Garrett Hughes running for President (again)

[ispoonwithmugen]

Hey all!

I'm sure at this point you've at least heard my name but in the event you haven't I'll give you a quick introduction. My names Garrett Hughes, I'm a junior currently and am pursuing a double degree in Finance and Intelligence Analysis. I've been involved in Madison Motorsports since I first came to JMU in 2011 with Cody as captain. I've watched MM grow through my years and progress in a better direction. I've owned quite a few cars ranging from a Civic to WRX to E30 and even my automatic station wagon (selling by the way). I have way too many interests to name through on here but some of my favorites are biking, photography, and snowboarding.

Anyway onto my campaign speech:

I said last year that we would have more attendance and I believe I succeeded in that. This year we managed to raise $1,200 at our spring car show with over 100 cars registering. Awesome turnout and something even I wasn't expecting. I want to continue this and expand it even more to the whole entire convo lot (last minute restraints caused this and some other difficulties). I also believe that we succeeded with more social gatherings throughout the year. These included cruises, Klines, and some drinking. Now I'm not going to sit back and say we had a perfect year, because we did not. Some things we could have done better/ should improve next year are posting on the home page (we slacked hard on this), getting people to the track, and getting people on the forum. I'm not quite sure how to fix this problem. I'm thinking next year we won't give you your sticker/shirt until I see you registered on the forum (is that too far?). The track I just can't seem to understand why people don't come. It's free for the most part and a blast. I'm brainstorming ways to fix this problem. Although we did have amazing attendance to the college solo and Ray said it was the best one in a long time, so maybe it's a time issue. Another thing we did okay was on fundraising. We made a few errors with number of shirts etc (especially the college solo shirts) and we were cutting it close at the end of the year but all in all we are starting with the same balance as we started with last summer and we won't have to order stickers and a whole new order of shirts so that's a plus. All in all I believe that this year has been a success and want to continue with this momentum into the next one.

Preparing myself for the barrage of questions/ hate/ love/ suggestions. Flame suit on, go!

[Jake]

I think there's been a lot of positive things happening this year with you at the helm, Garrett.

Forums have been more active this year, it seems -- obviously only with the more active members. Getting more participation there has been a pretty tough sell the past few years and I don't know why.

Next year's car show - what's the likelihood of getting a Sunday autocross to happen the same weekend at the Verona lot? I think that was a missed opportunity this year, and it could lead to a lot of folks (NASA and SCCA alike) bringing their track/AX cars out for the show, spending the night and then autocrossing the following day. It's difficult to convince people with non-street-legal track toys to trailer down to the show just to show the car for a few hours.

What are your thoughts on getting more consistent levels of students to the track? Seems there are always a lot of "ooh this sounds fun, I'll go" promises, and then only like 1/3rd of the initial "yes" people make it out. I've had a blast getting to know the few who've shown, but there are so many more who haven't and I think they'd have a lot of fun if they did come. Is there anything we as alumni can be doing to help that effort? We can (and will) do a lot, but we need to be asked first.

Also - my biggest nit to pick would be communication of dates/timing this year. The car show date was one standout. Please remember (and this goes for all officers, not just you) that alumni plan their weekends pretty far in advance, and there have been times where certain details re: dates and times were not discussed until it was too late for many to attend. We never had an issue picking every date for the semester right as classes started, emailing a big list of every track/autocross/car show/etc event out that week to students and alumni alike, and getting a lot of participation. It seems the level of organization on that front has declined slightly, and I'd hope to see more advance notice for the sake of numbers.

[Sully]

Moar karting

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

[ispoonwithmugen]

Jake, thanks for the advice! Yes I'm still brainstorming ways to get people out to the track. We show videos, have current members testify to how fun the track is and we just can't seem to get people out. I don't get it. With the dates we can definitely work on. I take full responsibility for the car show as I had that date set forward a few weeks before I posted it and it just had slipped my mind.

Matt, I would love to have more karting but unless we have everyone pay forward for their time then we can do it. We just simply don't have the money needed to put forward. Maybe that's something alumni could help with

[ispoonwithmugen]

Jake, thanks for the advice! Yes I'm still brainstorming ways to get people out to the track. We show videos, have current members testify to how fun the track is and we just can't seem to get people out. I don't get it. With the dates we can definitely work on that. I take full responsibility for the car show as I had that date set forward a few weeks before I posted it and it just had slipped my mind.

Matt, I would love to have more karting but unless we have everyone pay forward for their time then we can do it. We just simply don't have the money needed to put forward. Maybe that's something alumni could help with (not to put you guys on the spot).

[PDenbigh]

Does the History of the Automobile class still exist at JMU? If so, they should so a mandatory offsite one weekend day to Summit. And they should be required to join MM. And they should be required to drive a 3-pedal sports car or lifted 4x4. Include it in their tuition, parents won't notice.

Or at least they should get an invite to the track.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Does the History of the Automobile class still exist at JMU? If so, they should so a mandatory offsite one weekend day to Summit. And they should be required to join MM. And they should be required to drive a 3-pedal sports car or lifted 4x4. Include it in their tuition, parents won't notice.

Or at least they should get an invite to the track.

Yes it does. He isn't doing it apparently this semester. I beleive he is trying to improve his class by bringing in some people to talk. Jess' father will be a speaker, and it would be great if we could have an alumni MM speaker (and hype up MM just a bit) as long as it actually has good historical content.

[ispoonwithmugen]

Yes that class does still exist. As soon as he starts it back up I'll make an appearance and bring a slideshow and reach out to them. I know he tells them about MM and last year they went to Drift Nirvana (I think) with Sam and to the drag strip with Abbie I believe.

[Senor_Taylor]

What's the class number?

[JustinG]

I applaud your work this past year Mr. Hughes. Great job all around. HOWEVER......

I do have one concern, can we re-elect a President who purchased an AUTOMATIC Forester XT?

[rherold9]

Besides the Automatic Forester issue whatever happened the MM e30 hoon car?

[ispoonwithmugen]

Well the E30 is mine not MM's. But the idea was to bring it up here. Unfortunately us execs decided it wasn't a good idea to house a car in the MM garage so I never got it up here. And then there was the issue of me being broke so I never have money (or time) to work on the E30 unfortunately. Maybe this summer (hopefully). And the Forester is for sale! If you know anyone who wants to buy it I'll throw you monies!

[Senor_Taylor]

What's your plan after the Subbie?

[ispoonwithmugen]

Probably an E30 convertible, Z3, or a Miata. I owe my dad a 2k and want to try and get the E30 running on a 2k budget leaving me with ~5000 to spend on a car.

[Senor_Taylor]

Nice

[JustinG]

Probably an E30 convertible, Z3, or a Miata. I owe my dad a 2k and want to try and get the E30 running on a 2k budget leaving me with ~5000 to spend on a car.

BUY SHEA's MIATA NOOOOWWWWWWWWW

[ispoonwithmugen]

I WANT IT. Find me a buyer for my car! hahah