Parker Tech- The casino VS. on the street. What do you like better?

[Bro_Gill]

How'd this go from casino or street to I hate/love tech?

 

[michael.gonzalez]

How'd this go from casino or street to I hate/love tech?

Critical thinking. Questioning the status quo. Seeking continuous improvement.

 

[Charlietuna]

How'd this go from casino or street to I hate/love tech?

Wouldn't be the internet if somebody weren't bitching about something, now, would it?

 

[Bro_Gill]

I actually like tech AND CONTINGENCY. While it was way cooler in the old days when Manufacturers and retailers were stacked 3 deep along the route to get you to try their products for free or cheap, I still like seeing people I don't get to see away from the races due to distance and seeing cars is always cool. I think most delays in tech are because a lot of teams can't seem to read the requirements properly. Whose fault is that?

 

[dan200]

Again just thinking out loud...but why couldn't there be both? It seems possible to have a completely separate tech set up that is solely focused on tech, and a separate fan fest/show and shine kind of thing that either happens at the same time or towards the end. For the folks who don't want to deal with the hassle...cool. Go through the tech line, avoid the crowds, load up and leave. For those that do want the hoopla, they can then roll their vehicles over to the fan fest or whatever and have the social side too.

Would have to detail it out more but in my head you could still get the engagement and activation sponsors and vendors want, and create a singularly focused tech process that is separate from the hype, crowds, etc. I assume other high profile forms of racing have an inspection process but that process probably isn't done as a side show to fan/social access. I feel like you could reasonably have both things here and keep them somewhat separate.

No. Totally Impractical. For me at least.

I need to engage with both the "show" and actual "tech".

We support racers and the event. / The event and racers need to support us also.

 

[J Prich]

No. Totally Impractical. For me at least.

I need to engage with both the "show" and actual "tech".

We support racers and the event. / The event and racers need to support us also.

You know your business much better than I do, but my guess is the people who are on here saying they just want to get the car tagged and GTFO are probably not racers who are stopping at your hauler anyway. The racers that need stuff either prior to or because of tech can still come get what they need from you.

Either way there is no silver bullet that makes everyone happy here regardless so it's six in one hand, half dozen in the other.

 

[baja_racer]

Contingency IS the travelling show, I for one love it anywhere except Bluewater Casino parking lot. The contingency at the old Parker 400 was perfect, I personally enjoyed the social part, it's showing off time.......racecars are at their best and crew members look sharp. I would bet that 1/3 of the crowd doesn't even get out to the race course and they spend money. For those of us old enough to remember The Mint 400 (circa 70's thru 90's) contingency on Fremont get it. Vendors rely on a long wait, and more so than the swag, they interact with and get an opportunity to show their stuff. Very good for the sport!!!!!!! rant over

 

[dan200]

You know your business much better than I do, but my guess is the people who are on here saying they just want to get the car tagged and GTFO are probably not racers who are stopping at your hauler anyway. The racers that need stuff either prior to or because of tech can still come get what they need from you.

Either way there is no silver bullet that makes everyone happy here regardless so it's six in one hand, half dozen in the other.

My happiness is significantly more important than the happiness of anyone else.

 

[C4]

You know your business much better than I do, but my guess is the people who are on here saying they just want to get the car tagged and GTFO are probably not racers who are stopping at your hauler anyway. The racers that need stuff either prior to or because of tech can still come get what they need from you.

Either way there is no silver bullet that makes everyone happy here regardless so it's six in one hand, half dozen in the other.

The people that say they want a tag and GTFO are either NOT car owners, are car owners that don't need sponsors or car owners that have no clue. 100% of racers agree it is a PITA but 100% of the ones that are responsible for writing the check understand the benefit.

I arrived to Parker late in the day Friday but it feel it was MUCH better on the street than the casino.

I was also with a team when they reached tech and will say they just need more help. The people running tech were very nice and friendly and doing the best they could being so under staffed.

 

[michael.gonzalez]

The people that say they want a tag and GTFO are either NOT car owners, are car owners that don't need sponsors or car owners that have no clue.

I agree with this.

For our 2019 season, we had zero sponsorship and were not looking for anyone's help. We couldn't care less about the vendors except for when we needed something like HANS clips for the helmets, etc.

Now that we are going to be racing 6100, I feel sponsors and tech/contingency will be much more important for the team holistically. (We can use all the help we can get, lol)

 

[J Prich]

My happiness is significantly more important than the happiness of anyone.

This is how every call to every promoter/org rep starts, lol.

 

[J Prich]

The people that say they want a tag and GTFO are either NOT car owners, are car owners that don't need sponsors or car owners that have no clue. 100% of racers agree it is a PITA but 100% of the ones that are responsible for writing the check understand the benefit.

I arrived to Parker late in the day Friday but it feel it was MUCH better on the street than the casino.

I was also with a team when they reached tech and will say they just need more help. The people running tech were very nice and friendly and doing the best they could being so under staffed.

Fair enough. I'm not personally interested in making value judgements about people who have a different POV. My point remains that there are a fair amount of racers that prefer simple and easy and DON'T want to deal with all the stuff that goes along with "big" techs. Again fair enough if you feel differently but regardless of motivation, I think there is a sizable amount of folks who for whatever reason would rather just get through the tech line and get back to whatever it is they need to do for that day.

 

[10 shot]

Nothing worse than the mint 400 a few years back 9 hrs of tech in line at both tech and sign up then up at 4 am to race get done racing and you can barely watch the tt run because they want don't want you there anymore.

 

[michael.gonzalez]

I have another perspective as I was working as a Vendor for the 2018 Mint 400.

It was a major PITA to have tech/contingency at Fremont, break down the setup, drive hours, and re-set-up at Primm for the actual race start/viewing/spectating. Logistically, to accommodate our employees, it was not as straightforward as KOH.

Note:
I have not particpated in Mint 400 or KOH as a racer. Only as a vendor.
I have not particpated in MORE as a vendor. Only as a racer.

 

[dan200]

I have another perspective as I was working as a Vendor for the 2018 Mint 400.

It was a major PITA to have tech/contingency at Fremont, break down the setup, drive hours, and re-set-up at Primm for the actual race start/viewing/spectating. Logistically, to accommodate our employees, it was not as straightforward as KOH.

Note:
I have not particpated in Mint 400 or KOH as a racer. Only as a vendor.
I have not particpated in MORE as a vendor. Only as a racer.

Freemont is a giant headache. I am certainly glad when its over. I don't set up at Primm after the Freemont event. I leave the rig over by the pits with a sign- "I'm here. I'm just not right here. Text Me."

 

[dan200]

Fair enough. I'm not personally interested in making value judgements about people who have a different POV. My point remains that there are a fair amount of racers that prefer simple and easy and DON'T want to deal with all the stuff that goes along with "big" techs. Again fair enough if you feel differently but regardless of motivation, I think there is a sizable amount of folks who for whatever reason would rather just get through the tech line and get back to whatever it is they need to do for that day.

People who don't want to deal with all the stuff that goes along with "Big Techs" have my sympathy BUT, tough titties. There is a lot going on to have/fund a race and if an ORG wants to set things up so that everyone doesn't have to go through tech they can kiss a revenue stream good bye. Wanna not have to go to the show? Pay extra and send that $ to the vendors to cover the decreased ROI they are getting.

 

[ltr450rider]

I did like the downtown/street location over the Casino parking lot.

I did not care for the trailering the cars through, although I understand the reasoning. I was worried in the morning when a box trailer parked itself directly in front of my display, essentially blocking me from anyone that I wanted to put eyes on my display and see what I could offer them.

As a vendor, I am mainly there to catch people's attention that may not know about our product or services, these are the new customers I need to build the business and keep it going. I am also there to interact with current customers, shake hands, talk about good or bad issues/services, and make sure they know that we are there to support them in person. That goes a long way over a phone call or an e-mail.

As a vendor, I prefer to have a "slowish" moving tech line. I want these cars to back up in front of my booth and try to interact with a potential customer that otherwise might just pass by my booth without giving it a second thought. I can't count how many times a car has been stopped in front of my booth for a few minutes that then turns into a customer engagement.

 

[10 shot]

I guess there is the racer side and vendors side. I purchase from most of the vendors just not on race day the car is done tested and ready to race.

 

[MTPyle]

I like the Parker street downtown much better than the Bluewater parking lot.

we like to go thru tech for lots of reasons. Good exposure, gives us a chance to get final radio check from Rugged, pick up some stuff from vendors, and just get a chance to say hi.

I have met a lot of great people while taking our truck thru tech. We have yet to had a super long tech.

I do think it’s important to have two lanes in tech so if we stop people can get around us. I don’t really love the trailer thing. Takes up a lot of room and just has guys sitting in trucks idling.

Mike

 

[10 shot]

The ppl buying all the stuff in tech are mostly ppl that are not racing other than a few things like a cath or a helmet part most teams have what they need already
It's the ppl that come to watch or if a team needs something then they will get it
Parker tech is way better on the street than the casino rat race. If you been doin it for 12 years man that up and down circles gets old.