Dates for Bonneville 2008?

[sodbuster]

Has anyone heard the dates for 2008 at Bonneville? I did not see anything in the program and I heard many rumors this past year.

Thanks,
Chris Nelson
Kansas

[isiahstites]

In the drivers meeting at the starting line they talked about changing things next year so that the event starts on a weekday not a weekend. They said they were looking at starting on Monday the 18th, however things are still being discussed and could change.

Scott

[bvillercr]

Even if it starts on a monday people will still get there for the weekend to set up or get teched in, so I really don't know why they would change it.

[Dean Los Angeles]

This was posted from the Speedweek Daily Updates

Jim Latin and Mike Cook went to NHRA to request more press for this event. One of the roadblocks has been the lack of available rooms. Mike met with John Hanson of the Peppermill, Montego Bay, and Rainbow Casinos. Upon meeting with John, and conducting a board vote, the current plans for Speedweek next year are to start racing on Monday instead of Saturday. John agreed to release 500 more rooms for racers with this new schedule. They will also try to keep room rates the same as weeks prior to the event, instead of jacking up the rates and gouging some racers as certain establishments like to do. John also agreed to avoid scheduling any tournaments (keno, poker, golf, etc.) during speedweek. We want to make it so Speedweek in Wendover is THE event of the week.

This wouldn't necessarily push it from the same week next year, but that depends on the hotel calendar.
So instead of having the next weekend to drive home, you would push into the next week. I would guess that some would rather run early in the week and head out on Saturday morning. Or maybe I come late and make a bunch of runs at the end of the week. Hmmmm . . .

[desotoman]

The little I know is that at the last board meeting (I was there) it was voted on and approved by a board only vote.

Then I get an email fowarded to me, that says they want to take it back to the clubs and get their imput on whether there should be a change or not.

I would suggest that everyone interested should go to their next club meeting and see what their club reps have to say as far as the pros vs. the cons. Then vote accordingly.

That is all I know.

Tom G.

[JackD]

At the SDRC meeting, the evening prior to the board vote, the vote was near unanimous to move the start day to as late as Wednesday and with that change the hotel group will allocate an additional 500 rooms for racers.

[Billy @ AHG]

OK, I've been trying to read some sense into this change of date deal. Does anybody really think it will free up rooms for racers, or spectators?  The hotel managers will promise you anything, then pull the rug out from under you!   Cheaper rates,more rooms, yeah,sure!  The first year maybe, then look out!   The reason rooms are scarce is because the managers make them scarce!   Then control the rates!
  Maybe I'm just paranoid but I'm reading between the lines here,by doing this, we will discourage the spectators/hot rodders, from attending leaving more rooms and services for the "real" racers.  Sorry but I got news for y'all  If the event started at midnight on wendsday you'd still get the same crowd! People live for this event and ain't nothing gonna change that!

[JackD]

A better understanding and appreciation for business on both sides will generate a better result.
One consideration might be an authorization number (entry #) issued with a pre-entry that will get you in the door with the hotel of your choice for a room that is blocked out for that use.
After that, you make your own deal.
The 14 inches of water adventure is a good example.
It was worded exactly correct but was read wrong, but quickly corrected here like no other place can.
To lay off the perceived lack of entry participation at Speedweek to the instant publication of information here is a funny. 

[half-fast]

Echoing other sentiment,, please just let me know when tech opens and I'll plan accordingly.

[Evil Tweety]

OK, I've been trying to read some sense into this change of date deal. Does anybody really think it will free up rooms for racers, or spectators?  The hotel managers will promise you anything, then pull the rug out from under you!   Cheaper rates,more rooms, yeah,sure!  The first year maybe, then look out!   The reason rooms are scarce is because the managers make them scarce!   Then control the rates!
  Maybe I'm just paranoid but I'm reading between the lines here,by doing this, we will discourage the spectators/hot rodders, from attending leaving more rooms and services for the "real" racers.  Sorry but I got news for y'all  If the event started at midnight on wendsday you'd still get the same crowd! People live for this event and ain't nothing gonna change that!

It makes real good sense.  The weekends are when they get the most business from gamblers - the people they want.  If we start Sunday evening when the gamblers are staring to leave, by the following weekend our numbers thin out - success, failure, you name it.  They've got rooms for the gamblers during peak time, and we've got rooms for the start of Speedweek.

And to be honest, I'm not there for the spectators.  (It's a big ego boost, lots of fun - but my goal is a record.)  If BNI needs their revenue to make it happen, then raise the rates to race.  The biggest stress for me is if I'll get rooms, then the weather.  We can't control the weather, but if we can time things to benefit the hotels there will be more rooms available.

[MadDuck]

I really like that idea of the pre-entry giving you a better shot at a couple of rooms.  We would have been out this year again but for the room situation.  I am tired of driving in from Wells!!  Altho the chinese eatery is great.  Hopefully Finals will be better.

[JackD]

You heard it here first and that counts for something already.

[desotoman]

And to be honest, I'm not there for the spectators.  (It's a big ego boost, lots of fun - but my goal is a record.)  If BNI needs their revenue to make it happen, then raise the rates to race. 

For General information: The 2006 Bonneville meet had somewhere in the neighborhood of 6000 paid spectators come through the gate on the Saturday and Sunday of the meet. As I recall Monday through Friday did not match the total of what Saturday and Sunday did. You do the math at $10 per spectator. Now how many Tee shirts did those 6000 spectators on Saturday and Sunday buy, along with anything else the SCTA sells. This money generated by spectators goes along way to help pay for the meet and keep expenses to the racers down. It also helps generates money in case of rain outs which occasionally do happen.

You need money to run an organization like this and the spectators help every racer indirectly (sometimes directly by buying your tee shirt) by keeping the entry fee cost down. By changing the dates to start on a Monday we may lose a large percentage of spectators which in turn may increase the racers entry fee. Just be prepared. But don't ever think we don't need spectators.

Tom G.

[Dynoroom]

Tom’s point of view is one felt by many, and it is correct. This last Friday night at the SCTA board meeting (08-24-07) it was reported that the “sales trailer” brought in over $130,000.00. This is a significant amount of money to the organization but we are racers and if we can’t get rooms we can’t race. Many on the board are only concerned with racing and are not worried if the “rat rods” show up and have a place to stay or not. They also feel that a large percentage of tee shirt sales go to the racers. It is also felt that when the newbie’s decide to move on after a few rainouts the room issue might lighten up some. It was also pointed out that toward the end of the week the timers are begging for people to run, this would be Friday with a Monday or Tuesday start.  The bottom line is we need to decide if the entry fees and reduced sales will sustain the SCTA into the future. We may be able to stay the course to see how it goes before we make any changes but starting the event earlier in the week seems to be a good current answer. We can always go back to the weekend if it turns into a financial disaster.
Just thinking outloud

[JackD]

Just thinking out loud, what was the net from the sales trailer ?