my first nasa-x

[FURIOUSS]

I went to sign up for my very first autox in St. Pete and saw that it was $40.

Does anyone else think that price is too steep?
SCCA is $30
BMW is $25
PCA is $20. (with BMW membership)

Some quick math says NASA-X could limp by if they charged $15.

Well I simply not going.
And I'm not going to join the club to get a discount if I've never even been to an event.

I've been an officer in a local car club for 15 years now, and people keep talking about raising event prices. I keep thinking they want to chase people away, while I like to encourage participation (and raise a little money for the club.)

I've been chased away.

[Presidential_Detail]

I guess compared to those other clubs it looks a bit steep. but hell Id pay $40 for a day on a track with my car. Your prob gonan spend 40 that same day doing something else if you dont go, and not get as much satisfaction out of it. just my .02. But Id go.

[chi town brat]

I agree this is more than the other clubs but these events usually do provide enough runs to make it worth the seat time which i want and need.

I just paid $240 for the Evolution Racing school being held on April 30th.

If you want seat time you'll pay for it.

This month I am going to St Pete, then Brooksville, then the Evolution school.

Would I like to see the lower price they used to have come back? Of course, hopefully it will next season.

[Presidential_Detail]

chi town, is this one of the better driving schools in the area? Id really like to start getting into auto-x and circuit racing. You got a link for the evolution school? This might be a good present from the misses...:lol:

[jaball77]

It's a two-sided coin... On one hand it's $15 more than the local SCCA events. On the other hand, you're guaranteed that no more than 60 people will show due to entry limits, guaranteed at least 6 runs, and guaranteed free pizza and soda.

I had a pretty nice time when I went. Great groups of folks, and a well-run event. $40 is too much for me, though. I'll stick to Brooksville events. :)

[FURIOUSS]

I went to the EVO earlier this year.

Definitely worth the $240 for the personal instruction and the huge number of runs.

[Presidential_Detail]

I went to the EVO earlier this year.

Definitely worth the $240 for the personal instruction and the huge number of runs.

Is it a private track, or do they use Sebring or something? Circuit or open parking lot??

[nunyo]

Evolution School rocks. I'd be very suprised if anyone could get through Phase 1 without learning something that makes a huge impact in your driving. My wife ad I did this the week before the National Tour in Ft. Myers. I've been autocrossing for roughly three years and I like to think that I'm pretty good at it. Evolution was exactly what I needed to help me take it to another level.

Evolution schools are typically hosted by a local club and run on whatever site is available. In our case it was GulfCoast Autocrossers hosting the school and we ran on the airstrip. If you're like me and need someone to not pull any punches and just tell you what you're doing wrong, try to get paired up with Andy Hollis for an instructor. I'd also recommend Darren Disimo (sp?). He's an extraordinarily friendly guy, and very fast too. There are other instructors and as I understand it there's some sort of rotation, but I can recommend these two from personal experience.

Probably ought to add something on-topic in here too. I've not yet run with NASA. I did run a couple of times when they were Sunriders. Great group of people, a little less emphasis on competition and more on fun, which was a nice change of pace once in a while. If the events are basically the same, then $40 is a touch more than I'd pay on a regular basis, but it's not ridiculous in my opinion. I like that they run different formats (Battle-X, Endurocross, etc) and the novelty of the "different" events is probably the strongest attraction for me.

[AScoda]

If you join NASA for $40, events are only $30, and you get a free subscription to Grassroots Motorsports magazine.

May seem steep if you are only going to do couple of events per year, but if you do 4 or more, it pays for itself. Plus, the site has shade in the form of covered picnic tables adjacent to the course, real bathrooms, and as mentioned, pizza and sodas or water are included. And usually 6 runs on the average size course.

[pez222]

jaball77 & AScoda hit it right on the head. Its limited to 60 peeps. 55 ran last time and they are a very organized group. Common sense things about organization are overlooked by so many other governing bodies. I found it worthwhile to trek up (I'm from South FL) and run w/these guys. I got 6 runs and they feed you too :) Down here our local auto-x would attract 160+ peeps and we would get only 3 runs sometimes or 4 separated in two heats... annoying.

Nasa membership gets you in for $30 plus a GRM subscription. Its worth it.

[FURIOUSS]

$40 for a membership and $30 for the event puts me at $70 for my first time at an event.
Where is the good old fashion first time for free to see if you like it.

It sounds like they get a lot of cars, which should equate to lower prices.
Running the event costs about the same no matter how many cars come.
Where does all this money go? Where is my calculator?
I thought car clubs were Non-profits.

[chi town brat]

Thanks everyone about the great comments and instructor suggestions on the Evolution School. I was at the Brooksville event with the BMW guys who said it was well worth the time and the $$$ as well. I've been autox'ing for 2 years now and I am really looking forward to having these guys help me get my times down.

The April 30th event is at the Indian Rocks Community College which is in Ft Pierce. It will be my first time out there.

April 29th is for teenagers driving skills

April 30th is Phase I School

Here is the link ... www.autocross.com/evolution

In answer to your question about where the money goes, it is used for the site, the insurance the club must carry for each event, equipment, they may be trying to buy new software, they provide lunch and snacks, and other various costs.

If $40 is too much for your first time that is okay, go to www.myautoevents.com and register online for a less expensive one, my suggestion is a BMW one, and come try it out. If you become addicted then you'll find the $$$ to pay for more events.

Hope to see you out. If you want someone to ride out there with, show you around, or just to know someone to start let me know.

[jblaine]

I suggest you take it up in the NASA Florida forum if you want to try to produce results: http://www.nasaforums.com/viewforum.php?f=22

$40 for 6-8 runs + lunch is cheap. If you'd rather bring your lunch and get 4 runs max for spending an entire day out in the sun, there are several clubs to accomodate you.

[jblaine]

$40 for a membership and $30 for the event puts me at $70 for my first time at an event.
Where is the good old fashion first time for free to see if you like it.

It sounds like they get a lot of cars, which should equate to lower prices.
Running the event costs about the same no matter how many cars come.
Where does all this money go? Where is my calculator?
I thought car clubs were Non-profits.
You don't know anything about the margins of NASA-X, so don't insinuate anything.

That's a good way to start off on the wrong foot with any organization.

I have never once seen any autocross organization give away first time runs for free. Not BMW, not PCA, not SCCA, not NASA-X. Jimmie's Car Club with 30 entrants, no timing equipment, etc... perhaps they do that.

[chi town brat]

$40 for 6-8 runs + lunch is cheap. If you'd rather bring your lunch and get 4 runs max for spending an entire day out in the sun, there are several clubs to accomodate you.

not to start a war or anything but the last bmw autox in brooksville i had 9 runs at $25, lunch was served, and water was available all day

there are a variety of clubs to chose from i guess for every budget is one way to look at it. you have to be willing to drive to some of these sites, i think that is one factor people try to put in the equatiion as well.

i've driven up to G'ville to have 3 runs for $35. imo only having 3 runs sucked but being on a different type of course was worth it.

[jblaine]

You won't start a war. 9 runs is phenomenal for $25 or $40.

I bit my lip hard in posting only what I posted above. I have a real hard time with cheap people who don't comprehend that having local autocross venues and events is a GIFT that people in a LOT of locations would love to have.

That, and I don't see any reason to go out of your way to let everyone know "I'm not going! Wah!" while alluding to shady profit hoarding and needing to see the "books". That pisses me off.


I've never seen so many cheapos as I've seen in the Tampa area, and 80% of the people at TR. Either you're passionate about cars and driving, or you're not. Too expensive? Save up, go to the next one. Or the next one. Go somewhere else. Don't go at all and admit you're not truly interested enough. Start your own. Do SOMETHING other than piss and moan about the OPPORTUNITY to drive the snot out of your car for $40. You might as well spit in the face of all the people who bust their asses to put this stuff together for MINISCULE profit, if any, split between N people.

If you can't stomach making whatever sacrifices you need to make to spend a day in your car for $40, it would probably be in your best interest to accept your financial situation for what it is: You don't really have the money to do car things at all.

ANYONE with even the cheapest POS car and POS job can find $40 in time. Either make it happen, or don't.

Christ, you can't even pay for 2 people to ride go-karts for 20 minutes with $40.

[nunyo]

As one who runs events at a couple of different locations, different sites have vastly different site rental rates. Brooksville is relatively inexpensive compared to other sites. GIR, on the other hand is very expensive by comparison.

Insurance requirements and rates are also site dependant and can vary significantly. There are other expenses as well, fuel, supplies, equipment and its maintenance. Some of the materials necessary to run an autocross are rather expensive, so several events will need to net a profit in order to pay for items like timing systems, computers, new cones, etc.

What exactly is your frame of reference? Where have you done something comparable to autocrossing (motosports, course provided, timing, safety staff on hand) and paid significantly less?

Insinuating knowledge of the expenses of running an event and maintaining equpment, and claiming that an entry fee is unreasonable based upon those assumptions is more than a little insulting. Also 60 drivers is a relatively low cap that NASA has put in place, presumably to offer a higher quality experience for their customers.

[FURIOUSS]

I’ve felt for a long time that the most valuable thing a car club can have is input from the people who attend their events, or who don’t attend for some reason. It is a gift. It helps them make improvements. It is of course opinion, but opinions might be widely held. I’ve seen several local car clubs go under for no good reason.



I hate to restate things; put the first thing I posted is what some other clubs charge. It’s a reasonable barometer. I also mentioned that I have been an officer in a local car club for 15 years, so I am intimately aware of the cost of running an event. (Site costs, advertising, insurance, awards, etc.) I also know people can get mad and call someone cheap. I actually expected it. I also stated that I gladly paid the $240 for EVO and mentioned why I thought it was easily worth it. I plan to go to more.



I’m glad to hear everyone’s opinions.

I know the last PCA auto-x lost money. Maybe they need to raise their price.

Maybe they just had poor attendance due to a competing event.

(* Thanks for the offer of the ride along Chi Town. *)

[Loren]

Lots of good opinions going around, and eventually lots of good info.

As a representative of NASA Florida, I'm making note that some of you feel that $40 is too much to pay for an autox. I'm also making note of the fact that our membership as "NASA Florida" is nearly twice what it was when we were "SunRiders Motorsports" and that we still get the 50-60 entrants that we want at each event. (mostly regulars with typically 8-12 first-timers)

[chi town brat]

Lots of good opinions going around, and eventually lots of good info.

As a representative of NASA Florida, I'm making note that some of you feel that $40 is too much to pay for an autox. I'm also making note of the fact that our membership as "NASA Florida" is nearly twice what it was when we were "SunRiders Motorsports" and that we still get the 50-60 entrants that we want at each event. (mostly regulars with typically 8-12 first-timers)

Simply put there will always be those who pay for the seat time or just the opportunity to run at a course event that they feel is within there range to drive to.

Thanks for the offer of the ride along Chi Town

You're welcome.

I've never seen so many cheapos as I've seen in the Tampa area, and 80% of the people at TR.

you are in the Honda/Acura tech when we try to do events??? :lol: ;)

Christ you can't even pay for 2 people to ride go-karts for 20 minutes with $40.

+1 although I do like the carts in st pete the $$$ is a bit much for me for just an entertaining time.

[jlude90]

i'll be there, it'll be my first time, if theres an open seat we'll see, you guys are lucky too, i'm gettin up early as hell on my only day off, but its worth it, i got to hit up the ATM before hand though, also, is there just a spectator fee?

[BeQuietAndDrive]

I don't think so. You shoudl be able to just show up and be good to go..

On a side note, I don't 40 bucks is bad at all. It's a motorsport for christ sakes, it gets expensive at times. And as was said, it's not even expensive.

[jlude90]

so i went to this event today, i just wanted to say it was awesome, i'm hooked
and my suspension is coming next week and the only thing i want to do is get back out there and see if i got rid of any of that understeer, but it was great guys, you put on an awesome event, 8 runs, all timed, food, it was a blast.
and i got to ride in an S2000 and an RSX, simply amazing, i want to get more rides in different cars with some really good drivers, the S2000 driver was good, and so was the RSX guy, i just want to get in as many rides as possible, this stuff is way harder than you would think, everything happens so fast
O, and if anyone knows who the gentleman in the blue RSX was, i don't know if he is on here or not, but i needed to chat with him and i'm an idiot and totally forgot so...yeah, thanks
O, and for all of you out there today, I was the white 3rd gen Prelude with the black wheels, i don't think i did too bad for my first event, i'm happy with it

Thanks alot

Justin

[Presidential_Detail]

^^ AWESOME! Well ave to ride out to one together sometime. When you gonna come get your cooler?!? :lol:

[Loren]

Justin, I was announcing when you were running yesterday. You were looking pretty good from my perspective. :bigthumb:

[jlude90]

Twanksta, i don't know when i'll get it, i'm a big bum, worst comes to worst, just use it for the next meet and i'll take it home

and Loren, THANKS:D, i had a blast, springs shocks and camber coming next week, and then tie bars and swaybar endlings, that should cut out understeer, but there are no swaybars, so i got to stick with my stockers, but i'll deffinately be out again, gonna try and get better, i just had a blast

thanks guys

[chi town brat]

:D Yet another one addicted

Justin you did great out there, not 1 DNF for your first time out.

[jlude90]

O and by the way, i have alot of pictures of the second run group and some of the 4th run group, so if anyone wants pics ask me and if i have them i can send em, let me know if you want full 7.1MP, or if you want them sized down, they are nothing pro, but still cool to have shots of your car, lemme know

[jlude90]

O, and did anyone see a Blue Falken Tire hat that got left behind:(
its mine and i hope its not gone