HAYWARD FIELD MEET - JUNE 7, 2008

[GREYHARE]

BACK ON THE GRASS

HAYWARD FIELD MEET GOES INTERNATIONAL

The HAYWARD FIELD MEET will be SATURDAY, June 7, 2008 at Cal State East Bay from 9AM to 2PM.

The Meet will be on the practice field where it was held for so many years before it moved to the parking lot the past two years.  To get the grass field we had to move from a Sunday to Saturday.

At the last meeting we decided to open the Meet up to pre 1980 European and Japanese cars.  All British Cars of any age are welcome. 

The reason we did this was financial.  Last year for the first time ever, we lost money on the event.  It was only a few dollars, but with costs rising it bacame obvious we needed to increase participation or drop the event.  So we decided to open it up and see if a diversity of makes can produce a profit for the club and allow us to continue the almost 20 year tradition of the HFM.

Of course all Minis and MINIS are especially wecomed as they are backbone of the event and (don't tell anyone) THE REAL REASON WE PUT ON THE MEET.

NICK BECKER

[geo]

Well, just my humble opinion, but perhaps an increase in publicity could have kept it in the black, AND kept it a British Field Meet instead of "anyone with a 25-year old car" meet. This really dilutes the experience, for me, since I'm already skeptical of the "British-ness" of the German BMW MINIs to start with. (Does everyone think the Fremont-built Toyotas are American cars?) Portland and Ventura/Oxnard have very successful annual British Field Meets, and I think the Bay Area could have as well. I wish there'd been some discussion about this, to perhaps bring in some volunteer publicity activity. Flame suit on, so fire away.

[tmsmith]

Nick:
Are flyers or a web page available yet?

I would tend to agree with George, but we need to identify why we are only barely breaking even.

[Craig]

geo, we all are entitled to our opinions; this is the good old US of A after all.  It's even in our constitution!  No flame suit required.
This was discussed at club level in the monthly meetings and decided there too.  Come to the next one and be heard!

Oh, and I'll be at Hayward, dented fender and all!

[tmsmith]

I did not finish my post above before work got in the way and I just pressed submit anyway.

There are some basic sales and marketing issues here. We need to either increase sales or increase the price. Realizing if the price increase is too great then sales decrease further. It has to be an event that appears to have value for the consumer.

[geo]

>>This was discussed at club level in the monthly meetings and decided there too.  Come to the next one and be heard!<<

well, maybe this brings up another point. should we have "minutes" of the meeting visible somewhere? I'm that crazy paradox person who wishes the club were more active, but doesn't go to meetings. My fault, that. still, if the website could be more functional for others like me, then positive feedback and creative suggestions could be made during the process instead of "complaints" after the fact. That would give majority participation, rather than the minority who can get to the meetings.

The printed newsletter is kinda nice, but it's far from as current as website information could be.

I'm with Terry. I think the solution should have been slightly higher fees, and significantly more sponsorship, keeping it British. Now you have to create more categories for exhibiting cars, have more prizes probably, and perhaps, as Terry says, reduce value for the [British] consumer.

[Craig]

I see your point geo.  I really enjoy the meetings because I see real people instead of typed messages.  That and the cars.  We do need to discuss many things and include more of the individuals in the club.  How to do that is certainly something that needs to be in the discussion!

[JiMini]

Good point Craig.....a club is better face to face rather than an "eclub".  Although we can't all attend every one of the monthly meetings, maybe topics for discussion could be posted in advance so the rest of the members can provide some input/suggestions.  Great to meet you at the last monthly meeting and I'll see you at the next monthly meeting, and at the Hayward meet.

[tmsmith]

here is a link to a flyer you can email to your friends:
http://www.moasf.com/2008_HFM_FLYER.htm

I will try to email this out using a list I have but I am having trouble with worldcast.

[zied]

Well, just my humble opinion, but perhaps an increase in publicity could have kept it in the black, AND kept it a British Field Meet instead of "anyone with a 25-year old car" meet. This really dilutes the experience, for me, since I'm already skeptical of the "British-ness" of the German BMW MINIs to start with. (Does everyone think the Fremont-built Toyotas are American cars?)

and are New Zealand or Australian born Minis really English?... or Argentina born or Italian born Minis English?... or Jaguar a Ford or now Indian?.. or Rolls Royce a Ford, or BMW?...  how about Aston Martin... I guess definitely a Ford... "Ban 'em "  Better yet would you call a 2002-2006 Jeep a Mercedes?

yes a Toyota built entirely in the US is definitely a US car... I don't think they even design them in Japan any longer and almost all cars in Japan are now imported. And how about Mazda... born and bred in the USA by good ol' Ford.

Cars have been international for some time... what do you think of a Nash Metropolitan? Are you going to ban it as well because of its ties to Nash and then AMC?

As an observer I think one of the problems is that MOASF members participate in few other British Car Events. If you want others to register for your event, where was the membership when Chico had it's car show or how many are planning on attending the Woodland Car Show? Will there be representation at Mini Mania's open house? Even the Palo Alto Show is poorly attended by MOASF members even though its in your back yard, and in the 4 years that I attended the All-British Car Show in San Juan Bautista, I don't remember seeing a single "classic" MOASF car in attendance.

The best way to get attendance is to also attend others' events.

[BabyMni]

 : :
Zeid,
Thanks for your observation!.
FYI, we had more than 15 classic's from our club at Palo alto and more than 6 at Mini Mania's open house. I am not sure why you didn't see us or introduced yourself.

Thanks again!

 

[zied]

Well this year you won't see many "new" MINIs at the Brisbane Car Show, since we will all be on Treasure Island... I was at the Palo Alto Event last year, and yes I stand corrected there were a large handful of classics there (I think I saw 6-8 there anyway).

How about Woodland next weekend? It's a short drive and would likely go a long way in marketing your own event. I'll make sure to say hi in Nevada City on Saturday!

We will have a caravan driving Saturday if you want to join us... will reach Fairfield at 7:40am and leave by 8am, another 20 min. pit stop in Auburn at 9:10 am, to arrive at Mini Mania at 10:00am. If anyone wants to join me, email me and I will forward details.

[BabyMni]

We will see you at MiniMania next Weekend!
Drive Safe!

Shadi

[zied]

REME is planning to have a booth at the Woodland Show... if any MOASF members are in attendance, please bring copies of your Hayward flier with you and leave them at our booth for distribution...

[tmsmith]

Believe it or not I think that Nick has gone to the Dixon show for many years and also to the MG show to promote our event.

Opening up the show/field meet to other cars is a big consideration as Chico, Dixon/Woodland and Palo Alto/Brisbane are limited to cars with at least a remote connection to British Heritage. I think it is a big jump from a Nash Metro to a Datsun 240Z. If it makes it a succes then I am all for it.

There is no question that MOASF has had it's up and downs over the years, even during the short time I have been involved(about 8 years). I am more interested in vintage racing than shows, just as I was 30+ years ago, but I still make it to a few meetings and events. We have been slow to adapt to the new communication technologies. Many of our previous members have never adapted to using the web as a communications tool. When we created this site and the newsletter publication dropped off we lost touch with a number of people.