Miatas@Hallett - Sept. 16-17, 2011

Newbie questions.

The event is Saturday but we must show up as a 1st timer 6pm friday. So it being a five hour drie I need to leave here by 12 noon. Then where is everyone staying? What room rates? Anyone splitting a suite to save on costs?
How long should I expect an event like this to last? Will I be able to drive home saturday at a reasonable hour or should I plan for another night in hotel and an early drive home?
Any help with this would be great. I really want to go but need some of these details filled in.
Thanks!

Many of us stay at the Hampton Inn in Sand Springs, which is the "host" hotel. Saturday will be an all-day sucker, so plan to stay that night. Besides, your entry fee includes the Saturday night banquet - where they hand out door prizes and feed us dinner. I'm sure some folks are looking for bunk mates.

Looks like I have off on Friday! Whoo!

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Originally Posted by GregW

Looks like I have off on Friday! Whoo!

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I am not sure if they let you drive on Fri if you have never been on that track before.

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Originally Posted by gabkwong

I am not sure if they let you drive on Fri if you have never been on that track before.

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First timers can not drive in Friday but there is a mandatory first timer instructional meeting Friday night from 6:30 -8:30 at the hotel. it's a five hour drive for me as well. I work from 7am-6pm, So I need the day off to be able to go.

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Originally Posted by GregW

First timers can not drive in Friday but there is a mandatory first timer instructional meeting Friday night from 6:30 -8:30 at the hotel. it's a five hour drive for me as well. I work from 7am-6pm, So I need the day off to be able to go.

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First timers can get ride alongs on Friday. Great way to learn the line before you drive it.

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Originally Posted by Nails

First timers can get ride alongs on Friday. Great way to learn the line before you drive it.

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Oh that would be awesome. I could certainly use the help!

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Originally Posted by Nails

First timers can get ride alongs on Friday. Great way to learn the line before you drive it.

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I'll definitely be looking for a ride along on Friday. How many can you fit in your car?

http://www.prewarbuick.com/img/featu...k/b472f7e0.jpg

I'm signed up. Just need to send in my packet this weekend.

Can I sleep at the track on Thursday and or Friday night in my ultra-stylish van which I plan to purchase in the near future?

BTW, I smell 26's this year. There will be at least 2 cars there capable of such a feat.

Paid for both days. I also signed up to instruct if needed so if you like gratuitous, creative profanity and watching someone squirm in the passenger seat, you're in for a real treat. I'll be the guy with the supermodels on the grid and the remarkable muscle structure. By "supermodels" I mean "forever alone" and by muscles I mean "30-year old beer gut".

alright, the slow bastard has signed up for both days! anyone looking for a roommate at the hotel that weekend? (um, that's not meant to sound as bad as that looks...maybe)

Ok so due to a stupid wedding won't be there for Saturday but I'll be there for Friday is there anyone out there that hasn't signed up yet but will be attending Saturday only so we can split the two day package?

I'm about 90% sure I'm gonna sign up. I have a Triathlon the following weekend but this seem like a lot of fun. I'm bummed that if you haven't driven there you can't drive on Friday. Long drive for one day of track time.

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Originally Posted by NC Eunos

Ok so due to a stupid wedding won't be there for Saturday but I'll be there for Friday is there anyone out there that hasn't signed up yet but will be attending Saturday only so we can split the two day package?

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I'm about to sign up for Saturday only

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Originally Posted by MINI-P

I'm about 90% sure I'm gonna sign up. I have a Triathlon the following weekend but this seem like a lot of fun. I'm bummed that if you haven't driven there you can't drive on Friday. Long drive for one day of track time.

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Email them and tell them your track history. I'll vouch for your track experience if that helps.

Got a call from Owen today. They are concerned they aren't going to fill it. As of Sunday they had 12 confirmed. Get those applications in people. If they don't at least break even this year, (They didn't quite break even last year) it may be the last M@H event. They really want to another one next year as it will be the 10th one.

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Originally Posted by black roadster

They are concerned they aren't going to fill it.

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TWSS.

Define "it". Friday, Saturday, both? And what's up with the hotel this year? Last time I went (years ago) some people were scrambling for rooms.

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Originally Posted by redmenace

TWSS.

Define "it". Friday, Saturday, both? And what's up with the hotel this year? Last time I went (years ago) some people were scrambling for rooms.

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At this time both days are wide open. Years ago the economy was better. Last year I don't think anyone had problems with rooms. Maybe Hampton finally got their act together.

I'm sure the economy has something to do with it, however the price increase at the same time was a double hit. Seems like they could reduce expenses in a few areas, as well as lessen the requirement making 1st timers being there on Friday (with no tracktime).

The goodie bag, Friday pizza for noobs, numbers being issued (in the past) and even the Sat banquet are costs that can all be eliminated as far as I'm concerned.

Just run it like a typical hpde. Register and tech everyone running the Fri OTD then keep the gate open till 10 pm Fri, option to camp. Open the track early Saturday for tech/registration for those only running Sat, have the noobs attend class first thing in the am while advanced/int groups are running, etc. I'm sure one or two instructors can handle noob download sessions through the day.

Raffle/social time can be held at lunch. Everyone can packup and head home Sat after the track goes cold. Be home Sat nite and no hotel cost for those on a budget, minimal time from home duties, work etc..

The social aspect is fun, but really, the best part of M@H is that it's only miatas on track. No vettes, subies, stooks, Atoms, loti, porsches, camaros, stangs and most importantly, NO BMWs. The social activity still happens in paddock..

Just my ::2Cents:: that nobody asked for.

+1

sixace for president

I motion that Arkansas miatas@hallett passes the torch and turn it into DFW miatas@hallett!

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Originally Posted by SixAce

I'm sure the economy has something to do with it, however the price increase at the same time was a double hit. Seems like they could reduce expenses in a few areas, as well as lessen the requirement making 1st timers being there on Friday (with no tracktime).

The goodie bag, Friday pizza for noobs, numbers being issued (in the past) and even the Sat banquet are costs that can all be eliminated as far as I'm concerned.

Just run it like a typical hpde. Register and tech everyone running the Fri OTD then keep the gate open till 10 pm Fri, option to camp. Open the track early Saturday for tech/registration for those only running Sat, have the noobs attend class first thing in the am while advanced/int groups are running, etc. I'm sure one or two instructors can handle noob download sessions through the day.

Raffle/social time can be held at lunch. Everyone can packup and head home Sat after the track goes cold. Be home Sat nite and no hotel cost for those on a budget, minimal time from home duties, work etc..

The social aspect is fun, but really, the best part of M@H is that it's only miatas on track. No vettes, subies, stooks, Atoms, loti, porsches, camaros, stangs and most importantly, NO BMWs. The social activity still happens in paddock..

Just my ::2Cents:: that nobody asked for.

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Most logical post ever. :clap:

I kind of like the social aspect of M@H, but I'll forgo it for seat time.

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Originally Posted by NC Eunos

I motion that Arkansas miatas@hallett passes the torch and turn it into DFW miatas@hallett!

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This is a really nice event and we should support it if we want this annual all Miata weekend to continue. I do not want to offend anyone but dfwmiata is a forume and not a club. I for one appreciate the Arkansas Miata Club's ability to organize this event year after year.

I'm in for Friday and Saturday. I'm planning to drive up to Sand Springs on Thursday. Mrs. cone has not decided yet if she is going or not. If she goes, she will be spectating and photographing, not driving.

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Originally Posted by bnordin

This is a really nice event and we should support it if we want this annual all Miata weekend to continue. I do not want to offend anyone but dfwmiata is a forume and not a club. I for one appreciate the Arkansas Miata Club's ability to organize this event year after year.

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+1

My observations were merely suggestions on how to keep the event viable. I'd hate to see it go anywhere. They do a great job and other miata only events seem to falter and fail. I believe M@H missed the 80 car max last year, and this year sounds more of the same. Sad, because it's lots of fun.

I'm worried this might be the last one.

I usually don't weigh in on Forums, but I feel I must. I appreciate the suggestions on cutting costs for Miatas at Hallett, but most of our costs are fixed-the track. It costs about $12,000 dollars track rental, corner workers, insurance, emergency vehicles, etc. This year, like a whole of things, prices went up on the track and we had to rent the track on Friday for the entire day.

In contrast, pizza last year was less than $100. We have the banquet and offer things like t-shirts because that is what people have wanted in the past. We pay nothing for the goodie bags or prizes.

Right now we have 11 people signed up for Friday and 15 for Saturday. At the end of June last year we had 34 people signed up for Saturday according to our Club Treasurer, David Laney. You could say we are about two months behind on registrations. So yes we are worried about this year's event, much less one for next year.

I say all of this to educate the participants on the reality of the current situation. We are unique, we are a Miatas only event. I drive Hallett in HST track events about 3 or 4 times a year and I love going to these events, but because our event is a Miatas only event, it is more fun for me. I hate to see Miatas at Hallett go the way of the dinosaurs, but if we don't have more people sign up, that is where it is heading.
Lewis

Thanks for the info Lewis, and it's ok to weigh in here, we're really not that bad. I think you'll see the attendance start to jump as we draw nearer to the event. Not only are we a bunch of TCB's we're likely a bunch of procrastinators. The heat wave has me holed up and not thinking about the track much lately, but the itch will be starting soon I'm sure.

That said, I've got the paperwork filled out and have been waiting to send it in. Seems I need to find out what postage/stamps are? I have a vauge memory of something called "mail" and need to google it or something to get the down low. See you in September.

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Originally Posted by SixAce

That said, I've got the paperwork filled out and have been waiting to send it in. Seems I need to find out what postage/stamps are? I have a vauge memory of something called "mail" and need to google it or something to get the down low. See you in September.

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Actually, it's called a scanner... team it up with email and it's a magical tool! ::OldMan::

I have to work in Miami, OK that week from Monday through Thursday. This is bad. I guess I'll leave my car at Hallett on Monday and just stay up there all weekend. :(

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Originally Posted by mr brg

I have to work in Miami, OK that week from Monday through Thursday. This is bad. I guess I'll leave my car at Hallett on Monday and just stay up there all weekend. :(

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How would you get to Miami if you leave your car at Hallett???

I'd get someone from Hallett to drop my off at a car-rental spot in Tulsa.

Only 8 more days to sign up before the price goes up......I guess it's time to pry open the wallet!

I'm about to pry open my wallet for a set of RS3s... among other goodies.

Paid. Anticipation clock running..

Heck, I'm signed up for both days and I'm "in between" Miatas. A friend has offered me seat time if I don't find one that temps me, and yes, that is a good friend.

In reference to an earlier question about being able to drive on Friday if you've not been to Hallett before, I think you may be allowed to if you have track experience. You would just need to call Lewis 501-993-7591 or JR 501-416-7787. Probably depends on how much track time you have. It's not my call to make, but if you may be allowed to drive if they have time to ride a few laps with you, show you the lines, etc- never a bad idea at a new track. We certainly want to give everyone a chance who wants to attend, especially this year. I hope we have enough to carry on, and I think we will. so thanks for all of your support.

And if the number of participants stays lower than the past, well, the only good thing is less crowded run groups and more clean laps. And a clean lap at Hallett is NICE. Except then I don't have any excuses...