL the right way to go, but don't expect me to drive it.

I think the saying goes something like: Those who can do, those who can't teach.

Craig Naylor wrote:

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:I'm can TELL the right way to go, but don't expect me to drive it.

I think the saying goes something like: Those who can do, those who can't teach.

Those who can't teach, teach gym.

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:

Craig Naylor wrote:

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:I'm can TELL the right way to go, but don't expect me to drive it.

I think the saying goes something like: Those who can do, those who can't teach.

Those who can't teach, teach gym.

...and those that can't teach gym, post on forums!

Oh, wait....nevermind.

IMO 120 dollars for a novice school is to high. This is particularly true for true novices, who also have to purchase a weekend pass to the SCCA. That puts total cost for a one day participant at 135. The belief that a price like that does not effect participation is not realistic. Of course as you raise rates you get less buyers. That is basic capitalism.

While it is true a person can lower the 'cost per run' by entering the practice for another 30 dollars, not all novices can commit to a whole weekend of driving. So if a region attempts to sell a whole weekend, you may be lowering the available participant numbers.

San Diego's one day cost was 70 for our last school, with SCCA weekend pass included (as was lunch) in that cost. I felt THAT was to high, but the idea was to allow for less entries, giving more runs (it was the highest we have ever charged for a school). Of course SD's and LA's theories on schools may be different, our main desire is to make these introductory events. So they can be loss leaders.

It is important to never forget that solo is not for everyone. Because we love it so much, we easily forget that. As a person that works every single registration in San Diego (every single one for three years, champs, practices, schools ... ALL), I can tell you for a fact that entry fees are a factor, and important factor in participation. It may be true that they are only a part of total cost, but they are the most obvious and apparent cost. Other costs are hidden. So it is important for the first appearances to be 'gentle'.


Just my opinion.

nalbar

I don't know if they did ... but we should have reminded the Instructors on Sunday to at least mention the up coming school.

I'm hoping the first time fellow with the STI that I instructed in the last run group will be coming to the school. His gal friend in the back seat wanted to drive after our runs but it was too late. She was excited to hear about the school.

It seems that most of the feedback regarding why individuals did not sign up was due to the price. I have heard the feedback and understand that these are not the best of economic times. The price for the school was set based on a cost to the club of about $7000 for the two days and to just break even (if possible). I don't think that most of you have any idea regarding all the fees that are incurred to put on an event at Auto Club Speedway. I know that I was surprised. We really expected most people to sign up for both days, which represents a better value. At $150 for both days, if you divide that by two, the cost is not that far off the normal per diem cost for a regular practice (or a San Diego school). Additionally, if you know the price of a nationally well-known and respected autocross school and compare the cost of one of their one-day programs, I think most would agree the price set for our school is a relative bargain. We have excellent instructors and there will be no more than three students per instructor. As it stands right now, it will be more like two students per instructor. I see this as an advantage. We also have a well-written text that will be provided to students, in addition to lunch and other goodies that will be provided. I always pass out surveys to the participants - and take all the feedback to heart. I have kept all of the surveys from prior schools, and I reviewed them to refresh my memory on what went well and what didn't. Although this is not a professional school, I try to operate it on that level, and seek to make each one better than the previous. I plan to do my best to make sure that all of the participants feel that their money was well spent.