James Rogerson
Well-known member
What I'm telling those that have a hard time understanding economics is the SCCA isn't a group that contributes to our bottom line. They are an occasional customer at best, but not a group that pays the bills. We are almost sold out for 2014. I have to save traditional dates for NASA and SCCA just to keep the participant members happy that they don't need to travel. We have between 40-60 racing members at the track. The SCCA and NASA both hold two races a year for them. That FOUR weekends out of 52 potential weekends. Most of those regional racers don't travel farther than TWS.
We have other track renters that buy five or six weekends a year and want more. The economics is plain. Track day groups come in and leave the place the way they found it. Some of the major market folks will suggest improvements and do funding if it is something that is specific to their needs. In fact the guys that run motorcycle days are so worried about their reputation they will ask to come out and do clean up and repairs after their events. We had a shower stall suffer some tile damage last week and the organizer sent a crew down to redo the tile. I had to turn them away as it was simply a general maintenance item. I took their names and will send them a day pass. So it's a win win for both of us.
Regardless, it's just economics. Sales keeps the doors open. The SCCA and NASA try to minimize their races to increase their event numbers. In doing so, they decrease their track time buying power at old rates. The more private groups wanting to buy track time reduces the amount of track time available to sell. The rates go up meeting demand. What you can expect at the rate things are going are entry fees from the SCCA and NASA close to pro entry fees. Places like Road America and Road Atlanta can offset their rental with gate fees. But if you don't draw, then the fees will go up correspondingly. The good thing about those older tracks is they have little, if any, debt to service. Most of us have debt to serve and it's a thankless master that just wants to be fed and nostalgia is a poor substitute for real sales.
YMMV but I have 300 members and 12 employees that demand that we are economical not just today, but going forward.
James -R
ps..
The plumber, at least the ones here, don't really treat you "good" until you agree to the service call and rate. Once that happens then you are their best buddy. But don't tell them it's too much over the phone or they won't come.
We have other track renters that buy five or six weekends a year and want more. The economics is plain. Track day groups come in and leave the place the way they found it. Some of the major market folks will suggest improvements and do funding if it is something that is specific to their needs. In fact the guys that run motorcycle days are so worried about their reputation they will ask to come out and do clean up and repairs after their events. We had a shower stall suffer some tile damage last week and the organizer sent a crew down to redo the tile. I had to turn them away as it was simply a general maintenance item. I took their names and will send them a day pass. So it's a win win for both of us.
Regardless, it's just economics. Sales keeps the doors open. The SCCA and NASA try to minimize their races to increase their event numbers. In doing so, they decrease their track time buying power at old rates. The more private groups wanting to buy track time reduces the amount of track time available to sell. The rates go up meeting demand. What you can expect at the rate things are going are entry fees from the SCCA and NASA close to pro entry fees. Places like Road America and Road Atlanta can offset their rental with gate fees. But if you don't draw, then the fees will go up correspondingly. The good thing about those older tracks is they have little, if any, debt to service. Most of us have debt to serve and it's a thankless master that just wants to be fed and nostalgia is a poor substitute for real sales.
YMMV but I have 300 members and 12 employees that demand that we are economical not just today, but going forward.
James -R
ps..
The plumber, at least the ones here, don't really treat you "good" until you agree to the service call and rate. Once that happens then you are their best buddy. But don't tell them it's too much over the phone or they won't come.
