Full Season Advance Registration for 2008 MOWOG Events!

[MNbiker]

For 2008, the membership has authorized a full-season advanced registration process. This process allows members to register and pay for all 9 MOWOG events in advance, thus reserving an entry in each of the events. The cost for full-season registration is $250, which equals the sum of advance registrations for all 9 events. This option will appeal primarily to members who plan attending all MOWOG events, but want to avoid the hassle of registering for each event individually.

Terms & Conditions:


Includes advance registration for all nine (9) MOWOG Series events.
Does not include registration for Test & Tune events or any driving schools.
Full Season Advance Registration is non-refundable. No refunds shall be provided for events not attended.
Driver MUST be a MAC member in good standing to participate.
Driver MUST have a permanent Met Council number to participate.
Event registrations MAY NOT be transferred to a driver other than the one indicated on the original registration form.
Car/Class information may be changed for individual events. Requests for changes should be submitted to the event contacts listed on MyAutoEvents.com.
Registration form MUST be received no later than April 3, 2008, to guarantee registration for all 9 MOWOG events.
Click here to download 2008 Full-Season Registration Form (http://forum.mnautox.com/reg/2008fullseason.pdf)

[murph]

I might do it, but I'm really bad about mailing things. So probably not.

[111R]

Done! I think this is a great idea along with the single plaque option.

[G. Jay]

Event registrations MAY NOT be transferred to a driver other than the one indicated on the original registration form.


I take this to mean that it is not possible to recoup entry costs to an event that you can't attend by selling it to another person. If so it seems sure to cause underestimation of attendence and additional vacancies available at the morning of an event.

[MNbiker]

I take this to mean that it is not possible to recoup entry costs to an event that you can't attend by selling it to another person. If so it seems sure to cause underestimation of attendence and additional vacancies available at the morning of an event.
We don't anticipate a large number of people will take advantage of this offer, so the no-show rate shouldn't be dramatically different than what we dealt with last year. If actual experience proves different, we can be more vocal about encouraging walk-ups.

Here are some observations about this offer, and the reasoning behind not offering transfers or refunds. We came up with this deal specifically at the request of core club members who are attending every event. It was agreed this would be a nice service to offer those members, if it could be done in a manner that didn't dramatically increase administrative workload and/or create greater uncertainty, regarding event registration for others. The conditions were purposely made quite restrictive to keep the take rate of this program at a manageable level.

If we were to allow transfers, it is likely a far larger number of members would take advantage of this offer - many of them with no intention of attending every event. We would then end up with a less severe situation similar to the year where we allowed pre-registration without payment. Events filled up quickly, and the actual number of drivers planning to attend an event was almost possible to determine. Plus we'd end up with a far larger secondary market for registrations, which in my opinion is already a bit confusing for less seasoned members.

Simply put, if you're not highly likely to attend every MOWOG event, this offer isn't for you.

[murph]

I think I'll try to do it, and chalk up any misses as donations to the club. The benefit of not keeping track of 30 days out and never worrying about registration far outweighs the downsides for me.

[engifineer]

Agreed. I am doing it as well. I plan to attend them all this summer if at all possible, so if I do miss one or two, its not the end of the world. Keeps me from accidentally missing registration before events fill up. I would think the best way to go about it would be for those of us that have pre-registered to announce as soon as possible if we are going to miss. At least that way people know there will be a no show and can try to come and sign up at the event.

[MNbiker]

...I would think the best way to go about it would be for those of us that have pre-registered to announce as soon as possible if we are going to miss....
Not required, but that would be the nice thing to do. If we know in advance, additional spots can be opened for online registration.

[zurno]

I would of absolutely loved to do this if it weren't for my job. It is now questionable as to whether or not I will be in the state for any of the events, so I guess I will have to stick to registering in advance and trying to sell my spot if I cannot make it. Hopefully I will be able to make most of the events though. If you could transfer I would do this in a heartbeat.

Nick

[fitz]

I would of absolutely loved to do this if it weren't for my job. It is now questionable as to whether or not I will be in the state for any of the events, so I guess I will have to stick to registering in advance and trying to sell my spot if I cannot make it. Hopefully I will be able to make most of the events though. If you could transfer I would do this in a heartbeat.

Nick

I'm starting to wish I had done this now. I had actually only planned to attend 6 MOWOG events this year (which is why I didn't so a season registration) but have already managed to (just) miss registration for 2 of them! Now I'm guaranteed not to have enough events in for year-end trophies and my season has not even started yet.

[zurno]

yeah, missed the registration for 3,kinda wishing that I would of done it too

[engifineer]

yeah, I was on the fence, but wish I had just gone ahead and done it now. Too bad there was a deadline or I would gladly just send in enough for the remaining events now and pre-register!

[fitz]

yeah, I was on the fence, but wish I had just gone ahead and done it now. Too bad there was a deadline or I would gladly just send in enough for the remaining events now and pre-register!

I think we need to inititiate a Past Champions Provisional program, like NASCAB

[o2_designs]

I did'nt know this thread even existed until today. I would have gladly done this...but too late now..Thats what happens when sleeping on the internet...lol

[applebit]

I'm starting to wish I had done this now. I had actually only planned to attend 6 MOWOG events this year (which is why I didn't so a season registration) but have already managed to (just) miss registration for 2 of them! Now I'm guaranteed not to have enough events in for year-end trophies and my season has not even started yet.

The interesting thing about this "pre-registration" is it can breed lazyness to show up last second because you have a guaranteed spot.

I remember before we shortened up registration from 2 hours down to 1 hour, we still saw the same amount of people (some grouchy because they had to wake up earlier) and the pace of registration consistent. Now, I actually haven't been out to an event in years, so certainly it has changed, especially when all you have to do is check in- but the disadvantage is this drives the sport to be for elitist, competitive into registering and can determine class structure.

The real problem I see here is the volume of entries vs the amount that can be moved through in a day... What has been done here is to limit growth in the sport. And lets face it, this sport is a business. A non-profit business, but a business to have fun and enjoy automotive sports. And in a business, if you aren't growing- your dying.

A longer term solution will be the only way to keep this sport from being fully and completely locked in to the few. I am not saying I have one... but I can hear the famous words of someone from not so long ago "I have a dream speech..."... And this ain't the King...

[jberman]

The interesting thing about this "pre-registration" is it can breed lazyness to show up last second because you have a guaranteed spot.

I respectfully disagree about the full-season registration breeding laziness. Registration/check-in still closes well before the event and if ANYONE who pre-registered (either by signing up w/ MAE or via the Full-Season option) isn't there by then, they lose their spot. That entry then goes to someone who did get there and is on the waiting list.


Now, I actually haven't been out to an event in years,Clearly...


so certainly it has changed, especially when all you have to do is check in- but the disadvantage is this drives the sport to be for elitist, competitive into registering and can determine class structure.:? I think that's a pretty warped view; by using MAE for pre-registration we have DRAMATICALLY shortened the time it takes to finish registrations and have SIGNIFICANTLY improved the accuracy of those registrations. This allows events get underway much earlier in the day. As a result, we've been able to consistently offer 6 runs (and often funstructional runs afterward) to ~100 people at Midway events, >135 people at DCTC events and >160 people at VF events.

I would hazard a guess that most current active participants are OK with this... and I hope that any who are not will show up to a future club meeting to offer their suggestions on how they'd like to to improve things. Seriously! Our club would not be in the (IMHO) goodposition we are today if people hadn't taken an interest, showed up at club meetings and with good ideas & reasoned arguments, driven change.

So if anyone reading this has a good suggestion for improving our events, please plan to attend the next club meeting and present your idea.


The real problem I see here is the volume of entries vs the amount that can be moved through in a day... What has been done here is to limit growth in the sport. And lets face it, this sport is a business. A non-profit business, but a business to have fun and enjoy automotive sports. And in a business, if you aren't growing- your dying.See above - with massive "day-of" registration there'd be no way we could offer 130-165 people 6 runs in a day.

I would contend that the hundreds of new-to-autocross drivers who participated the 2 sold out Novice schools last year and the 2 sold out Novice schools we're putting on this year are the best evidence that we are in fact growing the sport.

You've got to remember that over time there is turnover in any activity; folks move away, get married, have kids, develop other interests, whatever. If we hadn't been actively introducing new participants to the sport over the past few years, then by now we'd have a 42-person club and we'd all be getting 20 runs at Midway.


A longer term solution will be the only way to keep this sport from being fully and completely locked in to the few. I am not saying I have one... but I can hear the famous words of someone from not so long ago "I have a dream speech..."... And this ain't the King...:? Do you really believe that >160-person VF and >130-person DCTC events which had 25-28% of the participants in "stock" and "SI" (IMHO the two most popular/likely classes in which new entrants participate) represent "locked-in to the few???" I for one, do not.

- Josh Berman

[larry200]

What Josh said. +1.

-- Larry "MAC has never been better...but just wait till next year!" B.

[G. Jay]

Well put Josh.

I would also argue that the sport is larger than MAC. The growth of the sport in general is supported by the efficient operation of MAC, even if the growth occurs in other groups.

Growth of MAC isn't a requirement for it to be healthy imo. There are other clubs trying to have their own AX seasons and if MAC efforts result in tight supply at our events but growth in theirs I believe that's a big overall plus.

From what I've seen at member meetings the club is very healthy and has a thoughtful perspective on its capacity and growth challenges/opportunities/constraints.

[applebit]

While your points are very valid and I do agree that it brings the possibility of 6 runs for the volume of drivers there is one group of people that is now not able to register.

Those who have an interest in the sport, and are not going to pre register because they want to "try out" the sport.

This is not meant to be an attack on the direction on the decisions that have been set into place, it's to shine the light on the potential for a weak spot. The only people that will come to these events are the ones who want it bad enough. The ones who have a light interest, as I said before, won't attempt to pre register.

The big benefit is it eliminates those dorks who show up 30 minutes after registration closes and some wussy board member says "let him in, he has a Ford GT 40"...

[fitz]

Logistics are what they are.

Indy has 33 starting spots, we have 135, or 150 or whatever it is the venue calls for to put on a reasonable, fun and efficient event.

I've been doing this long enough to remember when we used to panic when 75-80 people showed up as to how we were possibly going to get in enough runs to make people happy.

Looking back that seems downright nutty.

Personally I'm mad at myself for not planning ahead and logging in on time to get in. I know when registration opens. Nobody to blame but myself.

[engifineer]

^^ And we are all staring at you dis-approvingly ... :D