Steve Im not sure if you are aware the the nationals is not a track oriented thing, just a bonus
 
They encourage people to come to the whole event, not just the track day

dasic1
Steve Im not sure if you are aware the the nationals is not a track oriented thing, just a bonus
 
They encourage people to come to the whole event, not just the track day

I am aware of how the Nationals operates as I have been to two out of the last three. At each of these events there has been a trackday. Winton was organised by the Victorian chapter but both Tasmania and Queensland had one. Tassie was arrive and drive and at open practice day and Queensland was organised by another club with MR2 joining in the for the day. Based on these facts, a trackday is part of the Nationals not just a 'bonus'.
 
I know people are encouraged to do all the event but people do not always do so but everyone shows up at the track to see the cars go or drive their cars in the right environment. This is well documented.
The circuit guys would go to the dinners, put their cars on display at a car show as happens at each Nationals but would miss the country drives.
To tow the cars to S.A. will require more incentive than one day of driving that is why more is required by the Club or an outside party to organise it.  
 
 
 
 

I am sure that once the committee gets together that they'll ask for ideas and help if they need it. It's still very early though. It's great to see the passion that everyone has for their MR2's !

I can't see the problem with these events being run back to back. Set the dates for the Nationals and Steve can organise some track events to run after or before the dates. Then they can remain as 'separate' but will give us, the members and owners of MR2's, the most return for our efforts. 
 
Like Steve says, it's a fair effort for interstaters to get there so having a few days to enjoy the cars and each others company is a good thing.
 
Driving to Melbourne for the 30th was cool, having a dinner organised at least that night would have been nice as well. 

Now that the 2015 Nationals are over I wanted to clear up a point of discussion about the track day held at Willowbank Raceway.
 
In a previous post on this thread it was mistakenly said that the facts were:
 
"At each of these events there has been a track day. Winton was organised by the Victorian chapter but both Tasmania and Queensland had one. Tassie was arrive and drive and at open practice day and Queensland was organised by another club with MR2 joining in the for the day. Based on these facts, a track day is part of the Nationals not just a 'bonus'."
 
As Chairman of the 2015 Nationals Committee I can state that the Queensland Nationals Track Day was not organised by another Club with the MR2 group joining in for the day.
 
All the negotiations for and management of MR2 participation in the "Advanced Handling Day" (AHD) on Saturday the 6th of June at Willowbank Raceway were carried out by the Queensland Nationals Organising Committee,  The MR2's  attending (with the exception of a lone Toyota 86 at the Nationals belonging to Anthony Oh) were on the track at the same time as a single marque group with no other cars being involved or mixed up in the MR2 sessions at all.
 
There were additional "Street Sprint" sessions run by the Willowbank Raceway for other cars on the day as they always are during the annual Willowbank competition rounds, but none of the other cars that were there on the day were given a group photo opportunity on the starting grid at the conclusion of the sessions, nor a "Lap Of Honour" of the Raceway lead by the pace car to celebrate the Nationals gathering in Brisbane.
 
As they say on the ABC -"This has been a Fact Check".
 
In addition to this I can't speak in detail for the Tassie situation but as an attendee in Hobart for the whole event I understand that a properly organised track day exclusively for MR2's was initially organised, but the local support for the track day was not sufficient to make it financially viable in its own right. Therefore the alternative "arrive and drive" scenario played out, but as there were so few cars other than MR2's at the track on the Monday the day was fairly exclusive.
 
I certainly agree that a track day should form part of the "Nationals" experience and not be a bonus, however, the context of the "Nationals" should aim to be a total integrated MR2 experience, which is what happened in Queensland this year.
 
The cost for the track day organised by the 2015 Nationals Committee was $70.00 per entrant, plus licence fee if one was not already held. You could also rent an electronic timer if you wish to.
 
The "AHD" (street sprints) proved so popular at the Nationals that in Queensland we are now including this type of activity in our Annual Club Calendar, again organised fully by a Club member in the form of our Treasurer, Eric.
 
Walter
 
 
 
 

What exactly are you attempting to achieve Walter?
Its not that I do not get it, but I am sick of it. I am sick of this petty politics which always comes up. Seriously get over it.
The fact that I am looking to organise enough options for people who choose to own competition cars to make the effort to drive to S.A. in 2017 should be embraced, not opposed. The fact this is happening shows you are not truly interested in the needs of MR2 owners or choose to discriminate against people who choose one path which differs from another.
If I do happen to go to the nationals in 2017 (which would be to support the MTC crew in S.A.) I will be organising at least one or two days at Mallala wether you like it or not. Not to compete in your petty playground but for more rational reasons.
 
   

I have to agree with Steve here. As an attendee at two MTCs I can see that Steve has a wealth of experience in organizing an event of that nature, and goes to an extraordinary amount of effort during the year to draw extra people to the event. The fact that you can attend an event where there are international race car drivers, mechanics, driver trainers etc all willing to help with tips and tricks is invaluable. All this at an event which is well and truly affordable for an entry level type of racing. Us SA blokes spend a wad of cash getting there and it's worth every cent.

I get that you wouldn't want that kind of assistance in your event, but do not understand it. It is completely non productive in anyway to the wider mr2 community.

You have enlisted the assistance of one member from the SA community, one who openly criticizes other members of the SA mr2 community and that sort of attitude is counter productive in its own right.

I have only been an owner of an mr2 for a short while and so don't have the benefit of history within this community but what I am witnessing here is pretty average.

I'm sure you have your reasons but again, they all appear to be counter productive.

Hey Luke, I have also offered to help organise the Nationals in SA (not sure how much I can do from Ceduna though). I think us SA guys need to get together sometime to discuss our options. Steve's experience with track days is invaluable and should help add to the event if possible, even if it is a separate add on to the Nationals for the track enthusiasts. We need to remember that there are a lot of enthusiasts that don't necessarily want to track their cars who will want a great weekend of social activities. I'm hoping to be down in September, so hopefully we can all catch up and throw some ideas around. Feel free to message me with any thoughts.

rikkir
Hey Luke, I have also offered to help organise the Nationals in SA (not sure how much I can do from Ceduna though). I think us SA guys need to get together sometime to discuss our options. Steve's experience with track days is invaluable and should help add to the event if possible, even if it is a separate add on to the Nationals for the track enthusiasts. We need to remember that there are a lot of enthusiasts that don't necessarily want to track their cars who will want a great weekend of social activities. I'm hoping to be down in September, so hopefully we can all catch up and throw some ideas around. Feel free to message me with any thoughts.

I'm sure there was a thread before the nationals asking for people from SA to PM Kevin if interested in helping to organize an event.
 
Yes Rick there are lots of us who don't necessarily want to track our cars, but enjoy watching others on the track. .  Or getting in the passenger seat if time permits. 
 
I found the Nationals had something for everyone at a very affordable price.  There were some people who didn't come to the track & some who didn't come on the drive on the Monday.  There were a few who went to the track earlier in they day to get some extra track time.  The committee & everyone who helped make it happen did a great job.  I found the whole thing very inclusive for the various types of enthusiasts that were there.  Even inclusive for a friend of mine who came for the Sunday night dinner & then tagged along for part of the drive on Monday.
 
I also love MTC even though I don't compete.  Steve & his team do a great job of welcoming everyone as well.  Everyone gets along, the competition is friendly & the social aspect is good with everyone staying in the cabins.
 
I found they are very different.  Whilst MTC is open to everyone, just by it's nature, it will attract more people who like to push their cars, & there is nothing wrong with that.  I was nervous heading down for my first time, but had a ball.  Nationals will attract a wider group of people because of the different aspects.  Yes, when there are people traveling long distances to both events, we need to make sure it is worth their while. 
If we add extra time for any of the different things at Nationals, it would mean less time for something else due to the limitation of 3 days.  So adding something either before or after the official Nationals bits is probably the best way.  The guys in Brisbane had initially said they would add a few days of playing tour guide around the nice roads in the area, so I booked my accommodation for a few extra days, but most people were heading home on the Tuesday.  I was very appreciative of the extra run that Walter arranged for the Wednesday.

Hey Sharon, i have already contacted Kevin and Walter about wanting to help organise things. As i have to travel 800kms to get to Adelaide, i want it to be a great event and i'd like to spend a few extra days with extra activities. I'm hoping to get together with the SA guys in September to have discussions about what we can do...