NWARC track schedule

[CarPoor]

The NW Alfa Club's corsa committee had a very successful performance driving school yesterday at Bremerton Motorsports Park. It was a follow-on to a beginner school held on March 02, and built nicely on the skillsets that were introduced there. I just wanted to put out notice here that we have a full schedule of track days this season, both at Bremerton and at Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA. Please see the club website for the full schedule, (http://home.att.net/~borrani/) but the next event is a lapping day at BMP on April 11th, a Friday. Please feel free to join us if you're local, or plan to be in the area on that date!
Yesterday was a blast, with a mixed bag of weather, from driving rain and hail, to warm sunshine and balmy breezes...just about perfect to expose the students to a variety of traction situations.
There were break-outs in the morning, where smaller groups went to different stations and went through a ground school, a large handling oval and a short autocross. Then after a hot lunch (provided), we had three run-groups, based on experience and skill level, and were able to run the entire course. Instructors were available in-car for anyone with qualms or with too little experience to solo.
We had a pretty fair turnout of Alfas yesterday...3 GTVs, 3GTV6s, 2 Alfettas, 1 Milano, plus a great variety of Porsches, Minis, Volkswagens, etc. I still can't get the smile off my face from that moment where it finally began to "click", and I started to experience what it was like to control my car on that fine edge. I'm sure you veteran performance drivers can remember what that's like.
Anyway, you're welcome to come out and play with us.
Thanks, Patrick Hood, NWARC

[Sniady]

I know how you feel, I just recently did a Peformance school aswell. Lot of fun!

I just get bummed out, when there are more non Italian car's at the event's, it'd be nice if more showed. One thing that bug's me at our track club event's, is we get no priority as far as Alfa's getting the first fill in spot's, that's what kinda suck's. But that's just my opinion.

[CarPoor]

Yup. We have talked about a set-aside for Alfas for the PR dates, because they always fill up, but no action yet. I was actually driving a (cough cough) German car yesterday. My Spiders don't have rollbars. Our situation is that we can use the revenue, so until we start being TOO full, we'll probably carry on with the status quo.

[Sniady]

Yeah... It would just be nice for Alfa's to fill in the first spot's and then let the other's in till it fill's.

[smestas]

Patrick,

Welcome to the BB!

If you would like to post events to the calendar you are more then welcome. It's really a great feature of the site that Im trying to get everyone to use more and more.

[argtv7]

Snaidy,

Are you referring to people who OWN Alfas, or people that are club members. You know, there is no requirement that you own an Alfa to join the AROC. Alfas DO get proirity, too. Any Alfa that is entered in the Alfa Cup race can also race in the non-Alfa race for free (providing we are not oversold, like at Laguna Seca). Non Alfas can't race in the Alfa cup race. Priority. When we expect a sellout, like Laguna, mailers are sent to members and regulars first, then the remainder go out a week later. Priority. We very rarely have to turn people away. The school sells out, as well as Laguna Seca. We also warn everyone when we expect a sellout. I think that the Competiton Board is doing an outstanding job. No other club offers as much bang for the buck, and to date we are very healthy in a rough economy.

We are a club, made up of members. Great members. Some members have Alfas, some don't. We cannot treat people differently if they members, they support us, they come to our events, and they own an Alfa or a skateboard or whatever.

Sucks? I don't think so. I guess you are entitled to your own opinion. I think we have a fantastic club.

Brad

[argtv7]

Did you ever notice that members get a DISCOUNT on our events? Seems like another priority.

Maybe what you are really trying to say is that the national AROC sucks because they allow people who don't own Alfas to join?

I think it's about the people, as well as the cars.

[JoeCab]

Our local club (Colorado AROC) does not allow cars other than Alfas on the track at our events, member or not. Period. OK - we had a few exhibition laps from an F40 and a couple of 360 challenge cars at the last event, but that was it.

I am not sure if this is a good thing or not. The events are full, we don't have to worry about the revenue, but I miss a certain diversity from seeing other cars. On the other hand, it can be depressing when the Alfas are always outnumbered at their own events, as it was with Chicago AROC track events.

[italcarguy]

I agree with you guys both in certain things. If I were running the club, this is what I would do...

Send our early mailers to members, frequent participants, and Alfa owners and give them a deadline. After that deadline, open up registration to anyone. I notice that there are many people who show up to event's like Laguna Seca that never run with AROSC. People who support the club year roud and members should be rewarded with first priority at these events. If it weren't for them, none of the other events would be a such a success.

It's not right that (for example) a WRX or Porsche owner shows up to one event a year (Alfa Club Laguna Seca) because it's $200 less than any other club that runs there. AROSC is the cheapest track time around. I will be at Laguna Seca again the week after the AROSC event and am paying more than double and am getting less track time! Those people who come out that one time a year should get last priority.

And that's MY opinion

[argtv7]

Hmmmmm. Sounds like the tracks must be inexpensive, or you have lots of Alfas. As I mentioned, we really don't turn people away. When we get 100 cars at Willow Springs, we break even. I don't think we could put on an event of this caliber with Alfas only. We typically get 40 or so Alfas. We could never pay the expenses. Where else can you see a whole Alfa only race series?

We have 8 or so events per year. All time trial cars must have harnesses & fire ext. Open cars must have roll bars. I don't think there are enough cars, even in LA.

[argtv7]

That's how we do it. Members/regulars got their applications over a week before the one-timers! Plus, there were emails sent out to members/regulars encouraging them to sign up early.

It's only fair to the registration guy to have a chance to process applications before the event. If all of the Alfas wait until the last moment to send in applications, then people without Alfas, who have already made hotel/travel arrangements a month in advance would get the boot? That wouldn't be fair either.

Laguna is the only event where we have to turn people away.

If everyone is so unhappy, we could have Alfa only events that would be VERY VERY expensive. We still lose money at Laguna Seca even with 125 cars, plus 30 intros.

So, does $650 sound like the right Alfa Only price to run Laguna? I, for one, would be out.

[italcarguy]

how about event sponsors? if we could get companies to sponsor events, just like VARA (www.vararacing.com) we could help lower the entry fees and possibly have certain weekends for alfa's only? just a thought.

[argtv7]

Ever heard the saying, if it aint broke, don't fix it?

Are you going to take over Director of Registration (Merkur), Director of Hotels/Dinner (Mercedes), Director of Intro Group(car not ready), Director of Enduros (Mazda), Race Director (Cote might sell his spider) Director of Tech and Safety (Dunestang), Director of Timing and Scoring (Alex is trying to sell his GTV)Director of Instruction (Lola), Director of Schools, etc......

At least you wouldn't need a Director of non-Alfa classification.

Do you think those people would really volunteer thier time under those circumstances? Nope.

Maybe just start your own club if we are doing so poorly.

[JoeCab]

I had no idea you had so many traitors in your midst

[Sniady]

I didn't know this was going to spark up some tension.

To start with...

I don't think the club suck's at all! It's definitly a fantastic club, and I'm glad it's there. My wording was poor in my post above, I did not mean it the way I said it, I'm sorry.

What I meant to say is I get bummed when a Alfa can't be excepted to a event (Laguna last year for example) because they sent in there entry form before the due date but it's already been filled. That's what I think suck's, it is a Alfa club and I know they except anyone, but I think there should be more love for the Alfa's in that category. It'd be better to blow off one Honda for a hard loving Alfa owner. I know the so cal club will probably never fill a event with just Alfa's, and I don't mind the other car's at the event. It just hurt's when that one Alfa can't make it. It really make's a difference, at least to me it does.

(example: If I drove a Honda and wanted to enter the event, but found out that Alfa's have the first spot's to fill, it would not bug me what so ever, it is a Alfa Club and there allowing me to bring my honda? Right ON! I'll send my entry and hope for the best. Which I pretty much know I have a spot because there's only like 30 alfa's, out of a event with 130 spot's.)

In all I think the Alfa's should get a due date for a guaranteed spot, and after that due date your on a first come first serve base. Then again that's my opinion, and the Alfa Board member's most likely don't care what I have to say.

Hope this clear's up a little. Again this is just a opinion of mine, I don't expect it to change anything.