Improving dgrr
 

I figured this would be a good thread to make to help improve the dgrr experience. Basically anything to make the event bigger and better then the years before.

My main idea so far is one of my first years at deals gap there were workshops/trainings on tuning and something else involving engine building maybe it was several years ago. Either way I like this idea maybe not as in depth as tuning and engine building but maybe more along the lines of history and knowledge of said the rotary each rotary has its own little quirks that some may not know of. This may seem stupid or a waste of time to some of the more experienced rotary people but others might learn something from it or come away with knowledge on how to keep there rotary running.

I did have tuning class one year and I might try to get something like this for next year if enough interest is given. But that would require one of the vendors to actually come out and do a class... by what I have heard from some in the past is that they themselves wants to just come out and relax a bit.

I'll see what can be done for the 10th anniversary... but demand needs to be there..

I like that idea of having a seminar that we could attend, especially if it was on tuning. Tuning is one of those things that scares the hell out of people. Even if it was just a basic tuning 101 class. Just go over the basics to give people an understanding of what is involved and how to go about it. Even if they don't try it, they'll have a basic understanding.

I would like there to be other categories and awards to lighten the mood and make it more fun at the banquet(?)

Longest Driven
Destined to Fail
OCD Award
Epic Beater

.......and a yellow stained Pissed-On (pitson) Award (or something)

:iamwithstupid: That's a great idea!

:biggthumpup:

I heard some folks (newbys mostly) complaining that it seemed very unstructured and they
didn't feel welcomed, etc etc.

I would suggest for the lack of structure to use twitter or FB to update each morning
and evening the agenda and any changes. Then make sure you mention this
on the website, in the registration details and so on. Maybe this is already being done
and it just needs to be more publicized.

For the not feeling welcomed or part of the group, I get that. I felt a little bit of that last
year (my first DGRR) and still some if it this year. When theres 200+ people gathered, we
human animals tend to clump into groups of folks we know and stay that way for the
most part. The only solution is reaching out and saying HI to everyone. In a way, rotary
people are a lot like nerds; poor socialization skills and lack of confidence. One suggestion
I can make is to add stripes to the id cards that represent past DGRR attendance. That
way the newbs standout and we can make an effort to explain or help out these folks as
we go about our daily DGRR fun.

I like the slightly unstructured and flexible event schedule because up in the mountains
$hit happens!

:biggthumpup:

t_g_farrell,
Something like the years in attendance can be done pretty easily. Since when you register, or if you go into your profile on the site, you can check off all the years you've attended.

Updating the website etc can be hard without stable internet connections, but not imposable. I would just question how many people would look at the website... I think a better idea may be a text alert from the website. As an optional feature, add your phone to the website, and select your carrier, then if there's changes to the itinerary, you'll get a text alert.


Another suggestion I have is a swap meet. An organized time etc to lay your stuff out in the pavilion and sell or trade spare parts / services etc.

I would be down for tuning / engine building 101 etc if the price was right.

:squint:

I think a tuning class or an engine building class would be rather difficult to setup and hold without tools, and components and things of that nature, plus it would need to be a rather small group of attendees to make it worth while... in my opinion.

But hell... if someone wants to bring a portable dyno :D

As far as the anti-socialization goes, I didn't experience any of that this year nor have I ever in years past. People didn't recognize me and just started talking away, which I think it pretty chill. Then again, I also go down with a group of 20 and wander all over the place chatting with lots of people that I already knew.... Then there are the people that I had never met like Vinnie... Hey, you're Brian, you bought my old car didn't you. That was pretty cool...

I blame that on the hair. :icon_tup:

If I keep this up next year I'll have a car with a plate that reads SLVR-FX :rofl:

agreed. there were a good grip of piston powered fun cars there. the Miata of Doom, FD ACR, LT1 powered FD, list goes on.

Epic beater. . . i am TOTALLY game and support a trophy for that catagory. . . bc then I stand a chance with my car :rofl: :lol:

I like the swap meet idea. Maybe during the day Fri or Sat or when it rains :D

Haha... I pictured TitaniumTT as an old grumpy middle aged man pissed off at the world... But instead a young hippy looking Yankee pissed off at the world. You and Rice Racing would be comical with your own reality show.

Fixed for accuracy...

my new signature

You can blame Chris for that, he said blame you :rofl: It's all good... took my rage out on that ridiculous plate frame on 3 seperate occasions :biggthumpup:

I never got the unwelcomed feeling and I drive an RX-8 :dunno::lol:

GET OUT!

Better? lol

:o10:

That must've been nice T_T

Between him and Father Time(BrewerBob) we could have had a first hand account of the last 2,000 years all the way up to the point where Brian visited NJ and got his hair dyed but forgot to stay for the frosted tips. Stay fresh old man.

Was looking through pics on KillBoy... I don't remember letting some long haired blonde chick drive my car.... probably gave Mike a happy ending for the keys, looked like he had a smile on his face

That's how that tank got filled. ;)

yes driving an RX-8 was nice. . . :suspect:

I'd like to see that pic. I think I was behind them on the dragon and the girl driving
it was driving ... like a girl! I could see some
guy in the passenger seat, figured he was letting his girlfriend drive. They were
pissing me off big time until she pulled in at Fontana Village as we were going
up to the dragon on 28. They showed up a bit later at the dragon resort after
we parked there.

If you were behind my car, you can't miss the plate - NFURY-8 :lol:

Thhe Abarth was a blast

I didn't know that was you Banzai.

I'd love to learn on how to tune. Even learn on how to play with a haltech.


Agree with all except the piston award...should just give them a gallows, noose, and a weed eater piston of sorts. Most definitely Longest Driven and Epic Beater. My FC (body) has over 230k miles on it.

It was my first year there and I had trouble remembering names. I made it a point to just say hi. I knew no one other than who we came with in our local club. Just gotta ask people "Hows it going? Or which one is yours?" Best way to start a convo

:iagree: I love both these ideas and we have more than enough parts to swap or sell at a meet! I was actually surprised you guys didn't have a swap meet.
We could've done that during the rain for sure or we could register for a booth in a warehouse or VFW or something in the area when we register.

Pretty much all the ideas that I had to add to the event or suggest have already been suggested. Only other thing I can say is to have the option of local rotary clubs put up booths or try to help sponsor the event? Maybe hand out Calendars with club meet dates and etc.?

I pull off for no one! Twasn't me though I was indeed driving an 8 and have been mistaken for a fine female occasionally on account of my long blond locks. Mike's too short to bd seen in the passenger seat anyway. :lol:

I think having a dyno there would actually be a good idea, even if the tuning seminar never happens (I think it's a cool thought, but the execution would be VERY difficult trying to teach tuning since you don't know what background everybody has, etc). The dyno though would be fun for all. I'm not even a dyno junky but I'd hang out and see who puts down what, etc. Maybe make it an award??

Swap meet would be cool too... I've always thought we need more swap meets in our community. Not to mention it never hurts to have MORE parts on hand at DGRR....

Phew, You guys do know I hate threads like this... because I have to jump in and say I'll try.

We had a tuning class several years ago and went ok. But like anything organized.. people complain and usually select few makes us think if its worth doing it again or not. Also, tuning can be dangerous and it would have to be a basic tuning class and limited or have to charge people to control number.

Different category fun awards are do able.. I just didn't have much time to think about that... Definitely work on that for next year.

Newbie thing... This is a hard thing... But also something newbies need to take charge to meet people. Most DGRR attendees are cool and nice. I think if you are a newb, should try to be proactive. I have asked and sat with newbs and talked to them.. And if you are previous attendees and see a new car or people, not a bad idea to start a conversation.
There is a limitation of what I can do, but having a different color name tag or something could be possible but might take good amount of time. I will work on that next year.

I'm now researching on a Projector and a screen for next year.. Can't spend a lot but want to buy a decent one. Also, a speaker system for the banquet and such..

Moving the prizes/announcer to the center of the pavilion was a huge improvement during the banquet over previous years.. a speaker system would be even better (maybe suggest it to the new owner and see if they'd install a simple PA system there.. I'm sure we're not the only ones who could use it).

I know you've mentioned it before Phil, but it would be cool if we could get some Mazda recognition for the 10th anniversary - maybe the 767 or 787 makes an appearance??? Tall order I'm sure though.

My idea right now, is to have a slide show, decent PA system so everyone can hear, and also flash the number on the screen. Most likely we will set up at the one end of the pavillion and do this next year.

Having Mazda sponsoring will be a tough task.. There is far more thing involved and I'm going to try next year. Other option is try to get Jim Downing and Rich Engman to join us. But that might require more than me contacting them but maybe as a community. I have asked Paul @ Mazmart, but I think he hates me and gave up asking him couple of years ago. We shall see.. but that's not really on my priority list as I could be spending tons of time trying to do it and yield is few seconds of checking out one car. might not be my time well spend.

I told the noobs that you were James Holmes on special parole for the event, and that you go nuts if nobody talks to you. One of the noobs didn't believe me at first, but later on he was a believer after mumbling something about seeing James Holmes take a dump in somebody's car because they ignored him.

Phil, I have a DLP projector with an 8 foot movie screen I use to watch movies upstairs in the bonus room I can bring. You have my number let me know.

Color on the name tags or even a "years attended stripes" would be pretty easy. I can do a lot of image editing through the web code and even have it make staff name tags, or sponsor tags (I noticed you had some special staff tags for some people). Would be really easy on my end.

Lol.. could even make a special tag for people that have been there every year... I already have profile values on the website where people can check off what years they've been tot he event.