Sevenstock 14: Aftermath thoughts
 

So how did everyone feel about the new spot? I for one heard a lot of things from various drivers. Schedule was thrown out the window in the beginning but other than that it was still sevenstock and it did happen this year .

I like the new spot, yes, besides the early madness, but it was all good.
However the out door seems to be a little over packed, where the FC/FD parked which literary blocked all other rx in that section unlike where the rx2/3 and pickup parked. But that could just be me.

That and it kind of made me a bit sad to see just how many people were turned away due to the out lot being packed. If the place was a bit bigger I wouldn't mind it as a new spot

The location needs to be larger. Many nice rides who arrived late were relegated to the outside parking lot. Still, it was awesome to see so many rotary-powered rides in one place. Long live the rotary - long live Sevenstock!!!

The show was great as always.
I prefer Irvine.
Sorry to learn that people were turned away due to space!
The price of food was absurd!!!
The 11/2 hour wait to get in SUCKED!!!
Did I mention: The 11/2 hour wait to get in SUCKED!!!!

You nailed it - I paid waaaay more for food than for three tickets to get in! Those food vendors got straight up rich off us today...

Ill comment when i get back tonight

All I have to say is shuffling that %@#$ ticket box for the raffle is an absolute must for next year! And somebody needs get those awesome FD guys to SS a little earlier would have loved to see more of them indoors! Great show non the less!

I feel like there was a bias towards the red tickets, haha.

But in all seriousness, I like the event but feel it could use a bit more organization and planning. Perhaps getting an idea of how many cars are going to show up before the event (similar to how there was a caravan count/thread, maybe try to have an overall show count?) so that the spaces can be organized to assure that everyone has their own spot and everything can start on time.

All things considered (funding, timeframe, etc.), I would say SSXIV was a success :icon_tup:

I would like to see next year's event done in a similar style!

I have to complaint because NewCastle took 3 raffle but one of them is in my wishlist :tear:, And Why I didn't get the ignition coils :tear::crying:

J/K


The show was great, but the outdoor parking for rx7/rx8 is .........
I see only those rx8 on caravan was get in the party, all late was parking at gate 17 :sweatdrop

For a last minute first time effort i think it went better then could have been hoped for.

I have no doubt next year will be a smoother operation from start to finish.

I think that the NEW LOCATION absolutely PAWNS MNAO HQ 100x!

I was able to sit down and a table/bench when i got tired of walking

I was able to go inside to the Hall whenever i started getting too much heat from the sun.

I was able to use the restroom

I was able to take some awesome pictures indoor/outdoor in different lighting. It was amazing getting that Lexus Pearl FD outside.... SICK.


I liked-

- The Layout, perfect. Vendors all on the outside around the perimeter and all Rotary Owner vehicles ...just perfect in the center or off to the side like the oldschool were.

- The Vendors, they were awesome and compared to the now 4 SEVENSTOCKS I have been to, they came out in full force with their products/display cars/demos! :yesnod:

I didnt like-

- I didnt like how the fairplex or whoever was laggging it to open and start letting the cars in.... we were 2 hrs+ behind schedule. However, that two hour delay made SEVENSTOCK go by PRETTY QUICK and the day ended PERFECTLY right when I started to get bored/tired.:bigok: I actually think that we should start this event 2 hours later, please keep it at the same place. It was a much smoother Caravan from what I heard, everyone seemed to behave themselves this time around, it had a perfect layout and it would SUCK for the SoCal RX Club and everyone else involved to have to plan something new from scratch again. That doesnt mean that you guys (everyone involved) cant improve from this SEVENSTOCK which was awesome :yesnod: Maybe get some more of MAZDA Race Cars to come out to play :bigok:

- You got the cars out of there pretty fast, but I think it could have been done faster if they open up both roll up doors for the indoor cars like they decided to do at the last minute:bigok:

What Needs To Be Changed-

- Food. The Food was ok, but Real Expensive. $12 for 1 meal? Cmon! $2.75 for a .50 Bottled Water? I dont even think that MAGIC MOUNTAIN Charges that much. Next time just have INNOUT or TOMMYs bring their truck in, and we will be good, Because not only did the food SUCK but the PRICES made it taste THAT MUCH SHITTIER.

THIS!


Mix up the god damn tickets! There were about five people that were multi item winners, and they didn't have ridiculous amounts of tickets either! One guy won 4 times wtf!

I was one of the first people to buy tickets (I was with a vendor booth so I was inside at 5:30) so none of the winners were even within 600 numbers of me since mine were all sitting at the bottom. All the winners were all in the same like 300 or 400 ticket window.


Other than that and having my car shoved into a corner between our RV and the T-Shirt booth it was awesome. Definitely need a larger venue.

Oh and I almost forgot not being able to rev a hi-power rotary at this particular venue without the threat of being kicked out kinda sucks! But I have to admit having some shade and places to sit is huge! Not to mention the little fountain with a bunch of sick cars in front of it was nice photo business.

I felt that although it still was sevenstock, it just seemed like it was far from reaching the epicness it could of been. The indoor parking was a nice touch that made already good looking cars even better. The price of the food was one thing that made me not even think of buying any and +1 on the raffle being a bust due to less of a random choice.

If they can give us more space, get their act together on getting everyone in on time, and possibly getting a cheaper variety it'd be the perfect spot. That and for sure there needs to be a earlier set date posted.

THIS!!!!!

I found it to be one of the dumbest things of the day, especially considering.....cough cough...vvv

Attachment 239555

^ you are retarded.

Because?

- What gurantee did SEVENSTOCK organizers, or whoever fronted the money have of getting their money back or breaking even since it was announced last minute with NO guarantee that people would show and pay the $30/$20 display fee, $5 general/passenger, $9 parking, or that they would even buy food at the event?

It could have been disappointing like SubieFest and be held in a parking lot under the hot ass sun. If yoy would know what real planning went into SS14, youd understand. It came out better than MNAO, where even there people got turned away and parked even closer together....

The last thing you want is someone REVVIN their car, slip their foot off the clutch in 1st and slam into your car that you just had painted.

First off, I hope everyone that helped organize Sevenstock this year knows that this was a great event and the fact that there was little time to get everything planned makes it an even bigger accomplishment in my opinion.

To begin, excellent move on the hotel. While the Doubletree's parking garage was kinda nice, the hotel this year was great and the fact that the price was exactly what we paid in the previous years was fantastic. Kudos to the organizers for getting that done.

The rules at the Fairplex did clearly complicate things but honestly the overall behavior of a few drivers in previous years' events have made it necessary that the fun is ruined for everyone. Every single year there are instances of burnouts and speeding by drivers who can't resist showing off. It sucks that cars can't be started and revved but I'd rather have those rules than risk a negligent driver doing something dumb and causing a giant mess. I'm sure the organizers could get the insurance for such a situation but we would all be paying $50 or more to show our cars.

I can't speak about the food because I didn't buy any.

I really liked the venue. The inside/outside mix is really cool and allows showcasing of the best of the best in a great way. Getting out of the sun helped AND restrooms made the experience much better.

While the complaints about turning cars away are legit, complainers need to take into consideration that no one knew what the participation level would be because of the last minute schedule. With as many whiners that came out of the wood work that the 29th date interfered with their ability to dress up like a slutty sponge bob I'm not surprised that the Socal RX group opted to not buy out the entire Fairplex. Still, I was told there was capacity for approx 300 cars and if there were more that's pretty crazy! Next year will be better I have no doubt.

From the vendor perspective I felt like everything was more relaxed. Once the cars were in and the gates were shut it seemed like it was smooth sailing.

Overall I thought the event was fantastic. Someone claims the event should be shorter but I found that there wasn't enough time as it was to see all the cars and catch up with all the people I've not seen in over a year. If you find yourself getting bored you probably didn't see the whole show or talk to many people. There seemed to be plenty to do in my opinion.

Next year...bigger, better, bolder. Frankly I think Mazda's "handling" of this event will be their loss and the community's gain. Can't wait till next year.

I may barely be fresh in the game but I've seen the dedication a lot of rotary owners have in their cars and the rx society as a whole. The whole having to pay thing yes sucked but did it stop everyone from coming? No. I think turnout was great for the time of announcement to date of was. Had it been announced sooner MORE would of showed and would of easily paid to get in but that problem was out of the hands of the planners.

Honestly I do not blame any of the socal rx people due to them making any of what happened possible. I do think if more of the fairplex was usuable things would of been better. It just seemed we the rotary community got a hole in the wall to the place and it just wasn't enough.

I for one loved the whole setup of how the cars were just everywhere and how there was actually some nice shade. Idk it was fun and all but just seemed unorganized from trying to get in, to parking, to staging. At mnao it didnt seem as many were pushed away at the door but then again there was a lot that Were let in as regards to those pushed back outside. A good maybe 1/4 or more were stopped at the door(what I heard so no exactly sure a round number). Maybe the time issue was a factor I don't know but hey there's always next year for more fun :)

Well of course no on would but it just seemed all life was sucked out due to nobody being to get on the throttle and make noise...I repeat noise, not jackassery of speeding around the place. Hell they even clipped the vendors from getting on it(those 10 seconds the 4 rotor got up was pure awesomeness that i along with many would of loved more of).

All I hope for is something was learned by this years outcome, and this for sure

Just a few things as FYI..

we had NO control or stake in the food sales. This is all FAIRPLEX. We were very disappointed at the prices the food vendor decided to charge.

We do apologize for the morning madness, but the FAIRPLEX people truly dropped the ball at the main gate and set us back a few hours. We were absolutely pissed!! We also had a few issues with our own folks, due to the overwhelming response... we were expecting a few hundred RXs, not the huge turnout we got. This was a year of firsts for SS, and like was stated, we had NO gaurantees on recouping the almost $20k we invested... we gambled the whole stack of chips we had, and more (borrowed and personal credit cards), to make it happen!

Every year we ask for volunteers, and very few peeps step up.. we added a few good people this year, but it seems like we never have enough folks willing to give of their own time for this!

I worked hard on the hotel deal and I think it was pretty fair.

With vendor display cars, there were over 300 RXs at this years event!

On the revving... sure we could have pulled a higher $5m+ insurance policy, but we didn't have the budget or inclination to hear cars revving all day and having to police people doing so... the clutch slip is one problem, but the worse is a belt snapping hitting a person (a kid) or a backfire burning someone... think about it!


There were lots of lessons learned this year, and "IF" it happens again, we will adjust accordingly.

We appreciate the input, as long as it is constructive!

Two months to pull this off... I'm proud of my guys! :bowdown: And we did it for all you, the RX community!



-Bern

I'd also like to add, for those talking about the cars that were turned away...
This venue held more cars than Irvine.

There were over 300 cars in the Fairplex, Irvine holds 260.
At Irvine, we are forced to park in the parking spots, and we can't park on any red curbs. (Anyone remember the year w/ the security guard threatening to ticket/tow cars?)

In the Fairplex, they had more freedom on where they parked cars. So, if we would have been in Irvine, we would have had at least 40 more cars turned away at the door.

This was my 8th Sevenstock. I think this venue, by far, was much better. The fact that we had shade, places to sit, some indoor areas for cars, and full working bathrooms was well worth the price.

BTW - If you didn't like waiting in line (I didn't mind because I took a nap), you could volunteer next year. The more volunteers, the quicker we get everyone parked, and...

Volunteers don't have to wait in line! Their cars get parked early :wink2:

The Good:
-shade
-air conditioning
-seating
-food variety
-real restrooms
-secenic backdrop
-close (for me)

The Bad:
-no car reving
-the food prices

Notes:
-The wait was a little long but totally expected for a new venue especially considering indoor parking.
-prices of food and drinks, there were ways around that, that the rx trucks found out.
-we do need more space but considering the time frame this was put together, where and when great support from the community.
-In the past I have seen multiple raffle winners even when they do shake up the box.

All in all Sevenstock far excedded my expetations this year considerating Mazda was unwilling. The Socal RX boys and all the volunteers did a great job! Cant wait till next year.