2008 MR2 Mk1 Club National AGM, 12th Oct

[crazylegs]

keep the ideas coming - the more the better. we need this sort of thing to get people involved.

[Lauren]

I am not sure any of the ideas are "flawed" as such!

But accept its probably something that needs to be sorted out in the background, rather than on another clubs forum!

Well clearly the idea of 'sponsorship' which wasn't actually sponsorship is clearly flawed by definition.

Well it's the mk1 club forum so you are free to discuss away, so I see it as the mk1 club forum, not an IMOC forum. It is merely hosted here, IMOC doesn't and will not interfere with anything the mk1 club wishes to hence you have your own mods etc.

[Rogue]

Plus you need to remember that you will hardly get any publicity, you'd be lucky to get into autosport (I did but that was because of my other racing associations).

I disagree. If you're the title sponsor then you name is mentioned every time the Championship is referred. Sponsor the series as "mr2mk1club.com MR2 Championship" and you'll have your URL published in both Autosport and MSN every time there's a race meeting...

Patrick

[Lauren]

I disagree. If you're the title sponsor then you name is mentioned every time the Championship is referred. Sponsor the series as "mr2mk1club.com MR2 Championship" and you'll have your URL published in both Autosport and MSN every time there's a race meeting...

Patrick

Fair enough, but I don't think it would ever be viable for the mk1 club to actually sponsor the series as it would require a significant investment and you have to remember that though there was talk of sponsorship it wasn't actually sponsorship as such, it was asking people to put mk1 club stickers on their cars.

I still think though Patrick that it will still only get out to a very limited audience. I don't buy any motorsport magazines so I never hear about it. What percentage of mk1 club members buy autosprout every week?

[monkeymax]

Yes, I'm late to comment, and won't be able to go into much...

But the AGM was interesting this year - to hear all the different ideas/viewpoints was .

Plus it was nice to see some of the guys again!

Congrats on those who took up new positions in the club!

Wayne... I had to pop into town earlier this week. Walked past a model shop and noticed models of all kinds of cars from all kinds of eras - some of them not that special.

Maybe it's a bit weird, but perhaps you could try to push one of the model making companies to make a model of the Mk1? As a kid I always loved the few little models I had and thought it'd be cool to own the real thing one day. I know things are a bit different now, but I'd think that having a model based on a Mk1 Club owners car (thus possibly with the Mk1 club logo on it somewhere saying supported by/design done in association with the UK Mk1 club) would be another area of promotion? Just another idea...

[tonigmr2]

Plus you need to remember that you will hardly get any publicity, you'd be lucky to get into autosport (I did but that was because of my other racing associations).

Having stickers on the race cars only has a very limited audience in terms of promotion for the club, i'd look elsewhere in all honesty.

Actually not sure I entirely agree. This year have had drivers from other formulas, and spectators who came to watch them come chat and ask about the cars, it would be nice to point them to a website to find out more about the marque. In the past I've only mentioned IMOC though 'cos it is easier to remember and tell them.

Must admit not sure a mention in autosport will do much....but the cars do get pictures etc also go in Banzai and Jap Performance.
T

[Tony jinxy froude]

Can i just say for the record, that i think Wayne is doing a sterling job ok, his ideas may not make fruition due to expense / objections etc, but to say they are "Flawed" is wrong , wayne probably has as much experience with sponsorship & its complications as around 90% of us, but at least he's getting ideas out there & taking on his role as publicity officer seriously & is to be applauded, i'd like to see the other 90% of the membership behind him with their idea's & get something in progress, what we dont want is another 12 months wasted talking about things like this, when we could be getting a dozen things set in concreate. Jinxy

[waynestoyotamr2]

Its a mixed response on the MR2 Racing Sponsorship - loads of people think its 100% an absolute MUST - others think it will have no impact!

All opinions are fine and all feedback is appreciated and listened to!

Its not the only thing on the list - so lets not get too hung up about the MR2 Racing!

[vix]

Who are these 'loads' of people and what are their reasons?

[Lauren]

Can i just say for the record, that i think Wayne is doing a sterling job ok, his ideas may not make fruition due to expense / objections etc, but to say they are "Flawed" is wrong , wayne probably has as much experience with sponsorship & its complications as around 90% of us, but at least he's getting ideas out there & taking on his role as publicity officer seriously & is to be applauded, i'd like to see the other 90% of the membership behind him with their idea's & get something in progress, what we dont want is another 12 months wasted talking about things like this, when we could be getting a dozen things set in concreate. Jinxy

Calm down Tony.

I'm not knocking Wayne, but I am stating the idea he had was flawed and I continue to think this is the case as i have demonstrated for obvious reasons in the thread. Just because someone is enthusiastic does that mean they can never be wrong? Surely a reason for an idea not coming to fruition is because it is flawed? Anyways... i'm not going to flog a dead horse.

Personally I wish Wayne the very best of luck and I hope his efforts have a positive and long-lasting effect on the club. There is absolutely nothing wrong with coming out with ideas and bouncing them round the forum. I am just trying to be helpful by being honest and offering my experience as a director/vice chair of a club etc.

So if I don't think something is feasible I will say so. It is certainly not intended to cause offence.

[waynestoyotamr2]

Spoke to a number of people at JAE and since then about marketing activity - first thing most people have said is "get involved with the racing series" ........

I guess their reasons are to increase awareness of the MR2 Mk1, and the Mk1 Club on the whole.

[Lauren]

Spoke to a number of people at JAE and since then about marketing activity - first thing most people have said is "get involved with the racing series" ........

I guess their reasons are to increase awareness of the MR2 Mk1, and the Mk1 Club on the whole.

Yes, I guess because people in the club are aware of the racing series, although that in itself doesn't mean its the right to do and it doesn't necessarily mean it will increase awareness, you need to explore what the marketing opportunities are and the audience you are likely to reach. I would guess most people have said that because there aren't really any other obvious suggestions.

[vix]

No, I mean how do they think it will increase awareness of the club? Generally people spectating at races are already aware of the club, and if they aren't, they generally aren't bothered.

I can't see how it's going to generate membership.

[Tony jinxy froude]

Yep i can see where Vix is coming from here, we have to look at the bigger picture & think what is going to generate more members, is a race car with the club logo & website address on it going to raise membership ?, it will certainly raise awareness of the club & the fact that there is one for the mk1, so its a posibility that those watching a mk1 doing very well on the track could become interested in owning a mk1, but is that small percentage of possible future members worth spending a huge amount of club funds on, im not sure, your more likely to get a race car owner to put stickers on his/her car for offering fuel for x amount of races, x amount of cases of beer at the next meeting etc, which will be a lot cheaper, just my view on things , these guys are suckers for Bacon butties... worth thinking about , Jinx

[Lemon Secretary]

how about, an mr2 mk1 club 'group' on facebook?

i know it's not the most ground-breaking suggestion but it might have some weight in it seeing as it's very little investment (wayne is already a member and it's free in monetary terms to set up) for potentially some return (total guess work here, don't know how interested people would be?)

you can publicise whatever you want on there, the website, membership fees and benefits etc. it would reach the facebook audience interested in motorsport etc that might not necessarily stumble across the main website otherwise.

just a random thought...

[Lauren]

There already is one with 39 members. It seems the mk1 club committee were not aware of it existing. IMOC has one too with 190 members. Trouble is not much really goes on there.

Facebook tends to be one of those things that doesn't hold interest for a long period of time. Plus there are literally thousands of group. Current members will join up to it, but i'm not sure it really attracts new members.

[Tony jinxy froude]

I hate facebook , its a personal thing, but absolutely hate it, we really are digging the depths if we have to advertise on there.
Wayne i did have an idea, how about if we run a membership competition ( the form would need to be altered ) the member who manages to sign up the most new members by, say JAE wins a £50 voucher for x company to be awarded at JAE ( could be halfords, one of the toyota parts specialists, exhaust manufacturers etc ) the list is endless, thats got to generate something surely, all the club would need is to sign 2 new members & the money is returned , worth thinking about , Jinxy

[waynestoyotamr2]

So if I don't think something is feasible I will say so. It is certainly not intended to cause offence.

Lauren - no offence is or has been taken! Am sure you will know that by now you dont offend me!!

I just think we need to see the bigger picture on this thread and not get to hung up on concerns about involvement with race cars at the moment, in whatever capacity, it is a very, very small part of a much larger plan for the Mk1 Club!

[vix]

I like the idea of a referral bonus Jinxy!

We'd just have to add a bit on the form 'where did you hear about the club'.

That might be an interesting thing to know anyway!

I'm in a couple of Mk1 groups on FB, but the one called 'mr2mk1club' links to here :/

[mr2mk1chick]

how about, an mr2 mk1 club 'group' on facebook?

i know it's not the most ground-breaking suggestion but it might have some weight in it seeing as it's very little investment (wayne is already a member and it's free in monetary terms to set up) for potentially some return (total guess work here, don't know how interested people would be?)

you can publicise whatever you want on there, the website, membership fees and benefits etc. it would reach the facebook audience interested in motorsport etc that might not necessarily stumble across the main website otherwise.

just a random thought...

I contacted the guy who set one up on facebook 'mr2mk1club, as he didn't ask any of the committee to use our name.
He has since put me on the group section as an official, whatever good that does
I have asked him to link the page to the mr2mk1club site but he linked it to here instead (i guess he uses this forum) but we can ask hm again to link to the main club site and get more committee on board.
We can also ask him to add the club logo on the graphics