Future DRTC National meets?

[GoFastGray]

I'm just curious what everyone wants to get out of a National R/T meet?
I've been looking at other club meets getting ideas and envying their organization.
The last few meets have been getting smaller and smaller. I won't say it's 100% the economy... the club posting dates late, changes from tracks/events and orginization probably slowed things down too.

-How far are most of you willing to drive? Is a 6+ hour haul too much even if you plan ahead, or would you rather fly?
-Would piggy-backing onto a larger events be more worth your time so you can have other non-dak related activities to enjoy too?
-How important is drag racing at the events?
-Same as auto-cross, is it a must, or just something you will/might partake in if it's an option?
-Or are you more likely to attend a meet for a social gathering of other sophisticated R/T enthusiasts sush as yourself?
-Registration too much? The price of renting a track, auto-x, and other funding makes it hard to throw a cheap event with a low turnout of trucks, no sponsors, or without joining other events.
-Central location every year has been talked about, but there's already a thread on that...
-Event planning...do the dates need to be SET XX amount of months ahead of time in order for you guys to plan ahead and get time off, save, or not book something else? I know the sooner the better, and a sooner time would be easier to organize things much better.

I'm just seeing what the "customers" want, kinda like Domino's re-working their recipe :jester:
Please give your input on what you want to see or do and anything you think can make the meets more enjoyable for you and the rest of us :biggthumpup:

[Warrior Poet]

I'm just curious what everyone wants to get out of a National R/T meet?
I've been looking at other club meets getting ideas and envying their organization.
The last few meets have been getting smaller and smaller. I won't say it's 100% the economy... the club posting dates late, changes from tracks/events and orginization probably slowed things down too.

-How far are most of you willing to drive? Is a 6+ hour haul too much even if you plan ahead, or would you rather fly?
I'd say 6 hours max drive is fair for a good turnout

-Would piggy-backing onto a larger events be more worth your time so you can have other non-dak related activities to enjoy too?
I'm indifferent on this. If I go to an event, it's because I brought the Dak anways

-How important is drag racing at the events?
Bonus

-Same as auto-cross, is it a must, or just something you will/might partake in if it's an option?
Again, a bonus. If we can't get the first two... atleast work for a burnout contest???

-Or are you more likely to attend a meet for a social gathering of other sophisticated R/T enthusiasts sush as yourself?
Both. I'm good with on the track, or bench racing, as well as stare and compare

-Registration too much? The price of renting a track, auto-x, and other funding makes it hard to throw a cheap event with a low turnout of trucks, no sponsors, or without joining other events.
I'll pay my part of what it costs to put on a great show. I'm not looking for a band playing, our own bar, and topless dancers, but I'll pay whats needed of me to ensure we have a show/meet

-Central location every year has been talked about, but there's already a thread on that...
6 months of the year, I personaly, am deployed. So when I'm home... I'll make it.

-Event planning...do the dates need to be SET XX amount of months ahead of time in order for you guys to plan ahead and get time off, save, or not book something else? I know the sooner the better, and a sooner time would be easier to organize things much better.
Couldn't have said it better. I say no less then 3 months, and thats to the last minute to plan. Gives time for work, for resurvations, and the such. I belive it's fair time.


I'm just seeing what the "customers" want, kinda like Domino's re-working their recipe :jester:
Please give your input on what you want to see or do and anything you think can make the meets more enjoyable for you and the rest of us :biggthumpup:
There's my input

[ADakotaRTGuy]

-How far are most of you willing to drive? Is a 6+ hour haul too much even if you plan ahead, or would you rather fly?
If I go I am bringing the truck, that being said, my truck would be hard pressed to be driven 200 miles or about 3 hours

-Would piggy-backing onto a larger events be more worth your time so you can have other non-dak related activities to enjoy too?
I think so, would be less expensive, thus larger turnout

-How important is drag racing at the events?
As long as there is stuff to do don't matter

-Same as auto-cross, is it a must, or just something you will/might partake in if it's an option?
Won't do it myself, but would love to watch and depending on distance run the Jetta.

-Or are you more likely to attend a meet for a social gathering of other sophisticated R/T enthusiasts sush as yourself?
Would prefer a nice event that is inexpensive with lots of trucks

-Registration too much? The price of renting a track, auto-x, and other funding makes it hard to throw a cheap event with a low turnout of trucks, no sponsors, or without joining other events.
I think a 100 dollars would be fair

-Central location every year has been talked about, but there's already a thread on that...
Take a poll, most of these trucks are in the east, at least that is what I tend to see

-Event planning...do the dates need to be SET XX amount of months ahead of time in order for you guys to plan ahead and get time off, save, or not book something else? I know the sooner the better, and a sooner time would be easier to organize things much better.
3 months at a min


Just my two cents

[grapejuice1998]

Here are the requirements that it takes to get me to commit to a National Meet.
First off, I don't want to drive 24 hrs to get there.
Next, if I DO sack up and drive 24 hrs, there better be 3 full days of events and plenty of door prizes.
Last, the meet will have to be in the months of June, July, or August. That would give you the best chances of having the largest crowd possible, which in turn makes it more fun for me to attend.

That's it. Simple as that.

I simply didn't go to the last 3-4 meets, because of one, or all of the above.

[Rigeldust]

Here are the requirements that it takes to get me to commit to a National Meet.
First off, I don't want to drive 24 hrs to get there.
Next, if I DO sack up and drive 24 hrs, there better be 3 full days of events and plenty of door prizes.
Last, the meet will have to be in the months of June, July, or August. That would give you the best chances of having the largest crowd possible, which in turn makes it more fun for me to attend.

That's it. Simple as that.

I simply didn't go to the last 3-4 meets, because of one, or all of the above.

I would have to agree.
I don't care about the cost or auto-cross or even drag racing to be honest. But that's coming from someone who's close to stock with over 100k miles.

[sunike32]

It would be pretty damn cool to have the amount of door prizes it appeared you guys had during the early years (as it "seemed" from looking at old pictures). I doubt that would happen anymore, though. Like Alan, that is something that would need to happen in order for me to drive a really long distance. AMS is pushing it distance wise, but I'd probably still attend.

[White Turbo]

OK....

Kevin laid it out there for everyone...

C'mon guys,,, tell us what YOU want. Give us your opinions.

We are here to listen to ya:biggthumpup:

[White Turbo]

It would be pretty damn cool to have the amount of door prizes it appeared you guys had during the early years (as it "seemed" from looking at old pictures). I doubt that would happen anymore, though. Like Alan, that is something that would need to happen in order for me to drive a really long distance. AMS is pushing it distance wise, but I'd probably still attend.

If I'm not mistaken, we had more prizes than people at the Mich. meet just 2 years ago.
It's the responsibilty of the execs to make sure we have plenty of giveaways for attendees.
And we can make it happen again.

[Pete102580]

-How far are most of you willing to drive? Is a 6+ hour haul too much even if you plan ahead, or would you rather fly?
I would put 6-9 hours at the top of my drive time budget

-Would piggy-backing onto a larger events be more worth your time so you can have other non-dak related activities to enjoy too?
i'm all for that

-How important is drag racing at the events?
important, but not a deal breaker for me. couldn't we ask a track to reserve 2 lanes for us, and run it like most track do motorcycles? wait around, let all the r/t's go thru... then back to waiting around. not optimal, but if it would seriously lower the price/fees i think its worth looking into

-Same as auto-cross, is it a must, or just something you will/might partake in if it's an option?
autox doesnt interest me, personally

-Or are you more likely to attend a meet for a social gathering of other sophisticated R/T enthusiasts sush as yourself?
that's really what its all about for me... faces with names, etc...


-Registration too much? The price of renting a track, auto-x, and other funding makes it hard to throw a cheap event with a low turnout of trucks, no sponsors, or without joining other events.
i remember thinking at the 08 nats that i could have saved my registration fees and had the same amount of fun... not to say the meet wasnt a blast, it really was- but if i did it again i think i may have foregone the registration and just showed up at the hotel & trekked out to milan and paid my own way there.

-Central location every year has been talked about, but there's already a thread on that...
it sucks for the guys on the outskirts, but it is much easier to plan for if its at the same time/place

-Event planning...do the dates need to be SET XX amount of months ahead of time in order for you guys to plan ahead and get time off, save, or not book something else? I know the sooner the better, and a sooner time would be easier to organize things much better.
i think 90 days/3 months should be plenty for most of us

:biggthumpup:

that's about it from my peanut gallery.

pete

[Aves]

I'm just curious what everyone wants to get out of a National R/T meet?
I've been looking at other club meets getting ideas and envying their organization.
The last few meets have been getting smaller and smaller. I won't say it's 100% the economy... the club posting dates late, changes from tracks/events and orginization probably slowed things down too.

-How far are most of you willing to drive? Is a 6+ hour haul too much even if you plan ahead, or would you rather fly? Would not have a problem with something usually under 12 hours
-Would piggy-backing onto a larger events be more worth your time so you can have other non-dak related activities to enjoy too? Not that important.
-How important is drag racing at the events?
As it seems the majority of the club strives for better E.T I would think this would be a nice little add-on to any event.
-Same as auto-cross, is it a must, or just something you will/might partake in if it's an option?
Like the go Kart idea better :jester:
-Or are you more likely to attend a meet for a social gathering of other sophisticated R/T enthusiasts sush as yourself?
Drinking beer and talking shit what could be better
-Registration too much? The price of renting a track, auto-x, and other funding makes it hard to throw a cheap event with a low turnout of trucks, no sponsors, or without joining other events.
-Central location every year has been talked about, but there's already a thread on that...
-Event planning...do the dates need to be SET XX amount of months ahead of time in order for you guys to plan ahead and get time off, save, or not book something else? I know the sooner the better, and a sooner time would be easier to organize things much better.
I would say no later then Late Feb. for date to be set. I personally prefer Late Aug to Sept for event as it is still warm enough to race but finally cooling off a bit .

I'm just seeing what the "customers" want, kinda like Domino's re-working their recipe :jester:
Please give your input on what you want to see or do and anything you think can make the meets more enjoyable for you and the rest of us :biggthumpup:


Center location would be great but with anything I think if you have it at same place every year without varation of some sort the event could grow stale. Or even vary the time of year could make a difference. Hell tag along with another event or get an r/t gathering together and do something different like a big showing at a power tour.


Troy

[tcuillier]

I agree that a central location probably makes the most sense. However, there's a LOT of us here in the NW (I'm in WA state) that couldn't / wouldn't be able to make the trip. Minimum driving distance to the central U.S. would be 1500+ miles. About 24 hrs drive time, and at 15 mpg average, that's 100 gallons x $3.00 per gallon = $300 EACH WAY---just in gas alone!
In fact, a central location would most likely eliminate anyone from the NE, SE, SW, and NW areas of the country. That cuts out a LOT of people. Something to think about.

Tom

[grapejuice1998]

I agree that a central location probably makes the most sense. However, there's a LOT of us here in the NW (I'm in WA state) that couldn't / wouldn't be able to make the trip. Minimum driving distance to the central U.S. would be 1500+ miles. About 24 hrs drive time, and at 15 mpg average, that's 100 gallons x $3.00 per gallon = $300 EACH WAY---just in gas alone!
In fact, a central location would most likely eliminate anyone from the NE, SE, SW, and NW areas of the country. That cuts out a LOT of people. Something to think about.

Tom

It's that exact argument that keeps the meet in rotation, which obviously doesn't work. What'd y'all have, maybe 30 trucks in WA when the meet was there?
And the last meet was pretty close. Did you attend that one? (Reno)

Just sayin...

[BluRT00]

Not sure how much money the club has, but wouldn't it be bright to have a East/West branch of the R/T club? Then people won't feel left out and we could have 2 shows? Probably would cost a arm and a leg though.

BTW Your pizza sauce sucks! :jester:

[tcuillier]

It's that exact argument that keeps the meet in rotation, which obviously doesn't work. What'd y'all have, maybe 30 trucks in WA when the meet was there?
And the last meet was pretty close. Did you attend that one? (Reno)

Just sayin...

I thought it was closer to 50 trucks, but I could be wrong. Francis would probably know better. Couldn't make Reno, we were busy taking care of my Father-in-Law (cancer-he passed on Thanksgiving Day).

Tom

[grapejuice1998]

I thought it was closer to 50 trucks, but I could be wrong. Francis would probably know better. Couldn't make Reno, we were busy taking care of my Father-in-Law (cancer-he passed on Thanksgiving Day).

Tom

<doh> open mouth-insert unwashed foot

[tcuillier]

Not a problem.

[Five9Dak]

-How far are most of you willing to drive? Is a 6+ hour haul too much even if you plan ahead, or would you rather fly?
~5 hours
-Would piggy-backing onto a larger events be more worth your time so you can have other non-dak related activities to enjoy too?
Doesn't matter
-How important is drag racing at the events?
Comming from Div 1, our drag racing never works out anyway so I'm used to it. Best track, weather never cooperates
-Same as auto-cross, is it a must, or just something you will/might partake in if it's an option?
I enjoy autoX more than drag racing.
-Or are you more likely to attend a meet for a social gathering of other sophisticated R/T enthusiasts sush as yourself?
This is the most important, but I don't know where you get sophisticated from.....:jester:
-Registration too much? The price of renting a track, auto-x, and other funding makes it hard to throw a cheap event with a low turnout of trucks, no sponsors, or without joining other events.
Was an issue when I was a starving college kid, shouldn't be now that I have a real job.
-Central location every year has been talked about, but there's already a thread on that...
Div 1......
-Event planning...do the dates need to be SET XX amount of months ahead of time in order for you guys to plan ahead and get time off, save, or not book something else? I know the sooner the better, and a sooner time would be easier to organize things much better.
1-2 months.

can't post just a quote...

[White Turbo]

I thought it was closer to 50 trucks, but I could be wrong. Francis would probably know better. Couldn't make Reno, we were busy taking care of my Father-in-Law (cancer-he passed on Thanksgiving Day).

Tom

IIRC it was between 35-40 registered. And about 35 showed up.
We knew it would be a small meet because of our remote location and it was priced accordingly.

After asking on this forum and posting a poll on the Delphi board,, Votes were pretty even for both a centrally located meet, and the same division rotation as past. (central meet - 13 votes div. rotation - 12 votes).
No matter which way we go here,, someone is goin to be left out. It's always gonna be that way.

[tcuillier]

Agreed.

[grapejuice1998]

And as ridiculous as it sounds, you can always fly in and rent a car. Lately, the DRTC has catered to the rental crowd, to make it more fun.

I went to the Tucson meet without my truck. Thanks to Duner, I never really missed it either. He was nice enough to let me ride along with him and he even let me drive the 4.7 5 spd turbo truck a little bit. I had a blast, all 3 days!

So, even if the meet isn't within driving distance, as long as it's a full schedule with a lot of good door prizes and raffles, then it's well worth it to fly in.

[ADakotaRTGuy]

And as ridiculous as it sounds, you can always fly in and rent a car. Lately, the DRTC has catered to the rental crowd, to make it more fun.

I went to the Tucson meet without my truck. Thanks to Duner, I never really missed it either. He was nice enough to let me ride along with him and he even let me drive the 4.7 5 spd turbo truck a little bit. I had a blast, all 3 days!

So, even if the meet isn't within driving distance, as long as it's a full schedule with a lot of good door prizes and raffles, then it's well worth it to fly in.

Completely agree. A rental and a plane ticket is cheaper than driving 1500 miles. Hell rent a R/T

[ChrisR/T]

Why not seperate East/West meets? Then once every few years (3?) have one big national meet? That would give more than ample time to have a good plan installed, a good location picked out, etc.

I know for the east, a good meet would be the Chryslers at Carlisle show. There's always a large number of trucks there, that could be the East meet. On the western front, I don't know to much, but what about the Chrysler show at the Strip in Las Vegas? Or any of the several locations throughout California/Colarado/Utah, etc.

Just my two cents worth..

[DakotaLivLrg]

-How far are most of you willing to drive? Is a 6+ hour haul too much even if you plan ahead, or would you rather fly?

Hmm depends on my funds at the time LOL but at 12mpg not too far

-Would piggy-backing onto a larger events be more worth your time so you can have other non-dak related activities to enjoy too?

I think this is the best idea since the meets have been declining in attendance

-How important is drag racing at the events?

Eh I have test and tune a few miles away from me..

-Same as auto-cross, is it a must, or just something you will/might partake in if it's an option?

Not a must but would enjoy more than Drag racing since its not as often here in phx

-Or are you more likely to attend a meet for a social gathering of other sophisticated R/T enthusiasts sush as yourself?

im a R/t rookie so yeah LOL

-Registration too much? The price of renting a track, auto-x, and other funding makes it hard to throw a cheap event with a low turnout of trucks, no sponsors, or without joining other events.

All depends on what job I have.. right now just Saturdays so im broke

-Central location every year has been talked about, but there's already a thread on that...

Central is to far for me, so I like the rotation

-Event planning...do the dates need to be SET XX amount of months ahead of time in order for you guys to plan ahead and get time off, save, or not book something else? I know the sooner the better, and a sooner time would be easier to organize things much better.

3+ Months, this is the reason I didn't make the last one, not enough time to save for it.. and the $300+ in gas it was gonna cost me LOL

[ADakotaRTGuy]

If they did a east west type of deal then Truckin Nationals in Phoenix would be perfect for the West and Carisle for the East.

[Rigeldust]

If they did a east west type of deal then Truckin Nationals in Phoenix would be perfect for the West and Carisle for the East.

What does that make Houston TX?

[ADakotaRTGuy]

What does that make Houston TX?

SOL, haha. Or go to either meet. Or you can make a southern one at Texas Heat Wave. Fuck that is hot.

[GoFastGray]

If they did a east west type of deal then Truckin Nationals in Phoenix would be perfect for the West and Carisle for the East.

Truckin my first year (2005) was great! About 20+ R/T's...and that was the first year it started going downhill.
2006 when I had my R/T, it was good, 20 or so trucks...2007 we were down to about 15, 2008 was about 8
and in 2009 I skipped the event to go to "Mopars At The Strip".
Only two people made the Truckin, and about 15 daks at MATS.
Truckin probably won't be around too much longer, even the AZ lightning club no longer attends. Went from 4 truck classes to 1. From over 150 show trucks to 20. They changed their date from October to April.
I'm not sure if we can plan a big enough event at MATS.
I think we could do something near LA like a woodley Park Mopar fall fling show, races at Fontana, and scca for cheap. Just not sure how many would show up compared to an east coast event.

[grapejuice1998]

What does that make Houston TX?

Since the East/West meet idea seems to be so popular, we'd just have to mix in our 3rd coast.

[wyotech_cuda440]

I think we could do something near LA like a woodley Park Mopar fall fling show, races at Fontana, and scca for cheap. Just not sure how many would show up compared to an east coast event.

I would be down for fall fling, or the spring fling. Either one, I'd have both of my rides there :drive:

[2k1AmberR/T]

As far as the East coast is concerned...one meet just doesn't seem good enough to me. I've been thinking it would be pretty damn cool if we had enough interest from a few people from the NE to head down to Atlanta for the Year One Experience on the 16th and 17th of May (a Sunday and Monday, not exactly good days, I know...) and then to hope there's enough interest for the guys in the SE to make a trip up to Carlisle later in the summer. Both would be a really fun time and have different things to offer from one another. You'd be satisfying your whole 'dakota r/t enthusiast' needs each year but would do so during 2 separate weekends - early and late summer.

EVERYONE from the Atlanta national meet said they had a great time and there's been interest shown in having another national event there again. I'm not exactly sure how active the members are down in the Atlanta area anymore but I think I've even seen them express interest in wanting to host another meet there if so (I started a new thread in the SE division forum out of curiosity). It seems like we've pretty much got a solid core up in the NE already...I'm just trying to think of a way for some of the NE and SE to get together to make each of their events a little bigger and more interesting, bring some momentum to the club as a whole.

I'm not a representative, not trying to look into local hotels/attractions or thinking of how to raise money for the club in doing so...just wanting to test the waters for interest and feedback is all. I just picked a random SE event that I know had a great turnout in the past and will continue in the future, perhaps someone has something better in mind? I know there's probably not many people that would be interested in making 2 relatively long road trips to truck events in one summer, but if somehow we could even get something like half a dozen more trucks to show up at each event I think that would be a pretty big deal. The two events are roughly 10-12 hours apart so...who knows.

I know this wasn't exactly the intention for this thread, but still think it's relevant and didn't know where else to post it.

[pdxR/T]

I know im a little late responding to this, but I think an East/West split with a national every other year or something like that would be cool. I know I could make it almost every time if it were like that. Its hard living in the damn corner up here in the NW because we miss out on a ton of stuff. It's like a 14-18 hour drive to Southern Cali from here but id make it for a meet.