29/10/2004 09:13:46 Dave A month or two back Paul Golding mentioned that he was thinking of splitting off the track day part of SELOC and forming Lotus on Track. It [size=2]goes live on Sunday - see [url="http://www.lotus-on-track.com/"]http://www.lotus-on-track.com[/url][/size] [size=2][/size] [size=2]Don't try to register on their forum yet!! Wait until it goes live and drop Paul an email to set you up a free account.[/size] [size=2][/size] Paul also reports: [size=2]"..We also believe we have done a deal for 6 bedford dates in 2005, starting end of jan.. just got to wait until next week for the contract before discussing and knowing 100%.. so we would love to have you on board for any of these you want to help promote. The jan one we probably need to keep as only 70 cars and we need a push for LOT but thereafter - including all the bank holidays happy to do anything you want.. number of cars will be limited to 100 next year for all organisers - we've been running 115 rma 120-125 and circuit limit always 40-50 depending on weather.." He hopes to have the dates confirmed in a week or so. [/size]

29/10/2004 09:31:35 Rob Bell LOL - no problem with the similarity of the name - afterall, we've 'borrowed' so much from SELOC over the last couple of years! :D They've got a nice slick look to their new website. Anything there that we can learn from SteveC?

29/10/2004 10:02:37 Neil [color=black][font=Verdana]We could embark on a marketing campaign similar to a certain rent-a-car business where they've crossed out car and put van. We could have the url down the site of the car with lotus crossed out and replaced with mg. :) [/font][/color] [color=black][font=Verdana][/font][/color] [color=black][font=Verdana]Sorry but it's been a difficult week at work, hence no input on here for a while.:( [/font][/color]

29/10/2004 10:35:24 Dave [QUOTE=Rob Bell]LOL - no problem with the similarity of the name - afterall, we've 'borrowed' so much from SELOC over the last couple of years! :D[/QUOTE] I think it's great that they've used the 'on track' name. Paul has been impressed with what wev'e done with MGoT and I think we've helped him move SELOC forward to produce Lotus on Track. In turn I think he will help us move our thinking on- especially when it comes to membership and benefits. [QUOTE=Rob Bell]They've got a nice slick look to their new website. Anything there that we can learn from SteveC?[/QUOTE] I like their content too - you'd be hard pressed to find any philosophical difference between us. They've had the advantage of building their site from scratch with this thinking clear in their minds, where we've evolved somewhat over time. I think we need to re-vamp our site for the new year. We can leave our history and origins behind now, as we are established. We need to rethink our message from the perspective of where we are today. The difficulty we face with this and everything else is just resources and time. We have lots of things we'd like to do, but our challenge will be finding the time and the resources to do them.

29/10/2004 13:12:53 Tim I bet they didn't have any problems with the luminosity of their logo..... :p

31/10/2004 14:36:30 Dave [QUOTE=Tim]I bet they didn't have any problems with the luminosity of their logo..... :p[/QUOTE] Don't you believe it :p Here's Paul Goldings welcome post at [url="http://www.lotus-on-track.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=10"]http://www.lotus-on-track.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=10[/url] posted on 26-10-2004 at 11:53[url="http://www.lotus-on-track.com/forums/post.php?action=reply&fid=1&tid=10&repquote=142"][img]http://www.lotus-on-track.com/forums/images/xpsilver/quote.gif[/img][/url] [url="http://www.lotus-on-track.com/forums/topicadmin.php?action=report&fid=1&tid=10&pid=142"][img]http://www.lotus-on-track.com/forums/images/xpsilver/report.gif[/img][/url] [b]Welcome to Lotus-on-Track [/b]Just a note to say Hi and Welcome you to Lotus-on-Track. As you can see we've sorted quite a few things out already from choosing a name, designing a website, setting up the forums & shop software (ta Andy & Stu) to booking some events. We are still in the process of sorting out discounts and benefits that we think will benefit members - we won't be going for quantity but for quality and benefits that will make a significant difference to most members. Track days have already been booked and are available to purchase at Goodwood & Brands Hatch both at weekends, something that we hope to be able to continue throughout the year with a bit of hard work and imagination. There is also the first of a number of 1st Lotus activity days and we have our first events booked at Bedford for 2005.. more info and dates on these to follow on those but again we will be going for quality events, less cars on track and restricting who can take part. We have some big plans for 2005 with a number of European dates already being negotiated from exclusive L-o-T days at Spa through to a number of long weekends to France, Germany and Holland. If you're looking for information on a fancy membership pack then sorry you'll be disappointed. All members will receive a lanyard with membership card at their first track day - more information on this to follow. We do need some funds to operate and Myself, Mark and David have put in a significant amount of cash to pay for deposits, software and infrastructure which we would like to get back over the year. L-o-T must become self funding. However, this is all positive we believe we have a firm financial footing with a team that has the best interests of the club and its purpose - TRACK DAYS - at heart. We would like to get feedback from everyone about what they would like to see the club offer from circuits they would like to visit to changes to the forums. Anyway sometimes first views can be the best so if you have any thoughts then pls blat away below.. Paul, Mark & David ps. You may have noticed that your secpay receipt mentions easytrack. They have been kind enough to allow us to use their secpay account so that we can take on-line payments. Once we have some trading history we will hopefully be able to get our own account but as a new company terms for us are almost impossible. Easytrack do not have any involvement in the running of L-o-T.

31/10/2004 21:54:47 Cannonball Bob Interesting that already they're talking about discounts and benefits for members. I know it's not one of our core aims but I think it's something we do need to pursue so getting the membership criteria sorted out is a good thing. I also see L-o-T members get membership cards AND they're talking overseas too. Chaps, I think the benchmark has just been re-defined. :(

01/11/2004 13:59:33 Rob Bell [QUOTE=Cannonball Bob]Interesting that already they're talking about discounts and benefits for members. I know it's not one of our core aims but I think it's something we do need to pursue so getting the membership criteria sorted out is a good thing. I also see L-o-T members get membership cards AND they're talking overseas too. Chaps, I think the benchmark has just been re-defined. :([/QUOTE] Do we need the costs associated in producing membership cards? Surely we can maintain a virtual membership in the way that we discussed at the committee meeting Bob? If we are going to zero-rate our membership rate, then we need to keep our costs at a minimum.

01/11/2004 22:38:29 Cannonball Bob Agreed we don't [i]need [/i]the cost, but my point is I suspect people will inevitably (and no doubt unfairly) compare our operations with LoT's, especially with the similarity in names, and may well start asking awkward questions. We all know where we're headed with MGoT but to the average punter, I think it could appear at face value that we're lagging behind a little now.

02/11/2004 09:43:32 Rob Bell [QUOTE=Cannonball Bob] We all know where we're headed with MGoT but to the average punter, I think it could appear at face value that we're lagging behind a little now.[/QUOTE] Ah - I think you've hit the nail on the head with that comment regarding the 'average punter' - how many 'average punters' will even be aware of 'LoT'? Is this a case of us being so exposed that we're aware of every minutia?

02/11/2004 09:54:03 Dave [QUOTE=Cannonball Bob]We all know where we're headed with MGoT but to the average punter, I think it could appear at face value that we're lagging behind a little now.[/QUOTE] The Lotus guys have always led the way and will always be streets ahead of us - they simply have much more demand. I'm really comfortable with this - they are Lotus, we are MG - we collaborate and share days based on mutual aims and objectives - sounds good to me :D

02/11/2004 09:59:18 Dave [QUOTE=Rob Bell] If we are going to zero-rate our membership rate, then we need to keep our costs at a minimum.[/QUOTE] Agreed in principle, but I quite like the approach they've taken to 'membership cards'. They will produce 'lanyards' that will be handed out at the first track day that a member attends. This sounds like a way of handling the cost! You don't incur the cost of the 'membership card' until that member signs up for an event. As long as the event cost has an appropriate overhead built in to handle this - Bob's your uncle! Well, not our Bob, of course ;) Another example of LoT leading the way - with ideas like that I'm happy they're doing it!