I have gone to Highland Park several times and agree it would be a great trials venue if we could get permission to ride off the trails and in the streams. There is a great trail network for a loop.
We would also have to work around the $20 gate fee. The infrastructure is already there.
Eddie: the next time you are there, please see if there is any interest in a trials and let us know. Maybe Paul would view that as a promotional opportunity....

Will do.

He said he would like to.Give him a shout and talk to him about particulars.He seemed very interested.

Thanks Eddie! I'll have another reason to head back out there.

Round 5 – January 13, 2008 – Promise Ranch-Central Florida

Barry, Promise Ranch is a great place to ride, but the STRA Awards Banquet is on Jan 12th. Mark.

quote:

Tim: Will anyone that can speak as the Fun-in-the-Sun promoter be at the STRA business meeting on Jan 12? There will be some questions and discussion on the event that would need to be addressed.

It would be difficult to be at the meeting because of our event on the 13th, wouldn't a phone discussion suffice?

Barry:

I discussed the plan with Tim Cone who agreed to take the lead on assuring the event would meet STRA rules, marking guidelines, level of difficulty and financial obligations. Please be sure the FTA members are aware that all riders have to be STRA members (see rulebook section 12) and section 9 outlines the entry fees.
It would be good to have someone who could be reached by phone during the business meeting if a particular issue needs to be discussed. Please send me that contact info.
Also, any rule changes that may be passed for the 2008 season could affect the Fun in the Sun if it is selected for the STRA schedule. That is one reason it helps to have the promoter in attendance, but is not a requirement.

Brock

Is the 2-Day going to be part of the Regional Championship? I was under the impression that that was a go, if it is will anyone riding have to be a member of all 3 organizations?

Last year the STRA rounds of the eastern regional requested and was granted an exemption from the membership rule. I'm not sure if that will happen again, but if it does and the FTA 2 day is also a regional, it would make sense to treat it the same way.
I'm not aware of any regional membership requirements, only the TdN fund raiser fee.

Brock, have you been able to pencil together a tentative schedule yet? Or what events do you feel are commited at this point?

Thanks

VERY TENTATIVE/PRELIMINARY 2008 Schedule. Both the dates and events are not final:
Ocala, FL Mar 1/2
Hattisburg, MS Apr 5/6
Sequatchie, TN May 17/18
Lenoir City, TN Jun 21/22
Cornelia, GA Sep 20/21
Sequatchie, TN Oct 11/12
Clem, GA Nov 8/9
Gadsden, AL Nov 22/23

I like feedback, especially from the Promoters. Please let me know if you need to change dates, cancel, etc.
There is still discussion on the Florida event and the schedule, events and dates will be discussed and voted on at the Business Meeting next month.
Don't forget the Banquet/Business Meeting in Cartersville on Saturday Jan 12 (same place as last 2 years). More details to follow.
Al: when do we get another STRA up your way? 2009?

I was contemplating which is why I asked the question.

There are three of us up here at this point, with some defintion of "active" and the riding area is still available I believe.

But it looks like 16 events on the calendar now, so maybe 09 or maybe as a backup.

I have not spoken with the other two guys that would be crucial, nor more importantly with the landowner, although I feel fairly comfortable stating that it would be acceptable to everyone if I wanted to do it.

Kind of idle thoughts at the moment.

I am starting to see lights at the end of the housing tunnel, although it could be an oncoming train of a crashing housing market.....

Is the 12 event STRA rule still in the books? (I will have to go look) On edit, OK I went and looked.

http://setrialsriders.org/STRA_Rules/STRA_Rulebook_2007.pdf

Currently says "suggested" is 7 to 12 rounds. Which if memory serves we did so that we could have more rounds if they were available.

At that though, I doubt that STRA needs a 18 round series, so 09 is probably a potential.

What is the reasoning behind NOT having more events?

Paul, I was on the, "why limit ourselves" end of the discussion several years ago, and do not know that I remember the other sides view well enough to say really why.

That said, as a potential promoter, looking at a schedule of 16 or 18 events, knowing that folks riding the series need to do 1/2 plus one I believe (need to check that rulebook again) and realizing that I am on the "fringe" of driveablity for most of the STRA, (and to be honest if the event was 11 miles north, most would not consider it) it makes me hesitate to commit to what would probably be a low participation event.

Would probably get as much enjoyment, and would require a lot less work to throw something like a "potluck" fun trials, in a dead spot in the STRA / TI calendar, spend $200 on porta pots and supplies, throw out a voluntary donation jar, and just have a fun ride.

For me, and I think all promoters have different motivations, desires, and drives, but for me, I would hate to put the effort into putting on what I would consider an STRA quality event for an attendance of 30 riders.

If I had to sum up the other sides arguments (and those of you that argued against speak up here) the thoughts that come to my mind where.

Something along the lines of "I want to ride all the STRA sanctioned events, that is the idea of a series and 16 is too many"

The other was something along the line of, "if we have 16 events, there will not be enough observors to fill the requirements"

Again, while I put them in quotes, they are not truly that, it is a hazy at best reccollection of a 20 minute discussion many years ago.

Al: that is roughly my recollection too - mainly that we run out of observers. Even with our 12 event schedule this year, we had some issues manning all the sections.
The FTA event will not draw many from the STRA observer pool - only the FTA members who worked an event last year and that was a very low number.
Same with Hattisburg - most of those observers were local enduro club members and friends of Clint.
Still, those 2 events will have some effect.

Thant brings me to another suggestion and that is to offer 7 section/4 loop events as opposed to the 'standard' 8 section/4 loops. This would save 12+ observers from the 12 event 'standard' series and allow them to be spread over 4 more events. Look for this as a business meeting agenda item.

Also Al, we would love to head back up your way in 2009! There are some other venues I hope to get back on the schedule as well. Talks are underway....

Thanks Al.
I guess we just need more riders.