We need our selves a real club in the NW

The more I think about it the more I think we need a real club, a club that is local, user controlled and provides more services then the PRG/NW-SCCA are designed to provide to its members.

The Club needs to be a legal entity so it can assume liability and buy insurance, it also needs to be able to enter into agreements. It could be a LLC (non-profit) or I am thinking a Co-Op might be a good way to go.

The club would not host events, that need is well served, it would provide the other services we lack, such a practice areas. It might attempt to lower cost by group buying tires and fuel, or providing storage/ work space if the member ship was interested in that type of thing. It might also provide driving school type services.

Thoughts?

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In the long run reality always wins.

After the other thread about practice I also was thinking along these lines. It would be nice to have an organized practice or school event with insurance. Affordable insurance.

Been a long time in coming !

I agree, if we do nothing then nothing will happen, which is happening - nothing, time to step it up!

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As always IMHO

SEAN TENNIS KF7JJR
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
SAAB 99, SAAB 850
SAAB V4, SAAB 99T

I will call one of my attorneys and talk it over with them.

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In the long run reality always wins.

What happened to "Rainier Auto Club"? They were very active in old days, and great sponsor! Free unlimited beer.... for one.
- Yes, that's a great idea. We have "CRS" (Californian Rally Series) but lately is't not so active thanks to lost rally roads and leaders getting old
Just to give you an idea what's going on in Scandinavia here's a list of Finnish and Swedish rally clubs:
http://www.autourheilu.fi/seurat/seurojenyhteystiedot/Default.aspx Mark x and "HAE"
http://www.sbf.se/sportgrenar/rally/klubbar/
- I also would like to see more Californians to go to WA/OR rallies but they feel it's too far. However, everyone who goes likes the roads and well run rallies. I think WA is THE place to feel what the real rally is about. Maybe East Coast is same, haven't been there.
The desert rally is like off-road; run like hell and fix the damage. No pleasure to choose apex, line over the crest and tactik. It's always "how much my car can take". I had great success but I always hated to drive here. And I hated to fix my car after the rally; a normal task without going off. That's why I went to WA as often as I could. Win or loose I'd FUN!
If you get a small series going I'm sure I can bring rallyist to run from CA and overseas. One guy from Finland, Jr Champ Antti, who I sponsored once is asking every year "when can I come to WA again?". Janne Sellholm (yes, "that" Sellholm) would also come, I think. He's hell of a driver as well, ex Swedish Champ. That'd be a good business opportinity to somebody. And I'm not talking about expensive and booring turbo 4x4s but fun, over powered RWDs like Mustang, Rx7, Corolla, 240SX SR20 Turbo, Volvo, etc

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- RWD rocks -

I'm in.


Who else?

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Welcome to the cult of JVL drink the koolaid or be banned.

Yep, i am down for the cause. Monthly meetings, community of help when needed ect....

Rainier Auto Sports Club (RASC) is alive and well. I was just elected to the executive board. We meet the second Monday of every month at Cafe Veloce in Totem lake. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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Robert.

"You are way too normal to be on Rally Anarchy." Eddie Fiorelli.

I'm in as well

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-Jason

I would definatly like to get involved. What would the structure look like? It would be really nice to have a club with members that were activly and finacialy involved. I think that a significant financial investment is excellent motivation. I am very tire of all the keyboard rallyists! How many people are willing to put their money where their mouths are?

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Robert.

"You are way too normal to be on Rally Anarchy." Eddie Fiorelli.

Topi Wrote:
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> - I also would like to see more Californians to go
> to WA/OR rallies but they feel it's too far.

Southern Californians maybe. There's actually quite a few of us NorCal folks who regularly go up to the PNW to run and/or work events.

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Self-righteous douche canoe



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2009 09:03PM by hoche.

derek Wrote:
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> ...we need...a club that ... provides more services
>
> Thoughts?

Enumerate the services that you are considering and I'll give you more thoughts.

The legal structure (for profit or not) is not important. (Yes, I hear the gallery... "tax deductible donations, etcetera". Yes, I know.) The _only_ important thing I can imagine is getting _people involved_. Without that, all the rest is immaterial.

I also would think that considering existing groups should be high on the list. (like RASG? Dunno.) Sure, making your own is fun, and you get to pick the logo, but joining up with an existing group has great benefits.

Anders

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Grassroots rally. It's what I think about.

It is always better to leverage the work done by others before, making logos and picking names is a pain in the ass, I get to do that plenty in my real job.

Thanks for the thoughts Anders.

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In the long run reality always wins.

As a long time member and past president of the Rainier Auto Sports Club and other car clubs in the region, and former employee of the Redhook Brewery (thats where all the beer came from) I can tell you that being in a club has merit, but what generally happens is that the same very small group of people do the majority of the work. I tend to agree that we need a group that reflects "our" interests. The structure and start-up of the organization is pretty straightforward and then it comes down to the actual membership actually doing something as a group. That is the hard part. RASC has been around since the 60's. It has been part of the fabric of PNW rallying since it's beginning. Members have been involved with either organizing, working or running in events Like the Nor'wester Pro Rallies, Olympus in the old days, The Black Sheep Marshals stage crew, ALCAN 5000, No Alibi, etc. My point here is it has been the same 20 or so people that has kept the club going. We as a group need that sort of commitment. I believe we are close. The casual meeting for beers was well attended and several positive things came out of that, i.e. Robert's pushing of HAM Radio testing and licensing. So let's hear more input about what we want the club to be or do, provide for its members and see who really wants to make it happen.

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Diamond Jim
Co-Driver in the Double Zero course opening car
Charter Member of O.U.C.H.
Organized Union of Cat Herders

If I might offer a little tidbit of input?

What Anders was saying about getting people involved - one way or another - is the heart of the matter. Before people can be challenged to cough up the dough to incorporate or whatever, people need to get together and experience the club vibe. To get the most people involved, the requirements need to be simple and free. At least at first.

Down here in Phoenix, the local DSM group has been meeting one night a month consistently for over a decade. Second Thursday of every month, we drive out to an In-N-Out Burger in Chandler (years back it was Sonic) in the evening, mingle, and generally shoot the shit around the cars. This is a consistent meet. Same place, same time, same day of every month.

If you guys can formalize your meeting arrangements to a specific location, day and time each month, then stick to that, the club will grow. Hell. Take a page out of the Cars and Coffee playbook and drive the rally cars down to the local family-friendly bar and grill one Saturday evening a month.

The consistency makes it easy for people to plan to attend well in advance. It also makes the group more noticeable, leading to new faces showing up, meeting cool new people, and coming back. Strength in numbers, after all.

Just a thought. Who knows. Maybe one day I'll be a part of whatever organization you guys are building today. Can't live in Phoenix forever...

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Brian Driggs | KG7KCA | PHX, AZ | 89 Pajero
alterius non sit qui suus esse potest