Canadian Nationals

[Vancouver Special]

Photos are up from the Canadian Nationals that took place this last weekend. Looks like Alan Rae, Reijo both won. Also looked like the BMW (David ???) from Quebec that was there last year showed up again this year. Big site and the pavement looked good.

Man, we got to get some of the B.C. people to go out next year.

Check out http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solocanada

You might have to get registered to get in.

Joe

[Cliffy]

Originally posted by Phantom:
Man, we got to get some of the B.C. people to go out next year.

Well, that was the plan but things didn't pan out for me. We need to go simply because I believe a lot of CACC drivers would likely win their class at CNAC. The quality of driving out here is very high calibre.

[Jeff Loh]

Originally posted by Cliffy:
Well, that was the plan but things didn't pan out for me. We need to go simply because I believe a lot of CACC drivers would likely win their class at CNAC. The quality of driving out here is very high calibre.

Disappointing to read only 22 participants out there this year.

[Radio Flyer]

What can we do to promote the event? Travel Funds? Local promotion?

However, I feel there is not much incentive to make the trek. Our local events are four times the size. Going to Winnipeg is like a jail sentence not a vacation destination. There are few bragging rights to be gained because the competition is thin. Alan Rae comes here and the rest I don't know. Like Cliff says we have some of Canada's best here.

I'm not complaining ... just relaying my concerns. The CNAC needs to make this into an event that people want to and need to win. Otherwise, why go?

Maybe this could be a topic at the Solo meeting in November. We, the CACC, need to make a commitment to it or we need to let the CNAC know it itsn't going to work.

Rod
wearing the hat of the CACC Treasurer

[Jeff Loh]

Originally posted by Radio Flyer:
..Going to Winnipeg is like a jail sentence not a vacation destination. ...
I don't know. Like Cliff says we have some of Canada's best here.

I'm not complaining ... just relaying my concerns. The CNAC needs to make this into an event that people want to and need to win. Otherwise, why go?

Maybe this could be a topic at the Solo meeting in November. We, the CACC, need to make a commitment to it or we need to let the CNAC know it itsn't going to work.

Rod
wearing the hat of the CACC Treasurer

Ha.. sub zero in winter and blackflys in summer... no wonder

Perhaps since the competitor base is on either coast, hold CNAC on each side during alternate years. I know, the concept of a traveling Nationals has been shot down before, but maybe it makes sense given the turnout these days? Given the variation in local conditions it's not logical to hold a multi-site National and still call it a National... IMHO it has to be a single site event.

[Mike-L]

There are two basic ingredients missing from the CNAC: competition and a great site. There's no incentive to travel that far to win an uncontested class, especially if the site is marginal.

The east-west idea has merit, if it's not ALL the way east or west. Are there any super sites? Where are the biggest concentrations of competitors?

I'd say the first priority would be to find a great site, then work on promoting the event. Maybe some friendly challenges between clubs?

Last year it was closer (timewise) to the SCCA Nationals, which made it feasible to hit both events in one long trip, with a plane ride home in between. Maybe that would help draw more US competitors to Canada, and more Canadians to the US.

No solutions. Just some ideas for discussion.

[Cliffy]

Originally posted by Mike-L:
Are there any super sites? Where are the biggest concentrations of competitors?

The two best sites known to us are in Red Deer, Alberta and just outside of Montreal. the highest concentration of competitors is right here in the Vancouver area. The other big regions are in Calgary/Edmonton and Montreal. The alternating two site nationals idea is beginning to look better. I guess this is something to revisit during the off-season.

-c.

[This message has been edited by Cliffy (edited 08-23-2001).]

[ef]

Red Deer could work for local competitors, since it would only be a lonnng one day drive. (12 -14 hours approximately) There is a good sports bar in Red Deer where you get all the peanuts you can eat and get to chuck the shells on the floor. Says a lot about my eating habits.

ef

[Cliffy]

The Red Deer site is about the size of the Kent facility (maybe a bit bigger) so that's definitely a candidate. In Montreal, they use the facility where the DOT tests cars it's a flat sheet of asphalt 1km x 1km. Montreal is a nice city to party in. Combine this with a large competitor based in both areas and you have the basic ingredient for a very cool event.

[ef]

I agree with Cliff that Montreal is also a great place. Lots of great restaurants, you can go to Ben's for enormous smoked meat sandwhichs, buy wine and pate' at the 7-11, etc.

Maybe there is some way to arrange ride sharing where competitors on opposite sides of the country can co drive each others cars to avoid the cross country journey.

[Jeff Loh]

Originally posted by Cliffy:
Montreal is a nice city to party in. Combine this with a large competitor based in both areas and you have the basic ingredient for a very cool event.

Yeah, Montreal is a great party town! Plus it's close to many active northeast SCCA regions. Have to go to the "New House" - Jacques Villeneuve's bar.



[This message has been edited by Jeff Loh (edited 08-23-2001).]

[Cliffy]

Originally posted by ef:
Maybe there is some way to arrange ride sharing where competitors on opposite sides of the country can co drive each others cars to avoid the cross country journey.

At the 2000 CNAC event we'd chatted w/ the guys from Qeubec and they were game for this type of arrangement. One thing you may not know about the autocrossers in Quebec is that they are also very good drivers. There's a really hard core scene out there. If the Cdn Nationals grows, I think the BC vs Quebec rivalry will be huge especially with the import crowd. For ESP it'll be BC vs Alberta.

[HedgeHog]

Originally posted by Jeff Loh:
Yeah, Montreal is a great party town! Plus it's close to many active northeast SCCA regions. Have to go to the "New House" - Jacques Villeneuve's bar.

I think his new joint is called New Town. Don't give the k-beckers another name to protest about...

I love that Ville Marie highway through town...it's like Stars Wars for grownups! I have you now.....huff, huff.

[Ryan C]

I justed wanted to add that another Super Site may be the Sask Place lot in Saskatoon. From what I've heard, very, very large.

The local club is also hosting the annual Saskatoon Super Slalom there this weekend. The is a large contingent of both Calgary and Edmonton competitors attending.

Ryan