Jason, once again, its all about the pitch. An extra hour to a dude driving to cali, really isn't that big of a deal. And many drivers fly to events, so it would be wise to get the word out now so that they book their flights accordingly.
I agree that its in the pitch but an extra hour to a guy driving to cali is a bigger deal than a guy driving to GA... they are delayed another day (another day missing work), and that inccurs more cost to eat, sleep, drive. they have a full season of big spending, and to do that, sometimes you have to cut where it doesnt hurt. the cali guy doesnt think 50hr drive + 2000 is nothing. lets make it 52hr and $2200!! i dont think anyone that is "in control of where their car goes" (most top pro guys dont decide where to drive- they have no say sometimes) has the extra money (we are all broke) to spend an addtitional $100-200 on the day- i might be wrong for like 10% of the dudes.
even if we made it super chill pitch and everything was on point, some guys will hear
Hey guys, we got a sweet tandem crazy fun event with people just having more fun than the China demo- its gonna be rad, come out and drive!
and others think...
Hey team privateer, spend a few more hours and a few more hundred $100 to come drive an event with guys you dont know/trust to tandem with- maybe your car wont be crashed too bad and you can still make rd3-7.....and get some local coverage while then having to stay another night in a $$hotel/some dudes house and hope you dont get herpes.
Hey team pro, fly your gusy our and let them bring the car to a local fun driving day and possibly break their car all while getting much less coverage than FD!! Itll be L337 @$$ driving though so you should totally let them risk your $200k++ race car on this event!!
Im sure the attitude of drivers is the LOVE to drive and would anytime they can, but its not always possible for them all. Don't think I wouldnt LOVE to see them all show up and just all get crazy, but to entice them we have to be creative... we are asking them to spend more money and time to hang out with "us". soooo
something like FREE or REALLY CHEAP for out of state drivers
something like FREE or REALLY CHEAP lunch/bbq/potluck shit to eat
something like FREE or REALLY CHEAP zj's