The Event Analysis will provide not only an opportunity for the Charleston Boulevard Rod Run and Doo Wop to gather additional information in the years to come, but also for the students to be exposed to such a “love affair” that Americans have had with cars.

1. 2010
Charleston Boulevard Rod Run & Doo Wop
StudENT Corps: Marshall University / West Virginia State University
Event Analysis
October 6 – 10

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary 3
Background 5
Methodology 6
Findings 7
Appendix 15
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Executive Summary
The Charleston Boulevard Rod Run and Doo Wop provided an opportunity, for me as a multiple
event attendee of a variety of automotive events east of the Mississippi, to compare and contrast
what West Virginia has to offer. Additionally, it provided a “fresh” perspective from students of
Marshall University and West Virginia State University that had never attended such an event,
regardless of place.
This five day event, including cruise-in, has now been held for five years and appears to have
built a solid foundation, as evidenced in the Findings – Word-of-mouth awareness accounts for a
large percentage of those in attendance, next to Advertisement and Previously Attended.
Additionally, of those that were interviewed for the Event Analysis, areas such as:
Scotland, Canada, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida were represented.
Those that attended, planned to stay within the Charleston area, as evidenced in the Findings –
26%, representing nearly 200 people for multiple nights – in excess of 250 Overnight Stays, with
various lodging price ranges that provided a multiplier effect for the local economy.
Staying Overnight
Yes: Overnight
No: Overnight
Lodging accommodations represented within the Charleston area: Holiday Inn, Days Inn,
Hampton Inn, Embassy Suites, Marriott, Mardi Gras Casino Hotel, Comfort Inn, Red
Roof Inn, and Recreational Vehicles, along with Friends.
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Adding to the local economy, those that were interviewed had or were planning to spend
approximately $45,001 – as evidenced in the Findings, which compounds the multiplier effect
(using conservative estimate of $1 = $5), not to mention the Overnight Stays too.
Money Spent
Direct
Indirect
The Charleston Boulevard Rod Run and Doo Wop, is much more than “just a car show” – as
evidenced in the Findings, when asking the attendees:
What one event at the Rod Run and Doo Wop, do you like the most?
Responses:
Burnout, Fireworks, Music and Entertainment, Magic Island Events (Truck Pull,
Mud Race, etc.), Women’s World, FOOD, Hydraulics, Sternwheelers, Swap
Meet, and Cars (naturally).
Lastly, as mentioned in 2009:
“..the challenge remains in attracting a younger demographic and capturing “life-long”
attendees / participants.”
The increase in exposure, targeting the younger demographic previously
mentioned, can be accomplished by increased usage of social media (Facebook,
YouTube, etc.), which will in-turn, increase exposure to all demographics.
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Background
This was our (StudENT Corps) second opportunity, with the first being in 2009, to work with the
Charleston Boulevard Rod Run and Doo Wop organization.
Unique to 2010 was the involvement of students in multiple classes, not only from West
Virginia State University, as in 2009, but also Marshall University.
 Two schools and multiple classes within the Charleston area coming together
for one project.
Many conversations and experiences were had from the students, both from an academic setting
and community involvement. As in 2009, the students experienced first-hand, the importance of
marketing research and all the intricacies of project management.
Based upon several conversations with Rusty Flowers – Charleston Boulevard Rod Run and Doo
Wop, along with other individuals / organizations, it was determined the following attendee
information would be of interest for 2010:
 Overnight stays – number of days
 Hotel Name
 Amount of money spent during the event for: entertainment, food, shopping, etc.
Additionally, the following information was gathered:
 Demographic
 Promotional awareness
 Most liked event
 Likelihood of repeat attendance
Upon the conclusion of the 2010 Fall Semester, a Final Report – Event Analysis would be
available for review and discussion.
The Event Analysis will provide not only an opportunity for the Charleston Boulevard Rod Run
and Doo Wop to gather additional information in the years to come, but also for the students to
be exposed to such a “love affair” that Americans have had with cars.
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Methodology
With the Charleston Boulevard Rod Run and Doo Wop covering five days – Wednesday –
Sunday – a sample representation of each day was desired to accurately provide a “snapshot” of
those in attendance.
The following days / times were represented:
 Wednesday – PM (Cruise-in)
 Thursday – AM
 Thursday – PM
 Friday – AM
 Friday – PM
 Saturday – AM
 Saturday – PM
 Sunday – AM
The cruise-in and boulevard was canvassed with each student given a goal of twenty completed
interviews. Students were typically assigned times in teams of two, to ensure complete coverage
of the boulevard.
In essence, the following was conducted:
Quantitative Research – Descriptive:
 Questions - limited probing
o Questionnaires read / responses gathered at the cruise-in and on boulevard, i.e. in-
person intercept
 Sample size – large
o Random respondent selection / day – time dependent upon student availability
 Three hundred twenty-four (324) questionnaires were completed
 Amount of information from each respondent – varied
o Questionnaire design consisted of nine (9) questions
 Type of analysis – statistical, summation
o Software – Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
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Findings
Wednesday – PM (Questionnaire reformatted and/or modified due to space limitation)
Questionnaires Completed – 10
1. Do you have an automobile in the Rod Run & Doo Wop? Yes No
50% 50%
2. Are you staying overnight? (If Yes, ask a. b. and c.; if not, then 3) Yes No
10% 90%
a. If Yes, how many nights 1 2 3 4
0% 0% 0% 100%
b. If yes, how many people? 1(self) 2-3 4-5 5+
0% 100% 0% 0%
c. Name of Hotel
(See listing in Executive Summary)
3. How many total days have you / will you be attending? 1 2 3 4
30% 10% 20% 40%
4. How much money have you spent / anticipate on spending during the event for:
Entertainment, Food, Shopping, and Other: $1,323 (Total)
5. Where do you currently reside (live)? Tri-State (WV-OH-KY) Outside Tri-State
100%
6. What is your age?
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
0% 10% 10% 20% 40% 20%
7. How or where did you hear about the Rod Run & Doo Wop?
Residence 0%
Advertisement (Radio, Television/Newspaper, Internet) 30%
Passing by/ Drive by/Billboard 10%
Attended last year or previously 30%
Word-Of-Mouth/Friend 30%
Different car show 0%
8. What one event do you like the most?
(See listing in Executive Summary)
9. Do you plan to attend next year? Yes No Maybe
100% 0% 0%
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Thursday – AM (Questionnaire reformatted and/or modified due to space limitation)
Questionnaires Completed – 44
1. Do you have an automobile in the Rod Run & Doo Wop? Yes No
36% 64%
2. Are you staying overnight? (If Yes, ask a. b. and c.; if not, then 3) Yes No
25% 75%
a. If Yes, how many nights 1 2 3 4
9% 36.5% 18% 36.5%
b. If yes, how many people? 1(self) 2-3 4-5 5+
27% 73% 0% 0%
c. Name of Hotel
(See listing in Executive Summary)
3. How many total days have you / will you be attending? 1 2 3 4
27% 23% 7% 43%
4. How much money have you spent / anticipate on spending during the event for:
Entertainment, Food, Shopping, and Other: $3,995 (Total)
5. Where do you currently reside (live)? Tri-State (WV-OH-KY) Outside Tri-State
93% 7%
6. What is your age?
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
5% 7% 14% 37% 25% 12%
7. How or where did you hear about the Rod Run & Doo Wop?
Residence 12%
Advertisement (Radio, Television/Newspaper, Internet) 12%
Passing by/ Drive by/Billboard 7%
Attended last year or previously 21%
Word-Of-Mouth/Friend 36%
Different car show 12%
8. What one event do you like the most?
(See listing in Executive Summary)
9. Do you plan to attend next year? Yes No Maybe
84% 16% 0%
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Thursday – PM (Questionnaire reformatted and/or modified due to space limitation)
Questionnaires Completed – 80
1. Do you have an automobile in the Rod Run & Doo Wop? Yes No
31% 69%
2. Are you staying overnight? (If Yes, ask a. b. and c.; if not, then 3) Yes No
35% 65%
a. If Yes, how many nights 1 2 3 4
0% 29% 50% 21%
b. If yes, how many people? 1(self) 2-3 4-5 5+
7% 82% 0% 11%
c. Name of Hotel
(See listing in Executive Summary)
3. How many total days have you / will you be attending? 1 2 3 4
20% 25% 20% 35%
4. How much money have you spent / anticipate on spending during the event for:
Entertainment, Food, Shopping, and Other: $15,725 (Total)
5. Where do you currently reside (live)? Tri-State (WV-OH-KY) Outside Tri-State
86% 14%
6. What is your age?
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
0% 14% 16% 20% 35% 15%
7. How or where did you hear about the Rod Run & Doo Wop?
Residence 18%
Advertisement (Radio, Television/Newspaper, Internet) 40%
Passing by/ Drive by/Billboard 4%
Attended last year or previously 18%
Word-Of-Mouth/Friend 18%
Different car show 2%
8. What one event do you like the most?
(See listing in Executive Summary)
9. Do you plan to attend next year? Yes No Maybe
94% 1% 5%
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Friday – AM (Questionnaire reformatted and/or modified due to space limitation)
Questionnaires Completed – 20
1. Do you have an automobile in the Rod Run & Doo Wop? Yes No
40% 60%
2. Are you staying overnight? (If Yes, ask a. b. and c.; if not, then 3) Yes No
25% 75%
a. If Yes, how many nights 1 2 3 4
0% 40% 20% 40%
b. If yes, how many people? 1(self) 2-3 4-5 5+
60% 40% 0% 0%
c. Name of Hotel
(See listing in Executive Summary)
3. How many total days have you / will you be attending? 1 2 3 4
25% 25% 5% 45%
4. How much money have you spent / anticipate on spending during the event for:
Entertainment, Food, Shopping, and Other: $2,175 (Total)
5. Where do you currently reside (live)? Tri-State (WV-OH-KY) Outside Tri-State
80% 20%
6. What is your age?
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
0% 10% 5% 10% 50% 25%
7. How or where did you hear about the Rod Run & Doo Wop?
Residence 0%
Advertisement (Radio, Television/Newspaper, Internet) 65%
Passing by/ Drive by/Billboard 0%
Attended last year or previously 10%
Word-Of-Mouth/Friend 25%
Different car show 0%
8. What one event do you like the most?
(See listing in Executive Summary)
9. Do you plan to attend next year? Yes No Maybe
80% 20% 0%
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Friday – PM (Questionnaire reformatted and/or modified due to space limitation)
Questionnaires Completed – 70
1. Do you have an automobile in the Rod Run & Doo Wop? Yes No
23% 77%
2. Are you staying overnight? (If Yes, ask a. b. and c.; if not, then 3) Yes No
28% 72%
a. If Yes, how many nights 1 2 3 4
15% 35% 30% 20%
b. If yes, how many people? 1(self) 2-3 4-5 5+
30% 50% 5% 15%
c. Name of Hotel
(See listing in Executive Summary)
3. How many total days have you / will you be attending? 1 2 3 4
33% 31% 11% 25%
4. How much money have you spent / anticipate on spending during the event for:
Entertainment, Food, Shopping, and Other: $11,245 (Total)
5. Where do you currently reside (live)? Tri-State (WV-OH-KY) Outside Tri-State
84% 16%
6. What is your age?
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
5% 16% 14% 26% 32% 7%
7. How or where did you hear about the Rod Run & Doo Wop?
Residence 7%
Advertisement (Radio, Television/Newspaper, Internet) 47%
Passing by/ Drive by/Billboard 1%
Attended last year or previously 16%
Word-Of-Mouth/Friend 29%
Different car show 0%
8. What one event do you like the most?
(See listing in Executive Summary)
9. Do you plan to attend next year? Yes No Maybe
90% 10% 0%
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Saturday – AM (Questionnaire reformatted and/or modified due to space limitation)
Questionnaires Completed – 20
1. Do you have an automobile in the Rod Run & Doo Wop? Yes No
15% 85%
2. Are you staying overnight? (If Yes, ask a. b. and c.; if not, then 3) Yes No
10% 90%
a. If Yes, how many nights 1 2 3 4
0% 0% 100% 0%
b. If yes, how many people? 1(self) 2-3 4-5 5+
0% 100% 0% 0%
c. Name of Hotel
(See listing in Executive Summary)
3. How many total days have you / will you be attending? 1 2 3 4
50% 20% 15% 60%
4. How much money have you spent / anticipate on spending during the event for:
Entertainment, Food, Shopping, and Other: $850 (Total)
5. Where do you currently reside (live)? Tri-State (WV-OH-KY) Outside Tri-State
100% 0%
6. What is your age?
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
0% 25% 20% 30% 15% 10%
7. How or where did you hear about the Rod Run & Doo Wop?
Residence 0%
Advertisement (Radio, Television/Newspaper, Internet) 60%
Passing by/ Drive by/Billboard 5%
Attended last year or previously 10%
Word-Of-Mouth/Friend 25%
Different car show 0%
8. What one event do you like the most?
(See listing in Executive Summary)
9. Do you plan to attend next year? Yes No Maybe
95% 0% 5%
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Saturday – PM (Questionnaire reformatted and/or modified due to space limitation)
Questionnaires Completed – 40
1. Do you have an automobile in the Rod Run & Doo Wop? Yes No
35% 65%
2. Are you staying overnight? (If Yes, ask a. b. and c.; if not, then 3) Yes No
15% 85%
a. If Yes, how many nights 1 2 3 4
17% 50% 33% 0%
b. If yes, how many people? 1(self) 2-3 4-5 5+
17% 83% 0% 0%
c. Name of Hotel
(See listing in Executive Summary)
3. How many total days have you / will you be attending? 1 2 3 4
48% 27% 15% 10%
4. How much money have you spent / anticipate on spending during the event for:
Entertainment, Food, Shopping, and Other: $1,389 (Total)
5. Where do you currently reside (live)? Tri-State (WV-OH-KY) Outside Tri-State
95% 5%
6. What is your age?
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
0% 23% 25% 12% 38% 2%
7. How or where did you hear about the Rod Run & Doo Wop?
Residence 0%
Advertisement (Radio, Television/Newspaper, Internet) 60%
Passing by/ Drive by/Billboard 0%
Attended last year or previously 10%
Word-Of-Mouth/Friend 30%
Different car show 0%
8. What one event do you like the most?
(See listing in Executive Summary)
9. Do you plan to attend next year? Yes No Maybe
85% 15% 0%
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Sunday – AM (Questionnaire reformatted and/or modified due to space limitation)
Questionnaires Completed – 40
1. Do you have an automobile in the Rod Run & Doo Wop? Yes No
70% 30%
2. Are you staying overnight? (If Yes, ask a. b. and c.; if not, then 3) Yes No
28% 72%
a. If Yes, how many nights 1 2 3 4
0% 36% 36% 28%
b. If yes, how many people? 1(self) 2-3 4-5 5+
27% 36% 10% 27%
c. Name of Hotel
(See listing in Executive Summary)
3. How many total days have you / will you be attending? 1 2 3 4
8% 5% 13% 74%
4. How much money have you spent / anticipate on spending during the event for:
Entertainment, Food, Shopping, and Other: $8,299 (Total)
5. Where do you currently reside (live)? Tri-State (WV-OH-KY) Outside Tri-State
95% 5%
6. What is your age?
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65+
2% 2% 8% 30% 33% 25%
7. How or where did you hear about the Rod Run & Doo Wop?
Residence 5%
Advertisement (Radio, Television/Newspaper, Internet) 33%
Passing by/ Drive by/Billboard 0%
Attended last year or previously 38%
Word-Of-Mouth/Friend 24%
Different car show 0%
8. What one event do you like the most?
(See listing in Executive Summary)
9. Do you plan to attend next year? Yes No Maybe
100% 0% 0%
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Appendix
Questionnaire
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16. 5th Annual Charleston Boulevard Rod Run & Doo Wop
StudENT Corps: Marshall University & West Virginia State University
Please introduce yourself: name and organizations (above); prior to reading the introduction and each
question carefully while circling the appropriate answer and notating responses for opened ended
questions.
Introduction
Our success over the past four years could not have been achieved without you, the classic cars lovers.
This year, as word of this special event spreads on TV networks, through newspapers, and other venues,
we expect even more car owners and spectators to come to Charleston from throughout the United States
and Canada. With that being said, we would like to gather some information about you. Rest assured all
responses will be reported in statistical form.
1. Do you have an automobile in the Rod Run & Doo Wop? Yes No
2. Are you staying overnight? (If Yes, ask a. b. and c.; if No, skip to 3) Yes No
a. How many nights 1 2 3 4
b. How many people 1(self) 2-3 4-5 5+
c. Name of hotel
3. How many total days have you attended / will be attending? 1 2 3 4
4. How much money have you spent / anticipate on spending during the event for:
Entertainment Food Shopping Other
5. Where do you currently reside (live)?
a. Country
b. State
c. Town
6. What is your age?
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65 or older
7. How or where did you hear about the Rod Run & Doo Wop?
8. What one event at the Rod Run & Doo Wop, do you like the most?
9. Do you plan to attend next year? Yes No
Thank you for your time and information!
Enjoy the show!!
Interviewer Name Date Time