Should we buy CCS from CCE?

[motomadness]

Should we buy CCS/FUSA from CCE?  Or at least the web reporting rights?

It seems like the only means for a change is to revamp the system.  How do you do that in corporate america, you buy it?

What would it take to buy CCS/FUSA from CCE?

[tzracer]

Money.

I heard that CCE paid about $2,000,000 for CCS. I would expect that the price would be at least that amount.

I have thought about a racer owned organization, but I think it might be difficult. We have a fairly transient membership. How would you run things? You would probably need some sort of constitution so you don't have rules and regs being changed by the whim of the majority.

While a nice idea, I think the running of such a large organization by the members would be difficult. Even having a represetative from each region would be difficult (when, where, how often would they meet, etc).

[sdiver68]

Finally, for the first time in awhile, someone has hit the nail on the head...

Of course CCE would listen...for the right price.

We need about $600K in cash up front.  The rest I can borrow, assuming the Income Statements, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow look good for CCS Roadracing.  However, without the $600K, it may be difficult to get access to those documents.  Also, anyone with experience in M&A that would be willing to contribute some preliminary work would be good as well.

Who's in???

BTW, you don't need to run it as a member owned org, just by someone who is more responsive to CCS needs than CCE appears to be.

One caution, however, once someone got a good hard look at all the documents and/or even bought CCS, many of the decisions being made may not be much different.

[motomadness]

I think from what I've seen at the track in my 2.5 years of participating in CCS, there are a lot of folks that have been around for a while.  It is those people whom you must look toward for guidance.

If we really wanted to we could do it.

Beside in most organization, most of the work is done by a dedicated few.

Something must be done.

[tzracer]

BTW, you don't need to run it as a member owned org, just by someone who is more responsive to CCS needs than CCE appears to be.

One caution, however, once someone got a good hard look at all the documents and/or even bought CCS, many of the decisions being made may not be much different.

I have been a member of CCS since 1991. Personally I think CCS is better now than when I joined (who still has their EMR sticker?). The reason I mentioned a member owned org is your last sentance. If CCS where sold, things could end up worse than they are now. CCS needs to be owned by someone who cares about CCS and its members first and profits second.

[dwilson]

First question, why do you want CCS?  Do you think you can do better?  If so than what does "better" mean?  With as many regions as their are,  you'll always be fighting "you like their region better", the constant shift of public opinion, financial woes...  I think this sounds like a job for a project manager.  

Sounds like fun though, with a viable plan and proper organization, I'd get involved.  But right now you need cash.  

[r6_philly]

The only solution is to have a new management, with a new corporate philosophy, one that values and caters the customers. We are spending our wealth on racing, it would be nice that the company that took our money cared more about us, and it would be nice if we could have been involved in the decision making process. Even AMA have a comment period on their rules, so if that is criticized enough and not good enough, what do we have?

I had previously thoiught that if we can have some financial interests in CCS and have some say in the management process, it would improve things. Obviously complaining isn't doing it.

If we can come up with a plan to buy CCS, I would offer to be a part of the process, and volunteer to be involved in all data-related operations. (see my other post)

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

     Just like the issue earlier in the year with the MW Region awards banquet not being a success, I believe that assistance to help CCS is needed - not so much a take over. The suggestion I had was to let us assist CCS in planning for the awards banquet by helping to find locations and possibly presenting options here for the riders to vote on. I realize that only some of us are regulars here and not everyone would be able to vote online, but there are enough of us online from every region to represent an opinion of what the riders want.

     My view is similar with this subject. I too would like to see the website and other issues handled more efficiently, but I also realize that Kevin & Tiffineys hands are somewhat tied with the 2 of them having to perform all aspects of running CCS and handling 5000+ members. I believe that they do need some assistance with getting info posted on the website in a more timely fashion, and there have already been offers by people here to help in that area. I would imagine the time consumed by data entry for every region, every week, onto the website adds up really fast - not even taking into account the time it takes to sort out all the info and confirm it.

     What I am suggesting is to have a volunteer from each region donate their time by assisting in what ever way needed to get our results and points posted promptly. This would probably involve doing the busy work of the data entry, but it would take a load off of Kevin & Tiffiney and make alot of racers happy by seeing timely results posted on the website.

     In return for their effort that person would be rewarded with a coupon for 1 free class entry at the event of their choice, for each set of event results they complete. This free class would always be applied to the last class you enter and would require the purchase of at least 2 entries per free coupon, at the time you choose to use it. The coupon would have an expiration date and be transferable to another rider if so desired (Transfer of ownership must be signed by your regions race director or done thru CCS HQ).

     This is a suggestion that would only cost CCS a free race entry per set of event results completed, so it actually wouldn't cost them anything. In the end I think it would sure help to grease the wheels between the riders and CCS, and take somewhat of the burden off of them without having to add another paid employee!

[r6_philly]

I offered it for free. They didn't take it.

[GAMEDIC]

i also suggested that...no answer either.... it is pretty obvious..they do not care or things would be fixed..or at very least show some effort to get fixed nothing aganist Tiff or Kevin 2 people can only do so much...if they need help CCE should give it to them.. the only other thing i can think of is ..has anyone got in touch with CCE?...do they even know the problems?... they may think everything is fine if they are not being told there is a problem

[motomadness]

I think many of these comments are shared by many members.  What can we do to make the issues we have and the issue the CCS staff has into a positive discussion where a solutions are found, then implemented?

My idea to purchase CCS was not to replace the current staff, but to enhance their resources and improve the overall management of the membership matter.  I don't know what we could provide in terms of the business side because, quite frankly, we don't know any of the specifics of the day-to-day tasks.

Finally, I am tired of gripping without feeling my gripes are doing something.  It's long past time for change.

[sdiver68]

has anyone got in touch with CCE?...do they even know the problems?... they may think everything is fine if they are not being told there is a problem

Yesterday, I personally wrote a constructive e-mail to the CIO of CCE offering mine (and others here  ;D ) free help in developing a system, or modifying Jack's if he were willing, that could take the raw data feeds from the Points and Scoring system and import the results into a database, from which a dynamic web page could serve up results on demand.

We are talking an existing data export, a handful of tables at most, and 1 dynamic web page using the development platform of CCE's choice.  We could even use all free software (not that CCE doesn't have a few thousand licences floating around) and run the whole thing off of someone's discarded Pentium 300 LOL

Anyway, I'll be interested to find out if he replies.  If not, I'll shoot the same e-mail to others in Executive Management.

I just read Dafan's posts, and had not realized he had gotten that far.  Legal put a stop to it?  That's corporate politics at its finest....