Would you pay for a really awesome organized drive / tour?

I've been considering for a while the financial viability of stepping our drives up a notch, this would entail some expenses (insurance, manpower, support vehicles, etc.). How much is your threshold of pain for a day with the following elements:

1) Organized drive with detailed route maps, etc.
2) Included meals (catered, or fine resturants.)
3) Opportunity for free, high quality professional photographs.
4) Comped enterance to a really special event, often something closed to the general public.
5) A few other niceities that I will arrange from time to time.

I am really hoping there is enough enthusiasm to support some great events I have in mind...

 

forget the tour. We need to do a track day!!

 

No track days. Just do a search for Mrs. Rudl's lawsuit.

 

I would be very much interested especially if there was a CHP escort that let us go WOT on certain sections of the highways after blocking them off--as they have done several times in SoCal.

 

WOT (Wide Open Throttle, ie accelerating quickly to the maximum allowed speed) is one thing, but we must obey all applicable laws unless and until we secure appropriate waivers.

 

No. Why pay when theres a bunch of drives that already have nice detailed maps (which i don't use anyway, I just follow the shiny thing in front of me).

Lunch / Dinner at a restaurant usually happens anyways, and the fact that the its included wouldn't matter since I'm paying for the drive anyways, plus I'm assuming the menu would be limited.

Photos, not that difficult to find professionally photographers that want an exotic car to take pictures of or very good amateur photographers. Maybe if you had models, but still not that hard to find a hot girl who wants to tell all her friends that shes an "import model" and then you have to make sure shes not laying on the car with a chain belt, etc.

Comped entrance to special events. Thats a good idea, I wanna go to SEMA.

 

Id pay, could get some drivers too. When, where, duration, how many cars? would you think. I could get some drivers if this is a big deal and large run.

 

Sounds like a great plan. What are some of your "ideas"? Are teenagers allowed if they pay?

 

People put quite a bit of work into planning these events so everyone else can follow the shiny thing in front of them and have a good time. Paying $ might not be for everyone, but the "free" drives aren't something to be taken for granted, and any money spent would go to adding even more value to future events.

 

Absolutely, anyone who wants to come and is willing to pay the entry fee is welcome! You bring up something I haven't thought of fully since I tried to rent a car when I was 17; minors. May need a signoff from a parent or guardian (like a 'field trip' permission slip.) I will find out.

I can't talk too much about the ideas, but expect some truely special things, the likes of which are not really possible without paid compensation, insurance, equipment, and lots of manpower. We're talking private factory tours, entry into awesome technical/engineering/aviation facuilities that are CLOSED to the general public, etc. Obviously we'll start small and work our way up, provided there is sufficent interest.

JediMindGamez, after dropping $600 on avaition fuel alone last week (and that's not including my diesel, gas, truck, etc.) for free last week I think you'll agree something has to be done (and that run wasn't even 1/10th of what I have in mind for the next level events.)

The chairity idea I am considering as well, was going to save that for another thread. Good discussion guys, keep it coming!

 

Factorys? This will be in NorCal right?

 

Wow! I am really interested in this. (Thanks for including minors!) It would give me a great opportunity to shoot some amazing cars and see some interesting sights! I see private factory tours on the list and the first thing that comes to mind is Tesla. Is this in the cards? I cant think of any other Automotive factories in the area.

 

Yep, not nessicarily all are automotive factories, think also historic places (again that are usually closed to the public.)

 

+1.

 

NUMMI in Fremont builds Toyotas and GM stuff. Even though what they are building is far from exotic ("Ooooh, is that a Matrix or a Vibe?!?!!!") the tour is very interesting.

 

Artherd,

I would pay for a car tour.

If required, I'd also pay to drive in the herd.

I also like the spirit of individuals providing FREE invite-only drives for a group of good acquaintances and friends -- I think that's a real cool thing because sometimes we just want to bond and share our appreciation for great cars, food, and company with selected people.

Check 6.

/s/ Alfonso

 

Absolutely, I think the spirit of the free drives should continue, while the paid events can offer even more (like tours of closed facuilities, etc.)

Best!
Ben.

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=137198481#post137198481

 

Ben:

Agreed. While most of us take the "free" events for granted, how "free" are they to some of us? Re. the last CHP run, Alfonso, Prancing Horse and others toiled and slogged on their own time and expense to meticulously plan the run and the CHP escorts - Alfonso even carried a multimillion dollar insurance burden on his head for the day - else there would have been no run - So I'm all for it and willing to pay for it!

That being said, I will still look forward to our informal "private" runs where a few buddies united in their appreciation of cars (and a lot else) go on mad drives in the hills and canyons, and follow it up with a relaxed meal at a restaurant of their choosing

 

The folks over at 6speedonline (mainly Sharky I think) organize Porsche only runs once a year.
I went to one of these with my 996, I think it was ~$35 a head or so, can't remember the exact number.
I'd be OK with paying $50 - $75 per head.

The turnout was huge, something close to 100 cars.

I think it's a nice idea.

The one run I went on had Ferrari's and Lambo's show up too, which diluted the "Porsche experience" somewhat.

I'm usually up for a nice day out with a nice lunch somewhere, I think it would be great if it had a hard fast rule of Ferrari's only.
I still have my 996 and wouldn't show up to a Ferrari even in it just as equally as I wouldn't show up to a Porsche only event in my 348, but apparently many people would.

 

Hey, Rotus.

+1.

Thanks for acknowledging the work that went behind toward effectuating the Golden Gate Bridge Stampede. It was definitely tough logistical work for me, Prancing Horse, Artherd, CHP, GGB, AlexD, Sean, Katie, Zach, Jeff, and others involved. I'd do it again -- it was such a blast!

Keep her safe and on the ground.

Check 6.

/s/ Alfonso

 

Thanks for the kind words Rotus, we sure couldn't have done that last run without everyone's toil and contributions! I'm with you let's continue in the spirit of both formal and informal gatherings, there is absolutely room for both. I'm really looking forward to opening up some of these locales for the organized drives!

 

I had a lot of experience with this as an active member of the FCA New England Region.

All of the pay events were weekends involving overnight accommodations - sometimes fancy and sometimes not. We would pick a state; search hotel/resort availability; scout out and finalize driving routes; research and organize an event (museum, car collection, track, gala); negotiate prices for everything (you'd be surprised how negotiable the various vendors can be when your talking 10 to 20 couples driving Ferraris does have); sign up participants; deal with last minute changes and well, you get the idea. It's a lot of work.

I must say there was never any special insurance. Track events notwithstanding, each participant is responsible for the safe operation of their vehicle. If they have the misfortune to have a mishap and damage their car and/or someone else's property, well...It's your responsibility.

We had big time lawyers, who were FCA members review everything we did to insure no extra liability. It can be a lot of fun, but this costs. Figure roughly $1,000 to $2,000 dollars for a couple to have a great weekend driving tasty roads, staying at a nice place, attending a cool event, enjoying some nice meals and hanging with like-minded people.

Anyhow. That's how we did it and I miss it.

 

Tom- I am very much looking forward to planing several weekend trip overnights, so I am glad you brought it up! I have connections with some pretty exclusive locales that don't normally offer overnite accomodations, or do so only for groups, etc. If the early drives take off big, then I have some truely wonderful events in store; from rusitc-chic to absolutely sumptious.

Best!
Ben.