North American FR-S/BRZ Owners Club
 

How do we start this?

I'm thinking something similar to ITRCA.

Not a website, but a group.

-Once a year national meets at a racetrack
-Direct ties with the manufacturers for discounts on OEM maintenance parts, etc.
-Owners registry

-Hopefully eventually leading to an SCCA/NASA sanctioned auto group in time (thinking Spec Miata here)


How does this stuff start off? Who takes the first step?

This is kinda the direction I wanted to go with the TX2K thing for FT86Club, but like you, I wouldn't know where to start...


Probably starts from deep in the wallet....

I'll step up and be social coordinator. We can have the first meet in Flower Mound. I hear there's a guy that will let us play around in his Supras.

Well I'm one of the guys who runs ITRCA and ITRExpo so I'll help with parts of it.

We certainly lose money (we have no interest in profit, rather it's a support group for those of us who enjoy the car lol) but it's not like we lose a lot. We lose our web hosting expenses and legal expenses, but that's about it. The ITR Expo basically breaks even (by design).

This year the event is likely to be at Mid Ohio in August, I'll probably drive the BRZ instead of the ITR (going to Cedar Point and other stops afterwards, BRZ = no theft concerns/worries) in case anyone wants to come out for a fun track event :)

If I own one at the time I'll be there as well. It may be a great place to organize the first event, and get the real followers out there and see who really puts in the time to come to such an event.

Maybe we can work with the ITRExpo guys and see how it was formed at the early stages in the late ninties. I would certainly want to avoid stepping on any toes or overlapping such a great community.

You won't step on any toes. Half of us are involved with other events anyways. There have been at least 2 events that I know of that have used us as a base for how they run their events.

Expo was initially formed kind of as a joke on NSXpo and it lost a huge amount of money (5 figures). After that it was moved from the West Coast and has done well since. I've been involved since 2003 (which was probably the biggest year, Mugen brought some cars out and flew staff from Japan to the event, we had about $23,000 in raffle prices for the banquet, the largest overall turnout, etc).

The one thing I will say is not to bother with the West Coast. We've tried to bring Expo out there many times and it never gets supported. 50% of the registrants will be from the east coast of the US. I'd love to see a successful car specific track event out there as I'd love to drive across the country, track the car for a few days, then take a nice drive up the PCH and back through the mountains, etc. I have no qualms about doing a 7,000 mile road trip.

That is assuming you intend to have a track event. If you plan on a car show, the WC should easily support that. Different cultures in my experience.

I wanna come play! Mid-Ohio is only about 2.5 hrs from me, and It's a great track, I did a track day there once. :thumbup:

Sounds pretty awesome, let me know if I can help in any way I've always wanted to be part of something like this... something BIG and fun and Auto related!

I am also very interested in this. I would love to have a support group to enable my addiction. Gotta love 12 step programs where all the steps are in the wrong direction.

Thanks for the great info Dave!

Do you know if ITRCA is a legal non-profit entity? How do you garner that professional image enough to present yourself to manufactures, etc for sponsorship.

What are the going rates for a weekend at the track dedicated to your group specifically?

We can call it "NABFOC" :D Seriously though, this damn dual manufacturer thing is annoying.

^^^ I agree, we should just start referring to the BRZ/FR-S as the AS1.

I thought it was ZC6 and ZN6? o.o

Really?!?!?



I would love to meet him!


http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...jpg?1296494117

And yeah, it is. Apparently AS1 was not official... T__T


We can call it ZN6ZC6FT86BRZFRSOC!



Edit: I just realized that if we kept AS1, we could call it NAAS1OC. That'll get the Nasioc guys pissed!!

That's not going to fit on my license plate :D

I'd definitely be interested in an owners club with perks like discounts on performance items and track days. Unfortunately the big disadvantage of living in the US is that it's much more spread out than most countries, and really hard to find a place where enough members from across the country are willing or able to drive their car to for an event.

NAAS1OC is so fucking clever! Someone needs to jump on that name ASAP

DOOO EEEETTTTTTTTT!!!

[u2b]JoqDYcCDOTg[/u2b]

Lol @ crazy acronyms. I'd go for 86club.

na86oc

If you guys are at Mid-Ohio in August I would like to attend if I have not relocated south yet. Right now, I live about 1 1/4 hours north of the track. The only thing is, I will probably still be driving the MR-S because the FR-S has not impressed me quite enough to give it up. I will have to install a HardDog before I can actually track it and maybe the 2ZZ/6speed. I assume this would be open to Toyota siblings?

It's setup as an LLC (for profit). There's a lot less paperwork involved with a for profit vs a non-profit, especially when you are a for profit without profit :)

We just talk to companies for sponsorship. We obviously focus on companies that benefit from our students/instructors (ie carbotech, hondata, HPD, Honda/Acura, etc) which makes it easier. We have the previous events numbers (attendance) etc ready and we include advertising on the website, forum and their logo and such on all media/t-shirts for the event. They can also post in the sponsor forum if they want to and offer discounts, specials, etc.

Rates depend on the track, whether it's a weekday or weekend (at many of the high end tracks you can only get weekdays with a small group like ours since they sell out the same weekends every year to the big guys), how many workers/security/ambulance/tow trucks are needed, etc. We bring our own track control crew with us which costs us some extra. This guy: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/shields-...rom/19/832/227 is our classroom instructor, which costs us some money as well but it's worth it for the knowledge the students get, and the track control guys are worth it as well so our events are always consistant in terms of how they are run, rule enforcement, etc. Add in Insurance (or if the track will allow it, get added to theirs for the event) which can cost quite a bit of money after the Ferrari Owners Club incident a few years back.

On top of track costs we have the costs associated with the banquet including rental of somewhere large enough for 150-250 people, food for all those people, etc.

We also get HPDE insurance offered for students as well, which takes a little extra time/effort but can be worth it, especially with newer cars involved.

Some years event t-shirts are provided depending on financials (and in some years, sponsors have paid for the shirts).

Subaru already has the Subaru Challenge (http://www.subaruchallenge.com/) which isn't anything like what we are talking about here, however, they may be open to assistance in setting up a larger HPDE type event under that name, however I'm not sure about that....

I would be surprised if they supported a grassroots effort considering that they do have the Subaru Challenge event already though.

We open ITRExpo up to all vehicles. It's mostly ITRs still but plenty of other cars too.

Guys I say we go for this.

First step is to come up with a name that is approved by SOA and Toyota/Scion, something that doesn't infringe on any copyrights or TM.

Then file for a Delaware based LLC.

Then go to Subaru & Scion, along with the aftermarket groups, and get the first event underway.

If you have any ideas on what you would like to see incorporated please list them here for open discussion.

I just fired off an email to Subaru Corporate Partnership group to get an information packet.

I'll speak with Scion today as well. If you know of potential aftermarket sponsors we should get them on board early too.

We'll discuss location later, but I think the first event would have to be 2013 due to the timeframe and logistics. We could do a mini-meetup at the ITRExpo to gather ideas, drink beer, and have a good time.

I want everyone's opinions.

Good first steps. I wouldn't worry about sponsors, they'll want to know even details, which you won't have so nothing would progress on that front.

The event needs to be decided on and planned first :thumbup:

I like where this is going! Let me know if there's anything I can do to help out guys. In the meantime, I'll try to think of some names.

I'll shoot from the hip...screw details! Sign us up as the first sponsor Dave :D

I can be an ambassador for Minnesota/Wisconsin area...IE force the handful of future FT owners over here to caravan over.


Justin

I could try to gather folks from the greater Cincinnati region... And I autox and I seriously doubt I'll be the only FR-S, so I'll recruit all who are willing!

Ground level, grassroots driver's club, ASSEMBLE!

DOOOOOO IT

Is there any progress on this?

I'm not sure who was working on it. On the other side registration for ITR epo at mid Ohio will open soon :)

Progress Report:

-Subaru, on the review list and probably a 30 day wait still.

-Scion, wants a proposal drafted with the benefits to Scion and the community outlined, as well as what level of support (financial and logistical) that we would hope to receive from them.


I'm a regular human being, and as such, have been busy with work. Anybody who wants to draft up an outline, and collaborate with me to generate a proposal, is highly encouraged!

I'd like this to remain somewhat transparent and grassroots driven, so the more people involved the better.

Community outline? Like a summary of the ft86club? If thats the case I'll try to get on that after I get some work done this week.

No, not a community outline. Keep in mind that ft86club is a separate legal entity, and should not be associated on the legal level. This would be a yearly event and owners group. I would say that ft86club would be the leading partner.

Banners could say, "FT86club.com and the NA86OC present the annual 86Expo!" or similar. Do you see where I am coming from?

I think they are looking for something more along the lines of a mission statement, followed with list of benefits that would be a result of a collaboration between Scion and our group.

Correct, that is what they want.

I'm currently busy with prepping the race car for a 24 hour race and ITR Expo stuff but I will have some time next month...

Dang! You guys are making some progress!


What are some ways that we benefit Scuon with this though? We would be a rolling advertisement I suppose. And we would increase awareness of a fairly niche market car, which could attract buyers... But beyond that, how do we help them?

A mission statement... alright I'll think of something, gotta get my BRZ section FAQ done first, I'm sure many will jump in to help. you're not alone!

Also we are open to discussion on a naming convention for the expo and group. It cannot have the words "Scion" "Toyota" "FR-S" "BRZ" or "Subaru" in it.

It CAN have acronyms, such as "86" "ZX6" "FT86" "Hachi", etc. or even shorthand versions of the name. "Toyobaru" etc would be fine.

Although the FR-S is an integral part of this, from what I am seeing evidenced through aftermarket involvement and even trending on this forum, the BRZ will likely be the pick of most enthusiasts that actually track, solo, and participate in HPDE. I mention this because I believe it would be a wise decision to pick a name that doesn't alienate either brand. Although I love the "86" logo, and concept, I think it is lopsided in terms of branding, and may make SOA feel like we disproportionally support the Toyota side if we pick a name such as NA86OC or "The 86 Expo", etc.

I'm just speaking aloud here to open the floor for naming discussion. Ideas appreciated.

Ditch the "6", it's just the engine designation anyway, and just use "Zx" in the same way that the Subaru community already refers to it's cars (GC, GM, GF, GD, GG, GR, BD, etc). Then you've got NAZxOC and NAZxPO, or IZxOC / IZxPO. ZxOC / ZxPO sound even better IMO but might cause some confusion with the Nissan guys.

The problem is that Toyota and Subaru use a different system.

Subaru = ZC6
Toyota = ZN6

We could just call it "Z6", which would be logical.

Still looking for ideas here.