Originally Posted by mdr

However I am not willing to step into the middle of an interstate pissing match over past transgressions.

Originally Posted by enforcer

If you read page one of this thread you will see the push from Taka, Dave, MACCA and Timbo for the Nats to be held in Queensland and there was no secret then of surplus monies been held to get things started. On 14/10/07 Hymee, Jambos, xxup, mdr, Ltd and I met at McDonalds in Kallangur to discuss the prospoal. We met again at 7.00pm on 29/11/07 to discuss amongst many things a Nationals membership, and the prospect of the Incorporated Association that was registered for last years Nats to be CAMS Affiliated. We also discussed (on speaker phone) the Morgan Park plan will Bill Campbell and we soon learned of additional complications relating to the licence, and previoulsy unknown additional costs. The only thing ratified at that meeting was confirmation of having very little support from the Raceway and being faced with a lot of unknowns, particulary with costs. Knowing in advance there would be issues posed a risk for not only ourselves, but future National events.

In light of this, we decided to explore the option of holding the event at Queensland Raceway. I spoke with the owner, John Tetley who couldn't bend over backwards enough to offer support, guidance and point us in the direction for potential sponsors and suggestions how to make this a very successful event. The problem....a $5 - $6K price tag. I worked my *** off to attempt to get things together, and as all know by now due to circumstances beyond my contrrol have had to take a back seat on this.

Having just witnessed some of the agro attached to this thread, I'm asking myself that perhaps I'm lucky I didn't go through with it. The only reason why I raised the the idea of the States managing their own funds was because Timbo was asking for an answer on it. I'm now sorry I did because I was not aware of the 2006 and 2007 issues which is obviously the catalyst in this discussion. My position to support a Nats event is still on the table, however for a forum that is supposed to offer support and help towards people and events, all I see here is a bloody interstate shooting match....

Originally Posted by Revolver

From my point of view, there is no interstate pissing match/rivalry/etc. I consider myself to be a member of a national club and members from all states who have attended past Nats have got along like a house on fire. It matters not to me whether the people involved are from Qld, NSW, Vic or Pluto - all I wanted to flush out was what is intended to happen with the surplus funds and whether anyone is prepared to convene a Nats event in Qld. If it's too hard, fine, let's look at other options but please do not escalate this thing into a state v state argument - it's not!

Originally Posted by Hymee

All,

I hope this helps calm things to a certain extent.

I went out of my way to ensure that the 2006 event happened, instead of being called off as it looked like it was going to be. I didn't want that to happen, and it would have made it harder to get sponsorship etc in the future.

For some reason, unlike Timbo the previous year, I was not able to set up the event without a formal body in place, as I needed to deal with the Council (road closure), public liability insurance ($$$), write cheques, etc, etc, etc. Without a formal body in place, these things were not possible. I also wanted to present an entity to potential sponsors to get some backing - which worked well.

I funded the startup of an incorporated association "Mazda RX-8 Club of Australia (Inc)" to enable this. Perhaps that was a bad move, but it seemed necessary at the time. I couldn't see myself ringing up anyone and saying "I represent a informal bunch chat room guys, and I'd like to ask you if you could help us out by...."

I don't need to carry on about how much time, effort and phone calls went into essentially single handledly organising the whole 2006 event, when at the end of the day I was unable to attend due to shithouse health issues I wouldn't wish on decent people. I even had to cancel a paid for trip to Sevenstock9. I'm eternally greatful to people like Macca and XXUP who took up the slack in my absence. As it was, I recall XXUP leaving BNE with a bunch of cheques I wrote out to pay for all costs, bar some monies owed to Macca for out of pocket expenses. I can understand Macca being annoyed about those, and they were eventually paid with my abject appology.

As for the surplus money, the club account I set up has a current balance of $1,792.48.

What ever happend to the club (incorporated association)? Well, I guess it is still there in the system. The bank account certainly is. If anyone wants to take "it" (the club) on, then feel free - I'm happy to hand over, not that there is really anything to it. Paperwork mainly with state govt.

Is there going to be a 2008 event? I sure hope so. Enforcer cannot organise now due to commitments, which is unfortunate. But as I know myself, **** happens.

I'd rate Morgan Park as a no-go from my point of view. I'd rate QR as a chance, and much better suited to club days. However, now that Lakeside is again operational specifically for club days, I'd suggest we check them out again (owned by QR).

Norwell would be OK I guess as well.

I'd like to offer to take this on, but some of the bad blood evident above really makes me wonder if I am the sort of person to do such a thankless task.

All I can offer is to use the funds still in the clubs account as a deposit for a QR or Lakeside track booking if that is what we wish to do.

Cheers,
Hymee.

Originally Posted by mdr

OK guys I made a couple of calls.
Right now Queensland raceway seems to had a tentative date of Oct 4th held for the RX-8 club of Australia. But they were told the cost was prohibitive so it was called off. $12,000 was the cost for a Sat.
However Keith just called me back we can have Lakeside now for 4 hours either on the 4th of Oct or the 11th for $4,000 or $6,000 for 6 hours which is the full day there.
I expressed concern about Lakeside maybe being a little too challenging for a club but Keith said they have run a number of club events there lately with out incident and they have done some upgrades to make it a bit safer.

So thoughts please cause to make this happen it has to decided pretty fast.
Also starting another thread so this all does not get lost in the other stuff going on here.

Originally Posted by mdr

I am not escalating anything.
What I read and the way it was coming across to me and several others was a pissing match over a QLD bunch that had funds that belonged to the Nats.
It appears to me that Enforcer who was kind enough to stick his hand up to try and get the thing together was catching lots of flak for something he had nothing to do with in the past and had no control over.

Now he said he could not do it any longer so I said I am willing to stick my hand up but I am not willing to take the same flak for stuff I know nothing about and had nothing to do with like he was.

If you would rather take the job on the by all means I will be happy to step aside and let you go for it.

Originally Posted by MACCAA

Let's move on and go to Lakeside.

With the balance of funds Hymee has I'm more than happy to see it used for the 2008 Nats.That will greatly reduce costs.

We don't need showbags or trinkets,just fine weather and a racetrack and the usual suspects and all will be good.

Just a suggestion to the organisers-if you can come up with accomodation easily,fine.Otherwise let everyone make their own arrangements.

It would be great if we could all be pretty much together,but don't kill yourself trying to do it.

Onward with the 2008 Nats.

Originally Posted by mdr

once we firm the date and track

Originally Posted by timbo

Col, you little ripper -- that sounds like a plan! Can I suggest one more step, which is to give people a bit of guide in relation to accommodation, ie, which places you'd put suggest your mum stay, which for your in-laws, and finally a good dog and cattery! with some indication of prices. Typically, it's good if everyone can stay in one location, with shared facilities, for c.$70/night.