I have become the CAMbassador

The town I live in is a cozy little town. They take pride in the fact that they are the Rhubarb pie Capitol of the world. As if that were something to be proud of.

In three weeks they are shutting down main street and putting on a massive classic car show. I have registered my Camaro because, why not?

Now my car is not a show car and is far more than 3 weeks away from being a show car, but I'm bringing it anyway.

I originally planned on putting a "not an abandoned vehicle" sign on it, but SWIMBO suggested printing up a poster board with a brief introduction to CAM-autocross to help people understand what my car was and why it was neat.

Everytime I try to write something it turns into a 40 page thesis. I need to keep this short enough that people might actually read it.

Any tips?

a simple sign that reads

"yes its a camaro, yes it can turn good"

No tips but rhubarb pie is awesome and being the Rhubarb Pie Capital of the World is something to be proud of!

I don't like Rhubarb pie...

I'm at work now, but I'll post what I already have when I get home.

BECAUSE RACE CAR!!!

Too short?

I like the leave your race car numbers on and let those who don't get it just not get it approach.

Pictures!!

Worth a thousand words man.

Even an incar video of a run on repeat would not be too subtle. See if your sanctioning body or region will give you handouts or coupons.

V8.
Loud exhaust.
Sticky tires.
'Murica.

Cause that's why.

In reply to Chadeux:

Absolutely agree. Numbers, letters, stickers and GRM sticker for sure. I'm running the TIRE RACK windshield banner 24/7, 365.25 on the truck. Why? Because RACETRUCK

z31maniac wrote: 'Murica. Cause that's why.

I'm not just trying to justify my car's existence. I'm trying to use my car to expose a new sport to people who may not have heard of it. I don't think misspelling the name of the country I live in is going to quite convey that message.

Just a couple pictures of the car on course and some flyers of the local autocross schedule. Put your helmet on the drivers seat.

Chadeux wrote: I like the leave your race car numbers on and let those who don't get it just not get it approach.

I'm not exactly sure that's the approach I most associate with "ambassador"...

AClockworkGarage wrote:

z31maniac wrote: 'Murica. Cause that's why.

I'm not just trying to justify my car's existence. I'm trying to use my car to expose a new sport to people who may not have heard of it. I don't think misspelling the name of the country I live in is going to quite convey that message.

Well you cut out the rest and obviously missed the very playful sarcasm.

Just put up pictures of it autocrossing. No words needed, unless you want a simple bulleted list of the stuff you've done to it.

Tablet with slideshow of pictures and video of the local club, probably stilen from the Facebook page. Nice little handout of "what is autocross?" What is CAM class? "How do i get started?" What if i dont have a CAM car? "Who do i cintact?"

Make it simpme on them. The pointy end is not what you need to be an ambassador of. Just the fact that it exists, and where to go.

Dusterbd13 wrote: Tablet with slideshow of pictures and video of the local club, probably stilen from the Facebook page. Nice little handout of "what is autocross?" What is CAM class? "How do i get started?" What if i dont have a CAM car? "Who do i cintact?" Make it simpme on them. The pointy end is not what you need to be an ambassador of. Just the fact that it exists, and where to go.

All of this, but please spell it out correctly.

Park it with the front wheel on top of a cone?

In reply to Ransom:

I'm really bad at PR.

In reply to Bobzilla:

Yup. Fat fingers, not enough coffee yet. But better than talk to text!

Don't try to explain the history, mechanics, course design, car set up, classes, rules etc etc etc.

Just a sign on top of your car or across windshield with a simple hook like: "Test yourself and your car in a safe, fun local driving event...AUTOCROSS". Then prepare a brief synopsis of what, where, when with contact info on a single sheet....If it includes a picture. And the text is large print.

Also a lap top with videos running in loop sitting on your air cleaner will attract some folks. SCCA HAS a wonderful Solo II video on YouTube that has a lot of action footage. Newbies get bored with in car stuff.

Keep it real real simple. Oh yeah...tell them spectating is free at next event. And maybe get a sign in sheet to be put on club emailing list.

Only thing they need to know about classes: "Classes for virtually every car or truck"

About Safety: "We have loaner helmets if you don't have one."

In other words don't complicate it for them....make it seem accessible

If you just want to rip off the SCCA, their site says:

"Rumbling V8 engines, ground-pounding American muscle – these are the characteristics of Classic American Muscle cars, or as they are known in SCCA® autocrossing – CAM class cars.

These muscle cars which are so popular at the fancy auctions have also found a home in the SCCA fulfilling their purpose – getting them out of the garage and being pushed to their limits of something other than gathering dust."

They also have a little brochure that could be printed on one sheet and folded over for anyone who wants more details.

You could also mention that most cars eligible for CAM can also do events such as the Ultimate Streetcar/Optima series, but maybe only for someone who sticks around showing some real interest.

In reply to SEADave:

TMI.

I put the numbers/stickers on the car if I'm taking it to a car show, so people don't think I'm the guy that's ultra-proud of his crappy Fairmont with crappy paint and a loud exhaust. Then I just prepare to answer questions. Does your Crammit have 315s on all four corners? Then park it with the front wheels turned.

You're already going to do better as an ambassador than me. Last summer, I had a kid come up to me in the grocery store parking lot. First he tried to sell me overpriced candy bars for some (probably made up) fundraiser. I politely said "no thanks". At this point, he noticed the "Hard Dog" roll bar in my Miata. He said what I now realize was "What's a 'Hard Dog'?", referring to the bar. With my somewhat geriatric hearing, I thought he said "Why so hard, doggg?", berating me for my refusal to purchase his overpriced confections and calling me by a term I can't stand. So I bark at the poor dude, "Look, I politely said no, I don't want to buy a candy bar. Leave me alone." (In a "Get off my lawn" sort of tone) At this point, poor hapless kid points emphatically at the roll bar and says (more clearly this time), "No, what's a "Hard Dog"?

Oh.

So I explained it was a roll bar I installed because the car is occasionally raced on tracks. Junior says "Ok", sounds full retreat and chases off after someone else in the parking lot.

This quality of ambassador work is how wars are started. I'm sure you'll do better.

Remove mufflers.

Every 30 minutes, fire it up.

Kids will love it.