True NOS did help. But I think setting up a slow figure type course a long side would help and would make cfrc more newb friendly. The normal lay out is intimidating for new drivers. I here a lot New guys tell me they don't think they are ready for cfrc. It won't cost you anything extra for you guys to set it up, but for some reason you guys don't wanna do it. Not everyone wants to go bawls to the wall.
And let's be honest if by pro driver you mean pat or jlowe then don't hold your breath. That would only be an incentive for someone that hasn't been in Orlando long. I'm sure they're awesome instructors but everyone knows them and always sees them.
The only way advertising a pro driver would be too have someone like von, or essa or even Chelsea. Even then I don't see that working. Cfrc needs long term solutions not quick fix Fundraisers.
Personally, I find it amazingly disrespectful to not consider Pat or JLowe pro drivers considering that they both make T32 (Pat every event this year I believe?). Yea its not a top8 or even t16 BUT, there are a few SEASONED FD drivers that dont go top32 even. and throwing Essa's name in there is just silly- the FD points leader... cmon, half of FD should take a clinic from Essa!
second, you want the "big names" then I'd imagine the cost will be about $300+ a person to afford their time away from home/work/travel costs/hotel and to pay those names. dont be so narrow minded. just because someone sees someone all the time or talks to them doesnt mean they can't teach you stuff. they know what they are doing and are there to help. Ever looked into real driving instruction courses? 500-3000+ for a DAY. The clinic costs about what some drift days used to cost when the events were scarce and venues didnt dedicate to drifting. now we (community as a whole) complain about a track that has expanded 3-4 times, and continues to show love for drifting.
as far as speed goes, the FIRST thing I tell anyone is go as fast as you feel comfortable- but EGO/PRIDE kicks in and they feel they must go blazing into the course, scared or goofy they screw up and feel its too hard. I basically started and drove ONLY oval tracks for 8 months before I drove anything different. There was no 'beginner' course, you just attacked one corner at a time, stepping up speed, then linking.... but if you want something easier, then attend a clinic or rent out the track for private day!
we can probably have cfrc do an alt course layout for group D maybe but then if you "graduate" is it based on personal feel or does CFRC decide when you escape the 8? tons of people got upset at Bobby Ore sebring events where he REQUIRED you to master the figure 8 course before allowing you on main course. people didnt do well enough and were stuck there for most/all of the day and said it wasnt what they paid to do, they wanted to drift. ($100 for just practice day, no "instruction" other than asking others or Bobby would toss you a little help, but not an instructional day by any means.
i myself am very comfortable on the new layout but that is the biggest complaint i hear, people not wanting to drive CFRC do to its size and speed. You have to remember most kids only previous experience to CFRC is dumping the clutch turning from a stop sign. The driver clinic seems like a waste to me, especially when it is just as easy and cheaper to ask jason what i was doing wrong during a normal event.
as far as cost, you shouldnt think of it as "event cost" but "cost per run". The COST per run, is going to be cheaper at the end of the day (meaning you get much more runs) and you get instruction the entire time instead of one or 2 runs with me/other.
compaints about the course being to hard and then not wanting to attend a training day makes 0 sense to me. cost is well worth it.
anyways we are wayyyy off topic now, we arent looking to argue about prices or who is a "pro driver".
CFRC needs new ideas/events to market to (outside of drifting). They have the donation page up but like was said before, thats not how they want to operate. All it takes is one corporate sponsor to replace the NOS funding. A few of us are trying that route, but we still could help suggest other things to CFRC to try to setup or bring in with established groups.
Unfortunately, the dragstrip is closed due to government officials/rulings, so it hurts CFRC and they can't do anything about it at this time. This is one big nail in the coffin.
LETS TRY TO HAVE HELPFUL IDEAS OUTSIDE OF DRIFT EVENTS GUYS.
What I understand from what he wrote is that if you are using Jeremy and Patrick as celebrity candy to lure people to your events then you are wasting your time and money. Because as a local you see them all the time at events so it wouldn't have the same effect as having someone like Daigo Saito, Mike Essa, Tanner Foust, Vaughn Gittin Jr.