Help me start a rallyX group.

Do it!  I just did my first rallycross this weekend and the level of fun is remarkable!  

captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:

Before land

Before cones

Before insurance

Before timing equipment

Before flags

Before truck and trailer to haul the cones and the timing equipment

You need 5-7 people on board to be officers to assist in organization and execution of set up, take down, course design, inventory of equipment, registration, treasurer duties. I say five to seven, because two to three won't be available at any one time. Without this crew you will put in a full 8 to 10 hours the day before an event and 4 hours the evening after an event just on loading, setup, pack up and load out. And you won't be able to take any registrations day of, or the day prior, as you'll be setting up the day prior. That can shoot you in the foot as often times people wait and look at a weather window unless events are known to sell out.

This is the best advice in this thread so far.  I built the Iowa Region rallycross program from the ground up and can attest 100 percent to the need of having a core group of dedicated to help.  I had some very long days for our first year of events and I did mich pleading with people to help me out.  Now that we're well established, things are so much easier and I'm often turning away volunteers for set up.  Too many people turn it into a social event and things go slower.

As hinted at above, prepare for venues to be a constant issue.  Many land owners are on board, but then sour on it after a few events due to the ground damage.  Equipment rental to restore a field is far too expensive for a club that is just starting.  I've had the best success with fairgrounds and dirt tracks as most love to have a bit of additional income and typically have equipment on site and a grounds guy to do some restoration.

For start up costs what if you had everybody that wants to race show up with a traffic cone? That traffic cone buys them say a free race? Maybe they get to put their name on a cone?

OP: Where are you located? Please say close to Portland, OR.

In reply to Vajingo :

Cones run roughly $20, entry is normally between 40 and $60. You need entry cost to cover insurance and property rental. A cone in exchange for entry would never be a proposition that should be considered. 

Now that 3-5 person event staff that are point people and responsible for operational duties, worker assignments, grid, paddock, timing, course set up, break down, registration, treasury, etc. Those people can run in exchange for their efforts at no charge. The amount of time that they will have put in will likely exceed the entry amount if you were to have paid them minimum wage, so purchase lunch for them as well. 

thatsnowinnebago (Forum Supporter) said:

OP: Where are you located? Please say close to Portland, OR.

Close to Bend,OR. 

captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Vajingo :

Cones run roughly $20, entry is normally between 40 and $60. You need entry cost to cover insurance and property rental. A cone in exchange for entry would never be a proposition that should be considered. 

Now that 3-5 person event staff that are point people and responsible for operational duties, worker assignments, grid, paddock, timing, course set up, break down, registration, treasury, etc. Those people can run in exchange for their efforts at no charge. The amount of time that they will have put in will likely exceed the entry amount if you were to have paid them minimum wage, so purchase lunch for them as well. 

Oh right! Crud. I wasn't thinking big picture. You can see how involved I am with our local Ax chapter. I just show up and race and work the course. 

captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:

Now that 3-5 person event staff that are point people and responsible for operational duties, worker assignments, grid, paddock, timing, course set up, break down, registration, treasury, etc. Those people can run in exchange for their efforts at no charge. 

Man, that would be nice.

In reply to EvanB (Forum Supporter) :

It's amazing how people, who are already assisting, are able and willing to take on just a little bit more and give more of themselves if some basic appreciation is shown. They also tend to take pride in the events and feel that they have a greater sense of responsibility in how they run and how successful they operate. Such a simple thing gives such a sense of ownership. 

captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to EvanB (Forum Supporter) :

It's amazing how people, who are already assisting, are able and willing to take on just a little bit more and give more of themselves if some basic appreciation is shown. They also tend to take pride in the events and feel that they have a greater sense of responsibility in how they run and how successful they operate. Such a simple thing gives such a sense of ownership. 

 

 

You have inspired me to do a bbq lunch for the crew at my local ax now. This season opener- there will be hotdogs.