Club drama

smellthebeans · 12-23-2012, 06:52 AM

I am still a semi active member of the BMW Car Club Tejas Chapter. The construction of the Circuit of the Americas near Austin was heralded as a great victory for grass roots mototsports enthusiasts. Central Texas offered little in the way of driving venues.

Early Saturday COTA abruptly cancelled their agreed contract to host BMW CCA driving schools for the entire year. There are 3 seperate chapters within 4 hours drive of COTA. Within minutes of the announcement driving enthusiasts took to social media expressing their outrage. Facebook & Twitter litteraly blew up. Our driving events coordinator contacted all of the Austin area media outlets and KXAN was going to run a piece for the 10 pm news.

About 6 hours later COTA promptly reversed their earlier announcement and agreed to honor all private and amature driving events. This is a classic example of how not to run a public affairs program. COTA essentially turned their back on the very customers who lobbied the state legislature to bring this facility to Austin on the first place.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121222/F1/121229952

Score one for the little guy.

Mr Kleen · 12-23-2012, 07:05 AM

My guess: they found a higher paying customer and thought they could shirk their responsibilities to the "little guys." Way to bite the hand that feeds, COTA.

This isn't going to inspire confidence in the management going forward...

1thomas · 12-23-2012, 07:09 AM

As I know several motor-racing texans I was informed the moment they announced it and followed the entire shitstorm that followed. We'll see how that whole thing will pan out for them in the long run..

smellthebeans · 12-23-2012, 07:14 AM

I followed it too the Tejas chapter email list exploded. Rumor is governor Rick Perry stepped in on our side. We had a reserved weekend in the spring for a driving school.

http://jalopnik.com/5970719/austins-...ag=motorsports

Elsabor67 · 12-23-2012, 01:00 PM

Lol.......COTA thought they could do like the NAG was doing a while back and screwing people over.

Good they got handed like that!!!!!

1thomas · 12-23-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smellthebeans

I followed it too the Tejas chapter email list exploded. Rumor is governor Rick Perry stepped in on our side. We had a reserved weekend in the spring for a driving school.

http://jalopnik.com/5970719/austins-...ag=motorsports

Yeah instructor friends of mine had a scheduled weekend too, with Drivers Edge in spring.

12-23-2012, 06:52 AM	#1
smellthebeans Major Drives: LPCs Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stuttgart Posts: 1,469 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 328i Coupe [0.00] 1990 325i [0.00]	Club drama I am still a semi active member of the BMW Car Club Tejas Chapter. The construction of the Circuit of the Americas near Austin was heralded as a great victory for grass roots mototsports enthusiasts. Central Texas offered little in the way of driving venues. Early Saturday COTA abruptly cancelled their agreed contract to host BMW CCA driving schools for the entire year. There are 3 seperate chapters within 4 hours drive of COTA. Within minutes of the announcement driving enthusiasts took to social media expressing their outrage. Facebook & Twitter litteraly blew up. Our driving events coordinator contacted all of the Austin area media outlets and KXAN was going to run a piece for the 10 pm news. About 6 hours later COTA promptly reversed their earlier announcement and agreed to honor all private and amature driving events. This is a classic example of how not to run a public affairs program. COTA essentially turned their back on the very customers who lobbied the state legislature to bring this facility to Austin on the first place. http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121222/F1/121229952 Score one for the little guy. __________________
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12-23-2012, 07:05 AM	#2
Mr Kleen teh porcupine Drives: 2012 135i "Nina" Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wiesbaden Posts: 1,433 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2012 BMW 135i [3.50]	My guess: they found a higher paying customer and thought they could shirk their responsibilities to the "little guys." Way to bite the hand that feeds, COTA. This isn't going to inspire confidence in the management going forward... __________________ 1addicts Stelv1o 2.0!
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12-23-2012, 07:09 AM	#3
1thomas Lieutenant Drives: F20 116d Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Stuttgart/Germany Posts: 490 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 116d [5.00]	As I know several motor-racing texans I was informed the moment they announced it and followed the entire shitstorm that followed. We'll see how that whole thing will pan out for them in the long run.. __________________ www.TE-Photos.com / T.E. Photography on Facebook F20 116d, 8-speed, M Sport and a (reasonable) list of toys.
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12-23-2012, 07:14 AM	#4
smellthebeans Major Drives: LPCs Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Stuttgart Posts: 1,469 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 328i Coupe [0.00] 1990 325i [0.00]	I followed it too the Tejas chapter email list exploded. Rumor is governor Rick Perry stepped in on our side. We had a reserved weekend in the spring for a driving school. http://jalopnik.com/5970719/austins-...ag=motorsports __________________
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12-23-2012, 01:00 PM	#5
Elsabor67 aiming for 450..... Drives: La Jeva ;-) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Stuttgart, Ge :-) Posts: 2,472 iTrader: (23) Garage List 2009 135i [5.00]	Lol.......COTA thought they could do like the NAG was doing a while back and screwing people over. Good they got handed like that!!!!! __________________ Quote from Ezeedee regarding car mods: "you're only done when you sell the car "
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