VetteDrmr

Just got this from Rick at The Driver's Edge;

Dear Drivers Edge Drivers,

I just recieved a phone call from CoTA's Manager of Track Operations, it wasn't the one I wanted to get.

In short CoTA's executives have decided to cancel all "YES ALL" track rentals. They have decided NOT to rent the track, they plan to go in a diffrent direction.

TDE had a tentative date in January that I wasn't going to be able to make in any case, but I know there are a lot of organizations that were working hard to get time on the track.

Bummer!

Regardless, have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Mike

CHJ In Virginia

With their financial situation, that seems to be short sighted. HPDE and club rentals could be a substantial income over a year's time.

VetteDrmr

I frankly was surprised when they started reserving weekends the first full year of operation. I expect that after of year of "exclusivity" things will open up.

Have a good one,
Mike

Corvee

I heard COTA executives have cancelled the MVP Tracktime event as well as the planned BMW, PCA, and others.

crease-guard

I wonder if this is their "different direction"

http://circuitoftheamericas.com/visit/track-rental

They will try this and then when they can't fill these dates anymore, we will get our shot.

That's fine, I can wait.

KBow_Photo

50K, that's insane

make Road America's deal with basically the same thing look cheap at 14k

mikymu

Guys, apparently COTA hired Mr Scrooge to run their business and could care less about track enthusiasts like us and want to squeeze every penny from blue blood folks that can pay thousands of dollar a day to do circles there. If COTA don't reverse the course and get their head out of their *** and treat us with respect then we will boycott the damn track. They can get away with it for couple months until the novelty wears off then they will realize the country is still trying to crawl out of a recession and they need all the support they can get from EVERYBODY to keep it afloat.

Someone at COTA better pick up a business 101 text book and do some reading. You can't get any worst than this - canceling track events that's already agree on right before the holiday. Apparently they could care less about making the naughty list

dvandentop

wow they could rake in a million or 2 with just private hpde track rentals most likely over the year and HPDE would take minimal operating expense i would think.

mikymu

You can't find a more classless act then what COTA just did to hundreds of track enthusiast. There are people that bought tow vehicles just so they can make the event

dvandentop

Hell i am not doubting it, i was thinking of trying to line up some guys to even load up an enclosed semi just to get on the track down there. now I am glad i didnt worry about it.

kverges

Well if true then I'll just stay at MSR and save the expense. COTA is new and appears to be a great track, but in time how will it stack up against Road Atlanta, Road America, Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca, Sears Point, Mosport, VIR and need I go on. If this is true I will also boycott spectator events, not that they wil care.

C5ZEE06

Or maybe they'll put on their own driving events..rather than rent to others ?

dfinke23

Sorry to hear, and hoping it changes. I was signed up with MVP and thought the entry was a bargain at $800 for 3 days, and an extra $200 for a pit garage for the event....paid more than that for a 2 day event this summer at autobahn.
I doubt it will help, but everyone should post their opinions on COTA's FB page.

mikymu

will do!

QUIKAG

I've already posted on their Facebook page. I got to do about 5 hot laps at the Cadillac event there a few weeks back. It is the best track I've ever run on by far. Was looking forward to signing up on the Drivers Edge event. COTA really screwed up and destroyed a lot of goodwill with this very shortsighted move.

At this point, I am not planning on attending as a spectator for ANY of their events due to this decision.

mikymu

good for you! what a bunch of short sighted people at COTA.

VetteDrmr

Admittedly the info I got was from back in November when Rick (TDE founder) was quoting numbers, but the $50k was only for the track. You still had to pay CoTA for their safety crews, emergency personnel, etc. So it was a bit more than $50k/day.

Have a good one,
Mike

AU N EGL

and UP TO 24 people.


ie private corporate events / big money fund raisers

give them a year, the track will be available

jaa1992

Man that bites!
Glad I had to work the MVP weekend so I wasn't tempted to sign up.

1ED1

No one has posted this on any other web or driving school site. Hope it is not true .