dyno day drop-outs, D'oh

[pauljmcnulty]

Hi all,

The number of people who've cancelled their slots for Saturday's Dyno shootout has raised a point that I wanted to get some feedback on a while ago. But, I forgot.....[&:]

Rich, I appreciate the work you've done to organise this event. It's not a PCGB event, but a large proportion of the attendees are members. The fact that it has always been a day that depended on a number of 944s booking a slot to get a group discount meant that it needed just that. The addition of other cars has just made the day inconvenient and less attractive to the 944 owners.

I'm always struggling to find interesting thngs to organise for the 944 register. And, you non-members at the back.....[], to get 944 owners interested in turning out to events and feeling that they are getting a real benefit for their membership.

What does everyone think about the idea that asking for a fee up-front would add a degree of commitment to an event? I'd be happy to organise events if I knew I'd not be let down at the last minute. Maybe asking for a cheque in advance would make people think seriously about whether they could actually commit to an event?

Any thoughts?

 

[rcsalmons]

Do you seriously think the addition of 4 non 944's is inconvenient and has put people off? May be you should ask the people that have dropped out.

I'm sorry but 2 of the non 944 owners are good mates of mine and were top of the list. Its just as much about people and mates for me.

I agree with the deposit up front.

Rich

 

[Neil Haughey]

Deposit and stuff fine. I don't mind the fact that bringing in a non pork at the last minute will cost me more money. It is a turbo so I pay more and wouldn't mind anyway since it will cause some degree of inconvenience I am sure. However the alternative would have been to drop out.

If the rules had said 944 only and if the 944 isn't ready then tough you loose your deposit then I don't think I would have risked putting my name down.

I always thought the bond that brought us all together was the informal relaxed nature of the "944" related get togethers?

 

[Diver944]

I remember feeling a state of panic in the week before DD 2005 as a number of people couldn't make it and wished that I had the money up front. Luckily we had several people extra turn up anyway and Allan and Chris are very relaxed and also Porsche enthusiasts letting us run on to 7pm to get everyone through. I'm hoping it will be just the same this time round after all of Rich's hard work (not the 7pm bit though [])

 

[Lemon]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Hi all,

The number of people who've cancelled their slots for Saturday's Dyno shootout has raised a point that I wanted to get some feedback on a while ago. But, I forgot.....[&:]

Rich, I appreciate the work you've done to organise this event. It's not a PCGB event, but a large proportion of the attendees are members. The fact that it has always been a day that depended on a number of 944s booking a slot to get a group discount meant that it needed just that. The addition of other cars has just made the day inconvenient and less attractive to the 944 owners.

I'm always struggling to find interesting thngs to organise for the 944 register. And, you non-members at the back.....[], to get 944 owners interested in turning out to events and feeling that they are getting a real benefit for their membership.

What does everyone think about the idea that asking for a fee up-front would add a degree of commitment to an event? I'd be happy to organise events if I knew I'd not be let down at the last minute. Maybe asking for a cheque in advance would make people think seriously about whether they could actually commit to an event?

Any thoughts?

Hi Paul

I would have gladly paid a deposit and lost it for the Dyno Day which I cancelled my place on.

Unfortunately my car is undergoing some fairly hefty refurbishment to keep it in tip top condition and on the road for many more years to come. Without this and like many 944's that do not get proper preventative maintenace we will have no nice examples left.

My car should have been finished a week ago, but as we all know with our cars things never go to plan or to time scale. As I am sure you will agree Paul [] (Diver944)

I am gutted I cannot make it as I have been waiting to get on the "Rollers of Truth" since having a Level 2 kit fitted to my car last year.

Hope you all have fun and there will be another one soon, so I can attend. Oh!! When I have a windscreen, oh!! and brakes, back on the car []

ps. Thanks again to Rich

 

[John Sims]

Hi Rich,

I think you are missing Paul (McN)'s point. The main gist is/was:-

"Is prepayment a good idea to establish a firm commitment to an event?"

The obvious answer is - Yes. It also ensures that, if people have to drop out (for what ever reason) those that do support the event, and the organisers, don't end up out of pocket.

I further think it might be a bit unfortunate that this has perhaps caused confusion as a 944 Dyno Day. If it was Rich's intention to do a glory run and have a few mates along that is all well and good. 944 Dyno Days (previously organised by Paul Smith) have become a bit of an institution. They are well run, include data logging by Rick Cannell, photography by Cannell & Sims, burger van, the whole 9 yards. I am assuming, because of the title, this is what previous attendees will expect and it was that which prompted my comment in the previous thread.

 

[zcacogp]

My experience with organising anything like this is that a deposit up front is essential, if a degree of commitment for the greater good (i.e. lower prices) is required. This means that people will be more commited to turning up, and if they don't then the (non-returned) deposit goes towards defraying the higher cost caused by their non-turnup.

The flip side is that people may have been less quick to put their name down if it did require money up front, but that's the way it works. It also makes it a complete headache to organise - getting payment by cheque/paypal/direct transfer/carrier pigeon in advance and matching that up with the name and reg of the car ... it's a pain.

IF we are to talk about the 944/non-944 issue (which is a seperate issue, I quite agree), then we need to think about whether having non-944's there is a pain (more setup time etc) and whether it detracts from the day. I happen to think that it doesn't, as long as the focus remains firmly on the 944's. So, run non-944 machines first, get them out of the way, and then do all the 944's as a block. If the non-944's bring up the numbers to thus get the price down for 944's then I think they could be viewed as a good thing.

You then find yourself asking whether we want 944's or 944 owners. There are a number of 944-owners who will be there with other types of car. Would we want to exclude them because they happen to have a duff alternator/broken windscreen/busted brakes? No, because their company is welcomed, and they bring 944-spirit to the event, even if they can't bring 944-tin.

Gosh, the more I write about it the more complex it seems to be. I'm looking forward to a good day either way. In fact, if it's good enough I may almost be persuaded to join the club (after Mr McN's very valid comments in the first post ... I'm guilty as charged.)


Oli.

 

[rcsalmons]

ORIGINAL: John Sims

Hi Rich,

I think you are missing Paul (McN)'s point. The main gist is/was:-

"Is prepayment a good idea to establish a firm commitment to an event?"

The obvious answer is - Yes. It also ensures that, if people have to drop out (for what ever reason) those that do support the event, and the organisers, don't end up out of pocket.

I further think it might be a bit unfortunate that this has perhaps caused confusion as a 944 Dyno Day. If it was Rich's intention to do a glory run and have a few mates along that is all well and good. 944 Dyno Days (previously organised by Paul Smith) have become a bit of an institution. They are well run, include data logging by Rick Cannell, photography by Cannell & Sims, burger van, the whole 9 yards. I am assuming, because of the title, this is what previous attendees will expect and it was that which prompted my comment in the previous thread.

Thanks John.

This started of as "my car is going on the rollers does anyone want to join me" and was posted on here, TIPEC and Titanic. I would be going if there was 1 car or the 20.

My apologies for not "giving people what they expect " but if people (you) read the thread you would know.

Rich - who wished he had never bothered! Thats not quite true I am looking forward to it.

Just noted Rick is coming and there will be a burger van! My god its almost a 944 day does anyone know where I cant get a "whole 9 yards from"

 

[Suffolk944]

Just on the prepayment thing - Yes its a good idea though it can cause as many headaches as it cures with administrating it but would happy to pay up front for events that I wanted to attend.

 

[Sean Smallman]

ORIGINAL: John Sims

Hi Rich,

I think you are missing Paul (McN)'s point. The main gist is/was:-

"Is prepayment a good idea to establish a firm commitment to an event?"

The obvious answer is - Yes. It also ensures that, if people have to drop out (for what ever reason) those that do support the event, and the organisers, don't end up out of pocket.

I further think it might be a bit unfortunate that this has perhaps caused confusion as a 944 Dyno Day. If it was Rich's intention to do a glory run and have a few mates along that is all well and good. 944 Dyno Days (previously organised by Paul Smith) have become a bit of an institution. They are well run, include data logging by Rick Cannell, photography by Cannell & Sims, burger van, the whole 9 yards. I am assuming, because of the title, this is what previous attendees will expect and it was that which prompted my comment in the previous thread.

I must be missing something there is nowt in the title of the original thread to suggest that this was a 944 only day. The first list of cars on page 1 was a bit of a clue for me.

Well done for sorting it out Rich I will be coming along, does the whole 9 yards mean dancing girls?

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: Buftyboy

......I must be missing something there is nowt in the title of the original thread to suggest that this was a 944 only day. The first list of cars on page 1 was a bit of a clue for me.

OK I guess I must have been confused as, because it was posted on the 944 Forum and, the first reference to more than just Rich's car going was post 8 :-

How about Sat October 6th?

If we could get 10 cars together the costs are -

£50 turbo cars
£40 NA cars

3 to 4 cars per hour 9am start

Any takers?

Rich ​

​

I obviously wrongly assumed it was specifically for 944's. It wasn't until further into the thread when it became apparent it was Rich and his mates and anyone else with a car who wanted to come along - this blatantly isn't the case despite claims to that effect.​

​

This leaves me with a bit of a quandary. I appreciate that I must have misunderstood the intention but I thought that I had signed up for a 944 Rolling Road day.​

​

I further admit to have been playing Devils Advocate to a degree as, when events are organised, the organisers are under some responsibility to ensure those attending get what they they thought they were getting. I know what I thought I was getting and we now all know what we are getting.​

 

[Sean Smallman]

Thanks for organising this yesterday Rich.

If it wasn't for those that dropped out I wouldn't have put my car on the rollers. I don't want to rub it in guys but you missed a cracking day. I would have still turned up to meet fellow Porsche nuts and experience what a Dyno day is all about as I haven't been to one before. There was also the lure of a good bacon baguette so how could I resist.[]

I enjoyed all the different models that braved the "rollers of truth", you got to hear very differnt screams from the engines. The contrast couldn't have been more extreme a 924T to a 996TT both producing great results.

Will' I love that colour she's the first Porker I have seen in Nile Green. For those that are going to be using a clay bar over the coming weeks enjoy, the results will be worth it.

Rick you missed your vocation, you would make a great Admin Manager. Lesson of the day, before you sit on the floor look where you are going to park your arse first.

Not sure if you look in here Chris but thanks for all your efforts, maybe your lads will do better in 2011.

Thanks again I had a great day.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Buftyboy
Not sure if you look in here Chris but thanks for all your efforts, maybe your lads will do better in 2011.

That was a bit delicious, wasn't it!


Oli.