Thread: 2008 Convention

Being a FL native, I would go as far as Georgia for a SERCA event IMHO.

Exactly. We aren't saying FL isn't worth it. You have the resources, the base, the locations. Hell, you have 3 damn NFL teams! It's the location, and if you only submit for Miami or FTL every time, you will be rejected every time. FL is an excellent idea, there's no reason to tack on an additional 6hrs of driving for everyone who comes from out-of-state.

My 2 cents, if this FLA or not FLA is such a big deal, pick either 2009 or 2010 and put the event one of those years there. Do it based on readiness, demonstrated capabilities, whatever - flip a coin! Pick 5 years and 5 locations if that is what it takes.

As I mentioned my mother until recently was a Race Promoter. She has 30+ years of successful (and very stressful) experience, and I learned a lot about her business. For example, when CART and before that, Champ Car, set up track dates for their races, they did NOT do it on a "year-to-year" basis. Each location on the circuit had a contract for a specific number of years - if they did not do that, there would have been chaos every single season as new locations started lobbying to get on the calendar (yes they were successful once), and you'd have sites undercutting one another, saying "it's our turn, they had it last year, 2 years ago, etc." Because for the promotor and location potentially millions of $$$ were at stake, they'd get dirty just like the Trans Am Promoters and track owners, etc. Sound familiar?

The way they got around it was they had a board, an appointed or elected leader(s), and a plan. If you don't have an association as a promoter or an umbrella org you're screwed anyway for liability issues, or worse, you pay a lot more than you might have done to insure an event or part of an event where it is required.

BTW, if you think Champ Car races are put on by a bunch of paid professionals, wrong. 90% of the effort is done by volunteers who have day jobs - who work for little to nothing in addition to their day job. There's a small group who run the umbrella org and a part-time paid group who does promotion at each location.

I'll be the first to admit I don't know squat about how this has worked in the past. I do know something about organizations and especially the unique challenges of an auto event of any kind (schedule, geography, can't put your car in carry-on luggage...). This does not seem to be headed toward much more than further confrontation. Hopefully I am wrong about that...

well SERCA is wanting a track day, etc. correct? miami/ft lauderdale area has the best to offer in terms of making it a vacation alongside track/drag...

nightlife/clubs
beaches
beautiful women
casino's
moroso
homestead track
baseball/football/hockey/basketball--pick your event
comedy clubs; numerous concerts

the other cities in FL don't offer the amount that south FL does. sure Orlando is an option, but I don't personally know of any tracks other than daytona that is close by.

i've read thru the 26+ pages and most are willing to hike across country to visit LA/LV/etc...the effort for a south FL push isn't so much more to ask.

and like SE-Rawkus has stated earlier in this thread. you all want some foundation done, but it is pretty hard to get some concrete info when your expected timframe is two years!

is eriosuly don't think moroso or homestead would even quote due to major factors like: timeframe, economy dropping, etc

too many unknowns...and if it's true about how andreas, rob, others have requested numerous amount of time to have the event held in FL and was given a brush-off. i completely understand the quarrel...

another thing is knowing what to do for an event, isn't that what the head of SERCA is supposed to provide as an "agenda". if a organization hs held an event and requires certain things to take place, why not inform the members trying to host an event of the criteria wanted. BigB, for one, said "you don't know anything about the event and what goes on"...well obviously, a little point in the correct direction would be more informative than sayin..."you don't know **** (short version)

all this could have easily been avoided

About my argument holding some water... Here is the BIG PICTURE.

Nashville to Savannah = 8 hours

Tampa to Savannah = 5 hours

It's more next to you than it is next to us.


So come on up and get your belly full. There hasnt been a convention in my state and I am not complaining I honestly wouldnt care if it was in Fl, or Vegas. But you should do some planning if you are so CONTENT on having one there.

I'll agree with that, and any city in FL I'll drive to. I'm trying to portray what I think SERCA is seeing as opposed to my opinion. If I were to make the call, I'd go for Miami. If it were there, I'd see it as more than just an SE-R meet, but a true vacation and a place for me to go bummin around in and check out the local stuff. Much more so than Jacksonville. We all gotta remember that everyone needs to be on the same page. We need to work on SERCA looking at Miami as a true option. Just show them it's more realistic to go there than Key West!

I think an umbrella organization is a great idea, which is why I keep bringing up the point myself. SERCA functions as an umbrella organization for our community, but they aren't really. As far as I know, they don't have a board you can elect, they don't hold their decisions in public, they don't publish minutes/transcript of their meetings, they don't publish their financial records, heck... you can't even join SERCA any more. Who are the leaders of SERCA? Are they on the forum? If not - why not? Why aren't they in this conversation? Basically my point is they don't represent me, the rest of FL, this forum, or the vast majority of SE-R owners. That's the problem.

Look, I don't claim to have all the answers in how to set up a non-profit. I'm not a lawyer. I do feel strongly though that if we're going to do more than piss on each other than we need to move forward as a group in setting up a REAL umbrella organization for our events. That's the solution.

If we work collectively towards this solution we CAN make it a reality. Then all the decisions about where the convention will be held every year won't be cloaked in mystery and we can avoid all this crap.

Don't quote me out of context. I said that in regards to what goes on at a convention.

Also, most tracks plan dates years in advance, so again, you don't know what you are talking about. SCCA plans track dates 1-3 years in advance. The cost for a track remains relatively stable believe it or not. Same with reserving picnic areas.

Nobody brushed them off. Miko took it as that, because anyone who disagrees with him is part of a conspiracy. Once you know both sides of the story and not just what Miko perceives to be the truth.

There were several times FL was told if they want a convention, come to one, see what is expected and then present a plan.

They chose not to.

I am out on this. I will be putting my attention towards doing a FL SR20 convention meet every year at you know what time.

This arguement will never stop so I will do what I have to do and you guys do what you want to do.

To all whom I may have offended I am sorry.

FL convention here we come.

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