Datsun Matsuri 2012 - Be There! May 19-20

[DatsunDave]

Registration Update
Well, things are looking really good. With only 4 days since opening up registration here's where were at:

Total of 17 owners / cars registered:
8 from Alberta
7 from BC
2 from Washington

Vehicles mix:
7 Roadsters
3 510s
3 Zs
3 ZXs
1 520 truck

About 30 emails inquiring with "promises" of registering soon.

So, we're looking good after just 4 days.

If you're planning on attending, please register early and book your accommodations early as well. http://www.myautoproject.com/datsun-mat ... istration/

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Datsun.David]

Wow. That's already more Datsun's than I have ever seen in one place... The guys in California are lucky... They get that many cars to show up for donuts on a Sunday... Way to go Dave! I am recruiting drivers for a couple other cars...

[DatsunDave]

Word of mouth and positive peer pressure are likely going to have more impact than anything. It is human nature; no one wants to be the first to make the decision to go but once it starts to build it will grow quickly from there.

It's like that old shampoo commercial, "I told two friends, and I told two friends, and so on, and so on..."

I'd love to see us break the 100 mark and I honestly think it is possible to reach 150 if people "man up" and commit to the drive. A few have told me things like "not sure about attending, it is kinda far" (said by someone living 4 hours away from the event, to me, a guy living 11 hours away". Hahahah

For some, they are in a frantic dash to finish their cars so are seeing how it goes before committing.

Others, particularly the Vancouver 510 crowd, are waiting until the very last minute to decide based on the forecast for rain (odd coming from Vancouver people but their choice).

[DatsunDave]

Some people have contacted me about a T-shirt for the event but are unable to attend.

To avoid taking orders for t-shirts and dealing with the hassle of collecting payment, delivery, etc., I setup one of those on-line, print-on-demand shops so if you want one of these you can order whever you like and have it delivered direct.

I uploaded all of the Datsun Matsuri 2012 event designs. I also uploaded a generic version (if you don't want the event date, etc., on the T-shirt).

Here is the link http://myautoproject.wordans.com/t-shir ... rts-10495. The navigation is goofy so if you want to look at all the items you have to dance between the menu on the left and the menu on the right, and the page numbers on the bottom (sigh).

There are T-shirts, posters, iphone skins, etc.

A word about pricing; it isn't cheap. The base price (my cost) is really high with these print-on-demand shops which leaves very little room for a reasonable mark up. I tried to keep the cost as low as possible. For example, I make a maximum of $5 on a t-shirt (some of the ladies stuff is like $3.08). I am hoping that I can sell enough items to cover the cost of having the artwork done but that is like 100+ shirts. Anyway, my point is...sorry that these are a little spendy.

[Datsun.David]

Hey Dave -
Want me to ask my Uncle at the Big O Tire shop in Kelowna about putting up a poster? Should have your contact info on them somehow...

The site looks great. Quit apologizing for not wanting to subsidize the rest of us! All your time and effort is worth something and quality looks top notch!

dw

[DatsunDave]

Ya sure, please ask him...of course I'll have to design something.

[DatsunDave]

Hey all,

I am really trying to figure out more ways to promote this event so it has occured to me to reach out to Nissan specialty shops across the area from where we'll draw participants.

If you know of any, please let me know (post is fine) and I'll contact them (aside from Ross of course).

For example, Sumaru's Auto Repair where I live is known as a shop that specializes in Nissans (the former owner races a 240Z GT car).

So, any similar shops you can think of in your area or others in AB, BC, WA, ID, MT?

[Datsun.David]

Hey Dave -

What about putting the word out to the Nissan dealerships. I know they are generally more new school, but Brasso here in Calgary has a couple of die hard Datsun guys too...

If you hook me up with posters or even a PDF with contact details etc. I will drop them off to the dealerships here. I can print them 11 x17... Also, not a bad idea to focus some attention in the Kelowna/Vernon area too. Can probably drag out some locals. I am sure that my Uncle will let us put a poster up in his tire and service shop. If we needed a staging venue near Kelowna, he'd volunteer his parking lot too I bet... Anyone in those parts that can get some posters out??

[Linda]

You might try putting some flyers in some Auto parts stores, maybe give them some promo on the website. Also send a notice to RockAuto as well.

Linda

[DatsunDave]

Hey everyone,

Registration is coming along nicely but I do know that, based on the discussions on the various forums where I've posted this, many are taking a wait and see approach before registering. I can appreciate that.

That said, I thought I would share with those of you thinking of coming, why advance registration is important vs just showing up or deciding last minute to attend, so, if you do intend to come, you may consider registering right away vs waiting.

Registration helps me with the following:

• Most importantly, I need to inform the sponsors of the number of participants I'm expecting so they can ship a sufficient quantity of give away items for registered participants. My deadline is supposed to be May 1st. Of course there will be people who can't register early but if most do, then I can take an educated guess at the final attendance numbers.
• I need to produce print materials for the participants (ballots, entries for the sponsor supplied prizes, ID cards for cars for the car show, route maps, etc, etc.)
• I have to inform the Knox Mountain Hill Climb organizers of how many people I am expecting so they can accommodate a reserved space for us at the show.
• I need to give the folks at the Sunday cruise lunch stop location an estimate of the number of people to expect for lunch.

So, this is really coming together but I do ask for those of you who are coming to please register soon.

Oh ya, and the block of rooms at the hotel are currenly only being held until April 21st. I may be able to negotiate a longer hold but no guarantee.

Hope to see you all there.

[DatsunDave]

Hey Dave -

What about putting the word out to the Nissan dealerships. I know they are generally more new school, but Brasso here in Calgary has a couple of die hard Datsun guys too...

If you hook me up with posters or even a PDF with contact details etc. I will drop them off to the dealerships here. I can print them 11 x17... Also, not a bad idea to focus some attention in the Kelowna/Vernon area too. Can probably drag out some locals. I am sure that my Uncle will let us put a poster up in his tire and service shop. If we needed a staging venue near Kelowna, he'd volunteer his parking lot too I bet... Anyone in those parts that can get some posters out??

Away for work this weekend and working tonight so will get to this asap.

[DatsunDave]

Hey everone, just wanted to let you know we have another sponsor for Datsun Matsuri 2012. Nissan Sport Magazine has jumped on board.

http://www.myautoproject.com/nissan-spo ... suri-2012/

[notoptoy]

Free SWAG, cool!

[tjp]

I can't attend but LOVE the shirt I ordered and already received!

tim

[DatsunDave]

Tim, I'm so glad you like the T-shirt.

Maybe you should post a photo of you modelling your new acquisition.

I really think the designs are great. I also made non-event versions of the artwork so if people didn't want "Datsun Matsuri 2012" written on it they could just get cool images of their favourite Datsun. There's more than just T-shirts too: iPad, iPhone and Mac Skins, posters, etc.