Railgun

Ok...I'm posting this here since I can't get anything done with these guys in opening up posting in the main Events forum so...this will be posted and crosslinked in all the regional forums to get everyone's attention.

I had spoken to Aron some time ago about reviving RR or creating something from scratch. He seemed interested in it as did others that I've spoken to recently. However, I wouldn't know the first thing about setting something of this magnitude up. But I do have ideas.

The sole purpose of this thread is to garner interest, brainstorm and see if there's enough interest in creating something new and, with experience and lessons learned, better.

There had been some threads on this early last year but didn't really get any traction. I hope that input from some of the larger, more prominent and experienced members of the community chime in with suggestions. I'm usually a pessimist, but in this case I'm full of optimism and I hope that all posts are of the same nature unless you can give valid reasons why it should not happen.

That said, and the following is from my own opinion and experience on the whole thing, here's my take.

The main thing I loved about the RR was the track time. Though the organization was a little off, but the group was good to go. The main thing that caused issues I think for everyone was the weather. Who knew that there'd be snow that weekend? Considering the first weekend in '03 had great weather, I didn't attend '04 but rain was the norm I guess and we all know how sucky it was in '05. The issues that were the ultimate demise of the event, whether known or not is really irrelavant. Again, lessons learned.

I don't autocross, so I can't comment on the organization of that side and drags were cancelled that last year, again due to weather. The '03 seemed to be pretty well run.

Extracurricular activities (as it were) were all over the place, but I don't know that anyone should care about that. The event itself should be the focus. If regional club presidents (if any) want to take that into their own hands, then more power to them.

So, to cater to the masses, what would people like to see. There are several catagories I suppose...

Driving events:

Autocross-
Again, I know nothing about this per se. This would ultimately be determined by the facility and its accommodations. Volunteers would needless to say be a huge piece to this. It would be up to everyone to participate. Perhaps short shifts as to not require those volunteers to be there the whole day and allow them to enjoy everything else that may be going on.

Drags-
There could be a similar thing to what I experienced the first year. A rotary vs piston thing. Or we could keep it within the rotary community. Or it could just be an open format just to see what our cars can do.

Track-
Experienced drivers are a little key here. Those who've never tracked before will be a little overwhelmed and need experienced drivers to sit shotgun to teach those noobs the basics. There's a local group around Chicago called 3ballsracing that have a great format for this type of thing. I'd recommend taking advice from them (if willing to give it) on how to set something like this up. Of course, the experience from Aron, who I believe ran this piece of it from RR will be invaluable.

For all the drag and autox events, what overall format would there be? Open? Somewhat of a competition? What would the award be? Trophies? Prize of some kind, whether monetary or material? Which leads us to...

Sponsors/vendors.

I'd love for them to chime in on what they liked, didn't like or would want to see or do. Again, the weather really killed it last time. No one wanted to really wonder around outside for obvious reasons. What do they have to offer? What do we want to see from them? Since it's such a small market, competition is a little more...fierce.

As far as sponsorship specific things...I suppose that equates to how do we get help funding it. Rental, insurance, and whatever else that has a cost associated with it. Though, I hope with as much participation as I'd like to see, those costs could be spread around much further than between the previous two.

And most importantly, how do we get Mazda involved? We NEED them to be involved in some respect.

Exhibitions

In 05, Downing brought his beautiful machine for all of us to enjoy. Of course, (recurring theme here) the weather kind of ruined it a bit. I don't think he opened it up, but is was a great display nonetheless. Abel Ibarra made an apperance as well. I don't recall if he was going to do a few passes or not, but I do know that his time was cut short due to the obvious. This will be a key thing too. Get these guys out here again and show us anything and everything they can. This was a big draw. When Jim fired up that 4-rotor, people flocked.

Classes, or how-to sessions are good as well, but need to be interesting, and perhaps interactive.

Location, location, location...

Yeah, we had gone through a few rounds of this. IRP, which isn't IRP I guess, may or may not still be a good choice. I'm not sure. Gateway I think was mentioned and possible MAM. The point of whatever location is that it should be one campus and possibly be large enough to be able to accommodate however many people would be expected. In addition, have a large enough space to be able to support auto-xing if needed.

Forgive me if some of these seem like random thoughts. But that's all they are...thoughts.

So, what do we all think about this.

Aron...please chime in. I know it's been a LONG time since we talked about this, but better late than never.

Railgun

As an FYI since the forum I've asked be opened hasn't yet.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=718704

Icemark

I recommend you attend 7 stock instead... Mazda is already involved there

Railgun

Last I heard, there are no driving things there. Is that not the case? Not to mention being on the west coast, it's kind of remote for everyone. East coasters are kind of left out of it.

George84

That’s cool that other people really miss RR also, the funny thing is I just, like less than 10mins ago, got done watching my videos of the 2004 and 2005 RR that I had recorded. Even with the bad weather I still had a good time both years I went. I think Gateway would be a great location. I would have no problem working as a volunteer if we could get another event going.

Icemark

why? There are people that drive from Canada and Alaska and New York (well alone the ones that fly from Aus, NZ, Japan, Norway, England, etc) to attend 7 stock.

If they feel left out, perhaps it is from their own lack of commitment? I mean if people commit to fly for 25 hours to attend and then fly back for another 25 hours afterwards...

Busted7

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$ Easy talk when you live in ca. St Louis is in the middle of the country and another 2 hours wont kill the aussies.

Jason

iTrader: (5)

It was a fun event but just held at the wrong time of the year.

impactwrench

I think most here who own one of these cars, is never really sure when it will quit running. That would mean trailering to the event, which takes the fun of getting there, out of it.

Viking War Hammer

iTrader: (8)

At Rotary revolution, I really enjoyed myself and my friends did too.

There's a slim chance I'd ever attend a 7 Stock. I'd attend a RR in a heartbeat.

Railgun, why don't you ask the forum owner for help. Oh wait, nevermind.

charlies7

iTrader: (4)

LOL, what forum?? This place is a crapshoot.

blmcquig

iTrader: (15)

i would love to see something bigger in the area. chicago is 3 hours, and St. louis is 2 hours from me, so wherever it is, would be awesome. ive never been to one before, but our Iowa group has meets every once in a while, and theres a few of us who would go for sure.

Railgun

Well, I'm not set in keeping it in the area per se. It's a matter of finding the best location for what the goals are. If that means that it ends up in PA or CO, then so be it. I'm not trying to tout this as a midwest thing.

Lupe,

What did you guys like about it? What would you have liked to see? What could have been better (other than weather).

Viking War Hammer

iTrader: (8)

They could have held it in the middle of a cornfield and my friends and I would have still enjoed ourselves. I think the biggest plus was just hanging out with a ton a rotarheads. The alcohol and the Rotary Revolution Model who got butt naked in our hotel room was also a plus.

I'd say a autocross, test&tune drag and car show is a must. Bringing is a big vendor row is always nice

George84

I liked almost everything about RR except the time of year it was held due to the hit and miss weather, if the weather was nice in 05 we would have been able to have all the events going and people would have been more out and about instead of hiding in the tents or in their cars.

Railgun

Yeah, that is, needless to say, going to be the biggest complaint.

Ok...dates are the least important at the moment as it does no one any good to have a date for something, but nothing to do.

So, this is a call for EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE to chime in here. Positive or negative...it's all good, but the negative threads shouldn't be "I think it's a stupid idea," or "Why don't you go here instead." Constructive criticism is what we're looking for here. At some point, all those irrelevant negative posts will be deleted.

Vendors too! What would or could you do to bring something like this to life?

Club presidents...ask your members on your forums. What would they like?

The next train of questions after what and who will be where so keep that on the back burner.

Spread the word to everyone else. Let's not make this a three person conversation.

blmcquig

iTrader: (15)

okay, i know that you want to make the "where" a back burner topic, but, in my case anyway, my Iowa people dont like to travel much. so, we need to know that this will be a chicago and 300 mile radius type event.

rob81gsl

iTrader: (3)

must agree, had a blast at the last time, mainly on the track since it was half way descent out that day. but other than that just most of us really dont care about the finer details we just want a rotary gathering with multiple ways we can punish our cars while we are there!

Railgun

So you're willing to travel close to 500 miles then? (almost 200 miles from Davenport to Chicago, then another 300 miles east.)

Seriously, how much of a response this gets will really drive the location. Wouldn't want a place too big or too small.

rob81gsl,

That would be the main focus...driving! Yeah, milling around is fun and all, but if any of you are like me, you can't do it all day long.

Railgun

Come on...let's keep 'em coming.

alnielsen

I see Indianapolis as the ideal location for such an event. It is central to the largest population east of the rockies. The only problem is where there. I heard something about IRP closing down. I hope I'm wrong. Also, most tracks have already booked their weekends up for the summer.

IanS

iTrader: (4)

I think this would be a cool thing. Indy wouldnt be a bad choice really. I'm more of a milling around type of guy but I would like to see some of the cars running around on a track.

Of course, if there were a drag strip, I would probably attend that. You know, to be honest Id just like to go to an event - any event - that had a lot of rotary cars/trucks and lots of cool people to BS with, unlike the Iowa meets.

George84

You know I really thought and hoped that this would get a lot more attention. What’s the deal people? I thought RR was a blast, I had friends go with me both years I went that did not have anything rotary, just into cars and all wanted something rotary by the end of the event or just looked forward to the RR next year. I think as long as the new event could host autocross, drag racing, and track similar to RR it would be a hit.

Railgun

This subforum doesn't get nearly the amount of attention that others think it does.

Railgun

up we go