Thread: 2014 SR20 National Convention Is Coming Back To OHIO!!!!

@gomba, you had a completely valid comment that didn't need to be jumped on. The simple response to your comment is this: the conventions in the West have failed to bring any real attendance. I'm not a convention historian, but from what I've gathered they started out strong and some on the West coast did well in the beginning. People in the West moved on or stopped showing up and the conventions held there (and Nebraska, but that's a different story) almost killed the convention. The ones on the East coast never waned too much in attendance, so for the foreseeable future the organizers are planning East of the Mississippi as a general rule.

Keep in mind, I'm not one of the organizers, and I may have some details mixed up, but this is the general sentiment from what I know.


This year we see the West coast folks trying to put together a big meet for the "off" season. That's something everyone over on that oast should look into. And if it does well enough at some point it should eventually convince folks that a West coast convention can be tried again.

On a side note, I hope we're not talking about the "West" as being the middle of the country. Because obviously some "central" location is just not in the cards. Population density ruins that idea quickly. See: Nebraska Convention.

The west has been tried out many times. The scene is not what it used to be. So as you can see Raul is putting together a west coast convention to get everyone together and have a good time. We will see the numbers when it happens and I hope to be there myself.

I've seen 2 conventions that are west of Chicago that had less attendance than any given weekend at my shop. With that being said the majority of people show up to the east coast based conventions. Nothing against the west but that's just the truth.

Just get to the national convention and have a blast. Go to Raul's convention on the west coast and have a blast. Then tell me how you feel about sr20 conventions by pictures that are taken so the people who didn't make it want to join us for future gatherings!

I'm not suggesting to have it in the western section of the US nor in the center, just a state over or so (Indy/Chicago). The reason Nebraska failed was many, but I think the main reason it was TOO FAR from the majority of attendees. Length matters and we shouldn't close our eyes to this fact. A lot of people just won't make the drive if it's over XXXX miles.

Anyways, I was thinking some more about this and I can see advantages to having the convention at only a couple places. You get experienced organizers and familiar locations including familiarity with the people who run the tracks and hotels. I think Ohio and Georgia are actually 'better' for people coming from the center of the country then it would be for the convention to be held somewhere ON the east coast. On the other hand, there's also advantages to new places like new tracks and cities to explore.

-G

Correct, 2002 (SE-R convention, Phoenix), 2004 (SE-R convention, SoCal (ish)) 2005 (SE-R convention, Austin), 2006 (SE-R convention Philly, NJ), 2007 (SE-R convention, LV) 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013. This of course is not including NICOfests and other various outings. I feel a little whorish now, ha.



I agree from a "National Convention" standpoint, the west coast has always been low turnouts compared to east coast. There are many reasons why this occurs, but that's just arguing apples to oranges.



I think instead of classifying the conventions as "National", it really should be "East Coast Convention" and "West Coast Convention" if you really want to be politically correct. Days of the old SE-R "National" Conventions where large amounts of people from both coasts would come together equally in attendance are gone, and unlikely to return in the same force as they have in the past. Give the regions a chance to make their own convention, instead of localizing the "National" to one specific coast (just because it happens to fall that way, we all use "National" loosely) and see if they step up, if not then the east coast folks can say "Hey, our conventions rock!" and no one can argue with it.

Just my two cents, but from an organizer standpoint, the east coast guys put events together, west coast guys haven't in years. Raul has been the first west coaster in awhile to try and plan an event in quite a few years, so that's just another reason why its mid to east coast events as of late because they have been stepping up.

Also as an organizer, you can't make everyone happy, it sucks, it can burn bridges and sometimes you just have to be the bad guy which is the worst, but all in all you have to go where the attendance is. Your last line sums up my feelings in a nutshell, I would LOVE to experience new cities and tracks, but getting people there is a different story.

I love going out to the conventions either way, granted I'm not as outgoing as most, don't land in photos or videos (Joe, HA!) and maybe a lot of people don't know me because I just stick with the people I know (I'll be the first to admit I'm not the most outgoing guy unless you get some Crown in me), but I still go because I enjoy getting out of town, hanging out with old friends, kicking the feet up and sturring up a little trouble. I honestly don't really care about the cars any more because frankly, I've seen a ton of them over the years and there isn't too much that is "new and cool". As sad as that is I could be perfectly content with a track day (because come on, who doesn't like a good track day?), and a picnic where everyone just hangs out and BS's. The people are the reason I stay on the forums, coming to conventions and continue to go out to meets, if it wasn't, I'd have jumped ship years ago.

Hell I thought this @marksr20 was just another a-hole at the Atlanta convention until I had a beer with him and hung out for a few hours one evening .

So I apologize for any candid remark that may have been misconstrued as an attack or personal gripe towards any individual. I guess I've gotten to that stage where if you want something, put it together and step up, if not let the people who do that keep doing it and join in the festivities!

Anywho, just my two cents.

I understand what your trying to say... BUT the national convention since 09 has had at least 100 people show up (don't count Omaha because that's where it almost was lost). It Should be considered a national convention. Not an east coast convention, I can have east coast conventions every month but the national convention is when everyone tries to get together.

East and west sound like biggie and 2pac to me. Just my two cents

There is also the idea if wanting to improve turnout to bring in all Sentra groups the b15 and b16 guys. I know its SR Convention but this could help expand and get other locations with not much popularity.

Hahahah so true. I guess I'm going for the more politically correct approach because someone will always say "National" really isn't that "National", and true the turn outs have been alright but nothing near what they used to be (LV was a bust though, that I have to admit).

Either way it plays out, I'll be planning to go as long as I can buy a plane ticket and find some sort of rental or car to whore out .

Sounds good in theory. I don't really think the general theme of our cars and people mesh very well, though. Look at what happens when someone starts a QR swap thread over here.....all hell breaks loose. Instead of Joemaican, we'd have Joe Frazer.... (Just kiddin' Joe. )

I can do a Chicago convention no problem. But at this point I feel along with others that its a little far from where the majority is, being the NE guys. 8 hours driving is alot better then 13-14 hours.




So you have mainly attended what I call "Serca Conventions". For someone who has attended a bunch of Conventions and hosted one, where were you at when the convention almost failed in 2011 before Mark saved it? Or in 2012 where we had to start from scratch? My point being is I'm seeing a lot of old school members starting to show up and have all kinds opinions of the current convention but were no where to be found when the conventions almost came to an end. I'm sure you have valid reasons though.

Also for going to all these convention how do you not know who Mark is? The problem with the Serca conventions I saw was the segregation. Either its people are to shy, or too cool to talk to others that they don't know. Kinda like high school all over again. in 2012 everybody hung out the whole time and we were one big group, not little groups or clicks and thats what I'm trying to get away from.

Sorry if I may come across like a douchebag, I have a lot of time and passion into these convention so I get opinionated, anyways we look forward for you and everyone else coming out for 2014, we'll have some drinks and get to know everyone a little better


Nah, I've thought about this in the past, Its a different crowd. This is more of an sr20 thing, those platforms tend to have owners who come and go. Sr20 people tend to stick around.

I have the same feeling about them lol I'm sure some day it will come down to something like that though.