Feedback and suggestions wanted for Annual TriStateTuners Spring Meet!

[TROLL]

Hey guys,

I wanted to give everyone a chance to share some feedback or suggestions about the Annual TST Spring Meet. As many of you know, last year we held the event at Warminster Community Park due to the size the event has grown to, and all in all things went great. We were able to donate $12,000 to the Make A Wish Foundation and the event was a great time with an impressive turnout.

We are always working to improve the meet each year so please let us know what you'd like to see at this year's event, and if we can we will try to make it happen.

I would like to ask everyone a question about a proposed change for this year to help offset the ever growing costs of holding the event to make sure we continue to raise a nice amount of money to donate. We have been looking at the possibility of asking for a small donation at the entrance of the event, something like $5 per car which would get you $5 worth of raffle tickets. We understand this would be a change from previous years, but it is a small amount and would be a big help. However, we are interested in feedback from those who attend the event so we can decide on what will be the the best setup for the event. We would still offer optional VIP parking like we have done in the past.

Please keep in mind that logistically we can only do so much and we can't please everyone, but we will do our best to put on the most successful event ever in 2013.

Also, if anyone has suggestions for charities they'd like to benefit please list those as well so they can be taken into consideration. We are considering working with Make A Wish again this year but will also consider other suggestions as well.

Please keep this constructive and respectful, thank you in advance!

[lsx427]

Sounds good to me. I would be surprised if people really argued over $5, as it is going to such a good cause. As well as such a great car meet, it is worth every bit of $5 to attend even if it wasn't for a charity. I also want a VIP spot if possible (I know its a little early), but I am really getting the spring itch. Would it be at the same location this year?

[aka So Fresh]

$5 seems fair, as it's for a good cause.

[05Accent]

I don’t anyone should/would really complain about possibly paying $5 because it’s going to a cause, and if it’s something that simple to continue a great meet/cause then why not.

[yellow2000S/R]

$5 a driver and $1 or $2 for every passenger.

Have rewards/recognition for 3 highest donations?

[Foolinaround]

How about having it in Fl so I don't have to go back north?

[jpalamar]

1. Charge every car $5 to come in.
2. VIP needs to have real perks to it like opening the gates for VIP an hour early so they don't gotta sit in traffic.
3. Work with the caravans and have them come at staggered times to help regulate traffic.

I doubt I'll be there this year. It just wasn't all the fun for us. Too much work to get in and then was bored within an hour.

[c7scayman]

I prefer to donate to an organization that actually saves lives like ANERA.

I'm not a big fan of donating to Cancer research, toys for tots, or make a wish. Those are dedicated to making people happy or research that so far has not been so productive. I would stil donate but I would feel better if the money went to ANERA.

[jpalamar]

I think we gave enough aid to the middle east.

[grimm]

Originally Posted by c7scayman

I prefer to donate to an organization that actually saves lives like ANERA.

I'm not a big fan of donating to Cancer research, toys for tots, or make a wish. Those are dedicated to making people happy or research that so far has not been so productive. I would stil donate but I would feel better if the money went to ANERA.

Being a cancer survivor i ask you to re-think your statement about how cancer research hasn't been so productive?

I agree with Jay, and I would actually boycot a meet dedicated to sending funds to the middle east. There are more then enough worthy charities in the united states.

[Vince@R/TTuning]

We have done a decent amount of charities over the years and I find the most fulfilling charities/donations always seem to come from people locally that we can connect with. I know donating 12k to make a wish is a great cause, but being able to donate that money to someone or some family specific to help with in home medical equipment or what ever it may be always seems to feel like it means more. Also when it is local more local businesses are more likely to donate as well as media coverage(local news or papers).

Also 5$ is a good number, also you should do year specific TST meet stickers that guys can keep on there car year after year to show participation. The stickers should be smaller and printed like our R/T Tuned and R/T Aligned Stickers

[Zaior]

I agree with what Vince said I think it would be great to donate to a local charity

[dangerousatom]

Keep the suggestions coming!!

Originally Posted by jpalamar

1. Charge every car $5 to come in.
2. VIP needs to have real perks to it like opening the gates for VIP an hour early so they don't gotta sit in traffic.
3. Work with the caravans and have them come at staggered times to help regulate traffic.

I doubt I'll be there this year. It just wasn't all the fun for us. Too much work to get in and then was bored within an hour.

I wish #2 & #3 were even a possibility, but trying to coordinate arrival time with random people/caravans who are effected by traffic, break downs, late caravan departures, ect would be impossible. Also letting VIP in an hour early would not help since over 3/4 of VIPs arrive well over an hour after the gates even open......I take VIP registration so I know this for a fact.

Originally Posted by Vince@R/TTuning

We have done a decent amount of charities over the years and I find the most fulfilling charities/donations always seem to come from people locally that we can connect with. I know donating 12k to make a wish is a great cause, but being able to donate that money to someone or some family specific to help with in home medical equipment or what ever it may be always seems to feel like it means more. Also when it is local more local businesses are more likely to donate as well as media coverage(local news or papers).

Also 5$ is a good number, also you should do year specific TST meet stickers that guys can keep on there car year after year to show participation. The stickers should be smaller and printed like our R/T Tuned and R/T Aligned Stickers

A sticker with every $5 car entry would be pretty sweet, I wonder how much printing 2500 stickers would cost?? This would also help us as a staff ID VIP vs Spectators for VIP registration, and help expedite the movement of traffic.
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[07cobaltLScoupe]

$5 is a fair donation, and i have a cousin that has been supported by make-a-wish for his disabilities so i'm perfectly fine with that as the charity.

[yellow2000S/R]

Originally Posted by dangerousatom

A sticker with every $5 car entry would be pretty sweet, I wonder how much printing 2500 stickers would cost?? This would also help us as a staff ID VIP vs Spectators for VIP registration, and help expedite the movement of traffic.
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Depends on size and if you're getting them just a generic rectangle or circle outline cut or shape die cut like the TST stickers last year where there's an outline around the text that follows it.

[TROLL]

Thanks for all the responses so far, there are some really good ideas here. Its also good to know that you guys would be ok with a $5 admission per car, thats reassuring.

And we probably should clarify this better but the past 3 years we have worked directly with the Greater PA region of Make A Wish, where they use 100% of the money we donate to local children right in our area. We were actually fortunate enough to have one of the wish kids come to the meet two years ago with her family. It was really special for me to be able to meet then and show them around for a while. Here's a photo of wish kid Tia on the left with her big sister at the event. Tia was a little shy but there was a lot going on, her sister liked sitting in the drivers seat of my Supra to pose for a picture. They got to go to Disney with the whole family thanks to the event.



In the past 2 years we've been able to grant 12 wishes to children from the local area by donating $27,000 so thats pretty awesome. There are of course many other very worthy charities out there as well and we're open to your suggestions.

[Zaior]

That's awesome! I haven't been around that long so I hadn't known that.

[boostedfury]

Maybe move it back to a Sunday so it might eliminate some of the Saturday nice weekend shopping/ event type traffic.

Also maybe have some sort of games like the boardwalk where you donate to charity to play and have the chance to win something.

Hire a rc drift car team to do demos and allow people to bring their rc cars and thrash about.

Food and lots of it!

Try to get like Xbox or ps3 to bring a game truck/van to do like a Madden tournament etc.

It's all about trying to keep people's attention spans as best as you can!

[Zaior]

RC Car racing would be fun!

[Foolinaround]

http://www.facebook.com/ToxicDriftNJ?fref=ts

These guys would probably be more than happy to rc drift