I ran an extremely successful convention in 2009 with only a road course and a picnic. We had a nominal registration fee for all attendees ($20 or $25 I think). We started with no monies left from the previous year and ended with a couple hundred bucks that I forwarded to the next year. There was little stress or worrying about money.
Fast forward several years. I'm told that any convention MUST now include a drag racing day. No more registration fees allowed. HUGH amounts of stress in terms of getting enough people to sign up for the track day, I ended up filling the event with local guys to minimize the potential loss. Endless hours to make the drag day happen, but felt it was my responsibility so I did it.
Two years later and now those of us that really look forward to tracking our cars are bluntly told to piss off. I'm a big boy and I'm OK with that sentiment. But call it what it is now. It's a meet (we run go karts at nearly every meet I've been a part of) with drag racing.
In what is a crazy plot twist, the REAL National Convention has shifted back to it's roots in Southern California. As far as myself and a bunch of the other "whiners", we're getting together for the first of many "Regional Track Day & Cookout" events on July 31st at Road Atlanta. All are invited.
http://www.sr20-forum.com/southeast/77296-road-atlanta-250-a.html#post1017660
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gomba I owe you an apology. Way back then I called you out but it turns out you were right. The conventions may go on but the format has shifted 180*