what events do you want

I'd like to think I'd calmed down a bit after that late night rant, but after the 4th Round at Santa Pod Drag Racing brought only a hard-core of twin turbo owners (six of them, not all Z Club members....) and one lone 240Z, I begin to wonder if there is anything in this world that will satisfy our members.

OK let's try:

7th September S.E.Z. Group meeting, 12-00 midday Halfway House, Brentwood.
13th September - Brighton Festival of Speed: supposed to be a Z Club member, Phil Hyett, entered with his newly completed and MOT'd 240Z. He'd love your support.
14th September - back to Santa Pod for Round 5 of the Drag Race Challenge.
22nd September - Drift Racing at North Weald, Not officially a Z Club do, but organised by a Z Club ex-member, Nick Spickett. See web site www.driftracing.co.uk. Everyone welcome.
27th September - Trackrod rally in Yorkshire. 240Zs competing. Contact Hugh Myers - see the mag.
27th/28th September - Longleat hill climb - see Ben and Suzy's thread elsewhere
28th September - if you ring him up and pester him, Steve Lack might organise a Kent Local Group meeting for you.
October 11th HSCC Silverstone - 240Zs in the final round of the season. Will Charles Barter take the Championship (in a 240Z....)?

Nothing happening in the Z Club - my a***.
 
now its time to go and have a drink mike  a very long one to regain your composure. I thought it was only the trouble makers like me that got on the high horse to let off steam. Maybe the trouble is that there is toooooooooooooooo much happening to choose from and it is the clubs fault for that. If so then if we just cancelled the club and had a secret membership we would get a whole lot more people interested and turning up to the secret and unadvertised meetings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bit radical or what  ben and dee
 
Boring boring boring i know you cant please all the people all the time but where is the meet in my area we cant all afford to drive to Kent as for a the drag meet at Santa pod been there done that. Sorry but going in a straight line for quarter of a mile boring. And don’t tell me about people moaning or not turning up to events i have been involved in moor motor sport events than most people have had hot dinners and have see it all. and anyway we where ask to put forward ideas by Steve Burns. And mike there are new people joining the club all the time they my be different from some anther people who don’t tern up, so please keep an open mind.
 
Sid - I've been involved in this, on and off, for more than twenty five years so I have a reasonable idea of what works and what doesn't. I might point you to one line of my signature - as Motorsports Organiser you should expect that the meetings I offer you will have more than a smattering of motorsport involvement. If drag racing, rallying and circuit racing are all boring then I guess next year we'll have to organise some Z based tractor pulls.

If there is no-one in your area organising a local meet or local runs, then why not try to get something together yourself?

Let's see the feedback from the new people joining the Club and get some new events organised. If necessary, get some on the committee to spread the new wave view far and wide. We aim to please and provide Z based enjoyment for a range of individuals, but we can't all be everything you want.What do you want from the Club, BTW?
 
mfeeny : ... next year we'll have to organise some Z based tractor pulls.
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Stonking idea, Mike - I'm off to the US to try to buy that turbine-powered Z and then (as I believe the Americans have it) "open a can of whupass" <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 
Mike please read my post i only said that drag racing was boring. i like rallying and circuit racing having held a international rally licence for many years i think i know a bit about motor sport i have also been a pit lane / garage guest at Silverstone with Mclaren on a number of occasions. so i think i might have a slight interest in motor sport. i just think there should be some events that all can participate in i.e. a track day. if you don’t wont people’s opinions then don’t have a section asking people for them. also you say there are events listed. Well when i asked you if the club was to attend the japfest, you said no then i find out that they did. &nbsp;Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing - i think not. i also know what it is like to run a club not easy i know. As a family we have founded clubs and also owned many motor sport circuits. Don’t mean to have a go mike but let’s see some of these events where all members can be involved. And not just driving up a track for quarter of a mile. As for getting people together for a meet I thought that was what a club was for. To orgies such things or did I pay my joining fee for a forum and a magazine?
Many thanks sid
 
I organised a track day last year, £60 bought you two morning and two afternoon sessions. £60 is cheap cheap cheap, it was at Silverstones Stowe circuit which is small but fun.

How many people turned up ? Non. A big fat zero. So me, my mate in his Celica and two chaps from the Datsun Owners Club practicley had the track to ourselves.
 
Sorry mate if had known i would have gone. from my past experience you need to get money out of people first then most of them will tern up also it needs to be a club event and be cheaper than you would normally get it, may be subsidized by the club or get a discount that way people think they are getting something out of it. Email all club members, make it an annual event and may be get other clubs involved look at Billing started of small now a big event.
All the best Sid
 
The Z Club has a long history of organised track events, particularly at Goodwood which was about the last affordable and not too distantly located circuit left to us. The last event was quite successful, but the Club still lost out financially because the participation is not there at a price which would make it viable. There is no way that a small Club like this could continue to organise its own track days and have a future without looming bankruptcy. Sad, but true.

The Z Club did not officially participate in Japfest - if there were Z Club members in attendance it was at their own organisation. Or were they 300ZX.co.uk members?

Sadly this year we seem to have been dropped from the Trax mailshot and it became too late to organise our customary show there. We have participated at Trax for the last six years, but it is quite rare for many Z Club members to take to the track, even though the cost of a session is reasonable.
 
sid : ...look at Billing started of small now a big event.
All the best Sid
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Just for your info, sid, it was this very club - the ZClub - who started Billing in the first place. And some of the committee members who did this are still with us (a little grayer and wider but still mostly the same).

To go back to the original question and your original answer - what do you want? You asked for track days and there have been a few answers about that.

You also asked for local events. Where's local to you? If you were local in Essex for example or Bristol, there have been several. The Club mag has an extensive list in every issue.

If there isn't an event local to you, why not just organise one?

I did this with a few mates a couple of times and we had some good turnouts. Haven't done one lately but I have turned out to support various meets and events.

The club needs not only good suggestions but also club members to take the initiative.

Cheers - Gio
 
mike please read quote below. suzy seems to think you did go officially. anyway hope that events can be better publicised in the future.
all the best Sid.




suzy
Group: Members
Posts: 43
Joined: Aug. 2002
 Posted: April 29 2003,09:50    

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japfest Castle Combe Saturday May 17th

“It’s the brand new, action-packed event for performance Japanese cars of all marques. Japfest has fast and furious track action plus all the very best Japanese traders and clubs”

The Z Club will be at this event sponsoring a special package of track time and free entrance for Z members. The 15 minute track session will be for Z’s only. The package is free but we are limited to 12 places for the track time, so it will be on first come first served basis. We also have a few free entrance only tickets. So why not come along anyway, join us on the Z Club stand and soak up the atmosphere.

Check out their Website: www.japfest.co.uk

For further details and tickets contact Geoff Gale on
07730 879323 or
info@auto-active.co.uk

--------------
membership no. 221
 
There was a track session at the JapFest just for the Z Club and we had the total number of 3 cars going round by themselves! I also had entrance tickets to the event which I ended up offering to the 300 forum just so they would not be wasted.

I sent letters to 85 SW&WOE members, I put the event on the calender on the home page, I put it on the forum a month before the event, IT WAS FREE.
Unfortunatly it did not make it into the magazine, I do admit fault there, but the decesion to fund the event was not taken until after the mag's closing date.
Any ideas for what else I should do!

By the way where were you for Longleat Hillclimb and Garston Hill climb, were you could watch Z's compete. The pub meeting in Bristol, the castle combe track days, again see the calender on the home page, the trip to Haynes motor museum, .....and that's just in the south west area. Not to mention Back to Basics weekend, hearts of England weekend to Cheddar and Minehead, South central meetings...and that's just in my area.

So what do you want?

It is not often I rant on this forum, but I am a bit new to all this and have tried this year to organise events with poorish turn outs.
Don't get me wrong I've had a brillant time and met some great people and seen some excellent cars. Take Longleat this weekend, what a brillant day that was, as I hope the people who attended will agree. So get out there and join us. I'll keep at it, but feed back on what people want is one thing, getting people to attend is another.
 
...well said Mike. As an en ex event organiser myself, I can't tell you how damn annoying it is for all the people that spend a great deal of time and effort sorting out events, only to have a small handfull of people attending, followed by the moans of other lazy gits who did nowt. I say to them, get off your backsides and YOU friggin well sort out an event!! Put up or shut up!

Pete Trafford
Ex Z Club Events Organiser
 
Hi Gio yes i did know that the Z club started billing.
As for the track day no i did not seem to get much of answer. i am not asking for the club to pay for it just maybe organise something. and make it a club event i.e like billing stared out. i may be wrong but i was just an idea i did not wish to put anyone’s back up.
hi suzy not having a go at what you did i think you tried very hard and should be commended for your efforts. i was just trying to make the point that when i spoke to mike he had know knowledge of this. it may have been better if it had been posted maybe two months in advance so we have time to get things organized, as I and may be some other people &nbsp;have to work some weekends. And I not get a letter don’t know why? Anyway sorry if you have taken offence none meant.
All the best Sid
 
I'm a bit nervous to put a post in amongst such illustrious company, but I'd have to say that I look forward to the S.E.Z meet every month and get along whenever I can. I know that's not as often as I'd like, but family commitments can be pretty heavy (especially when one's Wife doesn't have a great deal of affection for the vehicle in question&#33<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>. In relation to this, I'd also say that I've been in a few clubs over the years and the majority of them are held together by a small minority of very enthusiastic and committed (and un-thanked) people, with the rest largely apathetic. Sad, but true. We get a letter from Mike F every month telling us about the next meeting, so it's our own silly fault if we don't get along. Thanks for keeping us going Mike (next one's in the post I assume?).

Travelling further can be difficult. Not only from a time point of view, but I also live in fear of breaking down. It's only happened a couple of times (and yes it was my fault, okay?) but there you go. I'd love to go to Brands now I've found out how close it is. And I'll be at the Pod on October 14th with my umbrella. By the standards of how far my Z travels, Brentwood to Santa Pod is very daring for me! I'm slowly getting braver, so further travels will happen too.

And drag racing boring?<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> Well, if it's the basic classes then perhaps, but I'd consider strapping myself next to a god-knows-what burning big-block, in a car weighing sod-all to be quite a rush. Maybe one day...

TL
 
at last the forum has begun to attract good discussion
I'm not going to join in at the momment but so chuffed that that obnoxious sod Pete Trafford Smith has awoken from his slumber and made a post on here.
If members who know me think I'm bad wait untill he starts &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> maybe I'll have some one to play with in the soap box
 
I'm happy to make a public apology over my lack of knowledge regarding Japfest - if I remember rightly it clashed with another event I had arranged to attend (Silverstone HSCC followed by boring drag racing on the Sunday) and also info was slow to filter out from the local area. I think I rejected doing it originally because of these other committments. Sorry in particular to sid if I mislead you on the Club's status on this event.......
 
Drag racing,for those people who say its boring , if you`ve done its your point of view but if you have`nt try it ,you all do it ,for example:-the other day when you shot off from the traffic lights, to get in front ....this the grass root &nbsp;drag racing and if you know the ins and outs of the principles ,re-action times(from when you see the green light and you set off )then theres the sixty foot time against the clock and then the quarter mile, again against the clock ,then you have head to head drag racing against that car beside ,grudge match racing ,it may look boring ,to watch &nbsp;cars just setting off up the strip (unless there 10-second cars and under)but i can a sure you its not when you are in the car !!The best way to find out is to try it at a run what you brung meet at the drag strips, then theres no pressure and you can then see if its boring when YOU do it!!,,,,I`ve done it with mini`s right up to my 1954 Ford pop with a 5.7 litre engine up front , borring its not ,it is the &nbsp;cheapest form of racing you can do so knock it until you try it ....thats one thing off my chest,,,now the other ,,i`ve have spoke to , and met only a few people of this club , but my opinion is that it is run by some pretty dedicated people who do turn out at events time after time , who seem to have fun doing it and if they have the time to organise these events ,track days , meets then if you can try and make it or at least acknowledge your out there for christ sakes it would be good for them to hear.We all have our problems with finding free time ,i for one as i work shift severn days a week on call but i will meet these people eventually.I suggest you ,the ones that read but don`t do , try to come out as well, you never know you might enjoy your selves.I will organise a meet in the Reading , slough ,Newbury,area etc just for Z`s in the area if your out there ,give me a response , please!!!!,,,,,Steevo Roberts and i are keen to do this, there are meets once a month for Jap cars ,organised by DEF, but i was thinking more of a moving pub meet in different areas , and then a convoy to S.E.Meets and Bristol meets,,,what do you think guys ?Then if any one breaks down we are together , we can sought it out,come on give me some feed back guys....
 
Hey, if someone's happy to drive along behind me with a full set of spanners, welding kit, bailing bucket for when it rains and a well-stocked list of Wife-placating excuses I'll go anywhere!

And can anyone, seriously, in all honesty, put their hand on their heart and say that they've never - not even once - put their foot down at the traffic lights to get away first? Course not. Apart from me of course officer...

See you all at the S.E.Z meet this Sunday, midday, Half-Way House pub, A127, Essex.
 
Thanks for the plug Tony!

Good words on the drag racing scene jonnyd! Having done it properly for several years with some success, I will be the first to suggest to anyone that, taken seriously, it's a lot more than "driving in a straight line". It is much more accessible as a first motorsport experience for beginners than any other and the likelihood of damage is pretty remote. And, it is probably the cheapest "real world" rolling road you can get for assessing the effects of modifications to your car - with a few simple calculations and a bit of lnowledge of your car, you can use your drag tickets to give quite reliable rear wheel BHP figures. The real world puts many rolling road HP claims to shame.
 
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