This is going to be long...
Nationals guidelines and checklist:
Obivously, this exists, but adding a checkilist of tasks for the preparation, raceday, etc. and a general time line would be a great addition. Someone mentioned the checklist before (Rich Chang?) this is a great idea. A "typical day " for a track owner running a national might be a good ides. Just set down the customary practiices in writing. Successful track owners could also be called upon to provide advice for having a race that doesn't kill the business.
Also, maybe a video of a car being teched could be made. Nothing fancy, just get a camera and have somebody tech a car peoperly so the hosts have an idea of how to use the tools and what is done.
Recommendations on electrical service might also be helpful. 200 soldering irons all on at the same time is a huge load, let alone everthing else.
A list of past events hosted, along with the names of the sponsored drivers (at least some of them) that attended. Those drivers could give an opinion of how things were run.
Paid race director: An experienced race director could be hired for the weekend.
Manufacturers should contribute to a fund to make this happen. ROAR could then hire someone for the weekend. Obiously, if the host had this type of person on staff (Trackside/Scotty E, RC MAdness/Chris Marcy), this could be waived.
Paid ROAR Administrators:
As Todd Hodge brought up this needs to happen. Even if it is one person to attend all races with the proper tech equipment and scoring gear. Todd's Ideas for other duties are excellent. Perhaps we could gain additional exposure this way.
At the barest minimum, we need to have something to ensure that an official's way is paid to the race
Increased regional activity:
A regional points system, letting racers all over the region compete & gain points for a championship from their home tracks. This has already been proposed to ROAR. If the major scoring software producers could add a option to markup the results for internet transmission, it could all be handled via database. Tony (SKipGear) Hines had a complete proposal, including a programmer willing to create the software for the points calculations.
Qualifying into the nationals from regionals also would create a greater aura of prestige to the nationals. Even if the nationals became slightly smaller, it would allow longer range planning by both the track operator and thr racer.
Both of these ideas create greater value in the ROAR membership for the racer. ROAR becomes more than just insurance. Many racers never attend a national race. Many do attend races close to home. Regionals which become an "event" will increase membership. Local racing for a championship that includes a large group of tracks increases local excitement. The ROAR product becomes something that is wanted, vs. something that is a a requirement to race at one event a year.
Online voting:
If you increase the reliability and ease of voting, this would instantly raise turnout for votes. It 'is that simple.
Also, a once a year "referendum" vote could be taken for major rule changes, or ideas (e.g. Should we create rules for the "TMAXX" style Monster Trucks?). More direct involvement, without paralyzing the organization.
Volunteer "want ads"-
Add a section to the website to ask for volunteers for both long term jobs like commitee members, and short term like tech help for a couple days at a regional race, etc. Break it down by region. I think a lot of people would like to help out , but they don't know what to do. Some don't have the time for a big commitment. If they had something they could contribute for a few days, or a day or whatever, that is a start.
Rob King