FCA Annual Meets 2025 and beyond...

Absolutely. Some have made lots of promises about their personal commitment and that the rest of their group are all in on making it happen. What actually happens fails to match that. One item that has been imposed upon those that consider organizing the Meet is that the leadership has to attend prior Meets and to be involved behind the scenes so they experience the daily sausage making. Just being a regular attendee is definitely not the same experience.

I would add another item to the list of advisories for potential organizers. There is a big difference on the rainbow version of attendance and revenue projections and the prudent expectations.

 

Great idea but they don't enforce it.

 

Some organizing groups have been very good about complying.

 

You mean the ones who have their **** together and really dont need the experience.
Jeff, I have been close enough to several train wrecks to know it aint working.

 

Yes, those that have done a Meet before (at least most of them) are going to be more successful than the first timers. A notable exception was 2016 at Columbus, OH where you and I both know why that leadership ensured its success.

I can also list the fails from my direct involvement in 7 Meets. But the club cannot just rely upon the few successful local organizers and only those venues. It is about a 3 year process for the organizers where wears out even those that are highly committed.

 

As a previous 20+ year FCA Member I find this discussion really interesting.

• Just a suggestion, but FCA Officers might consider reaching out to members via Survey Monkey as FCA Nationals did in the late 90's-early 2000's. Include long term members that left the club then ask why?
• In that survey, multiple choice questions were asked regarding demograpics including income status. This was interesting as membership majority was mainly made of middle class. Is this still true, or has the majority moved to high level on the ladder?

If none of this is important to club Officers then dont waste Members time.

• As far as the national experience is concerned, why are certain classes low attendence? Flat 12's for example, did you have any where near the attendance at RA 2024 as RA 2009 or 2013? If not, Why? Is this not important to event organizers?
• If you have the answers, are you speculating, or did you ask Members why they were not in attendance?
• Much has changed with the FCA over the years I have heard numerious opinions about the FCA including it lacks simplicity for members, lacks value, and most important just not fun. No offense of course to the many volunteers of the club both past and present.
• Ask all your members both past and present via private Survey Monkey what they think.

 

Those observations about no fun and lacking value are patently absurd.

Yes, regions vary. But, by and large the annual cost is equivalent to a nice dinner out with a mediocre bottle of wine.

FCA is about the people. And I’ve met lifelong friends who far outshine those who I tend to meet in other aspects of daily life.

What has been your experience?

 

I have voiced my opinions on other sections of this forum as a previous long term FCA member and yes I agree opinions may vary from region to region.
RA is within the Central States region. My observations of class attendence within 2024 is a comparison to 2009 and 2013 of which I was a member, a participant, and a volunteer.
Both 2009 and 2013 the attendance for BB's and TR's were so large they had their own classes.
From what I could see from photo postings, there were only 3 BB's entered in the RA 2024 concours. Attendance/Ticket sales just for that class was much lower than 2009 or 2013. If I was an organizer using Survey Monkey I would question Why?

 

Overall turnout was very high, unusually high. The event was advertised as a celebration of the early cars and all out of the ordinary recruiting efforts went in that direction and by every single yardstick that was a huge success. The FCA seeks to serve all members, not just Boxer owners. Still based on production numbers as a percentage of the whole of Ferrari production or as a percentage of those attending the event Boxers were very over represented. The goals are not designed to satisfy those who do not attend.

 

Also as you know, demographics change. 2009 and 2013 were a long time ago. In the current era the classes of more modern cars were full and we turned many away. 488 coupes had their own class. Spiders and Speciales had their own and both were maximum size with people turned away for both. We had a couple of others that required dividing up and or splinting apart and closing entries. Time moves on. It is the nature of participation that older cars get replaced by the newer.

 

Try not to take my Boxer class example as the issue as that was just a minor observation on my part not the entire picture.
If the FCA is satisfied looking at the Status Quo being just where it is currently, and you are satisfied with the membership/ticket sales/revenue then stay on the current path not including any current members or previous members opinions and or observations.

 

When was the last Annual Meet that you attended?

 

I run nothing. It is not up to me to decide what the club is satisfied with. It was in everyones opinion a huge success yet somehow you find dissatisfaction with something you played no part in basing that opinion on a few pictures. The venues and the manpower could not possibly have supported more. Speaking for myself I am ecstatic you were not there. Please continue to stay away.

Another ******* on ignore.

 

Dave,

Attendance of which cars is a variable that sometimes defies good answers. A person that owns multiple Ferraris may have a great X model but decides to bring their Y model instead. Sometimes it will be about the event theme that pushes for one collector model over whatever else may be in ones garage. Some models are just not well represented in certain regions of the country where the Meet will be held. The Boxer suffers a particular issue in the US since they were never officially imported. Some models will probably always be underrepresented. Each Meet may also face scheduling conflicts for the owners - 2024 had Copperstate at the same time and the Challenge Race at Indy only a day or 2 later.

I will give you that there could be the possibility of there being more efforts to bring out the underrepresented models. 2024 was successful with the Enzo era car attendance because a couple of well connected people made a concerted multi-year effort; a very welcome change from most years. Yet to accomplish an effort for other various models (or to again have a great Enzo era turnout) is going to take work by someone(s) that has a connection to that model and know the other owners across the country they can arm twist. It is not going to happen organically.

Another consideration, as happened with 2024, there can be a limit on the judged entries because of space and quantity of qualified judges. That is an unfortunate reality that Brian and Leslie faced.

 

Boxers were NOT under represented. Thats just BS. We turned down 2.

The venues could not support more people. We had far more classes and cars and judges than ever. There was no shortage. The event was popular and exceeded the clubs capacity on many levels. Mike went to great lengths to squeeze in as many people as he did. People were staying in hotels all over the county.

 

Thanks for the reply Jeff. I do believe my points above were completly spun and misunderstood by others. Even being told "Speaking for myself I am ecstatic you were not there. Please continue to stay away" .What I do understand even though times have changed and moved on as an owner of a classic 80's Ferrari life go's on beyond and without the FCA. I do remember a Club where all members were treated with respect no matter what year/model or how many cars they brought to a meet. It was something to cherish and be proud of.
This now reminds me of the Porsche Club member that told me if you owned a liquid cooled model you were treated by the club with "Step to the back of the bus".

 

Huge difference.
You are an ******* because you are an *******. Its completely independent of the fact you own a Boxer or any Ferrari for that matter.

 

If this were a closed post to anything you didn't want to hear, and you take such a defensive stance why wasnt it posted as closed?

 

This must make sense to someone.

 

Simply means that if you only wanted posts in agreement to what you want to hear then why not state that in the thread title.
Make sense now?

 

Well lets see. I didn't start the thread so that would have been difficult. I have no issue with differing opinion. You just seem incapable of verbalizing it. I am not sure that anyone here yet understands the issue you take with conduct of the last meet. At one point is was about not enough Boxers. No that wasn't it. Then it was about being mal treated because you didn't have the right kind of Ferrari. No that wasn't it. Everyone is sitting on the edge of their seat wondering what and you have yet to say except that we just didn't do it right.

But I do get it because no matter how it is explained evidently we really do not know how to judge Boxers correctly either. You have made that abundantly clear in the past. And that we have some evil intent for accepting for judging grey market cars in their original configuration. You exude negativity. You must be fun at a party.

Just another of those that sits by the side and criticizes others. You really should see someone about that.

 

Forget it Brian. We are in two different worlds. I came from an FCA that I really cared for and the feeling was mutual. As a result of the attitude towards all members at the time I volunteered on Mike E's team for a number of years when he headed up FCA Central States. Mike is not only an excellent Manager, but a class act and treated all members with respect no matter what year or model Ferrari the member owned or brought to events.

If I learned anything here on this thread it's that the new and changed FCA is not a car club for me and I'm sure the feeling is mutual.

 

I would say 2 different universes actually. If you feel any level of disrespect because you have a Boxer I just don't know what to say. You are delusional.
Like I said, from the very start you have acted like an *******. Its completely irrespective of whatever car you have. And you are correct, Mikes a great guy. You really should try to be more like him.



WOW.

 

I'll meet you half way Brian with an olive branch, maybe both of us should be more like Mike...But I've never been banned from F-Chat for possibly being disrespectful to others opinions. Have you?

 

I ask again:

When was the last Annual Meet that you attended?