dg50@daimlerchrysler.com wrote:
>
> The argument was "if you have 140 entrants, and 39 classes, then adding n more
> classes changes the driver/class ratio from 140/39 to 140/39+n, which means
>less
> cars/class, which is bad"
>
> My counter was that the distribution of cars to classes is not flat, and that
> if, by adding n new classes, you could attract sufficiant new blood to
>populate
> these classes, that adding the classes are a win.
>
> In the specific cases of the ST/STR/STU classes, I think there is enough
> attraction there to an untapped population to justify them. All you need is 15
> new members - 5 per new class - to make these new classes equal to most class
> sizes at regional events. If you can pull in 30 new members - 10 per class -
> then you've created a _very_ healthy new core.
Egads! If you can pull in 30 new members in your region alone than you
should get a job at National! I'm being a little facetious here, but
there exists the fact that bringing a large flux of new drivers is
difficult enough. And keeping them on a regular competitors, much less
getting them to become members is no mean feat. Especially in a region
where a turnout of 140 is considered large. That's roughly a 20%
increase!
In our region (Colorado) we have developed a very healthy rookie
program, and have a small, but slowly growing ST/U/R contingent. Rookies
are allowed to run for one year, so we actually have a season points
battle with rookie drivers. Just about everyone in our region likes this
format, including the rookies. I think that the rookie program has been
far more productive to bringing in new members than the ST class(es). We
have a number of rookie drivers from last year that have gone on to
becoming regular competitors and members. This last season we had a
total of 23 drivers entered in ST (not counting rookie drivers). Of
those, 16 were one time entrants. The majority of those drivers were
first timers that have not come back. That yields a 30% retention rate.
Last year was a weaker turnout in ST to be sure. Only a total of 4
entrants over the year, and only one of them was _not_ a regular member
that gave ST a whirl, and that was a one event attendee. Last years
rookie program had a 43% retention rate (93 total entrants over the
year). And this years rookie program also had a 43% retention rate (106
entrants over the year). By retention, I mean someone that actually came
back a second time.
Well, I could go into a big litany of statistics talking about member
retention and classes and such. But what it really boils down to is
this, structure the program in your region to encourage people to keep
coming back. If you have a rookie program, be generous with the rule
book. If some first time driver shows up in a Civic with +1 wheels, or a
Camaro with SFC's, let 'em run as stock or whatever. Tell them that the
rules require such and so, but that the rookie program is lenient to the
rules. If somebody really feels like they're hooked, 95% of the mods
that 1st timers show up with are far cheaper to undo than an extra set
of wheels and race tires cost. If they really want to compete, they can.
If they want to have fun, we have a place for them too. SM is open to
all comers. We have ST, STU and an STR class as well, not to mention
visitor classes and such. But we still have to create some sort of even
playing field for whatever cars roll in. It's not as easy as it in
marque clubs like the PCA where there literally (and figuratively) are
"I" classes.
> If you concentrate on just one of the new classes, then 5 new members makes it
> work, 10 makes it healthy, 15 makes it fabulous. Those are not big numbers. I
> can get 10-15 cars out for STU, no problem.
Can you get all (or most) of them to keep coming? That's the challenge.
[snip]
> If You Build It, They Won't Necessarily Come. If They Come, They Won't
> Necessarily Stay. There is work involved in both attracting and retaining.
You said it! With that, I think the bulk of the burden for retention is
not for Denver, but for the local regions to work on. Some regions
apparently have a growing ST population. Others have little or no
interest. If a region wishes to promote ST as a class, then they should
make an effort to discuss it with new comers. If not, that's their
prerogative. Tying in with the "# of classes" and "# of cars" stats,
last year we had a total number of 329 drivers entered in a total of 39
classes. This year, 350 drivers in 40 classes. Hmm, rather stable huh?
But some of these classes grew more than others, and others still
shrank. Rookie and PAX were the largest by far. This year, ST was a
distant third in size. CSP and DSP are always well populated here, and
they have a higher retention rate than either rookie or ST. 50% for CSP
and a whopping 79% for DSP! But I'm digressing into stats again, sorry...
What it boils down to is, make the environment friendly and conducive
for first timers, and they will return. It's not an issue of what class
they'll run in, it's an issue of whether or not they want to run! Sure,
we've had a bunch of single driver classes this year and every year. We
always will. We'll always have one event attendees, as will every
region. Not everyone will want to keep trying this out. And, we're not a
monster region like others with 200+ attendance. We're happy if we get
100, lucky with 140. Some regions are happy with half that! Make it
enjoyable and conducive for new comers to keep coming back, and they
will. Why has DSP been so effective in this region? We have some very
outspoken DSP and VW proponents (Iain and Kevin), and they have made a
personal effort with a number of new comers. If every class had someone
like that getting people interested, we'd have to find larger sites, and
start earlier in the morning (shudder).
-Josh2
--
Joshua Hadler '74 914 2.0 CSP/Bi - Hooligan Racing #29 - CONIVOR
'87 Quantum Syncro - aka stealth quattro
jhadler@rmi.net
http://rainbow.rmi.net/~jhadler/
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