kungfuroy

iTrader: (6)

now I kinda hope nothing goes on this year, so many demanding and deserving people

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

there's nothing wrong with throwing in suggestions.

not like i have seen anyone request it be moved at all, just more things added back on although it sounds like mazda has castrated almost everything from the "roots" of the event and made it almost too commercialized. ruling out anything as far as tailgating, i'm surprised their lawyers haven't previously seen someone going over 5mph in the parking lot and had a fit and threatened to cut all insurance for the event.

i haven't seen a single person complain about having to drive the 7-50 hours to the event so far.

teddyrx2

iTrader: (33)

You wanted up to the minute updates on Seven Stock as to when and where or "WHERE EVER" status so you got it, plus more. Just everybody given an opinion on what they would like to see, what changes should or could be made, is a bonus.

Its all talk and no walk but it is what it is, when the concern is more about who will volunteer to orchestrate the cars at 6am, and make sure that no cars leave the show area before 2pm...

teddyrx2

iTrader: (33)

Well we just want the already somewhat good showing of Seven Stock to continue, but progress and grow with change. Who is demanding what? We are all just throwing a little input out there, and offering our opinions as to what "WE" the public would like to see.

Maybe were just not suggesting our thoughts and opinions to the right people, and this thread and our opinions are nothing more then just words being thrown into cyber space.

And if it did come to having no Seven Stock then that would be a plus, it would give Mazda and all the volunteers time to get there heads together and come up with a better venue, and game plan


That's because everybody loves the way things are, and don't want things to change, but yet mumble BS under there mouths because they all want to be loved by everybody else, and don't want to be seen as the person speaking his/her mind on the net.

I complain right now that i have to drive 2.5 hours to this show. When i went to SS 8 and 9 i was like okay I saw the same thing twice, do i really want to come back again for this? and I didn't...I came back the year before because I towed my car, and still wasn't impressed, and I came back last year to spectate, because I got free ride, but wasn't there for no more than 1.5hrs lol

People just don't want to look like the bad guy, Sucks for the guys who drive 7-50hrs for the same event with no added change to the event. But what can you do Karack. No body wants to be looked at as the bad guy for speaking there mind.

RotoricanNY

iTrader: (2)

I is true, I've only been to SS 3 times, but it does get rather old, if we cold tail gate I wouldn't mind spending 5-6 hours there, also an ATM on location would help with better sales, it sucks that you have to walk 10 mins to the mall across the way if you forget cash. The R/C cars are cool, but seriously it like a completely different group of ppl, if they were rotary then it would different story.
Mazda spits all this game about them not wanting the rotary engine to die and all this other crap but they don't put effort in to SS.
and what's with the ton of cops, last year a dude wasn't even out of the parking lot and got pulled over, seriously??

Bern

I will try and explain again. JCCS is a COMMERCIAL VENTURE that is there to make a profit, SS is not. Terry, Koji, and the rest of the JCCS crew do a great job, and actually profit and live a bit from this event. Also, and the biggest factor and MAJOR difference here is that... JCCS is catering to a base of enthusiast that is 1000 times larger (Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Izusu, Mitsu, Honda, Mazda, etc) than the comparitevly tiny RE community. And we actually get more cars on the ground then JCCS does, but that is neither here nor there, becasue both shows are great... each unique in it's own way.

On whoring and pimping out the event... without an entry fee or any real fee generation, beyond t-shirt sales and raffle tckets, which we use to fund the organization of the next year's event, how would you propose we pay for all of this advertising? And why would we do so, if SS has also broken attendance records the last few years, and this is with a TINY FRACTION of the JCCS enthusiast base? And truly how many true rotary enthusiast around the USA do not know of SevenStock? All but the newest of RX-8s owners are plugged into SS, so we have no issues or concerns there.

We could certainly open SS up to the other Mazda piston enthusiast and get 1000 cars on the ground, especially if we open it up to the Miata/MX5 folks, which has been pushed the last few years, but then would it be SevenStock? Should SevenStock be ALL MAZDA, not just Rotary?


There have never been lame excuses, just realities my man... so not sure what to say here, but I will agree that the folks at Mazda are way more challenged/adverse to step-up the game for many reason. The chain of command is not an issue... all of the top guys are on here and read all the enthusiasts comments. We as the organizers have no real foot to stand-on as far as doing a larger commercial event; the risk and commitment to do so is too great for our volunteer organization, without corporate backing or guaranteed funding. So, this leaves room for possibly someone else to do so, this is the beauty of the American capitalist system.

Thank you, and I am cool with this, and again, I would love to encourage you to get some of your friends and other people together and put your vision to reality. You have some really good ideas. I, and I'm sure a lot of folks here, will be there to participate. I mean this with all the best intentions and respect. It's just a matter of doing it!


First a question, does that mean that all of the RX-8s, RX-7s have been disrespected for years? Because they have always parked there. Every year we have switched the arrangements for parking and this year's rotation had the old schools in that parking area. They have always had a prevelant spot in the front area. Again the rotation, and Mazda wanting to see the RX-8 a bit more highlighted this last year... was the case. But wait?!?!?!... This might actually be an answer filled with misinformation to throw the scent off the true conspiracy that was fabricated behind-the-scenes in a smoke filled room deep within the Mazda basement garages.

-Bern

|

Bern

teddyrx2, if you want to front, provide, aquire, get sponsorship $$ to do something like this, I will help you put it together, for a few $$ of course, because volunteering sucks.

Again, this would be an all RE event, so it could be SS or something like it. If not, it is just another import drag race event, no? As you state this has to happen... so there must be folks out there willing to put up the $$ to do it!

I don't remember another all RE drag/drift event like this in So-Cal before, but I will take your word for it. Maybe you can contact those folks and see if they are willing to do it again... I want to go this time around.


Again, for what? Last year the SS venue was filled to capacity.... largest group ever. I will also let you in on another FBI, HOMELAND SECURITY TYPE secret.... Mazda actually sends several emails to all of their client marketing list, to announce and update the SS event. This was to several 100k thousand folks last year. Also flyers are handed out at several major race and enthusiast events around the country.


Unfortunately, here you have absolutely no clue of what you speak. Circumstances that we could not agree to were demanded of us 1 month ago, and we had to make several very dificult choices that did exactly what I said. So unless you know what happened, I would not characterize this as an excuse, because you really have no idea of the situation. If you do, please feel free to share with all here and I will be the first to admit it was/is a lame excuse.


I really think you are missing the point here.... INVEST??? This means like in a commercial or for-profit venture. I've already explained that SS is not a for-profit or commercial venture, so no need to invest in "quality" staff you mention; us shulbs do a decent job for free... We are satisified with attendance and so is Mazda, it is just the matter of how and what SS will be in the future is/was the issue.

Just look what happened with our SS-13 t-shirt re-order program. We took orders via this and other forums, and expedited all of the orders, so folks could have their shirts ASAP, and 50% of the people backed out of paying. And this was just for a t-shirt. And you want us to "invest".... BTW there are still t-shirts FOR SALE, check the SS forum if interested.


The SS organizing committe has had things put together since Jan 2011, but could not move without our corporate partner agreeing with our plan, which over the last two years has not been agreed to until very late in the game, leaving us to sramble and make things happen. We've delivered, and regardless of what you may or may not believe. these are the facts. We are at Mazda's mercy on many things. Why would we want to mess ourselves up by announcing or changing things late in the game every year.... does that make any sense?


Have you ever worked with or for Mazda? They may have $$, but try getting a budget or have them spend big $$ on an enthusiast event like SS, and you will see how true your statement is. With Mazda selling almost next to none RX-8s and the RX-8 program canceled now, and no confirmed RE program in the future, their investment in this event makes no sense, wouldn't you say? Isn't their money better served with the MX-5/Miata/Mazda3 community, who buy way more *new* Mazda vehicles, and not only just sports cars? Or even the greater Mazda piston enthusiast market? The RE program for them has been one of passion and spirit. SS as a pure marketing effort in terms of dollars makes not a good business, bottom-line decesion, but RE is the heart and spirit of the company, so they have been willing to share that passion with us.

Also to Mazda the realities of risk management and civil-suit exposure completely outweigh any marketing or public benefits they would have from sponsoring a small niche grassroots motorsport activity, where they would be the big fish in the pond waiting to get hooked into litigation. This is a reality in the corporate world now a days, unfortunate but true!

If this were strictly a business decision, I think Mazda's money would be better served in other areas. And this is something we (SS) have deal with and justify to them every year. So it's not just of matter of asking them for $$ and they give it us because we are good guys.

If it were just as you elequantly state in your case above, there are very smart people at Mazda who would be sponsoring events like you speak of every month.


-Bern


|

Bern

yes Karack, we agree and have always encouraged feedback. So nothing wrong with it.

And on moving the event to here or there... there have been 100s of request to that effect. Even here, Teddy has a suggestion to move the event to a local drag strip or track. Some have asked in other forums and sites for Cali-Speedway, others Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and yet others to whole other states... Las Vegas, or Arizona. Again this is all good and we consider the all the input, but a lot cannot be realized by us under the present circumstances.


the event has almost been canceled several times because of this... just ask teddy and the SpeedSource guys. Why do you think we had to have 10k cones and barriers at last years event. And why cars cannnot move in the venue until 2pm.... you see the crap we have to put up with...


And this... yes this, is why we keep going!!!!


Thank you for the input!!

-Bern


|

Bern

Nobody who has ever asked has been denied a greater volunteer role.... especially trash pick-up at the end of the event... funny but at that hour we only had a few guys & gals left to pick-up both the parkig lot across the street and all of the Mazda and Taco Bell buildings.

If one has something to constructive to contribute, please feel free to PM me, and we will discuss participation. But understand that volunteering at a greater level will require some time and commitment, beyond just input.

the 2pm issue has been addressed above!


-Bern

Bern

Thanks for the input again... the good thing is that if a person/attendee is truly not satisfied with an event, they can just not attend. We don't want to see this, but all attendees have that option.


ha ha ha... I think you may be right, because your suggestions never seem to get implemented... will some one please give teddyrx2 the contact info to the right people!!

or an opportunity for another group of folks to plan something for this or next year... maybe you and your mates. SO I SAY SEVENSTOCK-14 is CANCELED!!!

So for whoever is doing an event this or next year, I would like to see it hosted at a track-venue with drag, drift, auto-x, and a large track day. Please make sure you have all of the cool Japanese vendors there, Amemiya, Knight Sport, FEED, etc... and all of the awesome Mazda factory and vendor race-cars (787B & 4-rotors please) doing track demos! That is all I ask for... this would be awesone!


I've not heard that everyone loves things the way they are, but I think a lot of folks come out understanding what SS is, and enjoy the day with perspective. This is not to say improvements or changes cannot be suggested or even made, if possible.


I think this is excellent and you are getting (or not) exactly what you want out of SS and can leave as wanted, or attend or not. There are other folks who enjoy the whole day speaking and looking at many rides in detail and would like a two day event to connect with everyone. They also get what they want... I guess everyone makes SS what they want. I am sorry that in its current format it is not what you are looking for.

This is not about bad or good guys at all... it is about what you make of it. Listen, we appreciate all of the folks who drive many many hours to attend SS, an why try to do our best to put on a good show. This is the true spirit of the event. I have some big events that are 15 minutes from me, but I do not attend, because there is nothing there for me, but many other folks enjoy it. I guess I vote with my attendance or lack thereof.

Bern

Thanks for all of the input R-cien. And there is a lot of truth to some of what you say... more than you know.

-Bern

Bern

Nah, bro... peeps need to express themselves. All are welcome to, and we really hope, in all seriousness, to be able to pull something off this year.

-Bern

kungfuroy

iTrader: (6)

Well Bern, either way it goes, Ill gladly help, just let me know . That Andy guy is kind of hard to get hold of for info..hah

finishline

iTrader: (13)

he's too busy selling/shipping rotary keychains.

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

Andy is just too busy with his under the table job if you know what I mean.

13x

Speaking for myself driving the 275 miles or so (lord knows there are guys that travel a hell of a lot further) or the hotel room at like 85 a night and our guys show up a day or two early. To add expenses for the out of towners starts to make it cost prohibitive. Also we'd need to take into consideration if those same out of towners particularly those that drove in would want a track day as there is of course risk of damage to their vehicles a long way from home. We have not seen any issues with Sevenstock and the way the show is put on. I've said this in another post but anyone could arrange something to do something that weekend leading up to or after the actual event. With the size of Sevenstock to expect the organizers to do it may frankly be what is unfair. Granted thank god we have our freedom of speech but if Sevenstock was change too much it wouldn't be Sevenstock. I mean really if other events offer other things then perhaps that is a good reason to attend both or more over the course of the year. I for one would think cookie cutter events would get boring real fast as each would benefit from it's own personality and individual dynmaics.

Of course just my modest out of towner opinion

Rotary13B1

iTrader: (8)

No.. not at all. I've been on here reading all of the comments. When it comes to replies, I think Bern does a much better job explaining the situation the organizers are in. The core organizers number barely in the double digits, everyone has life passing by, kids, family... etc. Who has time to organize a freebie show anymore?

If you guys want to contribute, buy a friggin SS13 shirt! I still have about 4 boxes (maybe 300 shirts still!!) people PROMISED to purchase when we did that last re-print. We cant even square up on the shirts, and we're talking pre-paid drag racing, dynos, track events at El Toro or Irwindale? lol

Beer Garden? Seriously? We need people with 12 packs walking around the lot? Who's fronting security? While I enjoy a dozen cold brews just as much as the next guy, SS just isn't that kind of a show. We're not the next HIN, we don't have garden hoses to wet down the bikini girls. If we DID, I'd be the one holding the water hose!

Yeah, we can charge $20 a head to attend, but have WE ever? SS is a free event and forever will be in the foreseeable future. There's some ideas being kicked around, but I guess if we don't get a solid plan out there, I'm down with a beach BBQ at the very least. That's pretty much free, unless you count the $15 to park. See what I mean? Nothing's free anymore...Can someone else bring the grill and EZ-Ups this time? I'd like to bring my FD out this time.


-Andy

RCCAZ 1

iTrader: (10)

Why am I NOT suprised at the first response.

Second item... damn bro, you never told me you had an FD. Bring it out and SHO!

choopacabra530

iTrader: (1)

First and foremost, I would like to thank Bernie and the So-Cal Rx Club for putting on a great event year after year. It is easy to armchair quarterback, but this core group of people in their spare time have turned a small gathering into the largest rotary gathering in the world IIRC.

The fact that this is a free event and has always been maintained as such is also impressive.

While Mazda is a large company, believe me that they can be very tight fisted in their finances. "Bernie might remember some IMSA rare IMSA documents that I still have in a safe."

Don't drink the koolade when you see the Mazda commericals, this is a business and they will invest money only where they see a return. Does anyone think it is a coincidence that Mazda first got involved in 7stock around the same time the the Rx-Evolve / Rx8 was making its emergence? With the Rx8 program closing, I can certainly understand the philisophical differences and corporate mentality stepping in.

It is purely speculation on my part, but the Mazda & 7stock marriage seems to be at a crossroads as Mazda. Funny this comes from a company who once stated in a commercial. "What happens when a company has more engineers then accountants... Mazda"

If the venue needs to change, I will support the event where it lands. I am also confident that I canspeak for the entire SCR group when I say we will be happy to lend a hand and support where we can.

Thanks

Bern

Thank you Shaun. You seem to have been able to read between lines and understand where this whole situation is.

We appreciate the support and look forward to seeing you and all of the SCR guys later this year!


-Bern



|

rx7what

iTrader: (6)

I see the points both sides are making.

On one side I understand that it is a volunteer not for profit event and that Mazda is strangling the things that can and cant be done. You guys are doing everything you can and for free, and that's awesome.

On the other side as a person that has to drive 8+ hours I agree that I would like more, something new. I have found myself disappointed that it is almost exactly the same year after year. First, please get rid of the RC car thing. At the very least there will be more parking for attendees, at best it could be replaced with something CAR related. Second as much as I liked seeing that guys super old rotary powered cars (the blue bubble and white cosmo) and I enjoyed talking to him for around and hour a few years back I was disappointed to see the exact same cars back year after year. That space once again could be used for something new to see.

Over all thanks for putting on the show. If you guys can make it fresh in some way that would be great and I would definitely be willing to pay an entrance fee to help the show be better.

funkjaw

iTrader: (3)

I don't care just make 7stock happen! Half the fun for me is just going to so-cal and getting gay with Jaime and making my gf second guess my sexuality. The other half is taking picture's of girls asses at sevenstock and then posting them here on the club and making my gf second guess my morality.

RX7_GRL

Up to the minute updates? I inquired about the status of this event as I hadn't seen anything official yet nor even a recent thread about it.

Why not talk about the concern for volunteers doing all the "orchestrating"? It's those same people that try to keep the event organized, enjoyable and safe so that we don't get run off by the cops. In turn, ideas like a beer garden, can actually be permitted in the future based on a responsible showing. I don't see anything wrong with a 2pm cutoff. It ensures that the people coming to the event know they'll be seeing something if they come before a certain time and won't disrupt the people walking around.

I'm all for fun ideas and having a good time but the things that are more tedious and less fun to do are the things that make Seven Stock what it is and that, I know, is not as easy to do as some may think.

HOZZMANRX7

iTrader: (43)

+1 except for the gay with Jaime part and I'm more a leg man.

Just make it happen. Nothing every compares to your first 7Stock, just like nothing every compares to the first time you had sex with your wife (that was for the wife's in case they're reading ) The follow up times are what you make them.

If you're a 3rd Gen guy, spend more time with the old school farts next 7Stock. Old school guys, spend some time with the fuel injection younglings.

Just make 7Stock happen so they can.

ReZ311

iTrader: (4)

I absolutely agree with Berny. Each year it amazes me how organized the event is, free of charge. Nobody gets injured and nothing serious happens. People want this event. I would seriously start charging $5-$20 per person. I'd pay it, and it's an all day event. Well worth it too.

I do hope there is another event this year. Yes the rotary is a dying breed with the rx8 about to get chopped off. But that doesn't mean 7stock should be chopped off too.

A 7 stock track event would be cool, but that's what mazdafest is about each year. There are not enough rotary powered cars to make an event like that happen.