Climb to the Clouds...

[Kent McLean]

"Bob" <bob at audisport.com> wrote:
> Heres the latest on the Mt Washington climb to the clouds.
<big snip about why it isn't going to happen> 

I've been thinking about this for a few days.  I enjoyed my 
one visit; I'd hate for it to have been my one and only visit.
So, thinking out loud...

- Can the race be scaled back to one day, not two?
- Can it be run on a weekday, where loss of revenue
    would be less? Or off season? After Labor Day, but
    before the leaves fall. Or before Memorial Day? 
    And pray for clear weather. 
- Can you run it without practice sessions, like a rally?
    That might help make it a one-day affair.
- How much does it cost to put it on? Maybe the cost
    could be spread out among more sponsors. It doesn't
    have to be Audi. Lots of manufacturers have 4WD
    cars that may want to showcase them -- 2 hours of
    racing, 2 hours of driving their product up the hill,
    2 hours of racing, etc.
- Make it a half day of racing, followed by a half day
    of highlighting the sponsor's cars with rides up the
    mountain (behind a pace car?).
- Is it Mt. Washington Auto Road that owns the rights
    to the Climb itself? Pike's Peak gets TV coverage.
    Maybe the Climb could, too. It would make the
    sponsor's money well spent.
- Could it be opened up to all comers -- $50 a run?
    $100/run? Like an autocross, run what ya brung?  
    I'm sure there is huge liability with safety if someone 
    goes off the mountain, especially without a cage. 
    How much can a waiver waive?
- Make it a single mark (marque) race, to ensure
    maximum exposure. Any production-based Audi,
    any mods, with safety gear (roll cage, etc.). I'd
    think a few turbo'd 4Ks would look nice with a 
    roll cage. :-)
- Charge admission, like other events. Rising rates
    for general admission, paddock access, on-course 
    access, VIP tent, etc.

What do you think it would take to alter the race 
to make it viable?  

Kent, dreamer
'89 200 TQ, "Bad Puppy"