Fellow Mazda race fans… The 2012 12hrs of Sebring is approaching. I have an opportunity to talk with the people who would be responsible for sponsoring a Mazda Hospitality tent and/or Mazda Car Corral.
While we may receive a budget for drink/food from those sponsors, the tent/corral would likely have to be maintained by volunteers like you and me.
Keeping things simple is the key when you are a volunteer; too complicated means too much work which means not enough fun.
My thoughts, ensure there is a TV with a feed of the race, coffee & donuts for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, pizza for dinner along with snacks and drinks available all day long.
Maybe some swag at some point and see if we can get a team or factory rep &/or driver to visit.
In my mind the corral needs to be an inviting and comfortable place to relax, take a break and recharge among other like minded enthusiasts. Nothing more and most certainly nothing less.
But I want to hear from others too: Have you attended a car corral at an endurance race event (mazda or other). What did you like about it. What did you not like about it. What would have improved your experience.
If you went to Sebring last year, you might know the corral was a complete fail. The catalyst for last years disaster involved three main factors: Sebring changed the way they sell and manage corral space & they would not allow that last year; second, we lost our traditional location of inside turn one to Audi, and three, the person who had organized the hospitality previously was told she wouldn't be needed for it.
Let me know your thoughts