Re: Looking to run a community Pinewood Derby race
Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:21 pm
Well, organizing a community race didn't pan out this summer. Too little time, too little help, too little experience...etc., etc., etc…
That doesn't mean I'm completely deterred, however. It just means I need to be more realistic about the endeavor. That is, if I want to run a community race next summer, now is the time to start planning and fundraising.
So...here's where I need your help and input. I need to brainstorm all of the things that are going to require an expenditure of capital in order to put together a budget. Once I have an estimated amount, then I can better know the scope of the operation.
So, here are the major costs that I forsee:
- Venue: This is the big one. Need a place big enough to hold the track, the racers and the spectators. Thinking perhaps a high school gymnasium or similar? How long should I expect to need the facility, realistically, to deal with set up, racing and tear down? 8 hours? 10 hours? 12 hours?
- Personnel: If I've got a lot of people present and I'm taking money at the door, it seems reasonable to have some kind of security present. If I end up renting space from the County, the cost for security personnel is $33/hr.
- Track: I'd likely need to rent a track from one of the local Packs. I'd like to be able to offer a good-quality track with electronic scoring. Any ballparks on what track rental typically runs?
- Insurance: I imagine that if I'd need some kind of insurance coverage for the event? Does anybody have any experience getting quotes and providers for that sort of thing?
- Permits: One way to help recoup costs would be to sell snacks at the event. At the District race I attended, the boys devoured a LOT of junk from the concession stand. However, my understanding is that I'd need a permit to provide food? Does anybody have experience with this?
- Prizes: Gotta have trophies and ribbons, right?
Can anybody think of anything I've left out of the equation here? I know a lot of you have actually done similar things to what I envision. Any hidden costs or gotchas that I should be aware of?
That doesn't mean I'm completely deterred, however. It just means I need to be more realistic about the endeavor. That is, if I want to run a community race next summer, now is the time to start planning and fundraising.
So...here's where I need your help and input. I need to brainstorm all of the things that are going to require an expenditure of capital in order to put together a budget. Once I have an estimated amount, then I can better know the scope of the operation.
So, here are the major costs that I forsee:
- Venue: This is the big one. Need a place big enough to hold the track, the racers and the spectators. Thinking perhaps a high school gymnasium or similar? How long should I expect to need the facility, realistically, to deal with set up, racing and tear down? 8 hours? 10 hours? 12 hours?
- Personnel: If I've got a lot of people present and I'm taking money at the door, it seems reasonable to have some kind of security present. If I end up renting space from the County, the cost for security personnel is $33/hr.
- Track: I'd likely need to rent a track from one of the local Packs. I'd like to be able to offer a good-quality track with electronic scoring. Any ballparks on what track rental typically runs?
- Insurance: I imagine that if I'd need some kind of insurance coverage for the event? Does anybody have any experience getting quotes and providers for that sort of thing?
- Permits: One way to help recoup costs would be to sell snacks at the event. At the District race I attended, the boys devoured a LOT of junk from the concession stand. However, my understanding is that I'd need a permit to provide food? Does anybody have experience with this?
- Prizes: Gotta have trophies and ribbons, right?
Can anybody think of anything I've left out of the equation here? I know a lot of you have actually done similar things to what I envision. Any hidden costs or gotchas that I should be aware of?