CORSA 2012: Draft Schedule

[Vairtec Corporation]

Hi, Ken.  Remember, I am speaking only for me.  Brian will endorse or 
shoot down what I say as he sees fit.  But while you are approaching the 
subject from the standpoint of organization and execution, I am 
approaching it from a publicity and promotional standpoint.

The concours should have classification available before the rally is 
over, just as you wish.  This is, as you noted, the benefit of those 
persons not participating on the rally and to help the concours 
organizers stay ahead of things.  But in our published schedule we 
should not list such an overlap, lest the concours classification 
"cannibalize" the rally.

At your participants' meeting you can advise entrants that they need not 
wait until the rally is over.  This can be included in the printed 
packets, too.  This will permit you to get started on classification 
without encouraging anyone to skip the rally.

I am confident that the rally organizers will be happy to ensure that 
Larry Claypool, or anyone else needed for the classification process, 
gets directed onto the rally route relatively early.

As for the "day trippers," I believe that we need to cater to the 
broadest cross-section of Corvair owners, and not limit the concours to 
those who are able to be on-site one or two days before.  I believe that 
anyone who shows up Friday morning "at 8:00 or 8:30" should be welcomed 
into the concours if that's what they wish to do.  It will require extra 
effort on the part of registration personnel and extra effort on the 
part of the concours personnel, but I have long advocated for our being 
inclusive not exclusive.

Yes, there needs to be a practical cut-off time, but the region is thick 
with Corvair owners and there is a real possibility that a good number 
of them may roll in Friday morning.  Let's try to be as accommodating to 
them as possible.  They're our customers!

We will definiately get word of the availability of advance placement 
out there, via the Communique and the blog and the web site and the 
online forums (fora?).  My point on the schedule is to just keep the 
basic schedule simple, and fill in the details elsewhere as appropriate.

Don't think for a second that I don't appreciate the level of thought, 
preparation, and effort you are putting into the concours.  The concours 
is the convention's traditional centerpiece, and it needs to be done 
right, as you are doing.  But it also needs to be done within the 
context of the overall convention and, in my view at least, in a manner 
that makes it an event accessible to everyone who wishes to participate.

Now, let me point out that I am not wholly opposed to making the 
concours "exclusive" by requiring early registration and early arrival, 
if that is what you and rest of the committee prefers.  But if we are to 
do this then our publicity and promotion must make it well known that 
morning-of arrival is not acceptable for this particular event.  Either 
way, you and I need to make sure that we are on the same page.  I prefer 
a more open event, but what I really prefer is to promote the event with 
accuracy and fairness.

Your thoughts?

--Bob