Miata Mailing List: July 1999, Message #194

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In a message dated 7/2/99 6:37:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Brian_the_Red@bigfoot.com writes:

<< Each national event has grown progressively through the years and I think 
in
 an effort to outdo the proceeding national event MM99 let their Texas sized
 mouths overload their (insert smaller state name here) capabilities. IMHO
 all these complaints just validate the MCA's idea of regional events as
 opposed to one big national event. A 150-200 car event with lots of local
 flavor might be an idea whose time has come. >>

*you say MCA has proposed this already..guess I missed it but I do have some 
thoughts on it...so what's new, right?   Comes from having no other life for 
8-10 weeks.   :)    

First of all, there already are regional events that happen with or without 
MCA and have been for years so why is MCA now proposing regionals?   For 
instance, the GAP was and almost remains a 100% Miata.net created and 
organized event.   MCA is welcome but I for one hope they don't plan on more 
than just being attendees like everyone else...ever.   And the Sunriders are 
coming up with Sizzle at the Beach....and the Florida clubs have been meeting 
for a Sanibel Island weekend for how many years now?   The Carolina, Tenn, 
and Ga folks regularly go to the Snake or Gap.   The Washington folks do a 
day at Summit/Jefferson Circuit twice a year.   Del Val always has something 
great (consider their size) going on.   Ric Allen has a Alaska thing on the 
books.   There's the annual Four Corners event that I'd love to attend one 
year.   The California clubs have been doing regionals for a long time.  The 
New England folks have the Mount Ascutney (sp?) event in September and Nutmeg 
(CT) has the Vintage Days at Lime Rock....and I'm sure I've left others out 
for which I apologize.   My opinion is that other than run a calendar in the 
mag (thank you, Barb),  MCA is not required for any of these to happen before 
or in the future.   I understand that there may have been some involvement 
but it's mostly the local clubs.   Some might ask, "are we looking for a 
reason d'être"?

The National is the singular event where we can make those ridiculous trips 
from Alaska to Carolina, and from Germany, Australia and New Zealand to gawd 
bless America Texas by damit, and elsewhere.   There is great value in a 
National/International event.  It's where more vendors can come...not all 
will travel to regionals but I'll bet they'll still support them as best they 
can with prizes or special discounts for attendees.

But yes, after Mountain Madness, I wondered how anyone could do a better job 
but I've heard the same said for the Indy events of years past and Atlanta as 
well.   And it appears that the good folk of Texas gave it a good going as 
well.    And could Nationals be toned down?   Probably, and without affecting 
attendance at all.   The events are fun, but from what I've experienced and 
keep hearing it's just the all "being there" that makes it so special.

So am I anti-regionals?  Heck no as they are nothing new and are only getting 
better.   Am I anti-MCA suggesting ...I forget the words... but it doesn't 
have to be an MCA thing to be all that it can be and frankly speaking only as 
an original Gapper, it bugs me that anyone except the grassroots that built 
it should have their name on the sign....and the last I heard, at Non-Events, 
there was no sign.   Does any of this make sense?

MCA stay with your National/International and get MORE behind the event 
financially and help the hosting club (or better yet, CLUBS), even more than 
you have...even if you have to spend some coins to assist with professional 
planners and managers.   And leave the regionals alone.

One person's opinion who obviously does not have all the particulars or 
information at hand but does have a fist full of pain pills that I'll now 
pause to take  :)

bob
Drive don't crash, and don't change a winning lineup!