Southeast Banquet 2004

[StuartV666]

Will there be one? When? Where?

[TiffineyIngram]

You stole my title!!!  There will be a Southeast banquet, it will be held in conjunction with the first race at VIR.

[StuartV666]

I don't understand. The MA banquet is being held on Jan. 31st - i.e. NOT at the first race at VIR.

If the SE and MA banquets are not a combined event (a concept I'm in favor of - NOT combining them, that is), then why would the SE banquet not be at or near a SE track (assuming it's held in conjunction with a race weekend)?

If people who don't normally go to the races wanted to attend, VIR is waay too dang far from the SE to be holding the banquet. Personally, if I don't find some real sponsorship soon, I probably won't even go to VIR myself next season. 10 hours each way is a looong drive. For me, it adds 2 whole extra days off from work to my race weekend.

- Stu

[TiffineyIngram]

The Southeast and Mid Atlantic banquets are being held seperately because the majority of riders requested we do it that way and we agreed.  VIR is a Southeast region track--the first race is always the kick-off for the Southeast and Mid Atlantic regions.  I understand that some people can't go to both--but I can't please everyone all the time.  I did what I think is best for both regions, and I hope everyone that attends has a wonderful time.

[GAMEDIC]

Why not do it in Savannah that would be a great place for all us SE folks..and another thing i wanted to ask... why do we have to wait till the next season to get our recognition why can't we have it a little closer to the weekend at Daytona ..maybe a couple weeks after?

[StuartV666]

Like I said, I too am in favor of having separate banquets for MA and SE. So, great, SE is having it's own banquet.

But, VIR is not a SE region track. It's a Mid-Atlantic region track. I know that there are MA region-only races there, and combined MA and SE region races there, but never any SE-only at VIR. That seems to be a pretty clear indication to me that it's a Mid-Atlantic track.

What Greg said. Why not Roebling? Savannah's a nice place to visit, if you decide to have it not be part of a race weekend. It's much more central to the Southeast region (there's a bunch of SE region racers who live in Florida, you know). And the first race there is a lot sooner than the first race at VIR, which would give everybody their trophies sooner, which would be nice. Waiting until the 3RD race of the next season to get awards for the previous season seems like a bit of a stretch.

Is there ANYbody reading this that has the SE region as their home region who would prefer the banquet be at VIR? If so, please speak up.

- Stu

[StuartV666]

ps. Why not have it separate from a race weekend (like you're doing for the MA region) and have it in Atlanta? Just another thought.

[Drew464]

VIR is a beautiful track, and my favorite to ride on.  That being said, it is also 11 hours away from me.  I would really like to see the banquet held at a more centralized location also.  Heck, why not have it at Daytona, that's only a 40 minute drive for me. ;D.....just kidding

Truly, I would vote for Savannah.  That seems to be in the center of the Southeast region.

just my $.02

[james-redsv]

Have the SE banquet in Savannah during a race weekend. What if you dont make the banquet, will CCS mail you your trophies?

[TiffineyIngram]

First: the schedule is not out...how does anyone know when the first race will be (other than CCS)?

We used to hold a seperate banquet for each region.  However, in years past, the attendance was dropped due to various reasons.  The attendance in the Southeast was the smallest of all regions, so it isn't a sound decision to keep going in that direction.  VIR has beautiful facilities, and they are more than gracious when we arrange banquets there.  I understand what you're saying, and I would love to make it so, but without a guaranteed attendance number (which is next to impossible to achieve), I just can't justify it.  If you can get together 100+ guys who will definitely drive to Savannah and be willing to pay $30 per person, I will do my best to try to work it out.

If you can't make it to a banquet, I will be more than happy to Fed Ex your awards to you.

[GAMEDIC]

Having it in Atlanta sounds like a great idea can't get much more central in the SE region than that

[r6_philly]

why does CCS needs $3000 gate fee to hold a banquet?

Stu why don't you just have them fedex you all the trouphies and you hold a banquest at your house or a public location? Maybe all 3 people will show up and have a good time   ::)