All Mitsu Cookout -- Sunday, August 24th, 2008

[scheides]

Curt, this event was awesome. I think you are feeling a bit burnt out after a full weekend of organizing a car event. One day is hard enough let alone a whole weekend! I still like the length of the cookout, and you're right--if you want to not be there as long, come later!

Don't sweat the numbers, whether you broke even or not. Life (and business) has its ups and downs and you can't let one setback kill everything for you. With the number of volunteer hours that go into events like these it is impossible to 'break even' with it, and I think some small changes would really bring the event into its own. Charge admission at the gate(s), get people in charge lanyards that say 'staff' on them, and really I think you should consider delegating more! Have someone else do the vote tallying or the registration (or complete registration as you suggest), etc. You're stressing yourself out because you were looking at a clip-board all day and not the cars you invited there. I think this year there was a VERY strong showing of SUPER clean cars and we are really seeing the cream of the crop at this show.

Remember, the economy is down and its possible we're seeing the results of this as well. You did a good job scheduling around the autoX and rally events scheduled this summer, and despite the lower turnout, everyone had a damn good time!

Lastly, I'm wishy-washy about the two-day event. I think if you want to grow the cookout, axe the dyno day. Dyno days are DAMN fun, but I honestly think that it hurt the cookout numbers this year. If you do keep it, lets convince the out-of-towners to bunk up with locals and keep them around for the whole event, and anyone that is at the dyno day needs some sort of encouragement to come back the next day for the cookout.

Keep your head up, we all had a good time! :)

[twack]

And what happened on Sunday set us back three years. Who wouldn't be frustrated at that?
I just cant see this as actually "set back". You tried a whole weekend idea and the numbers were not there. Dont beat yourself up so much, hearing all the complaining about numbers and saying you might end the cookout does not get me stoked about the next one, I like to think that this event will be there every year no mater what rain or shine.

[TkrPerformance]

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o280/tkrperformance/shows/DSC04517.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o280/tkrperformance/shows/DSC04519.jpg

[mdost03]

My car would have been there had it been running, but I still attended. I am sure there were more people in the same situation I was in as well. Don't get rid of the event just because we were short some cars this year. I say we go back to the 1 day event next year and maybe charge a little more for food and everything. $5 seems like a great deal for all you can eat food, but I wouldn't mind even paying $10 just because you get to see a lot of great looking cars and meet a bunch of people you might not have before as well. There are ways to avoid just breaking even or not breaking even at all.

Also, I like the idea of having "competing sponsors" at the event. Doesn't seem fair (IMO) that only 1 shop or dealership can sponsor. I say, the more the merrier. It can only help the event, not hurt it. Plus, the more sponsors, the more potential prizes that can be given away.

I guess what I am trying to say is, DON'T GET RID OF THE ALL-MITSU COOKOUT!

[curt_gendron]

Lastly, I'm wishy-washy about the two-day event. I think if you want to grow the cookout, axe the dyno day. Dyno days are DAMN fun, but I honestly think that it hurt the cookout numbers this year. If you do keep it, lets convince the out-of-towners to bunk up with locals and keep them around for the whole event, and anyone that is at the dyno day needs some sort of encouragement to come back the next day for the cookout.

Keep your head up, we all had a good time! :)

Chris, I think you might be right. We did have 6-7 out of towners staying at the hotel, which was good. But I think there was at least that many locals that chose to come to the dyno challenge and skip the actual Cookout because they didn't want to make two trips.

A centralized location might help the numbers by a few, but with all the stuff I need to bring to the event, it is always going to be held in my back yard. That I can guarantee.

I don't think picking a different time a year is going to help. I personally like the second half of August. The weather is usually a little cooler than planning a July event. In September a lot of kids are busy with school. In the Spring I'm way too busy planning the Upper Midwest 3/S Gathering. My preferred weekend would have been the weekend before last. But with the DSM/EVO shootout going on that weekend, I felt it was too big of a conflict.

later,
Curt

[Kracka]

I always like the timing, mid/late August seems to work well since summer is kind of winding down.

[Goat Blower]

Yeah, the dyno day and a car show on the same weekend is probably a little overkill because they both seem like car shows to me. Now if you had some kind of autocross thing set up the day before, now that's a different story.

[cmspaz]

I think a slightly earlier date would help. Quite a few of the DSMers I know on a personal level are college students. EVERY SINGLE ONE had class starting the 25th. There would definitely have been at least a couple more cars there if it had been a week sooner, ignoring the fact that my car was still down at that point.

And on that note, you really can't expect numbers to grow every year, when these cars, save for the Evos (Mark exculded), are getting into their teens. Things break, it happens, not everybody can bring their car every year anymore. I know at least 3 people who have broken DSMs that still came to spectate.

Now, this was my first cookout. I've only had this car since April. I have to say, I had an absolute blast. I could easily justify paying more to do this again. If the money's an issue, just up the price, people will still pay it.

[blageo23]

I like the 2 day idea. It will help bring in some out of towners in. But it did get a little long at the end. mainly because I was burnt like none other and hated the sun with a passion.
On another note it kinda pissed me off when we got there and parked one of the guys helping out told me and Kerry to park our cars straight. We parked at a slight angle so we could have space in the back for us and our friends to sit instead of sitting in the middle of the road blocking people from actually looking at our cars.

[curt_gendron]

I think a slightly earlier date would help. Quite a few of the DSMers I know on a personal level are college students. EVERY SINGLE ONE had class starting the 25th. There would definitely have been at least a couple more cars there if it had been a week sooner, ignoring the fact that my car was still down at that point.

And on that note, you really can't expect numbers to grow every year, when these cars, save for the Evos (Mark exculded), are getting into their teens. Things break, it happens, not everybody can bring their car every year anymore. I know at least 3 people who have broken DSMs that still came to spectate.

Now, this was my first cookout. I've only had this car since April. I have to say, I had an absolute blast. I could easily justify paying more to do this again. If the money's an issue, just up the price, people will still pay it.

Colleges starting up the next day has always been an issue. But next year there are five weekends in August so we may luck out. The Shootout is the middle weekend. If the Bemidji rally is the last weekend, we can squeeze inbetween. Most schools will probably start later than this. We'll see.

This is the first year the Cookout has declined in numbers. We've had: 23, 42, 55, 75, 100, 113, 137, 142, 166 and now 134. So it is kind of disappointing to see a decline. At least thats what I see when I'm "staring at my clipboard."

later,
Curt