[DeTomaso] Fun Rally Comments

[RallyFanatic at aol.com]

As one of the four who started the POCA Las Vegas Fun Rally,  and as one of 
the two that ran it for its' first 25 years, I have enjoyed all of  the 
comments about the Rally and its proposed move to Reno.
 
First, let me say that wherever the Fun Rally is held, Sandi  and I will 
attend!
 
I just have some comments about some of the previous one  million or so posts 
about the proposed change.
 
1:    The Fun Rally has always been  structured to be as revenue neutral as 
possible.  As a matter of fact,  however, the Fun Rally itself, not including 
the raffle averaged a $4,000 per  year net profit to POCA over the 25 years 
that I helped put it on.  This  comes to a net profit to POCA of $100,000 over 
the 25 years.  All monies  collected and disbursed was done thru the POCA 
treasurer to ensure that  everything taken in and spent was properly accounted for.
 
2.    Concerning the importance of  racing.  I know that to the racers, 
racing is important; but from a  standpoint of the Fun Rally, I am not too sure.  
For the few years that I  bothered to check, it appeared that the majority of 
those racing, (a)  were  not POCA members, (b) did not stay at the "event" 
hotel, (c) did not sign up for  the Fun Rally, and (d) did not race Panteras.  
Admittedly I am biased,  but I believe that racing needs the Fun Rally far more 
that the Fun Rally needs  the racing.  I could be wrong, but if all of the or 
the majority of those  racing, were also Fun Rally attendees, then I would feel 
 differently.
 
That said, I know that a lot of the attendees enjoy the  racing, and I would 
hate to see no racing at the Fun Rally, just as I would hate  to see no street 
display, driving "events," etc.  All of the ancillary  events that add so 
much to the Fun Rally.
 
3.    About moving the Fun Rally.  I  have no objection to that idea.  In 
fact, I proposed the same idea about  1996 when I did a proposed rewrite of the 
by-laws.  That said, I have the  same opinion now, as I did then:  If some one 
or some group wants to put on  an event, and advertise the event to the world, 
be it in Reno, San Diego,  Orlando, Pocono, Atlantic City, or Atlanta, 
nothing is stopping you!!!   Just plan and run the event, and if it is good, people 
will come.  It might  take some time to make it a national event, but it can 
be done.   
 
If I had a dime for all of the people who have proposed ideas  for events, 
but didn't want to actually do any of the work required to put on  the event, I 
would be a rich man today.
 
In fact, we have Vegas in April/May, Pocono in  June/July, which leaves 
October/November as the perfect time to hold an  event.  At least there does not 
appear to be any major event already  scheduled for that time frame.  But, and 
it is a big but (no pun intended)  whoever takes on the event, must be prepared 
to do so for at least 5  years.  (IMHO)  That way he, or she, or the group, 
gains the  experience that you need, so you are not continually re-inventing 
the  wheel.  You have the chance to build relationships,  learn the shortcuts, 
who can really help you, etc.  
 
Again, if you put on a good event, people will come.  You  have to do more 
than run a flyer in the newsletter, though.  It will take a  lot of publicity, 
both before as well as after, the event, and it will take  time for it to 
build. 
 
I'm sure I have more, but this is enough for now.
 
Kent Snyder
 
 
 
 
 
 



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