W&K Creations said:
I think its fine as is. Its John's call to determine what he can do to help and still allow for all of us to have a great venue to race and compete in....It wont matter if we get 200 something cars if John cant pay the bills that keep the place open....in that aspect it truly comes down to statistics and billing numbers....one can fool around as much as you want with specials and trying to help out and be a nice person...but there is a line where its cost versus revenue....once your in the red and spiraling down, its hard to get out and before you know it cuts start coming to services etc just to keep going....that's the last thing John or the rest of us wants....
John knows what it takes to keep this going....he has provided things like pit passes and incentives with discounts at his store etc....my impression, he does more than the average small business...and I too have gotten the replacement wheel at race time with expectation of charge or a bill...
Ideas are great if there is a way to get more people in and still allow for John to keep things going and even getting better...as long as we all understand that while this is a hobby for a lot of us, and one that indeed can get expensive at times, this is John's business and part of his livelihood...
Just for me, the limit to the number of cars I send in isn't related to money (at least not totally)...its more how much time I have to actually be able to build and prep that many cars without screwing things up....I don't want to send in anything just for the sake of sending something in....unfortunately im not as efficient as JBD or Pony with being able to make so many cars LOL!!! I don't know how you guys do it haha!
I don't think the revenue would change much, if any. There are a bunch of us who limit our entries to what we think we can afford at a certain event/time. There are a whole bunch more that submit 1 or 2 cars because that is all they have, or are interested in, or have time for or have funds for. E.g., of all those who enter, how many really submit more than 5 cars? Probably only John knows, but I think probably a small percentage of the entrants. I also think that 5 cars (or $50) would cause many who submit only 2 or 3, to up the number to 5 or more, thus more revenue, i.e. maybe another 20 or 30 dollars per builder. Also, if I paid an advance fee of say 300, that would halt me from withdrawing from an event because of other interests. E.g., look at the number of "drop outs" that occurred between January and February. If several had paid for the full series in advance, I am sure the "drop out" rate would not have been as much.
As you say, John needs to make the decision, as well as what the money amount should be (i.e, maybe not $50, but say 60 or more). Also, he could start slowly, attempt a single series, then make what ever economical changes seem justified for future series.
But I would much prefer to make a single check for the whole year, or perhaps for an individual series. And I am sure the number of individual car entries for me would increase, and I would probably be over the 5 car limit.
John, maybe this post should not have been on the forum, rather sent to you as a PM. Nevertheless, give it some serious consideration. I can go over the economic considerations with you in private.
