Let's rock the Nationals old school!
 

In the past 20 years I’ve organised well over 50 events for the Victorian Cobra club, about half of those were performance related (Shelbyfest, Deca, Mangalore, Heathcote etc.).
I’m amazed at how complicated people can make these things. Sometimes simple is the best.
Take the 10 years Tony and I ran ShelbyFest as an example. We just built the event around what we had. Sponsorship covered the big ticket items, and the entrant’s fees covered the variable costs associated with the number of competitors. We had a loss one year when Roaring Forties went under and stiffed us $2K but made up for it the next year. When we had extra cash we got an entertainer and bigger trophies. When we didn’t have the extra cash we scaled back. It didn’t matter if we had 20 competitors or 70 we always covered the bills.
Here’s where things get messy. The event gets more popular, so the organisers think they need to build the event bigger and give more value as the years go on. No! If costs start getting out of hand; start knocking back on the simple things first. Smaller trophies and less of, no freebie T-shirts and if you need to drop a day, then so be it. I’m sure Shelbyfest could have made a profit at Winton this year with a few tweaks and the same numbers as last year; just drop the skid pan, scale back the trophies and didn’t give out free T-shirts to everyone.
I don’t think people have the respect they should have for the Cobra Nationals anymore (maybe myself included). If 45 Cobra are where we are at; dump Wakefield and organise a retro Nationals in a regional setting such as West Wyalong. Run a few events on the airstrip and a go to woe on a back street. Have a big main street cruise, show and shine and make sure the whole community is involved.
Then once we get the love back in to the Nationals and Cobra numbers up, we can scale it to the next level again (but only baby steps or we end up where we are once more).
Maybe it’s time to give you a break NSW. Let’s book out a few motels a function centre, inform the local council and media and rock the Nationals old school once more!
The Nationals was not always about going fast and winning trophies.
North Victoria, Mid NSW or East SA; I’d travel there in a heartbeat to re-live the Nationals spirit from the late nineties and I think a lot of the ladies would as well.

REPTYL would you come to QLD?

I think we established back on page 2 that turning the nationals into a predominantly social affair would be a disaster.

spookypt. If I didn't have a young family and could take a week off, yes I would travel to QLD. Even now depending on the event I'd probably give it go.
The more Cobras driving up from Vic the more likely I would come.
That way the trip up becomes part of the whole experience.

I've seen massive social turnouts in QLD, NSW and Vic. I threw a car show together about 10 years ago in Melbourne and got almost 100 cars.Why couldn't we get 200 Cobras to meet up somewhere in the middle of the Eastern states and call it the Nationals.

We could still have a race at Wakefield each year. Move Shelbyfest there scale it down and keep it simple.

a 200 Cobra social event is more 'Nationals' than 45 cars at Wakefield. A hell of a lot easier and cheaper to run. I think you'd be surprised how big an event it could be.

Making the nationals a predominantly social event had the largest negative response of any of the suggestions in the survey. Just saying..

If you asked me if I wanted to turn the current Wakefield weekend in to a predominately social weekend, I'd so no also, as it would be a disaster.

That's not what I'm proposing here.

Run a massive National car show/social event that brings the masses from all the states and costs stuff all.
Then run your separate Wakefield event over 1 or 2 days without the pressure and big cost of the current format.

You keep the racers happy, you keep the costs down, you get big numbers back to a National event and organisation for both of these events would be less than the current levels needed for the single event.
It's a win all round.

Promotional girls would always be a plus...But I am a single guy and therefore by default sexist. A ride along would be great as well- it would bring enthusiasts into "thinking" into buying or realising we are all mad. Trying to get the time to get a vehicle to track may not be convenient as there is the time to get there. So location is important as a "National" event.. Even though the trip half the experience, then breaking it, is the adventure getting it home... It is a five + day event from most places other than NSW. But I hopefully I shall have my car built in time to compete, have some time off (not likely, I have to present to work) and if that all happens then you can all see how not to drive if I get there. Hopefully Nationals 2017...2018... Cheers, Pigsear.

Ok, I've been asked to arrange the qld mob again this year as Ron will be hammering the nurdbergering in July and August.

Will be easy as per usual so stay tuned on a separate qldnats topic.

Spookypt

Is there any update from NSW on the classes for this years Nationals? Or have I missed that somewhere in another thread?

The Supp Regs for the Nationals are out - not in a very prominent location mind you. They haven't really attracted much attention yet because the online entry system needs one more change before we can go live (sometime in the next week).

http://www.cobracarclubnsw.org.au/ed...ns%20Final.pdf

Thanks,
Kim

Ben, You sticking with us plebs in class 7 or going for class 3 glory this year? ;)

Just giving Kim a hand to spread the message. Here's some info or go direct to Cobra Car Club of NSW : Cobra Car Club of NSW for these and further updates.

Class 1 Explained
http://www.cobracarclubnsw.org.au/ed...0Explained.pdf

Show and Shine explained
http://www.cobracarclubnsw.org.au/ed...nd%20Shine.pdf

Garages
http://www.cobracarclubnsw.org.au/ed...a%20Garage.pdf

Whats new
http://www.cobracarclubnsw.org.au/ed...39;s%20New.pdf

Hi Guys,
the 24th Cobra Nationals online entry form is now live.
Go to the below link to take you to the entry form page.

2017 Entry Form : Cobra Car Club of NSW

Kim

Cobra Nats are fast approaching - Finally pulled my finger out and got my entry in over the weekend. If you have not booked your accomodation there are still rooms being reserved at Trappers\Mecure - they will be released to the general public on 8th Sept.

So who else is a starter this year?

Not me I'm afraid. :-(

Gotta got to London for work that overlaps. Tried everything possible to get out of it but no joy.

On a positive note - Got my Cobra back from Paintwerks after the front bingle repair and full respray. Looks awesome. Will post pics once I can get it out into the non-existent Melb sun.

Good luck to all - be safe. cheers Gregg (scratchless - for now - Cobra)

all booked

looking forward to this fantastic weekend :D

I'm going to be a no show too this year.
I am taking the 911 on a road trip a couple of weeks after and I won't feel like making the treck over twice in a month.
As hard as it may to believe, I'm sure it will still be fun without Greggy and I.

I can't make it this year either I'm afraid, will be away in another state for that weekend.

Not for me either, the youngest is having her 21st that weekend.
Will call in for a look see Sunday afternoon possibly.

Enjoy!