Cal Club Autocross Forums

I had reminded Steve Stavelely recently about his promise to get some kind of benefit going for being a Cal Club member. He promised he would do something "later this year".
My point was that it IS later this year now, and he should say something.
Well, he did today:

"Nov 15 and 16 is our final weekend. A single regional with DOUBLE POINTS. We are planning on combining our weekend with a special event for our solo community – low cost track time provided and operated via our partner “Speed Ventures”. The current schedule has normal racing of course as you expect and then additional run groups which include special events for our solo community. To take advantage of this very special and low cost opportunity, solo members MUST be members of CAL CLUB. This is a Cal Club exclusive benefit for its members. The schedule is still in a bit of flux and we may try so additional things as well. "

I am going to be corner marshal for that weekend, but I will be racing too!!!!!!!
I am excited about that.

Thank you Steve.

Hmmm..

I don't like this and I think its a mistake. It's a long story why, but I think most people in the know will agree.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

except i don't have a track car or a HANS or any desire to drag upto Buttonwillow.
the special thing would be to pop for one of our lot rentals some month

Chuck Fowler wrote:except i don't have a track car or a HANS or any desire to drag upto Buttonwillow.
the special thing would be to pop for one of our lot rentals some month

I know a cheap track car for sale

Jayson Woodruff wrote:Hmmm..

I don't like this and I think its a mistake. It's a long story why, but I think most people in the know will agree.

Jay W
505/287 Dakota

Agreed.

Chuck Fowler wrote:the special thing would be to pop for one of our lot rentals some month

Matthew, if you can pop this suggestion by Chuck into Steve Staveley's "suggestion box", that would be REALLY a good idea. Papa Cal Club should give something to the Solo community that BENEFITS the Solo Community (i.e. pay for a lot fee, especially in light of our region's recent financial situation, or buy us some cones, radios, something).

This is like a fancy shoe store owner giving away a pair of shoes to his brother. It doesn't cost anything to the owner, and the brother doesn't really wear fancy shoes. Now if the store owner got him a set of Kumho V710s to the brother, now THOSE are shoes he could use on his race car.

the special thing would be to pop for one of our lot rentals some month

Then have FREE event for the members, please give back to the members not just add to the general fund and charge like a normal event.

Grant Heathman wrote:

the special thing would be to pop for one of our lot rentals some month

Then have FREE event for the members, please give back to the members not just add to the general fund and charge like a normal event.

Now THAT's sweetening the pot. I like this idea even better but then you'll get a battle of WHO gets to get into this "free" practice. But good idea Grant.

And Speed Ventures is a CalClub competitor that CalClub should try to learn something from, not just hand business to.
(CalClub meaning the Road Racing branch).

I've made some suggestions to Steve, which he liked at first, but hasn't gotten back to me in a while.

Jay W

Its easy.

Cooperate with us on a Buttonwillow weekend like the good old days.

This is all news to me. I emailed Steve and told him that Speed Ventures was a totally separate entity than the Solo 2 program. However, Cal Club (Steve Stavely) has gone into a partnership with them. I don't know what they are getting out of it, but they are not communicating with their own SCCA Cal Club Solo Chairman.

Renee

Grant Heathman wrote:

the special thing would be to pop for one of our lot rentals some month

Then have FREE event for the members, please give back to the members not just add to the general fund and charge like a normal event.

the E-board could do as they wish with the $$, but a free CHAMP day event would benifit everyone

At the risk of being an outcast, a free track day at Buttonwillow would appeal to me
Point by passing and reasonable driving is expected and I think is a lot of fun and could give us a break in the routine a little

Jayson Woodruff wrote:And Speed Ventures is a CalClub competitor that CalClub should try to learn something from, not just hand business to.
(CalClub meaning the Road Racing branch).

I've made some suggestions to Steve, which he liked at first, but hasn't gotten back to me in a while.

Jay W

You do know that Cal Club and Speed Ventures have a cross-promotion deal, right?

We are planning on combining our weekend with a special event for our solo community – low cost track time provided and operated via our partner “Speed Ventures”. The current schedule has normal racing of course as you expect and then additional run groups which include special events for our solo community. To take advantage of this very special and low cost opportunity, solo members MUST be members of CAL CLUB. This is a Cal Club exclusive benefit for its members. The schedule is still in a bit of flux and we may try so additional things as well.

It sounds like they are trying to get a discounted open track day for Cal Club Solo2 members. Why are people in this thread complaining? It may not be what you "expect" or what you think we "deserve", but its a move in the right direction.

At the risk of being an outcast, a free track day at Buttonwillow would appeal to me
Point by passing and reasonable driving is expected and I think is a lot of fun and could give us a break in the routine a little

They speed ventures do a good job of grouping the skill levels and keep a close eye on each car while on track. Also have pre/post meetings for each session. Only question would be how many people would go and would they all fit into the run groups.

Bob Beamesderfer wrote:You do know that Cal Club and Speed Ventures have a cross-promotion deal, right?

Yes, but CalClub should be doing what SpeedVentures has moved in on. Friendly, open track days are in high demand, and can be profitable AND this is entirely in the domain of what CalClub can do, but is just to lazy or conceded (other regions do). I'm not so sure the SCCA national office would appreciate this kind of arangement.

Why offer ONLY the Solo CalClub guys discounted track time? Why not offer it up to all CalClub members. Or offer the Solo only guys discounted solo time (this is what I've discussed with him)?

Steve didn't consult the Solo group at all, I'm wondering if he checked our calendar, or just got lucky missing our Nov dates. It does land on a San Diego champ date though, which we usually like to avoid.

Jay W

Jayson Woodruff wrote: It does land on a San Diego champ date though, which we usually like to avoid.

Jay W

That wont matter, as I read it they have made it a Cal Club only event.

After seeing what other regions are doing with the SCCA PDX program, Cal Club has missed the boat for sure. They are giving money and members away to a competitor. And now that SV is doing autocross, they are directly competing with the regions solo program.

Certainly part of the problem was the lack of information/knowledge that SCCA even has a track day program (check your July 08 SportsCar) but seeing the success that a number of regions are having with this program it is crazy for a region to give away that business. I have been to a number of Sopac regional and natl club races this year, and they are not busting at the seams with entries. Colorado region is the best at working the PDX program in with club races, but AZ has embraced it, and is enjoying the added $$$ and people because of it. No reason Cal Club could not do the same.

I do think it is cool that they are inviting the Solo community to join them, it is just a shame they are giving up this potential revenue to someone else.

it is just a shame they are giving up this potential revenue to someone else.

They gave up on it 10 years ago when NASA showed some success with HPDEs and SCCA in general and CalClub in particular ridiculed the whole concept. At least Cal Club admits they can't do it and are partnering with probably the best OT organization in SoCal - Aaron and Speedventures.

I think its great the Steve Staveley is trying to do something for the Solo community.

Chuck Fowler wrote:except i don't have a track car or a HANS or any desire to drag upto Buttonwillow.
the special thing would be to pop for one of our lot rentals some month

Chuck, a HANS device is not required for track days. They are only required for the wheel-to-wheel racing groups.

John Coffey wrote:

We are planning on combining our weekend with a special event for our solo community – low cost track time provided and operated via our partner “Speed Ventures”. The current schedule has normal racing of course as you expect and then additional run groups which include special events for our solo community. To take advantage of this very special and low cost opportunity, solo members MUST be members of CAL CLUB. This is a Cal Club exclusive benefit for its members. The schedule is still in a bit of flux and we may try so additional things as well.

It sounds like they are trying to get a discounted open track day for Cal Club Solo2 members. Why are people in this thread complaining? It may not be what you "expect" or what you think we "deserve", but its a move in the right direction.

Your right. That IS what Steve is trying to do. I only suggested a track day at a discount as one of many possible ideas.
This is the first year of trying things like this. Next year we can all suggest something ELSE. I have no problem with that.

And Gio, you have the ability to pop a suggestion into Steve's box. You can do it at the Cal Club forums. I was only trying to "rattle the cage" as it were. I guess he liked my idea. I don't know if he was presented with any other ideas.

Buttonwillow is not crazy far. It CAN be done as a day trip, a long day trip, but a day trip none the less.

Michael Colangelo wrote:

Chuck Fowler wrote:except i don't have a track car or a HANS or any desire to drag upto Buttonwillow.
the special thing would be to pop for one of our lot rentals some month

Chuck, a HANS device is not required for track days. They are only required for the wheel-to-wheel racing groups.

i know, but honestly, is a helmet really needed for most solo events? (not talking about the rules here) not really, it's for that once in a lifetime aww @#%!, and since i've been in 2 roll overs (only 1 my fault ) i've decided i have too much to lose without the minimum (in my opinion) amount of safety gear.
i think a discounted track day is great, but it would of been nice if he asked the solo board what they would like too

Matthew Geier wrote:And Gio, you have the ability to pop a suggestion into Steve's box. You can do it at the Cal Club forums. I was only trying to "rattle the cage" as it were. I guess he liked my idea. I don't know if he was presented with any other ideas.

You know what...I will do that Matthew. I have some ideas that I'd like to throw around to the E-Board and see if we can come up with a "pooled" suggestion(s) and then I or another E-Board member will do it on his forum on behalf of the region.

And I agree with Chuck's comments. Yes you don't NEED a HANS device, and when I do "driving schools" it's with BMWCCA whom are VERY strict. Yet with Speed Ventures, my "spidey sense" says, that without a roll-cage, and HANS device, I just wouldn't feel 100% comfortable. Plus I don't have a "track-only" car, and if I did, it would be my pure "auto-x" car. Ironically I JUST got Steve Staveley's e-mail. I give an A+ for effort so let's see how amenable Papa Cal Club is to different ideas. I know Jayson Woodruff has mentioned some but no feedback.

Giovanni Jaramillo wrote: Ironically I JUST got Steve Staveley's e-mail. I give an A+ for effort so let's see how amenable Papa Cal Club is to different ideas. I know Jayson Woodruff has mentioned some but no feedback.

me too. i even felt the need to respond to him

" Hi Steve, while I appreciate you wanting to include the SOLO portion of Cal Club, I hope you realize that Speed Ventures is a direct competitor of SCCA SOLO in the Los Angeles area. It is ironic that your using money partially generated from SOLO to pay a competitor, even if it isn't for a Solo event.
Please feel free to wander over to the CSCC forums and get to know us."

Matthew Geier wrote: And Gio, you have the ability to pop a suggestion into Steve's box. You can do it at the Cal Club forums.

Not exactly true, i've tried 4 times to get an account on there. Never Get approved. I've sent e-mails to the web master, never get a reply. I'm a cal club region member. I still read them on occasion.