Cant conceivably make it any cheaper without getting a concrete guarantee of more entrants. Is there any other way you think you could be attracted to the event?

Maybe try contacting Audi club of NSW.

Id be more than happy to post on all the modern watercooled forums.

And if you would like more none "Volkswagen entrants" maybe consider inviting another car club to share cost and create more entries.

convince certain forum dwellers to finish their cars in time for next year lol, i said similar last year though
but yes, promote on vwwatercooled aswell as here? sprints are mentioned at vwdcq meets in qld, see our editorial in the magazine
perhaps more german beer wenches? we all still remember that photo... i think there was an article attached?
ask vwma craig how the 8th mile series gets more entrants?
if its a $$ issue, id pay $10 to spectate - unless its rainy, that was shithouse last year, top points for weather this year guys

Maybe some people are worried about bending their cars. I'm keen to give it a go, but I have no experience racing and would not like to piss off someone else by taking a corner wrong and smashing them off a track. If my experience in computer games is anything to go by, it could be a possibility.

What about 2 flying solo timed laps for beginners, or people with expensive paint work? There were a few races run with 3 cars over 6 ish laps on Saturday, so 2 laps per car is roughly the same ratio. It could mean a longer wait time between races, but once new drivers cut their teeth af a sprint or two they can join in with the pack.

Drags are straight forward, but circuit racing requires a heap more finesse, so I can see why they may be a bit daunting. I'm interested, but might look into a motorkhana first to get to grips with the handling characteristics of my car at speed.

Just an idea.

I was there on Saturday as a spectator and had a great time. It got me heaps keen to get involved and more motivated to build up a track car, so you will have another entrant in a few years time probably.

^^^ Chris based on this, can you maybe get an instructor for the day to passenger with who ever wants advice?? Circuit Club run their events this way and I think that helps gives first timers confidence to jump in and have a go.

Plenty of good instructors around with experience, may increase costs, by say $10 an entry to cover an instructor, but maybe you would get more entries?

maybe get a sponsor for the event and get them to cover the driving instructor cost

Cheers
Paul

Supersprints , you are racing the clock ,
1 there should only be 2 cars on the track at once
2 there should be no overtaking
3 if you are held up by the car in front you should get a re-run
these are fundamental safety issues

something the outlaws suggested to me, they came down for the sprints, were suprised it was free to spectate & were thinking use something like a weekend pass for both spectators & entrants of the sprints & show days?
extra points for actually using your car the previous day for the trophy chasing crowd?

you could make it cheaper by running with AASA if not extend out the event a bit more.

Perhaps have a couple of feature circuit races so more vees come and include a half dozen of regualrity groups or even supersprint groups to cater for all the other types of cars.

I'm a member of the HFVAA (historic vees) and I reckon they would of been keen to come and run if they had a proper race; as a supersprint for them is really just a waste of time unless they need to bed in things or test. Would it be too much work to get it included in a state round of vees? (probably...but hey)

During lunch too you could allow an exibition run around the track for non racers so they could see the track from first hand view but not at speed.

I would pay $10 for spectator entry to the supersprint as well, $20 is too much, and I definately think a cruise down from sydney or canberra for non racers would make it more worthwhile. Also if your selling tickets at the gate make the tickets a raffle and the winner at lunch gets a run with Rudy! for a couple of laps

My 2c

PS Great event; once we all knew what groups we were with it ran smooth

Cheers

SHaun

I think it attracts a different crowd to the nationals show n shine, maybe run it as a separate event when the calenders a bit quieter, get other clubs involved etc?
I think a real push towards getting newbies with slower cars out there would be best for numbers.

i too find it hard to understand the attraction to Warwick for the seat time........but yes it's an excellent event and relaxed atmosphere that makes it pleasent to attend.........it's great to wander around the pits and check out all the cars, do people know you can also do this at Goulburn?

break down the cost of entry into $$ per expected lap and people may see it in a different light?......i don't mean charge per lap but looking at it in this mannor. compare it to go karts

organised cruise down there for non racers might have impact for the following years after they see how safe Wakefield really is.......erase everyones memory of a "blackish" coloured beetle after last year

More emphasis in the advertising about how the groups are classed and the fact that this means there is very lttle overtaking as you're in amongst cars of similar speeds.......sheez i'd rather be on a track with 10 people there for a reason rather than in peak hour with all sorts running their own agenda.....getting this accross to potential entrants as early as possible......emphasis the fact you wont be left stuck in Goulburn forever if your car does break, the VW fraternity have the skills and parts on hand to get everyone home.

it's not hard on the equipment when driven sensibly.....certainly with rolling starts and the track itself being hard to hit anything more than a grasshopper or two.......i know it, you know it, but does a potential first timer know?

promoting as driver training with the axailability of experts sounds excelent

prize for slowest lap average over all the runs...most improved..entrants/spectators vote on one car that impressed them for the spectacle, not a time.......go big give them their entry fee back!

organise a dinner and drinks on the Saturday night, break down the walls so eveyone gets to share their excitment and stories while the adrenalin is still flowing


i'll think of some more dumb stuff to add later

Big Busty wet "T" Shirt comp

What are you all on about.

We had a lovely weekend we left Newcastle Fri lunch time with a 4 hr drive to Goulburn.

Meet up with a nice bunch of people at the track where the cabins are to stay over night. Then we all went out for tea at the Paragon at Goulburn for a nice meal and chin wag and talk racing n vw crap lol.

Then back to the track accommodation to have a gas bag in the cozy warm cabin while watching the footy.

Up early Sat morning to be greeted by a great frosty morning weather was perfect after the ice cleared off the cars.

Time to hit the track for a day filled of racing and chatting about racing techniques.

Rose got to go out as the lead car for the first timers to follow around the track for a few laps with Rudy as the navigator he gave her some good tips for the racing at Wakefield.

Had a heap of laps around 20 odd.

Then back to Newcastle 4 hour drive to swap over bugs, have a sleep then up at 5am to take the drag racing bug back down to the Nats on Sun.

Enter the car in the show n shine. Had a look around had lunch talked to heaps of people about the Nude drag racing bug. Had a look around swap meet. Had some fairy floss.

Left after trophies presentation for a 2 hr drive home.

We had a great VW weekend away. Cant wait till the next one.

Who's going to Sawtell Winter Break

Move the Nats to Goulburn, running out of the same location or nearby?

we will have to convert u LOL

I dont know how much more publicity I could give it. I sent out about 250 emails to past competitors and other car clubs and also spammed a few facebook pages. Thats where the non VW guys come from. There was a thread on vwwatercooled forum, but it wasnt flogged to death like it was here admittedly.

2 cars on the track at a time wouldnt be good value. Everyone would get 1/5th of the track time. And then if every second car gets a rerun for being held up you'll get even less. The guys on the grid did a pretty good job of sorting the cars. Not 100% to my running order but close most of the time. A lot of the overtaking came from cars that were late turning up to the dummy grid. When a car was obviously too slow/fast they were moved to a different group as much as possible. Courtesy plays a big part in sprints. As you say its a single lap time that counts. Safety on overtaking is the onus of the faster car but the slower car should move out of the way. If everyone turned up at the grid on time you would get to know who is the quicker car of the pair and let the faster guy out first. Personally I dont think that enough gap was left between pairs either.

Those 2 small groups were the "plastic" cars with little protection that have to run by themselves. It was compounded by one of them being double entered. I'm not taking any flak about that cos I got shouted down about stopping double entries

I agree with it being much more daunting than drags. Its no small ask to ask someone to gamble their car.

AASA will be looked into next year, though I have zero experience with that.

Having driver training, feature races is impossible under a supersprint permit. Training or practice day might be on option on the friday before if it was an open day, wouldnt need a permit. Wakefield is pretty busy though, usually something happening on most days.

Hmmm Daimo thats another issue you raise about slower cars feeling left out. I spoke to a few people on the phone about that trying to convince them.

I think with a small event like ours we have to do away with the standard colour groups. We dont have enough cars to fill them faster ones anyway. Everything was clearer when I went to the group 1,2,3...

We can run any classes we like. Why dont we toss a few ideas around for it now? It is a bit tough on stock 1600 beetles going in type 3 but thems the current rules (where the 1600 isnt original). The hard part will be making it relevant to non VW as well. The fear is that if you alienate others by having non standard classes and lose the very people who save the event by making up the numbers.

I think there is something like 30 classes as it stands now. If I had my way I would probably run very little in prizes. Maybe a fastest outright, fastest tin top, fastest street car on street tyres, fastest lady. One or 2 more maybe. I come from a time when commercial vehicles were excluded and had to run in open wheeler type 5 class (it was type 4 at the time). At Huntley hillclimb I raced my kombi in the same class as Peter Gumley in the SCV. 29 seconds against 19 seconds. Still had to run every time though. If you do it for the trophy you're doing it for the wrong reasons.

just get more woman drivers , tell them its easy as it just like racing to drop the kids at school ..but all the cars are going the same direction.

How much is it? Sorry i havent looked and should probably know.

When you have all the entrants there you could ask them to nominate 5 businesses that might be interested in sponsoring you guys the next year. I know that we used to do this at a footy club i played for. Even if you just get one new sponsor from each person... all the money helps...

I wouldn't like to see increased costs as a better way to get more peple there... As it is there are a lot of perceived costs for someone like me who has not attended or been involved in a sprint before. Maybe this site could have a racing calendar for the year. Something that is visable.

Ask them to randomly scroll the months motoracing in the top ad section. It gets a lot of traffic this site so exposure in advance ,...

I am looking forward to one day having a crack. Finally got my pan sorted ready for paint. Got a shit load of parts ready to go too... cost increases do not sound good. Have a look at the budget you are pulling from???

Hi Chris

Wether u change classes, change venues, charge people entry etc etc, CT & I will always be there to support u. (hopefully there will be more than 2 of us)

I do wish to see the event as big as the days of Amaroo park when they held vw sprints there, I also wish all the hillclimb boys came to play (& show us how to drive) that would boost numbers.

But it's still an awesome day & the highlight of the year.
Anyone can drive in a straight line for a few seconds, somehow people need to be convinced that Supersprints are just as safe & u just drive your car to your comfort level & enjoy it. I do.

regards
jak

Hi guys,now where do I start, my love of the VW product is unshakeable. I love aircooleds, waterpumpers, stock, modified, rat....I love 'em all. BUT.... I'm also from a single income family with 3 teenage kids. So although I would support every single VW event in Australia the reality is I dont have the funds to do many events. Some of the best weekends I've ever experienced have been at the Warwick Weekender. I do whatever it takes to get to the drags with my $300 shitbox because I can get just a taste of VW racing on a shoestring budget. I look around and see the who's who of high end VW racing and it feels great to be at the same event.It helps that Warwick is only an hour from home! I read the posts on aussieveedubbers of peoples projects and can look in admiration and maybe one day soon I will have a project finished that someone else will admire, but in the meantime it's business as usual working flat out ....school fees....mortgage.....blah blah blah. GET TO THE POINT! Day to day shit gets in the road of doing things we'd love to do, so I don't think any lack of numbers at any VW events are directly related to the quality of the event, but more to do with People can't do every event that is on offer. Or am I the only battler on aussieveedubbers???? I mean who wouldn't want to go racing with whatever veedub they had going! The real cost for Me to race at wakefield would be substantial, Hire a tow car and trailer,fuel,accomodation,food etc. The cost of entering the event would be the easy part. Anyway, enough dribble. All I can say is I hope all VW events continue on in the future so I can one day attend. I hope I didn't stray too far off the topic. CHEERS

yeah fully understand that. I had to give my racing career away when I crunched 2 gearboxes in 2 events while a uni student. Just never got back into it. I havent been to a motorsport event since that I havent been one of the core officials. Maybe one day. Maybe next year I'll drag the 1500 lancer around?

Dont know how I can get this by the organisers. How about every body that has sent their forms and entry fee in 2 weeks prior to the event goes into a barrel to win back their entry fee. That would save me a lot of grey hair.

If this pic doesn't get more entry's next year I don't know what will. Old School flares & whale tail & look at the grin on his face!

or is he screaming in fright?

either way, very very cool.

Jak