[djini_hades]

Sort of an open question. I'm not exactly a newcomer, but hardly 'old skool' having joined the slot racing (can I call racing scalex that?) about 1 1/2 ~ 2 years ago.

I'm at a club that does well and has 'good' numbers, although they suffer during the summer holidays and numbers drop a bit making us short for marshals sometimes... I would like to help/assist in making this sport/hobby/whatever more popular however I am at a loss as to who I should be trying to 'target' to encorage to try it out and inject new members of this great passtime...

So... If I was to take a leaf out of Scalextric book and ask "Who are you tryiong to sell this to" what would they say?

As members of this board what would YOU say the 'target is'... And while 'everyone and anyone' might be a valid answer, I am hoping for maore precision

I mean, Scalextrix make model cars of both HISTORIC nature (which as a 30 year old does not really interest me much) as well as 'moden' cars (Like NASCAR) which in some quirky way DO appeal to me...

I just do not want to see this eventually die out through lack of members and want to do 'my bit' to help make sure it's there for the next 40 years... So who should I be trying to recruit?

Or maybe it's not something we cut up by age, but by disposible income, gender, race (!?), or something unforeseen....

How do you guys help perpetuate this to esure it will be there in 2040?

 

[JEXY1]

Hi djini_hades

It's a good question and one that in a slightly different way i have to tackle most weeks for the NSCC.

From my (limited) experience i would suggest that your potential audience is anyone who has bought a slot car or slot car set.

This is a very very broad sweep of people and to try and categories them would be virtually impossible.

If your trying to get new members to join your local race club, the best place would be your local paper, radio, TV. A small poster in the local model shops would also bring results.

At our club we seem to get new members from our (very old) web site and listings on various web based club listings.

One method that also reaches a wide audience is the Racer magazine and of course the NSCC journal.

If you do find a magic way of getting new members do let me know!

Good luck

Gareth

NSCC

 

[Mr.M]

djini hades,

Your first option is to get all your current members to link arms and march round the local town centre on a Saturday chanting "Who.............wants to play..............Scalextric". Well, it seemed to work for us in infants school

Alternatively, if you're not too keen on that plan, and this is where I see a potential flaw in your current strategy, let us know the location of your club

Coz not only are there the many members of this board, there are also a large number of lurkers who just read the forum and stay in the shadows. Who knows you may even entice one or two to join the forum as well as your club.

Last year I press-ganged three forum members into joining the Farnham club during the quiet summer period. And that was on the US based SCI! But obviously they all lived within a reasonable distance. Trouble is now we can't get rid of them!

So let us know some more details of your club and how/what you run and maybe you'll have some interest!

Mr.M

 

[Eno Dog]

It's simple guys - BREED!!

Now whilst I managed to avoid it (no point standing in hospital corridors if you're not allowed to smoke) I inherited a couple of boys.

The boys like racing. I now implore all member to go breed like buggery (although that may not be productive) and BUIL OUR FUTURE!!

 

[LMP]

I'd get in touch with a local model shop, as Gareth suggested above. Posters, handouts etc. will get customers of slot cars to notice there is a club nearby where they can race competitively.

 

[Difflock]

Who's the target audience?
Now I've got an airsoft shotgun, anyone who gets in the way

You'd think that using a local model shop for an advert would work well, but in the case of Slot Tech, nothing has come of it. The shop's a full-blown model shop as well as being a Scaley dealer, but no joy

Mark.

 

[gecko]

I imagine there are alot of home racers out there who would love to be part of a club.

Take myself for example, I'm a bit of a scratchbuilder, modeller and tinker - but my racing experience is very limited. I have been oohing and ahhing for ages about popping down to my local club and having a go - but as I don't know what to expect, I find myself making excuses not to go. So I should pull my socks up, as the wife is getting bored standing in on the Scaley front.

So, I would say a friendly, exciting atmosphere offering more than the average loft circuit - with loads of different classes would draw more people in.

Mark

 

[Mr.M]

QUOTE (gecko @ 2 Sep 2004, 00:22)So, I would say a friendly, exciting atmosphere offering more than the average loft circuit - with loads of different classes would draw more people in.
Get yourself down to that club Mark, because every club I have ever been to is exactly what you're hoping for!

I'd also like to agree with the previous findings with putting up posters in the local model shop. Farnham did that, but gets far more interest from a very old, outdated website! Probably has worked for others though!

Mr.M

 

[Scott B]

I second what Mr M says - clubs are full of friendly people. You might think I've been lucky (and I have) but I have been to six different clubs and never been less than welcomed and supported with advice and even loaned cars.

 

[gecko]

Cheers guys, I've penciled in a trip to my local club over the next couple of weeks - so watch out Oxford here I come!

On the other point regarding the posters in model shops is a great idea, but they need to have the right look, bright, impactful and big (not a pink bit of paper with black text and a bit of clip art!). Lots of shots of exciting slot cars - with just a couple of bullet points listing the right sort of information.

Also isn't Getslotted working on a club listing section on their site - things like tie-ins with on-line retailers is a good way to go and reaches a larger audience (plus the right one). I myself purchase 99% of my cars online, but the nearest retailer (e.g. MRE) is well over 60 miles from me.

Maybe special newbie nights, where people can turn up and just race their cars without fears of looking a complete pratt if they come last amongst the pros.

Anyway, just a couple of my thoughts

Cheers,

Mark

 

[djini_hades]

Well guys... thanks for your suggestions (even the semi-serious ones)...

As the most technical person attending the club (The London Scalextric Club in case you are all wondering) I will be putting it to the chairman and commitee members this AGM about producing a 'web-presence' for the club... It's LONG overdue I think and the club is poorly presented 'online' (Try and find anything about the club (Based in Wood Green, London - there's your head start).

It's definately got to have lots of pictures

too...

Anyway...

Not sure about the 'BREED' suggestion... But I'll talk to the wife

however this may take a few years....

 

[Scott B]

QUOTE Not sure about the 'BREED' suggestion... But I'll talk to the wife however this may take a few years....

Use magnets. Makes things faster, although when you do come off there is usually a bigger mess.

 

[slik]

@ Ecurie

Outdated website, hmmm, I really should do something about that soon.

I seem to remember trying to get some decent replies regarding a domain name one night but it all kind of got forgotten after that. This time I don't think I'll ask, just do.

Suggestions from the Farnham posse via PM on here or email would be good.

Ta,

Julian.

 

[Mr.M]

QUOTE (gecko @ 2 Sep 2004, 08:48)Cheers guys, I've penciled in a trip to my local club over the next couple of weeks - so watch out Oxford here I come!
Oh! You want to go to Oxford!

Ahh! Well! See! There are always exceptions to the rule!

Only joking!

I've had recent experience of Oxford and they definitely have what you're looking for in abundance! And there's a pub right across the road for post- race analysis. Get there as soon as you can and the only negative point will be kicking yourself for not going along sooner!

Mr.M

 

[djini_hades]

QUOTE (slik @ 2 Sep 2004, 11:57)I seem to remember trying to get some decent replies regarding a domain name one night but it all kind of got forgotten after that. This time I don't think I'll ask, just do.
Go to www.easily.co.uk

Very good site to register domain names (and hosting for £10 a YEAR)...

 

[moped rider]

QUOTE (The London Scalextric Club in case you are all wondering)

Which area of London?

London is a very big place with a population of 8,000,000 or more.

It would be best to target the local area in London and especially community centres and leisure centres where folk meet.

Also, do you want to have a membership of mainly young adults and families?

The age profile that you want at the club has to be a consideration. You may well discover that a well placed poster in a leisure centre gets more attention than a poster in a local shop.

You can also give your club a lot of publicity on Ebay. Put a listing in the Scalextric section and ask folk not to bid! It costs 15p, runs for 10 days, and will get a lot of hits.

Moped

 

[phipster]

Wood Green is in North London - quite far out from the center.

I always thought it was one of the more well known clubs (isn't there a picture in Roger Gillhams book of it?). Not that I ever went to it when I lived in London (sorry). I lived in South East London, about 1 1/2 hours away from it.

 

[Swissracer]

Seeing as this seems to be VERY club related..

How would you Club guys like a Forum section with sub sections specific to your Club?

IE:

Slotforum:Clubsheonix Scalextric Club
or
Slotforum:Clubs: London Scalextric Club

I have seen the idea on slotitalia.com and although obviously the post count does not race up, it IS used there and of course gives coverage to your Club for anyone browsing, especially if the Clubs contact details are there .

Just an idea at this stage but responses please?

 

[McLaren]

Slotforum:Clubs: Eastcote Scalextric Club

McLaren

 

[jonny s]

Sounds a good idea and worth a try.

I have a web site, advertise in all the usual places and some others and find that once you have built up a presence then membership numbers increase. It only remains to keep up the hard work seven days a week and you have it sussed

It`s worth remembering that nearly all,if not all, `club` racers started with a home circuit experience,therefore this should be your MPI (mean point of impact...well you guys mentioned targets first!). Recruiting based on welcoming Dads n lads has been in my experience the more fruitfull way of recruiting, then just throw in a school holiday club, Saturday morning club and offer Kids birthday parties, invite every cub,Scout and Guides group in your area to have a three hour session, invite the Round table to use the facility to raise funds, visit every car show room and offer a race night , car clubs, School fetes, after school clubs, PTA from all local middle schools and above, organise a special event or two for charity to get publicity which is free (better if you can get a celeb), set up a circuit in your local shopping centres to raise charity money and hand out leaflets and all this leads to the club taking over your life. Happy days though

Just don`t expect too much from people, you`ll meet opposition and jealousy and be misunderstood. The ultimate aim is to have fun and this has to be balanced by your commitment and available time. Be careful not to create a Monster!!

If you are happy with meeting with eight or ten like minded racers then be happy but you can`t beat racing against a varirty of racers every week and watching the steady progress of the youngsters . To be involved in something that people enjoy is superb.