All Mazda Weekend - Coming 2003

Here are some notes from my thread at rx7club.com take a look at let me know what the interest is in the Protege community for attending a meeting of this size / nature. The planning stages are still being set, email me with questions and I will try to field them as best I can. This event is being developed by people for people so I want to hear from you.

Thanks everyone.

Weekend at TWS - coming 2003

How much would you pay for a weekend at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas.

The weekend at the track includes a place to camp if you like, one of the tracks seen at the link below and a performance straight line event* located in the infield.

http://www.texasworldspeedway.com/tracks.htm

Event yet to be named, volunteers for the event are appreciated.

*straight line event to be announced. think 0-60 + slalom.

I am currently trying to contact vendors about this event, are there any Protege specific vendors that you think might be interested, please let me know.

We are also working with Mazda to have a small fleet of Mazda's for this event. Possibly some Protege's, Miata's and an RX-8 on hand for the festivities.

While it is still up for consideration, we have the option to have a open concession stand at this event, or have a "catered" meal -- our choice, this is something to be decided at a later date.

The event is coming together a piece at a time, at the current time, the event isn't so much of a driving school as it is an open track weekend, I have contacted a couple of the local instructing groups about lending some support however there has been no agreement at this time.

Over the weekend, they did some estimation of the area for the "dragstrip" area and we have moved our ideas towards a shorter "performance" straightline event (ie. a slalom and blast course, more details to come) I am working currently to obtain real timing gear.

Structure for the event, has ben outlined but not finalized, there are some facilities to get in out of the weather at TWS, however a large enclosed tent area has been proposed and could be accounted for in the final cost. That tent area can easily be heated or cooled sufficently to allow some comfort, you will be allowed ot bring whatever you need onsite to make your weekend more enjoyable.*

(* - within reason)

The weekend according to TWS officials would be as far as the track all-inclusive, no talk of corner marshalls at this point, however I will clarify this.

Time /Year - Late Jan/Early Feb or possibly Early May of 2003 - currently those are the only open weekends I have to work with.

Depending on the track configuration we decide the group size can vary of course. I will be talking with TWS and whoever I wind up working with that knows TWS to help decide group size and frequency. Once a proper number of attendees has been met, track time does have the possibility to "sell out" therefore allowing enough track time for all who do pay in advance.

Volunteers are welcome, feel free to lend your ideas and help me make the event a huge success.
The event is going to be focused on the rotary community, however our reach with the project is to include any Mazda make that wants to attend.

Yes, ideas are in the pipe for a car show, and the "dash and slash" small course we are working on, as well as full course lapping on the big 3 mile track.

The event not designed to make a profit, however in the works are t-shirts to commemorate the event, and sale from those shirts will go towards making this a yearly event.

I am currently trying to create executive group to help with the creation and administration of the event. Let me know if your interested.

For those wanting to stay overnight at the event, but not wanting to "Camp out" there are several motel/hotels in the near area - more dfetails to come on that.

__________________
Keith W. Hanna
President ~ Houston RX-7 Club
Founder - Texas Rotary Roundup and Mazda Sporstcar Stampede

 

Sounds great and I am up for it. Keep us posted on any new developments. Also If you need some graphic design work let me know...I may be able to help.

 

Excellent! Please do keep us posted and I'd be happy to get involved with the planning if you need someone from the Protege side of the family. PM me if you need any help.

 

In repsonse to your question about how much we'd be willing to pay.... What are the basic cost parameters? I mean where do we even start to think about this? What's the absolute minimum and maximum?? Would you try to block some hotel rooms or would the cost only include camping? Do you know any of this stuff yet?

 

I would be interested in the weekend itself although I'm curious how much money we are talking here and how much extra for track time.

 

 

Details are sketchy, however I have some really amaziing sponsors lining up. (keeps fingers crossed)

I am hoping to keep the actual cost for the lapping sessions low,
less than $100 or less for the entire weekend.

For that cost I think you would also get entry to the car show and the slalom event too.

or you can skip the lapping and get the car show for a low entry fee and the slalom for a low entry fee as well.

Prices are still to come, the more big sponsors I am able to land, the lower the overall cost to you. ALSO track time management is being discussed with instructors and TWS officials, while I cannot guarentee how much track time you will recieve at this time, I will say the track time witll be proportionate to the cost of the entry.

IE a weekend of driving school costs $200 so if you only get 10% of that time it may cost you $20... this is all speculation at tis time details are being ironed out on a daily basis, right now I am just measuring interest from the community and seeing your reactions, which to this point have been VERY favorable, thanks guys.

Just to show up at the event, and watch the prices have been discussed, $0 or $5 or donations... nothing is final, I really cant expect you to pay a bunch of money to watch others have fun can I ?

There are many hotels in the College Station area and blocking off rooms will not be a problem. I have been given the green light to allow camping onsite at the track. I will be taking a trip to the track in the next couple of weeks to look at the facilities and figure out the logistics of camping and other activities.

Thank you guys again for all your interest and support, and you guys who volunteered, stay in touch I will call on you.

 

Drop me a line and Ill see how i can help. We are putting together a North Texas Protege Club with dealership sponsors...


Hunter@protegetech.com